Undergoing regular check-ups is part of the ‘all-round dental prevention’ plan that White Smile Milano promotes to help maintain a healthy, white smile.
In the common imagination, a ‘check-up visit’ means a superficial assessment of the health of the gums and teeth. At White Smile Milano we do a check up during the six-monthly professional cleaning sessions. Treating caries at an early stage is fundamental: this is why check-ups also include special phosphor plates (X-rays of the teeth) that make it possible to intercept caries invisible to the naked eye. These, in fact, hide between one tooth and another, growing day after day until, after many weeks, the tooth hurts or breaks.
Dental X-rays
Undergoing regular check-ups is part of the ‘all-round dental prevention’ plan that White Smile Milano promotes to help maintain a healthy, white smile.
In the common imagination, a ‘check-up visit’ means a superficial assessment of the health of the gums and teeth. At White Smile Milano we do a check up during the six-monthly professional cleaning sessions. Treating caries at an early stage is fundamental: this is why check-ups also include special phosphor plates (X-rays of the teeth) that make it possible to intercept caries invisible to the naked eye. These, in fact, hide between one tooth and another, growing day after day until, after many weeks, the tooth hurts or breaks.
In some cases, in addition to phosphor X-rays, it may also be advisable to take a panoramic, i.e. an X-ray of the entire mouth. Thanks to this type of X-ray examination it is possible to:
- check the orientation of the teeth and their roots (especially for wisdom teeth)
- check dental history and past treatments
- intercept macro-problems such as very large caries and root infections (granulomas)
Caution! During pregnancy all types of radiological examinations are contraindicated. Always inform your dentist if you are pregnant, or suspect a pregnancy.
A comparison between panoramic and phosphor X-rays
The panoramic X-ray shows the entire dentition on a single plate (which can be on a digital or film support) and gives a general idea of the positioning of the teeth and any work that has been done in the past.
Caries can also be detected from a panoramic X-ray, but only the larger ones visible to the naked eye. The panoramic is therefore not used to diagnose caries. The phosphor X-ray (considerably more advanced dental X-ray), on the other hand, shows a single tooth or a small group of teeth in detail. The image on the computer monitor can then be reprocessed, enlarged and analysed in every detail.
Panoramic X-ray
What is it and what is it used for?
Orthopantomography (or more commonly dental panoramic radiography) is an X-ray examination that allows us to obtain a two-dimensional image of the dental arches and the maxillary and mandibular bones. Usually at White Smile Milano this type of examination is performed when our team needs more information to make a correct diagnosis and prepare an appropriate treatment plan.
It is usually necessary to perform the panoramic X-ray to:
- make an orthodontic assessment. It shows the orientation of the teeth and their roots inside the mouth and permits an evaluation of a treatment with braces, (often associated with another radiographic examination: latero-lateral teleradiography);
- check the position of wisdom teeth roots to assess their extraction.
Panoramic X-ray
What is it and what is it used for?
Orthopantomography (or more commonly dental panoramic radiography) is an X-ray examination that allows us to obtain a two-dimensional image of the dental arches and the maxillary and mandibular bones. Usually at White Smile Milano this type of examination is performed when our team needs more information to make a correct diagnosis and prepare an appropriate treatment plan.
It is usually necessary to perform the panoramic X-ray to:
- make an orthodontic assessment. It shows the orientation of the teeth and their roots inside the mouth and permits an evaluation of a treatment with braces, (often associated with another radiographic examination: latero-lateral teleradiography);
- check the position of wisdom teeth roots to assess their extraction.
How is it performed?
The radiographic examination is a very simple procedure that is completed in just a few minutes. All you have to do is stand still for about ten seconds while the machine (orthopantomograph) is running and rotates around your face.
In real time, your doctor will be able to show you the X-ray in digital format and advise you on the most suitable treatment plan.
Ionising radiation only when necessary!
Like all X-ray examinations, dental panoramic examinations also use X-rays. Although the dose of radiation, thanks to the latest digital technology, is very low (and the patient is always protected with a sealed chest protector), this type of examination is only required when really necessary. For this reason, we recommend keeping the results of your examination so that they can be consulted in the years to come and the X-ray does not have to be redone.
Phosphor plates
How do phosphor plates work?
The phosphor plate is placed at the affected teeth. The image of the tooth is then impressed on the plate due to the presence of the phosphors. This step is painless, takes only a few thousandths of a second, and requires a low amount of rays, much lower than conventional dental plates. The plate is then inserted into a scanner that processes and sends the image to a computer.
White Smile Milano has equipped itself with the latest generation of equipment to give a complete and accurate diagnosis in just a few minutes, thanks to the high definition of the details.
Phosphor plates make it easy to detect the presence of:
- small cavities (or old fillings infiltrated by caries)
- tartar deposits
When the investigation becomes more thorough, it also uncovers:
- poorly performed devitalizations
- Poorly cemented crowns and bridges that promote the initiation of new carious processes
- infections at the apex of the tooth root
Follow-up visits including phosphor X-rays are used to monitor the health of your smile from year to year.
How do phosphor plates work?
The phosphor plate is placed at the affected teeth. The image of the tooth is then impressed on the plate due to the presence of the phosphors. This step is painless, takes only a few thousandths of a second, and requires a low amount of rays, much lower than conventional dental plates. The plate is then inserted into a scanner that processes and sends the image to a computer.
White Smile Milano has equipped itself with the latest generation of equipment to give a complete and accurate diagnosis in just a few minutes, thanks to the high definition of the details.
Phosphor plates make it easy to detect the presence of:
- small cavities (or old fillings infiltrated by caries)
- tartar deposits
When the investigation becomes more thorough, it also uncovers:
- poorly performed devitalizations
- Poorly cemented crowns and bridges that promote the initiation of new carious processes
- infections at the apex of the tooth root
Follow-up visits including phosphor X-rays are used to monitor the health of your smile from year to year.
Phosphor plates show interproximal caries
Through thorough investigation, cavities can be found and then treated while still in their early stage. Treating a small cavity means:
- Lose only a small part of the original enamel
- A small filling that is more likely to last over time
- Avoid the need for large and expensive reconstructions, such as crowns
Phosphor plates show interproximal caries
Through thorough investigation, cavities can be found and then treated while still in their early stage. Treating a small cavity means:
- Lose only a small part of the original enamel
- A small filling that is more likely to last over time
- Avoid the need for large and expensive reconstructions, such as crowns
Minimal radiation
The amount of radiation required for this type of diagnosis is minimal because the phosphor X-ray, as opposed to the classical X-ray, requires a lower amount of X-rays. Taking a phosphor X-ray means being exposed to the same amount of atmospheric radiation that a traveler is exposed to during a Milan-Rome flight! Moreover, as an added precaution, the patient wears a “collar” that shields the radiation and protects the thyroid gland.
Warning! Patients who are pregnant, certain or suspected, should report this because radiation, even if minimal, can be harmful to the fetus and should be avoided.
Why are interdental caries so common?
Often out of laziness, teeth are not properly brushed and flossed. The latter, however, is the only way to ward off hidden cavities between teeth.
Do you wish to make an in-depth visit? Don’t wait: contact us now!
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