Category: General Dentistry
Do You Have Periodontal Disease?
Gum disease is more common than you might think. At Weston Spencer DDS in La Jolla CA, we see patients with gum disease almost every day. It’s a serious matter, because gum disease is a leading cause of tooth loss.
Some people aren’t even aware they have it until we see it during a checkup. It’s a treatable condition, although the earlier the diagnosis, the better.
Gum disease is an inflammation or infection of the gums. It†is usually the result of poor brushing and...Read More
Which Type of Toothbrush is Best?
Is an electric toothbrush better than a manual toothbrush for cleaning your teeth? In this article from Weston Spencer DDS in La Jolla CA, we won’t recommend one over the other. We’re just going to take a closer look at the electric toothbrush.
Electric toothbrushes have been commercially available in the United States since the 1960s. But they first appeared in Switzerland, where they were invented. They caught on quickly, and have come a long way since then. With the modern...Read More
Small Dental Annoyance Or Serious Problem?
In this blog post from Weston Spencer DDS in La Jolla CA, we are going to talk about stomatitis. Stomatitis refers to non-specific irritations in the mouth. It is usually caused by cold sores, gum disease, or even from biting the inside of the mouth.
Most of us have probably had stomatitis at one time or another and didn’t think it was a big deal. That is generally the case, because most of these irritations clear up on their own in less than two weeks.
However, there are cases...Read More
Two Hints For When You’re Too Tired To Brush
Too tired to touch a toothbrush? We’ve all been there. At Weston Spencer DDS in La Jolla CA, we have two quick ideas to overcome your exhaustion and pick up your toothbrush.
Idea #1 Drag Tongue Along Teeth
As you lie there in bed after a long hard day and realize you forgot to brush, drag your tongue over your teeth a few times. As you do, visualize plaque: that filmy stuff on the teeth and gum-line. It’s loaded with the bacteria that cause cavities and gum disease. Then,...Read More
Say Goodbye To Old Amalgam Fillings
Can you remember what your teeth looked like before you had your first cavity? If you are like most of us, you got some cavities fairly young, and the ubiquitous silver fillings that were once standard. At Weston Spencer DDS in La Jolla CA, there is a better option.
Composite fillings can be made to match the color of your teeth, so even though a cavity has been filled, they’ll blend in seamlessly. They are made of a composite resin material that is strong when bonded to the...Read More
What Are Impacted Wisdom Teeth?
When a wisdom tooth tries to come in but is obstructed by the adjacent tooth, it becomes impacted and can result in such complications as pain, inflammation, or tooth decay. At Weston Spencer DDS in La Jolla CA, we can extract wisdom teeth.
It’s challenging to clean partially-erupted wisdom teeth. Since they have a high risk of decay, we pay special attention to them. They can also cause decay in the neighboring molars.
For most people, wisdom teeth come in in the late teens or...Read More
The 411 on TMJ
TMJ is short for temporomandibular joint, which is a big word for your jaw joint. As a hinge joint, it can move up and down, forward and backward, and side to side. All that mobility contributes to its vulnerability: it is subject to a painful condition called TMJ disorder, which is treatable at Weston Spencer DDS in La Jolla CA.
Sometimes you’ll hear the disorder referred to as “TMJ,” but strictly speaking TMJ refers to the jaw joint. Even professionals call it TMJ...Read More
Signs Of Oral Cancer: What Not To Ignore
This message from Weston Spencer DDS in La Jolla CA focuses on a very serious issue: oral cancer. Oral cancer claims tens of thousands of lives each year, which is why we offer oral cancer screenings at each checkup. Early detection can make all the difference!
Signs to Look For A lump or thickening in your throat White or red patches on your tongue, tonsils, or lining of your cheeks and gums Numbness of any oral feature Any type of lesion, cut, or canker-type sore that doesn’t heal...Read MoreWhat’s Your Dental Plan?
To have the best dental health, it helps if you develop a plan: a plan you stick to no matter what. Part of it should be regular checkups at Weston Spencer DDS in La Jolla CA, but there’s more to it than that.
Here are some things you can consider for your dental plan.
Brush your teeth. That’s an easy one! Brush your teeth at least once every day. Twice is better. Take at least two minutes, and be sure you do a thorough job. That means brushing the chewing surfaces and sides,...Read MoreWhat Can Weston Spencer DDS – Conservative Comprehensive Dentistry Do For You?
Not so long ago, your average dentist focused almost entirely on fixing problems like cavities or gingivitis. Not here! At Weston Spencer DDS in La Jolla we stress good dental health, and treating little problems before they get out of hand.
A big part of this is seeing our patients for regular cleanings and checkups. For most, that means every six months. That’s just a rule of thumb, and can vary from one to the next. Those who are at high risk for something like gum disease, for...Read More
