Dental Endorsements

Westend Dental

Author: Carmen Ramos

11 Best Alternatives to a Root Canal Treatment 

Corrupt government officials. Illness and death. Civil unrest. Economic troubles. These are a few of the top anxieties Statista reported that Americans commonly fear. They might have considered adding dental procedures to the list in general and root canals in particular. If you plug the words “root canal horror story” into your search engine of choice, you’ll get plenty of results from people ready to share their most terrible experiences. It’s no wonder that potential dental patients remain perpetually on the lookout for root canal alternatives. 

While root canals aren’t always awful (which we’ll discuss a little more in the following section), we will talk in this article about how to avoid a root canal naturally and through more traditional means. Continue reading “11 Best Alternatives to a Root Canal Treatment ”

Dental Floss Picks or Conventional Flossing: Which is Better?

Taking care of one’s teeth is important. In addition to the social and psychological benefits of maintaining a good smile, adequate oral health also impacts your ongoing physical health. Halitosis. Infection. Heart attack. Stroke. Dementia. None of these conditions are anything that people want — so why don’t more individuals floss? According to an article in U.S. News & World Report, less than one-third of the population flosses daily and 32 percent never floss at all. Some of the reasons why include the sheer inconvenience of flossing, and floss picks have stepped into the gap as an easier alternative. However, some have begun to ask a simple question: “Is it bad to use floss picks?”  Continue reading “Dental Floss Picks or Conventional Flossing: Which is Better?”

What Is the Average Lifespan for Dental Crowns?

Crowns are an investment in the health of your mouth and the brilliance of your smile. These permanent dental implants are meant to last for a very long time — but how long exactly can you expect them to endure? Would veneers be a better choice? What can you do to ensure that your crowns last as long as possible? In this article, we’ll answer all of these questions and more.  

What is the purpose of a crown? 

Crowns are fairly simple to understand: They’re essentially tooth-shaped caps that fit over weak or damaged teeth. Sometimes they’re also used to shore up a bridge or protect a tooth after a particularly extensive root canal. They can also support a tooth that’s had to receive a significant filling, which can weaken the natural tooth. In short, dental crowns exist as a prosthetic that’s primarily intended to minimize the chance of tooth damage. However, some also serve an aesthetic function. Implant crowns can fully replace missing teeth.  Continue reading “What Is the Average Lifespan for Dental Crowns?”

Using Antibiotics to Treat a Tooth Infection

Infected teeth are a major inconvenience, and they’ve historically been a cause of not only suffering, but also even death. As a publication in the NIH’s National Library of Medicine notes, “Dental infections originate in the tooth or its supporting structures and can spread to the surrounding tissue. Dental infections were, historically, a common cause of death. Fortunately, due to improved dental hygiene, modern dentistry, and antibiotics, dental infections are rarely life-threatening today.” Indeed, Alexander Fleming’s discovery has done much to transform modern life. 

But just because an antibiotic for tooth infection is often an effective treatment doesn’t mean that it is the best course in every situation. In this article, we will explain how antibiotics help some tooth infections, the best antibiotic for tooth infections of different types, and an antibiotics list for tooth infections.  Continue reading “Using Antibiotics to Treat a Tooth Infection”

What To Do If a Dental Abscess Bursts

A dental abscess is no joke. In addition to the discomfort, pain, bad breath, and inconvenience that they cause, they can also prove fatal. People reported that a Sacramento truck driver passed away at the age of 26 due to an oral infection. While on the road, Vadim Anatoliyevich Kondratyuk’s tooth began to hurt, and he sought treatment from a dentist before getting back on the road. However, his infection quickly progressed, and after it became systemic, his body simply couldn’t recover. 

Most patients understand that you shouldn’t ignore infections, but sometimes they wonder what to do if a dental abscess bursts on its own. In this article, we’ll explain what causes a dental abscess, why one could burst, and what you should do in case of a rupture. Continue reading “What To Do If a Dental Abscess Bursts”

11 Common Problems Caused by Dental Bridges

Believe it or not, dental bridges are ancient technology. A 2022 article published in International Journal of Dentistry and Oral Care cited archeological finds from Ancient Egypt showing dental work that we would think of as bridges. Wire constructed of precious metals such as silver and gold had been wound about existing teeth to stabilize cosmetic material ostensibly inserted to fill unsightly gaps. These dental bridge lifespans were truly for the whole life of the patient!  

Still, despite their long pedigree, dental bridge problems are a reality for many who have undergone this cosmetic procedure. In this article, we will discuss some common dental-bridge problems, warning signs you should take to heart, and a course of action you should take if your bridge comes loose.  Continue reading “11 Common Problems Caused by Dental Bridges”

Cosmetic Dentistry can Benefit Your Health and Success

Our mouth can say a lot about our health and how well we take care of ourselves. When you smile, what do your teeth say about you? They should show everyone that you take great pride in your appearance and personal hygiene. If your teeth don’t represent you the way you want them to, it’s time to take action.

Cosmetic dentistry is a type of dental care that focuses on the aesthetics of the teeth as well as their functionality. Most people see cosmetic dental care as just teeth whitening, some cosmetic procedures can actually help prevent you from causing further damage to your teeth. It can cover the flaws in cracks, gaps, and broken teeth. Cosmetic dentistry plays a key role in improving the appearance and confidence of people in all forms of life.
Continue reading “Cosmetic Dentistry can Benefit Your Health and Success”

Fixing a Gummy Smile: What Can You Do?

Cartoon of a woman with a gummy smile

A gummy smile is a smile that shows too much of your gum line, and it can be a cause of embarrassment or an insecurity for many people who have them. Gummy smiles, or excessive gingival display, can be caused by a host of issues with your mouth such as a jaw development problem, incorrect bite, and hyperactive or overly short upper lip. But an important question remains: can you fix a gummy smile?

Whether you’re interested in fixing your gummy smile for only aesthetic reasons or to address these underlying issues, there are options that can help. Whether you’re interested in a non-surgical procedure, like orthodontic treatment or crowns, or a surgical procedure, like a gingivectomy or lip repositioning surgery, you can find information on a range of different treatment options here. Continue reading to find which may be the best option to fix your gummy smile and achieve the smile of your dreams. Continue reading “Fixing a Gummy Smile: What Can You Do?”

What are the Uses for Botox in Dentistry?

Find a dentist trained in using Botox

Botox has been primarily used as a cosmetic treatment for wrinkles and lines on the face. However, the botulinum toxin that Botox is derived from actually has a long history of medically therapeutic uses.

Largely due to its minimally invasive nature, the use of Botox in dentistry is expanding to treat dental conditions like high lip lines, Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, Bruxism, dentures no longer fitting due to shifting jaw muscles, and more. Continue reading to find out the requirements a dental practice must meet in order to use Botox.

Continue reading “What are the Uses for Botox in Dentistry?”