General Dentistry

 Every April, the dental community observes Oral Cancer Awareness Month and works to increase public awareness about a dangerous and deadly disease. The truth is, according to the American Dental Association, an estimated 42,000 people will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year. With a number this high, I want… Read More…

At the Charlottesville dental office of Dr. Jack Kayton, we always like to educate our patients on their oral health, so we talk a lot about periodontal disease, cavities, and the proper at-home care for a healthy mouth. Today we’re going to share some little known fun facts. The average… Read More…

While they are many things that do cause cavities and can increase your susceptibility to cavities, at the Charlottesville dental office of Dr. Jack Kayton, we want to debunk some of the commonly accepted myths about these pesky pockets of decay. MYTH #1 Sugar is the Prime Cause of Cavities… Read More…

During the month of February, there’s a lot of talk about love and hearts, roses and candy, kisses and hugs. And while you probably already know our stance on those little candy hearts and boxes of chocolate (easy on the sweets!), you may be surprised to learn that at the… Read More…

While the origin of this February 9th holiday is unknown, it’s definitely a holiday we support. Toothaches are painful, and they’re not something we ever want you to experience. That’s why Charlottesville dentist, Dr. Jack Kayton, wants all of his patients to see National Toothache Day as an important reminder… Read More…

Stress. We all experience it, some of us more than others. It can result from a high pressure job, hard times in life, or when there’s just too much to do. And while a little stress is to be expected, too much stress can cause serious health problems throughout your… Read More…

The ball has dropped, the champagne has popped, and the resolutions are in full swing. Everyone has started putting a lot more pressure on their appearance, how much they weigh, and on changing their lives. Sometimes this means buying a gym membership and new sneakers, other times it begins a… Read More…

Time, food, certain habits, and plenty of other things can cause your smile to transform from bright and white to dull and dingy. You may think it’s a quick, easy fix with a stop at your local drugstore to pick up one of those teeth whitening kits. However, Dr. Jack… Read More…

In addition to following a good home oral healthcare routine of flossing and brushing, maintaining biannual checkups at Dr. Jack Kayton’s Charlottesville dental office is the best thing you can do for the health of your smile, and your body. When you stop in for your six month appointment, we’ll… Read More…

Flossing isn’t just something all of us at the Charlottesville dental office of Dr. Jack Kayton recommend as an optional part of your oral healthcare routine. In fact, flossing is absolutely crucial for a healthy mouth and healthy gums. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends flossing at least once a… Read More…

For most people, brushing their teeth is simply something they do. It’s ingrained into their routines. They wake up, brush, go about their day, brush, go to bed. The fact that they’re brushing should be good enough, right? At Dr. Jack Kayton’s dental office in Charlottesville we don’t think so,… Read More…

Walking down the toothpaste aisle at the local supermarket can be an overwhelming experience — especially if you aren’t sure what you’re looking for. When choosing the right toothpaste for your smile, there are a few important characteristics to take into consideration other than just simply your favorite flavor or… Read More…

Sports are a great way to stay active, healthy, and have a lot of fun. They can also be a hazard to your mouth. In fact, most dental injuries occur as a result of a contact sport. But don’t worry, you don’t need to stop playing pickup basketball on Sundays… Read More…

There are many foods that can cause damage to teeth and some are more obvious than others. While it’s never surprising to hear dentists talk about how bad sugar is for your teeth, there are other foods that should also be covered when discussing healthy eating habits for your smile…. Read More…

No one gets excited about the idea of a missing tooth, except maybe for little children waiting for the tooth fairy.  Unfortunately there are so many opportunities to lose a tooth – car accidents, a slip on the ice, sports, sometimes even an exuberant puppy could knock a tooth out…. Read More…

Now that we’ve covered the basics of periodontal disease, the symptoms, and how the infection can affect the rest of your body, all of us at Jack T. Kayton III, DDS want to talk about the importance of prevention. Preventing gum disease is the best way to keep your mouth,… Read More…

Our last blog touched on the basics of periodontal disease, the signs and symptoms, and the importance of getting any questionable areas checked out immediately. Today we’re going to discuss why a quick diagnosis of gum disease at our Charlottesville dental office is so important. Gum disease is a condition… Read More…

During checkups at the dental office of Dr. Jack Kayton, DDS in Charlottesville, you’ll notice we take our time to thoroughly check your gums. You’ll hear us assign numbers to each tooth; these numbers correspond with markers on special tool we use to measure the pockets in your gums. The… Read More…

  You know if you’re close to home and a dental accident or sudden toothache happens, you can call Dr. Jack Kayton in Charlottesville, and we’ll do everything we can to help you. But accidents can happen anywhere – whether it’s one mile from home or 1,000. If you have… Read More…

Unless you’ve ignored any symptoms of pain or problems with your wisdom teeth, or if you’ve haven’t been to your Charlottesville dentist lately, you shouldn’t worry about them at all! What are wisdom teeth? The wisdom teeth are technically called the third molars. They usually start to come in during… Read More…

Our teeth are made for biting and chewing food, talking, and giving your face its structure. Period! Tooth enamel seems like a hard surface, but it’s not made to withstand excess pressure or habits that erode it. Our teeth are made for biting and chewing food. Period! Tooth enamel seems… Read More…

Uncomfortable? Inconvenient? You may have heard a lot of other “tall tales” about root canals as well! At our dental office in Charlottesville, we do everything we can to make sure you’re relaxed, comfortable, and as pain-free as possible for all of our procedures, from filling a cavity, to periodontal… Read More…

There’s so much to think about when a new baby arrives. It can be pretty daunting! When your baby is a newborn, dental care might be the last thing on your mind. Or like many people, you may think that baby teeth aren’t that important since they’ll eventually fall out…. Read More…

How many times a day do you think you wash your hands? We’ve all become more diligent about preventing exposure to germs. Although some sources say we’re washing our hands too much, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says hand washing is the best way to avoid the spread of… Read More…

Since April is Oral Cancer Awareness month, I want to talk to our Charlottesville dental patients about the risks and prevention of oral cancer. It’s not a cancer that gets talked about much, but it can be very serious if it’s not caught early. The American Cancer Society states that… Read More…

Are you one of the many people who are afraid to go to the dentist in Charlottesville? You’re not alone! Nearly 75 percent of adults in the U.S. have some anxiety before visiting the dentist, and about 5 to 10% of us are true “dental phobics.” There are many reasons… Read More…

Our average life span in the U.S is currently over 80 years of age. In 1965, life expectancy was 65, and in 1990 it was 78. Tooth loss is one of the results of aging and as the population ages, so do the number of people who have lost some… Read More…

Are your children active in sports? Are you? Up to 39% of dental injuries are sports related. Some sports, like football or hockey, seem obvious in the need (and requirements) for mouth guards. But it might surprise you to know that other sports carry a higher risk of injury than… Read More…

Have you ever broken off a piece of a tooth? If you’ve done it within the past few years, then you’re probably familiar with dental bonding. Dental bonding in Charlottesville is one of the most versatile methods of restoring teeth.. A bonding treatment only takes about 30 to 60 minutes,… Read More…

That may seem like a silly question. After all, everywhere you look, people seem to have bright, white, seemingly perfect smiles. Are you considering tooth bleaching to get your smile whiter than white? Be careful! Your teeth may seem tough, but the bleaching craze can take its toll on the… Read More…

Who’s usually the photographer in your family or circle of friends? If it’s almost always you, could it you feel shy because your smile isn’t as attractive as you’d like? There’s no need to hide behind the camera any more. A smile makeover Dr. Jack Kayton can give you the… Read More…

Whether it’s a quick peck on the cheek or something more special, don’t let chronic bad breath ruin your holiday kisses. Halitosis, or bad breath, can be temporary, like “garlic breath.” But if you’re getting signals that your breath is consistently offensive, this could be a symptom of something more… Read More…

What’s better than a winter holiday? Why, a winter holiday in Virginia, of course. A place where our country’s history and traditions meet Southern charm and gracious hospitality. And of course, delicious treats and all our favorite foods. But watch out! Some of our favorite goodies aren’t so good for… Read More…

November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month and we’d like to remind you of not only the health consequences to smoking, but the dental complications as well.  While it’s important to recognize that not all lung cancer patients are tobacco users, it’s equally necessary to acknowledge smoking as the top risk… Read More…

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, we can’t wait to tell you all that we are thankful for here at Dr. Jack T. Kayton Cosmetic & Family Dentistry. I know that I am personally thankful for my supportive family as well as my terrific staff – my extended dental family.  Our… Read More…

It’s my job to offer every patient the opportunity to receive the best and safest materials I can find. That’s why I have chosen not to offer metal fillings in my office. Instead I use composite fillings for cavities that need a smaller repair and porcelain inlays or onlays for… Read More…

Halloween is such a fun time! Dressing up and going trick-or-treating can be one of the highlights of a kid’s year. But you also know what sugar can do to your children’s teeth. We know the dilemma – we are parents too. As long as you are careful and limit… Read More…

There are quite a number of aquatic centers and pools here in Charlottesville. We think that’s wonderful because swimming is great exercise for your whole body. Unfortunately, for some people, swimming in a pool can cause some tooth sensitivity and damage! It’s true. You know how bad acids are for… Read More…

You keep up on your dental hygiene and your regular checkups so that your teeth stay healthy and strong. But did you know that what you eat could actually help your teeth too? Here are a few hints and tips on things to add or subtract from your diet for… Read More…

As we age, the enamel on our teeth thins and our teeth become darker. More of the darker dentin below the enamel shows and teeth are more prone to staining from red wine, coffee, tea and smoking. It’s why darker smiles look older! We have a couple of great solutions… Read More…

It used to be that if you were a heart patient, protocol indicated that you always needed a course of antibiotics before your dental treatments – even before a cleaning. That added up to quite a lot of antibiotic use. New studies are showing that the risks of taking preventive… Read More…

Time can take a toll on your teeth. Regardless of well you take care of your smile with regular dental exams and checkups, sometimes a tooth will chip, crack or break. If the damage is small and there’s no pain, you may be tempted to not even call the dentist…. Read More…

Sometimes the unexpected happens – a car accident, sports, all those sodas finally catching up with you, medications that discolor your teeth in ways that can’t be bleached… If something happens to your front teeth, it be really life altering. Broken, discolored, chipped or damaged teeth in the front of… Read More…

While your eyes may be the windows to your soul, your mouth is the window to your overall health. That is why we take our Charlottesville patients’ oral health so seriously – and why we recommend regular check-ups in between what may seem like more advanced dentistry. Even having your… Read More…

ABC News recently aired a story based on an article published by the Academy of General Dentistry reporting the effects of sports drinks on our teeth. The acid levels in these drinks – drinks that we consume to improve performance and rehydrate during sporting activities – can ruin tooth enamel…. Read More…