Is dental insurance worth the cost?

You need medical insurance, if only to protect against the cost of an accident or illness so expensive that you could be ruined financially. But do you really need dental insurance?

It’s an interesting question, because you can avoid the most likely causes and expenses of dental problems, decay and gum disease, by brushing and flossing your teeth diligently. But some teeth are more prone to problems, and when they have a problem, the costs can mount quickly.

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

YOUR DENTAL IMPLANT DENTIST WANTS A PANORAMIC X-RAY - WHAT'S THIS?

What is this pano thing my dentist wants?

Your dentist just asked you for a pano and if you are like most patients, you don't know a pano from pantyhose. And no, it's not some kind of French bread. We've all had film or digital x-rays taken at least once in our lives, but many patients are unaware of the importance of having a strange new x-ray (since 1985) casually referred to by dentists as a pano.

Panoramic radiographs (aka or tomographic x-ray) show an ear to ear 180 degree view of the patient’s jaws and all the teeth as well as much of the head and neck anatomy.

The machine used is different than the standard x-ray unit as the patient generally stands while the x-ray unit travels on a semi-circular track around the patient’s head.