Looking At the World from Inside Your Mouth

Do you ever go the dentist wondering what it is that they are going to tell is wrong with your mouth, how much it will cost to fix it, and how much it is going to hurt?  If you answered yes, you are not alone.

Let’s face it, for most people a visit to the dentist, or having their teeth cleaned isn’t the most pleasant experience of the day.  There are those that avoid it at all costs, need medication to treat fear, can’t afford it or just don’t plain trust who they see either based on their dental plan. 

There are those few people that “loved to have their teeth cleaned”, or “love their dentist”, but from what I have seen, they are few and far between.In all the trips to the dental office, have you ever seen what the inside of your mouth looks like?  Has anyone ever engaged you, shown you not only what “concerned” areas they are seeing, but also what a “healthy” area in your mouth looks likes so that you have a basic comparison when making some sort of an educated decision on the future of your mouth?

The beauty of an intra-oral camera (a camera that takes lighted, magnified pictures of your mouth) is that it gives you the opportunity to see what is going on in your mouth…..l mean, how often do you really shine a bright light in there and try and figure what is what; let alone what is going on? 

When you have the opportunity to see the differences between health and disease in your mouth, it allows your brain to connect the dots.  I can’t tell you how many patients I have worked with over the years who have come to a pretty good understanding of what healthy and unhealthy changes are going on, but more importantly what they can do to make it better. 

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but it may also be worth thousands of dollars as well. Whether it is bleeding gums or a restoration that is needed, a camera will get you up close and personal to the issue at hand.If you visit the dentist and they are recommending work to be done, ask to see it on a camera.  Just like in medicine these days, you need to be an advocate for your own health.  You should be given the opportunity to really know what is needed, what the risk factors are for having treatment, not having treatment and be able to ask questions. 

If someone can’t explain to you what it is that you may need in a way that you can see and understand, you may want to think about a second opinion…..after all it is YOUR mouth!