Dear dentists: why do you...

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al@planetwave.net - 30 Aug 2005 03:25 GMT

1.- Put so much composite, the fillings are so high that you have to
spend minutes grinding them down to may be acceptable levels ?
2.- Let your dental hygenist go at the patient's teeth, unsupervised ?
3.- Leave your patient without suction while horyzontal ?
4.- Why don't you take 3 or more small x-rays to look around the roots
?
5.- why bother with that circular x-rays machine that takes a picture
of the whole mouth ?
6.- why offer fluoride treatment to old timers ?

thanks and all the best.
al

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Jacob - 30 Aug 2005 04:18 GMT

> 1.- Put so much composite, the fillings are so high that you have to
> spend minutes grinding them down to may be acceptable levels ?

You don't want to have the filling be "high" as that would cause more
problems. It's often very difficult to know how much filling material to
place, and it's better to have too much and grind it down, rather than have
too little and then need to add more, and not know precisely where to add it
and how much to add.

> 2.- Let your dental hygenist go at the patient's teeth, unsupervised ?

A dental hygienist has completed a minimum of two years training to become
licensed, and has successfully passed both state and national board
examinations [including clinical examinations] demonstrating proficiency in
dental hygiene. They are definitely qualified to treat patients without
direct supervision!

> 3.- Leave your patient without suction while horyzontal ?

As long as you are conscious, your swallow/cough reflexes are intact, and
the horizontal position should not cause any problems
.

> 4.- Why don't you take 3 or more small x-rays to look around the roots
> ?

A dentist will take however many x-rays that are necessary for a proper
examination/diagnosis. There is not any specific number of x-rays that need
to be taken -- it all depends on the patient's situation.

> 5.- why bother with that circular x-rays machine that takes a picture
> of the whole mouth ?

A panoramic x-ray will provide MUCH more information about one's upper and
lower jaws as well as the TMJ. This information can not be seen on smaller
x-rays.

> 6.- why offer fluoride treatment to old timers ?

Geriatric patients are often extremely susceptible to root surface decay, as
their gums often have receded; there is ample evidence that fluoride will
help prevent root decay.

> thanks and all the best.

Your welcome! And all the best to you!

> al

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Joel344 - 30 Aug 2005 09:20 GMT

Good questions, excellent replies!

I enjoy reading these ... these are REAL PATIENTS' concerns.

This helps us offer better treatment for our patients.
This is whty sci.med.dentistry (in all its incarnations) is a
must-read!

Thanks SMDers.

Joel M. Eichen DDS

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Joel344

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