1. "Why do I need these x-rays?"
X-rays and photographs are an important part of your treatment.
Whether you are beginning treatment, finishing, or a "work in progress,"
these records help your doctor visualize parts of your anatomy that can't
be seen with the naked eye. The x-rays will show the bones of the jaw
and face, the roots of the teeth, and many other hard tissue structures of
the head and neck. The photographs show soft tissue aspects of the
patient's anatomy that can't be visualized in the x-rays. Together, they
provide part of what your doctor needs to properly diagnose and treat
you. These records, combined with your personal health history, study
models, and your doctor's expertise, help assure that you receive proper
care and follow up.
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2. "What is the difference between these x-rays and the ones the dentist takes?"
Some of the procedures provided by our lab are very similar to the ones
available at your dentist's office. While we use different equipment and
techniques, the result is essentially the same. The primary difference is in
the areas of interest. Often your dentist is most interested in the crowns of
the teeth and is looking for cavities that need attention. The orthodontist
on the other hand, is more interested in the roots of the teeth and the
bone supporting the teeth. A good set of x-rays will show all areas well.
Our goal is to provide high quality x-rays that can be used by both of
these specialists. Besides conventional dental x-rays, we also provide a
variety of procedures that are not readily available outside a dental x-ray
lab. These include panoramic views, various skull views, color
photographs, and a number of other special procedures. Many of these
procedures are so specialized that it would be far too costly for your
doctor to own and operate the equipment in their office. Consequently,
we can provide your doctor the exact procedures needed at a much
lower cost to you. The fact that you were referred to us shows the high
regard your doctor has for your health care as well as your finances.
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3. "Will I need to come back again?"
X-rays will be processed and checked before you are dismissed from the
lab. This ensures that all procedures have been done correctly and takes
only a few minutes. Depending on your stage of treatment, your doctor
may request additional films after reviewing the records and evaluating
your progress. If your doctor does not discuss what records will normally
be required during treatment, be sure to ask him or her for clarification.
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4. "How and when will my doctor get the results?"
In most cases, when you are dismissed from the lab, your records are
only partially complete. Photographs are processed and printed, some
x-rays are mounted and labeled while others need a computer analysis
performed on them. After putting the final finishing touches on your
records, the whole case is rechecked before being delivered to your
doctor. The complete process takes a few days, with another day or two
for delivery. With only rare exceptions, your records will be in your
doctor's office within one week. Please let us know if this presents a
problem. Sometimes we can speed up the process.
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5. "Should I come back with my child into the x-ray room?"
California law states that only those involved in the actual performance of
the procedure are allowed in an x-ray room. However, we acknowledge
that some of our younger patients may be more comfortable with a parent
in the general vicinity. While we prefer that parents wait in the reception
area, we will allow you to sit in our "x-ray waiting area" if you or your child
feels strongly about it. Under no circumstances will friends or siblings be
allowed beyond the reception area.
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6. "Are these x-rays safe?"
As in many areas of our lives, there is a certain risk involved with x-rays.
Your doctor has decided that the benefit of having these x-rays far
outweighs the risk. While dental x-rays involve very low doses of
radiation, there are several things that we do to further reduce the dose.
These include using the fastest film available, properly processing the
films, adequate collimation and shielding, proper maintenance of
equipment, and above all, the correct and appropriate performance of
the procedures by competent, licensed personnel. We sincerely believe
that no office or lab can provide you a safer set of x-rays!
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7. "How much x-ray exposure do I receive?"
Attempting to express x-ray dose in a meaningful measurement is very
difficult. X-rays can be measured at the point of entry (skin dose), within
the exposed tissues (absorbed dose), or distributed over the whole body
(effective or equivalent dose). The effective dose is often the easiest to
understand because it compares x-ray dose to the equivalent
background exposure that we receive from our everyday environment.
During a typical orthodontic x-ray series, your exposure will equal
approximately 1½ days of background equivalent exposure. As you can
see, even the most comprehensive series of x-rays results in a relatively
insignificant exposure to the patient.
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8. "Will you cover me with a lead apron?"
Every patient is draped with a lead apron on every x-ray procedure,
always! Not only is this required by California law, it also helps relieve the
anxiety that many patients feel when exposed to x-rays. The primary
purpose of the lead apron is to protect sensitive organs from primary
and/or secondary radiation. Although radiation levels for dental
procedures are very low, wearing a lead apron helps ensure that no other
parts of the body are needlessly exposed.
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9. "If x-rays are so safe, why does the technician leave the room?"
As we've seen from the recent rise in sun induced skin cancers, the
effects of continuous exposure to low levels of radiation often go
unnoticed until it is too late. For the patient, today's x-rays may be the
only ones he or she receives for several years. For the operator, your
x-rays are only one of a dozen or more they will receive today! If
unprotected, most operators would receive more radiation in one day
than a patient would receive in a lifetime! Consequently, x-ray rooms are
set up so that procedures cannot be performed unless the operator is
positioned out of the exposure area. This is usually behind a leaded wall.
California law requires it and common sense agrees that a complete
radiation safety program will protect patients and operators from any
unnecessary exposure to x-rays.
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10. "Will you bill my insurance?"
We ask that your x-rays be paid for in full at the time they are taken.
There are a variety of reasons why we do not bill insurance. The most
significant being the high costs involved. As you are probably aware from
the ongoing health care crisis, billing insurance adds tremendously to the
cost of your health care. Patients who have insurance subsidize those
who do not, and patients who pay their bills subsidize those who do not.
Billing insurance and collecting balances would add about 33% to the
cost of our services! Unfortunately, many people do not even have
dental insurance, and those who do have a variety of deductibles and
treatment limits. Most orthodontic plans will not pay for records until the
patient has started treatment. Additionally, many insurance companies will
not pay for services until they know the diagnosis, which is beyond the
scope of our lab. Finally, some insurance companies (e.g., Delta Dental)
will not pay us directly and others (e.g., Medi-Cal) will not even accept a
claim from us! If we billed insurance, the price increase would
dramatically reduce our ability to provide a quality service at a reasonable
price. To help us control these costs, we will give you an itemized receipt
that can be submitted to your insurance company. They will reimburse
you directly.
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11. "Are the things that go in my mouth clean?"
Our lab follows all current OSHA and EPA regulations regarding the
possible transmission of infectious body fluids and the disposal of
potentially hazardous materials. We do this to ensure your safety and the
safety of our employees. Our practice of "universal precautions" assumes
that every patient is potentially infectious. We combine barrier techniques
with disposable products whenever possible. Reusable items receive
high level disinfection or are sterilized. It's important to note however that
unlike a dental office, we do not perform any "invasive" procedures and
none of our work is done in a "sterile" environment. Our lab does not
create or dispose of any regulated biological waste. We are registered
with the EPA, and all of our potentially hazardous materials are disposed
of according to local, state and federal regulations.
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12. "I don't remember having these done when I had my braces as a kid!"
You may or may not have had similar records taken. This would depend
on your doctor and the location of his/her practice. While dental x-ray
labs are found in many cities across the nation, they are most common
here in California. Our lab was started in 1979 as a branch of a lab that
began in 1965. Many procedures we do today are very similar to the
ones done in our original location over 35 years ago! Although you may not
recall it, there is a good chance that you had similar records taken either
at a lab or in your doctor's office.
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13. "What kind of license do you have?"
Our technicians possess an x-ray permit in "Dental Laboratory
Radiography" which is administered by the California Dept. of Health
Services - Radiologic Health Branch (RHB). All of our x- ray equipment is
registered with the RHB and has been inspected by the Orange County
Department of Health. Our technicians have over forty-five years of
experience between them and their x-ray permits are kept current through
annual continuing education courses.
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