Westgate Dental Care Blog

Do you have jaw pain? Maybe it’s difficult or uncomfortable to open your mouth? What about throbbing headaches? You could have TMJ disorder, which is a problem that affects the lives of millions of Americans. Also called TMD, this problem can often go undetected or misdiagnosed, which is why TMJ Awareness Month has been established in November! Keep reading to learn about TMJ disorder, the common signs, and how TMJ therapy in Arlington Heights can give you the relief you need.

The holidays are a time for fun and excitement. No matter how you fill these special days or who you spend it with, it’s a great opportunity to make lasting memories. That is unless you fall victim to one of the following 4 dental emergencies. From skiing accidents to sugar-filled cavities and toothaches, there are plenty of ways pain and discomfort can derail your fun-filled occasions. To keep your mouth injury-free this year and continue enjoying the season, find out what you need to do to avoid dental emergencies around the holidays.

Are you wondering why using your benefits matters? With regular preventive appointments and a good at-home oral hygiene routine, you can stretch your dental benefit dollars and reduce how much you pay out-of-pocket. By using your benefits before they expire in January, you can put a bright smile on your face and expand your monthly budget, allowing you more money to do the activities you want. Read on to learn more about your policy and why it’s important to visit your dentist before the end of the year.

Are you wondering what National Dental Hygiene Month is all about? For our team at Westgate Dental Care, October is the best month to honor and recognize all of the hard work our team of dental hygienists and professionals accomplishes. From warding off cavities to treating and reversing gum disease, our staff helps save our patients thousands of dollars in costly dental treatments by providing high quality preventive care. Read on to learn why we celebrate Nation Dental Hygiene Month and more about our team.

Do you need to wear a mouthguard when playing sports? Pretty much any dentist would answer yes! All sports, be they high-contact or even no-contact, can put your at risk for broken teeth, cut lips, fractured jaw and other kinds of physical trauma; in fact, according the American Dental Association, almost a third of all dental injuries are related to sports in some way. That said, it’s also been found that athletes who wear mouthguards are 60 times less likely to damage their teeth. If that’s not enough, here are 4 more reasons to ask your dentist for a custom mouthguard.

Here at Westgate Dental Care, September is a special month. About this time in 2002, we opened our doors for the first time and began to help our friends and neighbors in the community have healthier, happier smiles. If you are looking for a dentist with a great reputation, Dr. Kics and the rest of our team go above and beyond to make your dental experience a positive one from beginning to end. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve Arlington Heights and the surrounding areas and look forward to caring for your smile more in the future.

No one wants to hear their doctor say the word cancer, but can you imagine hearing it from your child’s doctor? According to the American Childhood Cancer Organization, a family gets this devastating news about three minutes. During September, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, our team at Westgate Dental Care is going gold. With several patients who have battled childhood cancer, our practice hosts a fundraiser every September to contribute to the effort to end this disease. In this blog post, you’ll learn how you can help in our fundraiser and how our team can perform oral cancer screenings for your child.

Nothing is worse than trying to rest for the upcoming big day only to toss and turn all night. You keep checking the clock, and before you know it, it’s already time to get up and start your day. If this sounds like you, you could be affected by sleep apnea in Arlington Heights, an incredibly common sleeping disorder that causes you to start and stop breathing during sleep. This disorder is hard to recognize, which is why it’s important to know the signs. Additionally, there are ways that you can set yourself up for sleeping success! Keep reading to learn about some healthy sleeping habits and the common symptoms of sleep apnea that you should be aware of.

Now that it’s August, back to school time is just around the corner! Before school starts, it’s important that you check off all of the items on your kids’ list, and it’s also a great time to make healthy adjustments. For the upcoming year, you can keep your kids healthy and happy by packing them the right school lunches. It’s vital for your son or daughter’s smile that they eat teeth-healthy foods, which is why your children’s dentist in Arlington Heights has put together a list of some of the best foods to pack your kids during the schoolyear.

It’s a safe bet to say that no one looks forward to having their wisdom teeth taken out, but one thing that can make it easier is scheduling it at the right time. Since high school and college students most commonly have the procedure done, it just makes sense for them to schedule it during their summer breaks when they don’t have the added stress of holidays or busy school schedules. If you or your child needs wisdom teeth extractions in Arlington Heights, keep reading below to learn more about the procedure and what you can expect from the recovery process!