Westgate Dental Care Blog

Do you know that holiday stress, pandemic stress or work stress—any kind of stress—can affect your oral health?

Today, more than ever, dentists see signs of stress showing up in the dentist’s office. 

At Westgate Dental Care, prevention is a priority. “It’s always about prevention,” said Dr. Agata Kluz of Westgate Dental Care. “It’s important to properly care for your teeth at home so we don’t need to treat any problems.”

It’s difficult to prepare for any emergency, but urgent dental problems can be especially troublesome. Most people don’t know what to do if you lose or break a tooth in an accident or have an abscessed tooth that causes extreme pain.

Has it been more than six months since you last visited your dentist? You’re not alone. From the shutdowns due to COVID to dental-related anxiety, there are several reasons patients skip their routine checkups and cleanings. If feeling embarrassed at the dentist is the root of the problem, there is some good news: that doesn’t have to stand in your way. To learn why, read on!

Between juicy turkey, sweet candy canes, savory pumpkin pie, and soft stuffing, the holidays are the most wonderful time of the year for your tastebuds. Your teeth, however, aren’t as happy. After all, many seasonal staples are loaded with sugar, which is a recipe for cavities. Don’t worry – that doesn’t mean you have to pass on all of your favorite festivities. Just keep the below oral health tips for the holidays in mind!

BOTOX, widely known as the wrinkle-smoothing elixir, is one of the most sought-after cosmetic treatments today. In fact, it’s been reported that this injection has increased in popularity by 700% since 2000. However, to this day, many patients assume a dermatologist or plastic surgeon is the professional to trust. In reality, it’s your dentist! Here’s why you should be getting BOTOX from a dentist.

Are you beginning to see fine lines linger between your eyebrows, around the corners of your eyes, and along your forehead? If so, you may be considering BOTOX. After all, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, about 7 million injections of this wrinkle-smoothing treatment were conducted last year alone. With beautiful results and a quick turnaround time, it’s not hard to see why patients are using it as a preventive measure too. But how soon is too soon? Keep reading for the answer to the question, “At what age should I start BOTOX?”

Is it time for your six-month checkup? Are you struggling with a painful toothache? Do you wish you could blast away stubborn stains? If you don’t have dental insurance, you may be convinced that taking care of your teeth is “too expensive.” In reality, there are multiple other payment options that make the top-tier dentistry you deserve more affordable. Keep reading to learn what they are!

Safety has always been a primary concern for dental offices because, like other healthcare providers, they need to have a clean and safe environment.

The coronavirus pandemic made it even more important for dentists to enact strong safety protocols, and Westgate Dental Care has been at the forefront with a detailed plan it started [m1] in early 2020.

“We always practiced safety guidelines prior to the pandemic,” said Vinny Criscione, Certified Dental Assistant and Clinical Team Lead at Westgate Dental Care. “The pandemic has shown us just how important it is to share with and educate our patients that these protocols exist, have been enhanced and that safety-conscious clinicians can be found at Westgate Dental Care.”

Online education during the pandemic certainly made school preparation much easier – all kids had to do is get out of bed and maybe grab a quick breakfast treat before turning on the computer. But that also caused a break in healthy habits for many children.

“The typical routine of wake-up, brush teeth, and go to school no longer existed and proper home care and oral hygiene suffered,” says Dr. Brian Rosenblatt, DMD, of Westgate Dental Care. “Also, many parents felt the risks of bringing their kids in to the dentist for routine check-ups and care were too great during the pandemic. Issues that might have been discovered earlier got delayed and the issues worsened with time.”