Smile, You're on Intraoral Camera

A tiny new camera allows patients to see the insides of their mouth by projecting the image on a TV monitor.  For many patients, this is the first time they have had a clear view of  the inside of their mouth. And what they are seeing is not always a pretty picture.  Many patients are surprised if not shocked by their oral condition.

An image can be worth a thousand words when motivating patients to improve their oral health.  Once an image is projected on the monitor, the dentist can easily discuss any problems and explain the treatment. 

Because oral conditions can be magnified, this method provides better visibility than direct vision.  Once on the screen, the image can be rotated, saved, printed and sent electronically to family, a specialist or submitted as supporting documentation.

Another valuable and common use of camera is helping patients make cosmetic decisions about their teeth.  The image of a patient's teeth can be projected onto the screen and manipulated to show how the person's smile might look after treatment. Patient's can get a good idea of what the recommended procedure will look like before it is even done.  

Call our office 909 627- 6699  or visit our website www.mydentistchino.com for more information.

Value of Regular Dental Check Ups.

Skipping  Dental Exams Is Tempting, but Costly

It's understandable that you might be tempted to skip regular dental exams/dental checkups when the economy is bad or if you're experiencing a financial crunch. But brushing and flossing aren't enough to keep your dental health.  Putting professional dental care on hold can result in serious dental problems later - and delayed  treatments  are much more costly.

If you have dental insurance, be sure to take advantage of the benefits. Standard coverage usually includes preventive care - dental exams and checkups - as well as X-rays and basic restorative treatments like a tooth filling. 

 Knowing what's covered and what is not can be the difference between incurring extra costs and avoiding them. In addition, talk to your dental office's administrator prior to your visits to get an estimate of costs so that you can determine your out-of-pocket expenses (if any).

Even if you don't have dental insurance, there are many payment options available to help you stay on top of regular dental exams and checkups. One option is to work out payment arrangements with your dental office. Sometimes dental offices will offer a  courtesy discount for cash payments, so don't be shy about asking! Many dental offices now accept (or even offer) financing plans such as CareCredit®, which can be used for a variety of health care treatments, including dentistry.  

"Keeping your dental health and managing costs is a benefit of regular dental check ups" says Dr Cherukuri from her Chino, California dental practice.  "Preventative care is the best insurance policy." she adds.

Dental check up more than just a cleaning!!

Did you know that several medical conditions  present signs in the mouth that make detection and an early diagnosis possible!

Some months back, a patient came into the office with abscessed teeth around root canals that were done in our office several years ago. Unable to find any deficiencies in the root canal, he was referred to the endodontist (root canal specialist) for a consultation. Dr. Endodontist recommended that he see a medical doctor as soon as possible. He suspected an underlying medical condition, perhaps uncontrolled diabetes.  Our patient was quickly seen by his Physician and sure enough- he was diagnosed with severe uncontrolled diabetes.

There were also a couple of instances in my early practice years where a patient was profusely bleeding after routine deep cleaning procedures. An emergency blood work up revealed leukemia.

Recent research has confirmed the presence of genetic markers in the saliva for early detection of pancreatic cancer. There is a lot more to a dental check up than "just getting your teeth cleaned" THE MOUTH IS THE MIRROR TO YOUR BODY"