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Oral cancer includes those cancers that develop in the tissues of the mouth, throat, tongue, and lips. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, nearly 50,000 news cases are diagnosed each year in the United States, usually occurring in those over the age of 40.

West Chester, OH dentist Joel R. Koch, DDS, includes a cancer screening in patients’ biannual dental checkups. There are plenty of misconceptions about oral cancer, and it is important to clarify what is a myth and what is the reality of this deadly disease.

Myth #1—I Don’t Smoke So I Am Not at Risk of Developing Oral Cancer

The reality is that anyone can ...

There is a popular nationwide ad campaign that attempts to educate viewers on a variety of topics such as education, diversity, and the environment. The premise behind the campaign is that the more viewers know, the better they can make more informed decisions.

The same holds true for your dental health. It can be difficult to ask questions while you are sitting in the dentist chair, so your 45241 dentist, Joel R. Koch, DDS, has put together a list of some of the dental terms you should know. Although the list is not complete, it does record some of the terms many patients are unfamiliar with or have a misunderstanding about.

If ...

Most people are aware of the use of dental crowns to repair a back molar that has been compromised by a large filling. Over the years, the filling—especially metal fillings, or amalgams—begins to fail and the tooth can develop hairline fractures. Because too much of the tooth structure has already been removed, the only option to preserve the tooth is a dental crown. Dental crowns are also used in our West Chester OH practice to strengthen a tooth that has been weakened by a root canal.

But dental crowns are also used for cosmetic reasons.

Cosmetic Uses for Dental Crowns

If a tooth is discolored and resistant to teeth whitening, a dental ...

Most people don’t realize how serious periodontal (gum) disease is—or just how common. Gum disease is the number one reason for tooth loss in adults. The problem is that many times, people don’t even realize they have it because they don’t visit their dentist regularly. Sometimes symptoms of gum disease don’t start showing up until the disease in its advanced form and irreversible.

If you are overdue for a dental checkup, the health of your gums could be in jeopardy. Call our West Chester practice, Joel R. Koch, DDS, to find out if you need gum disease treatment.

Signs of Gum Disease

1. One of the earliest signs of periodontal disease is gums that ...

When you visit the dentist, you are probably aware of the different team members, each with a different job title, including dentist, hygienist, assistant, and so on. Let’s take a look at the job description for each so the next time you are at your West Chester general dentist, you’ll know who does what!

What Does a Dentist Do?

The dentist is the one who will conduct your oral examination, looking for signs of tooth decay, damaged teeth, and other potential problems. The dentist will also be the one to provide treatment, such as filling cavities and providing root canal therapy.

What Does an Oral Surgeon Do?

An oral surgeon—also referred to as an ...

Most people will have at least one cavity in their lifetime. Although sometimes you can see a cavity in the form of a small black dot on your tooth, often cavities are not visible to the naked eye. What are some of the other signs of cavities that should send you to your dentist in West Chester OH immediately?

Cavity Symptoms You Should Not Ignore

If you experience any of the following, schedule a dentist appointment sooner rather than later.

1. If you feel a sharp pain in your tooth when you bite down on something, this could mean a cavity—or it could mean your tooth is cracked. The nerve in your tooth root ...

Nearly every adult in this country has at least one filling. In the past, the only option for treating tooth decay and keeping it from spreading was metal—amalgam—fillings. Patients in West Chester today have a better choice - tooth-colored fillings. Not only do these “composite” fillings look better because they are made to match the color of your tooth, but they have several other advantages as well.

The Advantages of Tooth-Colored Fillings

Less time in the dental chair for treatment is always a plus, and this is something you can enjoy when you opt for tooth-colored fillings. Because the composite material these fillings are made from bond directly to the tooth, ...