Things that are not quite normal

Regular dental visits are important for more reasons than just checking for cavities or gum disease. Dentists also check for abnormal sores, lumps, cysts, discolorations, etc. Many of the things dentists find that are not quite normal can be considered normal for a particular individual. That is why it is important to have a good baseline to compare future visits to. This is why it is our goal at Schau Dental to have a panoramic x-ray and digital photos off all our patients by Christmas 2008.

With these photos and x-rays we will be able to monitor existing conditions with the teeth, gums, and bone support. The x-rays provide information for diagnosing decay, defective fillings, bone support around the teeth, analysis of the joints of the jaw, as well as the jaw bones themselves. The photos help provide a more 3-D view of the teeth and their existing restorations. They also allow us to monitor the soft tissue for possible changes.

Over time the body changes, and so does your teeth, gums, and jaw structure. With these records and regular check-ups we can track the rate of changes and help differentiate between the normal and the not quite normal.

This concept of visual charting is still relatively new to the dental field, but is growing in popularity. With the advancements in technology more and more dentists will be adopting this approach to total patient care, but unfortunately we are still along way from this becoming considered the standard of care that all dentists must meet.

The following pages include cases demonstrating the power of visual charting, and the benefits of panoramic x-rays, photos, and regular exams.

Tobacco Pathology

Denture Problems

Panoramic X-rays

Various Tissue Lesions