Westend Dental

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?” →

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?” →

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” →

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” →

The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on Americans’ personal health — and not just due to the virus’ respiratory, gastrointestinal, and neurological symptoms. A large part of the reason why COVID has impacted personal wellness is due to the fact that patients have delayed their visits to medical professionals due to fear of contracting the virus. According to a 2020 report published by the CDC, “an estimated 41% of U.S. adults had delayed or avoided medical care including urgent or emergency care (12%) and routine care (32%).” Such delays have disproportionally affected dentists with the WHO stating that “75 percent of survey respondents reported dental services have been completely or partially disrupted because of the coronavirus.” Continue reading “Oral Care During COVID: What You Can Do From Home” →