At first glance, it looks like a portable power drill you’d get at a local hardware store.  However, The Nomad™, a cordless handheld intra-oral X-ray device from Aribex, is among the latest developments in portable X-ray systems.

The Nomad weighs only 8 pounds, requires no cords and runs on a rechargeable 14.4-volt NiCd battery.  Unlike traditional X-ray machines, the Nomad can be held directly up to a patient’s mouth during X-rays without the risk of excess radiation exposure to the patient or dentist.  This saves time, shortens the time the patient has to sit still with film or a sensor in their mouth, and reduces retakes.

Aribex has conducted numerous studies to show that the Nomad is safe for users and patients alike.  Authors of a paper published in Dentomaxillofacial Radiology (February 2008, Vol. 37:2, pp. 109-112), for example, concluded that “Our data have shown that the Nomad presents risks that are no greater than with standard dental radiography units to the patient or operator and the measured doses are well below recommended levels.”

We strive to keep our practice up to date with the latest technologies for our patients.  If you are interested, feel free to stop by and check out the Nomad at our office! 

For more info/source:  Company Website is www.aribex.com

In the 1980s, artificial sweeteners in blue and pink packets, diet soda and sugar-free gum set the standard as “healthy” alternatives to their sugar-laden parent products. Today, there’s another low-calorie sweetener called “xylitol.” It has a sweet-as-sugar taste, and studies show that it may help reduce and prevent cavities.

A natural sweetener found in plants and fruits, xylitol was approved as a food additive by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1986 and is now appearing in sugar-free gum, mints and toothpaste.

Xylitol has been shown to have decay-preventive qualities, especially for people at moderate to high risk for decay when used as part of an overall strategy for decay reduction that also includes a healthy diet and good oral care.

Research indicates that xylitol most likely inhibits the growth of Streptococcus mutans, the oral bacteria that causes cavities, according to Allen Otsuka, PhD, author of a study in the July/August 2002 issue of General Dentistry, the clinical, peer-reviewed publication of the Academy of General Dentistry.

Cavities form when plaque – consisting of oral bacteria – builds up on the teeth and eats into the outer enamel. In the presence of xylitol, bacteria lose the ability to adhere to the tooth, stunting the cavity-causing process. With xylitol use over a period of time, the quality of the bacteria in the mouth changes and fewer decay-causing bacteria survive on tooth surfaces. As a result, less plaque forms on the teeth and the level of acids attacking the tooth surface is lowered.

Xylitol is found most often in chewing gum and mints. You should look at the list of ingredients to know if a product contains xylitol. Generally, for the amount of xylitol to be at decay-preventing levels, it must be listed as the first ingredient. Health food stores can be a good resource for products containing xylitol. Additionally, several companies provide xylitol products for distribution over the Internet.

Xylitol products should be used immediately after meals and snacks to help reduce plaque, inhibit adhesion of bacteria to the teeth and reduce contact time of sugars on teeth. Because duration of exposure is important, gum should be chewed for approximately 5 minutes and mints should be allowed to dissolve. For best results, follow the instructions on the package for each xylitol product you use.

Sources:  Gum-Chewers Have Reason to Smile. Academy of General Dentistry

We recently had the privilege of attending a dental mission trip to Belize.  We treated 217 underprivileged children and adults at The Good Shepherd Clinic in the town of Succotz.  Dental services included exams, cleanings, sealants, fillings, fluoride treatments and extractions.  Toothbrushes, toothpaste and prizes were given to each child.  This was an unbelievable experience for our dental team.  Words cannot express the rewards received from treating these strong and amazing children.  Feel free to go to my Gallery to view more of my favorite pictures of our trip.  I would like to thank The Grace and Holy Trinity Church along with all of my family, friends, and colleagues that contibuted to this mission to help make it such a success!

I am a huge advocate of giving back to the community.  Over the years I have participated in many MOM projects throughout Virginia; including Eastern Shore, Wise County, Annondale, Martinesville, Grundy, Norfolk, and Petersburg.  This past November I attended the Emporia MOM project and it was a great success.  If you are interested, I posted pictures in my Gallery.  You can read more about the mission in this article posted in the Richmond Times Dispatch…

Mission of Mercy dental project visits Emporia

 By Staff Reports

Published: December 2, 2008

A Mission of Mercy dental outreach project was held in the Greensville County High School gymnasium in Emporia, Va., from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008.

The MOM project is a collaborative effort of the Southside Dental Society, the Virginia Dental Association and the MCV/VCU School of Dentistry. Held in response to the shortage of dental-care access in Southside Virginia, the event provided more than $241,655 in donated dental care.

More than 50 treatment chairs were used by at least 53 dentists, 22 hygienists, 39 dental assistants and 55 dentistry and dental hygiene students to provide care to more than 447 adults and 39 children. In all, at least 225 volunteers donated their time and efforts.

A wide range of dental services were provided, including basic restorative, hygiene, oral surgery, patient education and referrals for extended treatment.

Additional support was provided by Benco Dental; local community service organizations, such as the Emporia Rotary Club and Beta Sigma Phi Sorority; and family and friends of local dentists.

Funding for the MOM project was made by grants from the Virginia Dental Health Foundation and the Greensville Memorial Foundation. A coalition of community service organizations was coordinated and mobilized by Jamie Neal, wife of Emporia dentist Harold Neal.

To get the event under way, meetings were held with the directors of social services in Greensville, Southampton and Brunswick counties. The three directors assisted in securing funds for the production and distribution of brochures describing the MOM project. The brochures were distributed to physicians’ offices, health departments, area churches and to children in the counties’ schools to take home to their families. Ministers were encouraged to include the MOM project in their sermons.

Patients were screened and pre-registered for the event starting Friday night, Oct. 31, and by 9 a.m. Saturday, more than 75 people had to be turned away because of the huge response. One young man traveled from Florida to receive oral surgery.

More than $14.4 million in donated dental care has been provided to the underserved in Virginia through 37 MOM projects since the program’s inception in 2000.

The Virginia MOM project serves as a model for projects in eight other states. If you are interested in volunteering in a MOM project, visit the VDA’s Web site at www.vadental.org.

The Tri-Cities and Chesterfield County dentists who participated in the program were:

Dr. Richard Bates, Dr. Shannon Bowman, Dr. Reed Boyd, Dr. Wayne Browder, Dr. Bill Callery, Dr. David Ellis, Dr. Jonathan Ellis, Dr. David Ferry, Dr. Sam Galstan, Dr. Scott Gerard, Dr. Mike Hanley, Dr. Tommy Leftwich, Dr. Marci Morris, Dr. Ellen Oertel, Dr. Wright Pond, Dr. David Prugh, Dr. Randy Ragsdale, Dr. Richard Roadcap, Dr. Jay Slagle, Dr. Earl Shufford, Dr. Ronald Terry, Dr. Brad Trotter, Dr. Kelly Vernon, Dr. Sharone Ward, Dr.  Melanie Wexel, Dr. Kent Yandle

Welcome to the Morris Dental blog!   We are so happy that you decided to stop by.  Here we will keep you updated with what is going on with our office, dental family and any other news that we may find interesting to post. 

This blog is my opinion.  I am not intending to practice dentistry over the internet, nor am I claiming that our practice is better than any other.  Although I try to be as accurate as possible, I don’t want anyone to think information presented here is the best out there. 

All information and pictures used are thought to be non-copyrighted or intended for public access.   If you see something here that is your work and wish for it to not be used, please let me know. 

If you are a patient of mine, you know that I love my practice and dentistry.  I have created this blog for my patients; to keep them informed with dental tidbits and our practice.   I have tried to stay within the boundaries of state law and ethical standards.

We welcome your comments and thoughts.   Feel free to stop by often so that you stay up to date with us!

Yours in dental health,

Marci S. Morris DDS and team