Virginia Beach Dentist | Virginia Beach dental care | VA | Office News

The latest news on...Dental x-rays: Occasionally a patient will express concern about undergoing a dental x-ray exam. It makes sense to be cautious about radiation, however, modern x-ray equipment limits radiation to about the same amount that is recieved from the sun in a day. We use filters, shields, and the latest Kodak x-ray film which cuts exposure time in half again. The U.S. Public Health Service stated that dental x-rays are completely safe.

Hot Weather, Cold Drinks...When the sun comes out, so do the cold drinks. We like the crunchy, cracking sound of chewing on ice cubes or ice chips at the end of our soft drinks or iced tea. Unfortunately, this can cause a hot-cold environment in your tooth, which in turn, can cause a brittle tooth, and eventually fracture lines. This can be diagnosed by sensitivity to biting pressure and temperature. So, give ice the "cold shoulder."

There has been a marked increase in dental decalcification.  This is a gereralized mineral loss in enamel expecially around the gumline causing extensive decay.  Heavy soda drinking, sucking on hard candies, and many of the newer prescription medications contribute to this.  Use of Biotene lozenges, gum, and mouth rinse will help alleviate this problem.