Smile Point Dental Victoria

4109 Houston Highway, Suite 200, Victoria, TX 77901
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Dental care

How to Take Care of Your Kids Teeth

With the objective to help your children smile big and bright, Victoria Pediatric Dentist work hard to promote an environment that encourages healthy habits, amongst your child. Their specialized focus on kids and teens enables them to identify and treat a variety of your child’s dental needs. Whether it’s cleaning, sealant, fluoride treatment or full orthodontic braces of different varieties and colors, our pediatric dentist in Victoria deliver the highest quality in dentistry and orthodontics for kids and adults.

Dentistry for Kids & Teens
Our pediatric dentist aim at spotting small dental problems before they transform into big issues. No matter what the circumstances are, we can offer a service that matches unique needs. Our team strives for helping children build up a positive relationship with outstanding dental care.

Right from the very first appointment, our dentists approach the treatment method in a very personalized manner.

Checkups & Cleanings
Our dentist strongly recommend that children attend regular checkups and cleanings every 6 months. During these visits, our team will thoroughly examine the mouth for any signs of decay and remove accumulation of plaque. They also educate your child about practicing brushing and flossing at home. This eventually offers them a strong and confident smile at every stage of development.

Dental Sealants
Dental sealants are made to offer an extra level of protection. This safe, plastic-based substance creates a tough barrier that stands up against infectious bacteria and food particles.

Fillings
Our tooth-colored fillings blend with a natural enamel for a comfortable feel and attractive look. It is a restorative procedure and is less sensitive to temperature changes. Helps in preserving the tooth structure and lasts longer.

Dental Bonding
Dental flaws like minor gaps between the teeth can deteriorate your child’s confidence with time. Our dentist can fix these issues quickly and effectively with the help of dental bonding. It just takes a single appointment during which our dentist will apply composite resin to the desired area. This sculpts into a pleasing shape and hides imperfections in place.

Our dentist aims at giving every child excellent oral care. So, schedule an appointment at our office to help children feel at ease and relaxed during the procedure.

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

Categories
Dental care

Why teeth decay

Tooth decay is one of the most common oral health issues in vogue these days. It is affecting children and adults at a growing rate. It occurs when plaque combines with sugar from the food we eat. The combination leads to the formation of acid that can damage teeth and weaken tooth enamel. There is no solution beyond a professional dental treatment that can be taken to prevent cavities. For the same, you need to consult Victoria Family Dentist who can help you get rid of tooth decay with the advanced professional treatment methods.

The earlier the intervention, the easier it is to fix. Therefore, it is important to opt for dental fillings which help to drill out the decay and insert some material into it. Other options like crown is also available, which is when our Victoria Family Dentist drills away the decayed part of your teeth and then places a custom-fitted cap. Root canal is another ideal fit that will allow your dentist to remove the diseased tooth pulp and apply some medication to clear the infection. This will replace the pulp with a filling. Last but not the least, when your tooth is so severely damaged that your dentist can’t fix it it has to be taken out. Your dentist will then recommend getting a bridge or a dental implant.

Reasons for Tooth Decay
Intake of sugary foods
This is the major cause of tooth decay. Sugary foods are the best friends of bacteria. The bacteria in your mouth feeds off sugary food and then start coating your teeth in damaging acid. This can happen several times over the course of a single meal. It is therefore required to brush your teeth after each meal and avoid acid intake.

Dry Mouth
Patients with dry mouth will likely to have dental issues leading to tooth decay. Dry mouth could either be genetic or caused by some medical conditions.

Teeth Grinding
Many people do not even realize while grinding their teeth. It typically occurs when you are asleep or under stress. It leads to tooth decay owing to the fact that it strips away the outer layer of tooth enamel.

In addition to getting the treatment mentioned above, it is recommended to see your dentist for regular visits. Your dentist will be able to guide you on how often you need to visit based on their knowledge of your oral health. The more you will visit your dentist, the more likely it is that they will resolve the issue before damage occurs.

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

Categories
Dental care

Poor Oral Health Linked to 75% Increase of This Deadly Cancer

Source: https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/poor-oral-health-linked-to-75-increase-to-this-deadly-cancer

The latest study is preceded by research, albeit limited research, that has linked oral health and different kinds of cancer.

A massive new UK study uncovered an unsettling link between poor oral health and an increased risk for liver cancer.

“Poor oral health has been associated with the risk of several chronic diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes,” commented Dr. Haydée WT Jordão, who is the lead author of the study. “However, there is inconsistent evidence on the association between poor oral health and specific types of gastrointestinal cancers, which is what our research aimed to examine.”

The new report pulls from brain imaging and genomic data from 475,766 people over a six-year study period. Analyzing self-reported cases of bleeding and painful gums, loose teeth and mouth ulcers, the researchers enacted an investigation of the correlation between these conditions and risks for gastrointestinal cancers, namely liver cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, and pancreatic cancer. The study found zero notable associations with dental hygiene in all but one of the gastrointestinal cancers observed in the report.

The pervasion of hepatobiliary cancer
More than 800,000 people are diagnosed with liver cancer a year worldwide, making it one of the leading causes of death. Direct causes of hepatobiliary cancers are seldom able to be determined resolutely. Typically its development is factored by several underlying causes.

The latest study is preceded by research, albeit limited research, that has linked oral health and different kinds of cancer. A U.S study published back in 2017 found that women with a history of gum disease experienced a greater risk for tumors in the esophagus and in their breasts. Another independently conducted study observed a link between oral health and the development of pancreatic cancer in African American women.

Young people, women, individuals living in impoverished areas, and people that consumed less than two portions of fruits and vegetables a day evidenced the highest cases of poor oral health in the latest study conducted by researchers at Queen’s University Belfast. Although a high-risk increase was uncovered as a result of poor oral health, the researchers can only speculate as to why at the moment. Leading conjecture looks to the ever-perplexing gut microbiome. Since the liver is responsible for exterminating several harmful bacteria in the human body, it makes sense that bacteria could conversely play a role in inflicting prolonged damage to the body, in the event of the organ becoming compromised.

“One bacteria, Fusobacterium nucleatum, originates in the oral cavity but its role in liver cancer is unclear. Further studies investigating the microbiome and liver cancer are therefore warranted,”Jordão explained.

Another theory surmises that people with missing teeth, consume softer less nutritious foods to compensate, which ultimately makes the liver venerable to cell mutations. As it stands, of the 469, 628 participants studied, 4,069 developed gastrointestinal cancer during the six-year follow up, Thirteen percent of these expressed poor oral health at the start of the study period. More research needs to be conducted to support a causal influence behind the findings intimated in the United European Gastroenterology Journal

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

Categories
Dental care

How Cavities Impact Your Children’s Teeth

Tooth decay or cavities are common in children. It generally develops when your baby’s mouth is infected by acid producing bacteria. It also develops when your child’s teeth is exposed to food other than water for longer duration. Tooth decay initially appears as white spots at the gum line or on the upper front teeth. This needs to be examined and treated early to stop decay from spreading.

The data by National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research suggests that 27% of children aged between 2-5 are infected with tooth decay. Some of the most common causes of tooth decay in babies and toddlers are:

Forgetting to Brush or Wipe Teeth
As soon as the first teeth appear, you should keep them clean to prevent the formation of cavities and plaque. By the time your baby’s teeth appear, you can simply wipe them with a wet cloth.

Too Many Sugary Drinks
When your child is young and relying on breastfeeding, it becomes impossible to avoid these drinks altogether. However, when they are old enough to take other solid food, it becomes essential to limit sugary food and drinks, including juice.

Not Visiting the Dentist
Not seeing the dentist for long can delay the development of good oral hygiene habits. It also prevents early detection of plaque buildup. The longer plaque isn’t removed, the maximum are its chances of leading to decay.

Also, if you keep waiting for long between subsequent visits, it can trigger dental anxiety at the next visit.

How a Dentist Identifies If There Is Cavity
At each visit, the dentist will examine your child’s teeth, tongue and gums for potential signs of dental decay. For a thorough examination, x ray or cleaning is done. This helps in detecting early signs of disease and other preventative recommendation based on their findings.

Cavities in toddlers can affect the permanent teeth as well. Small cavities need small filings whereas big cavities need big filings. Cavities close to the tooth nerve should be evaluated for root canal treatment. The whole objective behind is to restore the baby’s tooth and develop an infection free environment for the permanent teeth.

Decay in teeth should be diagnosed at an early stage and then followed by good oral hygiene habits, dietary guidance and 6 month regular dental appointment. Treatment and maintenance of dental health can lay a strong foundation for upcoming permanent teeth.

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