Month: October 2019

Cancer is known to everybody, but usually the most common ones, like, lung, breast, skin and so on. But since at Westgreen Dental & Orthodontics, we are concerned about the health of your mouth, we keep an eye out for oral cancer.

Oral cancer should not be an afterthought since it is the most prevalent forms of cancer causing mortality. Unlike any other form of cancer, oral cancer can occur all over the mouth, including the lips, tongue, cheeks, floor and hard palate. If caught early, oral cancer can be successfully treated. So, here the emphasis is to be given on the word “early”.

Oral cancer screening involves lifting the tongue and checking the glands to spot the cancerous areas. Many people believe that if they don’t smoke, they won’t develop oral cancer. However, it’s not true. Approx 20% of people who don’t smoke are diagnosed with Oral Cancer.

More and more young patients are developing oral cancer due to HPV (Human Papillomavirus). This virus holds a great connection with cervical cancer but it is also known to increase the risk of oral cancer. Oral cancers discovered at later stages are usually due to patients skipping regular dental examination.

Symptoms to look out for Oral Cancer:

• Bleeding in the mouth
• Soreness in the back of your throat
• Numbness in the face, mouth, neck or ear
• Difficulty in chewing, swallowing or speaking
• Hoarseness in voice
• Sudden weight loss

How our dentists look out for oral cancer?

At Westgreen Dental & Orthodontics, our dentists feel for lumps or irregular changes in the mouth, face, head or neck. They also check sores, or discolored tissue and analyze about any of the symptoms given above.

So, if you have been skipping twice-yearly cleanings, now is the time to act upon. It will reduce your chance of developing gum diseases and also control oral cancer to advance at a later stage.

Schedule your next appointment today.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.

There are a lot of people in America who have dental crowns placed in their smile. Dental crowns have become a popular way to restore damaged or decayed teeth, while still restoring its look, shape and functionality.

Dental crown includes a cap that is customized to cover a patient’s tooth. This procedure not only restores a tooth’s shape and size but also increases its length to enhance performance. In a successful procedure, the crown is cemented in place, thereby perfectly encasing the tooth for full protection.

Crowns are often required for the following reasons:

• Large cavities that are difficult to be filled
• Missing teeth when a bridge is required
• Cracked or worn teeth
• Restoration after a root canal
• Cosmetic reasons like a badly shaped teeth or discolored teeth

Different Varieties of Crowns
Crowns are categorized as permanent and temporary. They are made from different materials depending on the patient’s needs and preferences.

Stainless Steel
They are typically a temporary solution to protect a tooth or filling while a permanent crown is being prepared. They are used for children to protect a primary tooth from additional decay, this way the permanent teeth arrives and crown comes out naturally.

Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal
This crown type is an excellent option for front and back teeth. It can also be used when a bridge requires the strength provided by the metal. The advantage of having a porcelain is its appearance. The color can then be matched to the neighbouring teeth. Porcelain shows more wear, can chip or break off over time.

Temporary
Temporary crowns are often made of acrylic-based material or stainless steel.

Metals
Metal crowns make use of alloy with a high gold/platinum content. A base metal alloy is also used like cobalt chromium and nickel-chromium. These alloys can easily withstand the long term biting and wear and tear.

All-Resin
Dental crowns made entirely from the resin are not as expensive as other crown types. They also have the potential to wear down or fracture at a higher rate as compared to porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns.

All-Ceramic or All-Porcelain
They are considered to be the best choice as they provide a natural color match that is far better than other choices.

At Westgreen Family Dental, we firmly believe that your oral health directly affects your overall health and we are ready to take care of any of your dental problems. Schedule an appointment and get the smile you’ve always wanted.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.

Protecting your kid’s smile while playing sports is extremely important. There are a large number of contact sports that requires children to wear mouthguards to protect teeth from the force of an impact. According to the research by ADA, more than 200,000 oral injuries are prevented every year by wearing a mouthguard. Mouthguards not only prevent chipped, broken or crooked teeth but also the lips, tongue and face that help redistribute forces from a blow to the head. The composition or material with which a mouthguard is design could range from soft plastic or sturdy acrylic.

Which Sports Require Mouthguard
As discussed above, mouthguard are only used for contact sports like Rugby, Hockey, Football, Netball and Basketball. These sports come with a higher risk of players and sports equipment colliding with the face.

Apart from contact sports, mouthguards can be vital for preventing injury associated with cricket ball, gymnastics, skateboarding, cycling and rollerblading. These all put children at risk of falls onto hard surfaces.

What Type of Mouthguard Is Right for Your Child?
An effective and ideal mouthguard should be one that is easy to clean, durable, tear resistant, odorless and tasteless. It should not limit breathing or create hindrance in the speech. Should stay in place without having to bite down.

The different types of mouthguard available are:

Stock Mouthguards
They are the most common type of mouthguard you will find. They are designed from Rubber or Polyvinyl. Since they are pre designed, they can’t be accommodated to fit in one’s mouth. The drawback associated with Stock mouthguards is their bulkiness. It offers the least comfort and protection since your child will need to bite down to hold it in place. This also creates difficulty in breathing and speaking.

Custom-fitted Mouthguards
As the name suggests, custom-fitted mouthguards are designed to individually fit into one’s mouth shape and size. They are designed with a special harder outer layer to protect your teeth and soft tissue. Custom made mouthguards are inexpensive and the procedure can also be performed only at the dental office.

Mouth Form Guards
There are two varieties, shell liner and boil-and-bite mouth guards. The former is made of acrylic gel or rubber that molds to the teeth. Boil-and-bite is made of a thermoplastic material which is placed in the mouth to shape around the teeth via finger and tongue pressure. It can be reheated every time when required.

If you are still not sure about which Mouthguard to get for your child, consult our dentists today. They keep your child’s teeth and mouth safe by reducing the risks associated in contact or any other kind of sports. Mouthguards go a long way to prevent mouth injuries. Therefore, it is always a good idea to get mouthguards for your child.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.