Teledentistry is dentistry done through information technology, rather than through person-to-person contact between a patient and a dentist. While that might sound impossible at first—after all, how can someone work on your teeth without being physically present?—there are many ways in which teledentistry can help improve oral care while keeping costs down for the consumer....
The Dental Health Society strongly encourages dental checkups every six months as part of a successful oral health care plan. In addition to keeping teeth clean and healthy, these visits play an even more important role. You may not realize it, but part of a dentist’s typical exam includes checking for signs of oral cancer....
Good dental health should include regular visits to the dentist. In addition to a thorough examination of the mouth and teeth during these appointments, the dentist will sometimes order x-rays. A dental x-ray is the common term for a dental radiograph. It is one of the dentist’s most important diagnostic tools, giving him or her...
Dentists are dedicated to saving teeth, but sometimes their patients still lose them. Accidents or other injuries may knock teeth out or break them off. Or, they may be extracted by a dentist when cavities are ignored and tooth decay has destroyed them. Luckily, there are choices of what you can do to replace a...
Parents usually mean well, especially when it comes to our health. But sometimes, they just didn’t know any better. Many dental patients end up following dental advice from their parents for decades, not realizing that the information has been debunked or disproved since the time they were kids. Recently, the Dental Health Society went around...
When it comes to your teeth, everyone would prefer a smile that is healthy and looks good. Professional teeth cleaning and teeth whitening are both procedures that can help achieve these goals. But can you get the same results as whitening by having your teeth cleaned a few times? And does whitening offer any benefits...
It’s a simple question: Would you recommend your dentist to other families? If the answer is a “no,” or the question makes you hesitate, it probably means that you are not getting the level of service you want from your dental healthcare provider. On the other hand, if the answer is “yes,” ask yourself: Have...
Suppose you get a checkup and the dentist discovers cavities. You need to get them filled to prevent further tooth decay. The procedure is not too costly, but you cannot pay out of pocket right now. Does insurance cover the cost of dental fillings? It all depends on what kind of insurance is under discussion....
Here at the Dental Health Society, we like to keep tabs on how we as a country are doing in terms of dental health—and on how well our dentists are doing to serve the general population. Dental health stats help. Luckily, a number of other organizations do this as well, including the Centers for Disease...
If you suspect you have a cavity, our article I Think I Have a Cavity – What Now? explains some of the symptoms. If you already know you have a cavity, your next question might be “Do I Need to Get My Cavity Filled?” Most people would like to avoid getting a cavity filled. But...