Grove's Blog

Grove's Blog

Posts for tag: Technology

October 12, 2011
Category: Oral Health

At Grove Dental, our goal is to deliver quality dentistry while making your visits as comfortable and stress-free as possible.  We do this by providing gentle care, comfort-enhancing amenities, and a truly pampered experience every time you visit.

For patients with certain medical conditions or for more extensive treatment, we now offer dental treatment performed in the office under general anesthesia.  One major benefit to this technique is that extensive dental work can be performed in one session in a very controlled environment.  This allows the dentist to administer the treatment in the office that otherwise may have to be facilitated in a hospital setting.

The general anesthesia is administered, and the patient’s condition is carefully monitored, by the licensed anesthesiologist.  This team approach allows the dentist to be fully focused on performing the dental treatment while the patient is completely comfortable.

If you have severe dental anxiety, suffer from certain medical conditions, have uncontrollable gag reflexes, or have difficulty getting numb from standard numbing techniques, you may be a candidate for dentistry performed under an in-office general anesthesia.  This newer method of dentistry is exciting for patients who need extensive treatment and want to avoid the inconvenience and major expense of a hospital visit.

Think about it; now you can have extractions, root canals, gum treatment, dental implants or other needed procedures done while you sleep!  Your comfort is a top priority, and general anesthesia is just another way we are able to provide gentle, comfortable care.  Talk to your Grove doctor to find out if general anesthesia is a good option for you.

0 Comment(s) Permalink
May 16, 2011
Category: Oral Health
Tags: Pregnancy   Technology  

Expecting?  Congratulations!  As a mom-to-be you should pay special attention to your health - including proper oral hygiene. Pregnancy causes hormonal changes that increase the risk of gum disease and can affect the health of your developing baby. To help prevent problems, make sure you keep regular dental visits as an important part of your prenatal “to do” list.

While you may want to avoid major dental procedures or dental reconstruction until after the baby is born, many routine procedures can be safely performed during pregnancy, including cleanings, fillings and crowns, extractions, gum treatment and continuation of orthodontic treatment.  At Grove, our dentists will coordinate any necessary treatment with your physician.

At Grove, we recommend that regular preventative X-rays be postponed until after delivery.  Only in the case of a dental emergency when accurate diagnosis and treatment is essential, would X-rays be recommended. If X-rays are necessary, our doctors will use extreme caution to safeguard the health of you and your baby. Advances in technology have made X-rays much safer today than in past decades.

The American Pregnancy Association suggests the following tips for handling dental needs during pregnancy:

  • Let your dentist know you are pregnant
  • Eat a well-balanced, nutritious diet
  • Brush teeth thoroughly with a fluoride toothpaste twice a day, and floss daily
  • Maintain preventive exams and cleanings with your dentist during your pregnancy
  • If possible, postpone non-emergency dental work until the second trimester or until after delivery
  • Elective procedures should be postponed until after the delivery
  • When sitting in the dentist’s chair, maintain healthy circulation by keeping your legs uncrossed
  • Use a pillow at your appointments to help keep you and the baby more comfortable

Ideally, scheduling a dental exam before pregnancy is the best way to treat any dental problems ahead of time.  Routine dental visits and cleanings are perfectly safe and recommended during pregnancy. If you’re pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant, let us know so we can ensure the optimal health for you and your baby. Our Grove dentists will work with you throughout your entire pregnancy to help you understand preventive care and treatment.  We’re also here to help you when your baby starts to cut his/her first tooth!

0 Comment(s) Permalink
January 24, 2011
Category: General
Tags: Oral Hygiene   Technology  

Intraoral Cameras at Grove DentalYou may often wonder what the actual status of your dental health is. A dentist can verbalize a patient's current condition, but even with the best lighting and mirrors, it's virtually impossible for patients to get an up close view of their teeth and gums.

Instead of merely explaining to you the condition of your mouth, Grove doctors can actually show you. At Grove Dental, we use intraoral cameras -- small, hand-held video cameras that capture images of a patient's mouth while simultaneously transmitting those images onto a live monitor for the patient to view. By gently inserting the camera into a patient's mouth, the dentist can take sharp, clear images for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning while providing the patient with detailed visuals for personalized care.

Not only is the intraoral camera a valuable tool for diagnosing various dental conditions in their early stages, it's also an extremely helpful tool for educating patients. With an intraoral camera, patient education is simplified by helping the patient see what our doctors see. Whether you have a fractured tooth or swollen gums, a dentist can easily show you in real-time the current condition of your mouth and then explain visually the diagnosis and suggested treatment.

To learn more, ask Grove about intraoral cameras at your next appointment!

0 Comment(s) Permalink


Dental Services

Archive:

Tags

Dentist - Downers Grove, Grove Dental Associates, 6800 Main Street, Third Floor, Downers Grove IL, 60516 (630) 969-5350