Augmented reality

Check out this great video. A company in Japan has come up with a augmented and virtual reality system to help dental students with their dentist training.  It's possible this type of virtual training may becoming to dental schools in the US in the near future.  Aspiring future dentists have an exciting future ahead in their dental school education!

http://www.voanews.com/a/3824388.htmlhttp://www.voanews.com/a/3824388.html

From the desk of your gentle dentist,
Dr. Chien

Bellevue Family Dentistry
1299 156th Ave NE #115
Bellevue, WA  98007
(425) 614-1600

Dental fillings discovered on 13,000 year old skeleton

I found an interesting article worth sharing.  Be thankful your dentist uses modern dental equipment when doing fillings on your teeth :)

http://www.livescience.com/58722-earliest-dental-fillings-ice-age-skeleton.html

Good things happen when you brush your teeth!

Good things happen when you brush your teeth.  Apparently, these good things are not restricted towards your oral health, but your mental health as well!

Check out the article below....

http://www.iflscience.com/editors-blog/retired-man-solves-decadesold-maths-problems-while-brushing-his-teeth/

Warm Regards,
Dr. Chien

Bellevue Family Dentistry
1299 156th Ave NE# 115
Bellevue, WA  98007

Does your wisdom tooth hurt?

Does your wisdom tooth hurt?  If you are finding that you are having pain in wisdom teeth and would like to find out its cause and treatment options, be sure to check our new blog http://www.bellevuefamilydentistry.com/wisdom-tooth-hurts/

From the desk of your family dentist,

Dr. Chien

Ourdental health blog has moved!

Our dental health has moved to a new page to better serve our readers.  Please direct your browser to the URL below for our updated blog address to stay up to date on new articles and information.  Smiles!

http://www.bellevuefamilydentistry.com/dental-health-blog/

how to get rid of bad dog breath

Yorkshire showing his teeth :)

Did you know plaque and tartar buildup is not only bad for us (people) but also bad for our pets, especially dogs!  Puppy breath is nice until it develops into "doggie breath" which at that point becomes an annoyance for us.  Just as we take care of our kids and our own oral health with toothbrushes and toothpaste, our pet's oral health is important too.

Most pet owners are probably not as attentive to their dogs oral health and hygiene, but our pet dog's teeth and gums need care, just like people's teeth.  Recently increases in pet care products (including canine toothbrushes and toothpastes), which help makes taking care of our dog's oral health more readily accessible. 
 
Young pups have 28 primary (baby) teeth; adult dogs have 42 permanent teeth.  Majority of dogs exhibit signs and symptoms of gum disease by 3 years of age (or roughly 21 dog years) when all of their adult teeth have come in.  Below are some signs of gums disease in dogs to watch for as our dogs mature in age:

GUM DISEASE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS IN DOGS

• Tartar buildup (looks like a dark yellow or dark black hard residue on the dog's teeth)
• Red, puffy, and bleeding gums
• Bad breath
• Crowded teeth and malocclusion 
• Not wanting to eat and weight loss
• Red discharge 
• Atypical behavioral change

For our furry friends there are recommended dog toothbrushes and toothpastes at Petsmart.  Be sure to use a soft bristle toothbrush, just like your dentist recommends for adults and kids.  For toothpaste fluoride is not recommended as dogs have a tendency to ingest the toothpaste; some toothpastes for dogs are actually baking soda based.  Fret not if one cannot find a specific toothpaste or toothbrush, it's the actual physical removal of the plaque that is important.

When one first starts brushing their dog's teeth, initially have the the dog smell and taste the toothpaste (some toothpastes are actually meat flavored!).  Start brushing one side of the dog's teeth, and then brush the other side.  Take frequent breaks if necessary.  Also try to see if you notice any changes or discolorations in your pet's teeth and gums.  Make it a fun bonding event!

Take your canine friend to the veterinarian at least once a year for a preventive exam and a dental cleaning (usually performed under general anesthesia) and be sure to inquire if the vet includes an assessment of your dog's oral health.  If you have any questions on your dog's dental health please consult your family veterinarian.  Woof!

From your friendly family dentist in Bellevue,
Peter Chien, DMD, MPH
www.bellevuefamilydentistry.com
425-614-1600

how much radiation from dental x-rays

Background Radiation Sources

How much radiation am I exposed to with x-rays at the dentist?  Are x-rays necessary?  An exam with 4 bitewings is about 0.005 mSv, less than one day's worth from natural background radiation, and is the same exposure amount from an airplane flight of ~2 hours.  Such are legitimate questions patients may ask when they visit the dentist for their annual checkups and cleanings.

On should consider that EVERYONE is exposed to radiation EVERYDAY.  The amount exposed depends on where you live, how much time you spend outdoors, and even your occupation.  By far radon is the largest contributor to background radiation.  Over 50% of daily radiation exposure comes from radon (radon has no smell, no odor, no taste, no color, and is present in your house due to trapped pressure from the rocks and soil underneath houses and buildings).  Other sources of daily radiation include the sun,daily consumables, some tests required at the hospital, external rocks and soils, and various internal elements in the human body.  In comparison, dental x-rays amount to less than 0.1% of the annual radiation exposure.

• WHY ARE X-RAYS NECESSARY AT THE DENTAL OFFICE?

X-rays are necessary in order of your dentist to:

1. Diagnose cavities between your teeth
2. Check for cavities underneath crowns and fillings
3. Check for bone loss and periodontal disease 
4. Make sure your hard tissue and soft tissue adjacent to the oral and maxillofacial structures are normal
5. Check the position of your wisdom teeth and evaluate for possible tooth extraction
6. Examine how your children's baby teeth are erupting
7. Orthodontically evaluate the positioning of your teeth and determine if braces and/or invisalign are options to correct any occlusal misalignment
8. Check for missing permanent teeth
9. Evaluate pathology, swelling, cancer, and many others...

Rest assured your dentist and hygienist subscribe to the as low as reasonably possible principle, which means x-rays will only be taken if absolutely necessary at the lowest level and with your consent.  If you have any questions or concerns regarding x-rays at the dental office, be sure to consult your family dentist.

From your gentle dentist in Bellevue and Redmond,
Peter Chien, DMD, MPH
www.bellevuefamilydentistry.com
(425) 614-1600