May 27, 2022

Dental fillings are a common dental procedure that has been around for decades. The process involves placing a filling material inside an open tooth to restore it and protect the tooth from decay, disease, or injury. Dental fillings can be made of various materials, including gold, silver, composite resins (plastic), or ceramic. In recent years, there have been more visits for dental fillings. Pay a visit to Dr. Michael Hoang, DMD, for the treatment. But what makes the procedure special?

• Stops Teeth Sensitivity Issues

When the weather changes or you eat something cold or hot, your teeth may become sensitive and hurt. This is because the nerve endings in your teeth are exposed. The exposed nerve endings will be well-protected by getting dental fillings, and your teeth will no longer be sensitive.

• Prevents Future Decay

Decay can happen anytime, especially when the teeth start to deteriorate. With the fillings, you will not worry about decay issues. The material used will seal off any open spaces in your tooth. This will make it more difficult for bacteria to enter your tooth and cause decay.

• Restores Your Smile

If you have a tooth that is chipped, cracked, or discolored, then a dental filling can help. The filling material will hide any imperfections in your tooth and give you a beautiful, healthy-looking smile. Dental fillings can help to restore your confidence.

• Long-Lasting Results

Dental fillings can last for many years. With proper care, your filling can last for ten years or more. Once you get a fill, you won’t have to worry about it for a long time.

The dentist will guide you on how best to prolong the results of your dental fillings. This includes taking care of your teeth by brushing and flossing regularly and avoiding foods high in sugar. Your dental fillings can last if you maintain good oral hygiene and avoid sugary foods.

• Improves Your Oral Health

When you get a dental filling, you are improving the appearance of your smile, but you are also boosting your gum and teeth health. By getting rid of decay and bacteria, you are less likely to experience tooth decay, gum disease, or other oral health problems in the future.

• Can Bolster Weakening Teeth Structures

Dental fillings can help to strengthen teeth structures. If you have a tooth that is cracked or chipped, a dental filling can help support the tooth and prevent further damage.

Indirect fillings are optimal when the existing tooth structure is weak to support traditional fillings. It’s because indirect fillings use a metal post to hold the filling in place, whereas traditional fillings use the tooth itself to hold the filling in place. Using a metal post will make the indirect filling more secure and less likely to fall out.

There are many reasons why dental fillings have become more prevalent. Dental fillings can stop teeth sensitivity issues, prevent future decay, restore your smile, last for many years, improve your oral health, and bolster weakening teeth structures. If you consider getting a dental filling, talk to your dentist about the different types of fillings available and which one would be best for you.

Ulcers can occur anywhere in your body but are common in the legs. Although your body initiates healing when a cut on your skin happens, and the wound can go away over time, ulcers might not heal without proper treatment. The Villages venous ulcers specialists can help you manage the condition and advise you on how you can prevent the disease or reduce your chances of an infection. Let us dig deep to understand more about the state, including what causes it, how you can care for the ulcers, and how to prevent the condition.

Venous Ulcers Causes

The leading cause of venous ulcers is the damage to the valves of your leg veins. Since the valves control the blood pressure in the veins and lower it when you walk, you might develop ulcers when the valves are damaged, and the blood pressure is high. But venous ulcers can also result from other issues within your leg veins. This includes

Chronic Venous Insufficiency. This is where your leg veins cannot take the blood back up to your heart. This can be caused by several reasons, such as being overweight, which makes the blood pool in your lower legs swell. The swelling may become extreme over time since blood cannot flow well in the legs and might cause venous ulcers on your skin when it puts too much pressure on the skin.

Varicose Veins. This is also a condition of poor circulation in your legs where the blood fails to get back to the heart but pools in your leg veins. This causes your veins to bulge out and can cause venous ulcers when the pressure is too much.

Venous Ulcers Care Tips

Venous ulcers are painful wounds that can be chronic and require proper care. Since they increase your chances of an infection, it is vital to seek expert care and advice before self-treatment trials. Have your ulcer checked right away by your doctor to understand the proper treatment for you. The therapy might focus on the underlying vein or circulatory problem or may involve removing some tissues from around the wound. Additionally, here is what you can do:

• Regularly clean the wound
• Dress the ulcer as directed by your doctor
• Do not use products with skin sensitivity effect
• Treat or prevent infection by taking oral antibiotics
• Apply a topical medicine to treat or prevent an infection
• Wear a compression stocking

Note that compression stocking can help your ulcers heal more quickly due to improved circulation in your legs. In some cases, you might need a skin graft or surgery to close the wounds.

Venous Ulcers Prevention

The best way to prevent venous ulcers is to avoid vein problems. You can adopt healthy habits that will promote blood flow in your legs. Some of the lifestyle changes you can take include avoiding smoking, maintaining an ideal weight, losing weight if you are obese, and getting regular exercises, mainly focusing on your legs if you are at higher risk of vein issues. Also, move often if your job involves sitting too much and elevate or raise your legs during breaks when you have spent more time standing. Remember to wear a compression stocking to avoid blood pooling, avoid significant swelling, and minimize your overall chances of developing venous ulcers.

You can request an appointment at Vascular Vein Centers if you are enduring Venous Ulcers or if your risk for the condition is high. You can also book an appointment online for assistance.

Kidneys are bean-shaped organs in your body that help filter waste and excess fluid from your blood. When the kidneys lose their function, dangerous levels of fluid and electrolytes build up in your body and may result in complications such as pulmonary edema and heart disease. The good news is that if your kidneys are not as functional as they should be, dialysis access Bakersfield enables you to obtain the best possible dialysis treatment.

What is dialysis access, and how does it work?

Dialysis or vascular access is a means to reach blood for hemodialysis. Through the access, blood flows from the body via soft tubes to the dialysis machine, where it undergoes cleaning and passes through a special filter called a dialyzer. Hemodialysis patients require minor surgery for placement of access. If you need hemodialysis, your doctor may use the following accesses.

• A fistula. The artery and vein in your arm are joined for this type of access.
• A graft. The artery and vein use a soft tube instead of directly like fistula access.
• A catheter. It involves placing a soft tube in a large vein, usually in the neck.

If your doctor recommends a fistula or a graft, your healthcare provider places two needles connected to the dialysis machine’s soft tubes. One of these tubes allows blood from the body to enter the machine, where it gets cleaned and filtered and enters the body through the other tube. However, no needles are necessary for a catheter since it can be directly connected to the dialysis tubes without needles.

Physicians recommend a fistula as the first choice since it lasts longer and hardly causes problems such as clotting and infections. However, a fistula may not be an option for you if your blood vessels are not strong enough. In such cases, a graft may be your second choice. Catheters are usually a temporary solution, but they can sometimes be placed permanently. Sometimes patients can switch from different access to a fistula. Your physician is best positioned to determine if the switch is possible.

Caring for your dialysis access

It is essential to take good care of your access site, whether a fistula, graft, or catheter. Your healthcare provider may guide you through steps to care for your access. The following are general tips about access to care to prevent problems.

For a fistula or a graft, you need to clean the access site with an antibacterial soap each day and avoid scratching your skin. If you notice redness, a pimple, and a feeling of warmness, consult with your doctor since that may indicate an infection. Ask your healthcare provider or care team to rotate the needles during your dialysis treatment.

If you have a catheter, you need to keep it clean and dry. Avoid opening the catheter to the air, and have an emergency kit at home if you need to change your dressing. Ensure the access area is clean and your care team changes the dressing during each dialysis session.

For further questions about dialysis, consult with your doctor at Heart Vascular and Leg Center.