Monday: 8am – 6pm
Tuesday: 8am – 5pm
Wednesday: 8am-5pm
Thursday: 8am – 5pm
Friday: 7am – 2pm

Highland Heights Dental
4046 S Highland Drive, Suite 115
Millcreek, Utah 84124

Canker sores vs cold sores

Canker sores [apthous ulcers] are often confused with fever blisters [cold sores]. They are quite different, however. Canker sores are only found inside the mouth on the gums, cheeks, tongue or floor of the mouth. They cannot be transmitted from one individual to another.

Cold sores are found outside the mouth, usually on the lips but may appear on the chin, outside of the cheek or the nostrils. They begin as a red blister, burst and crust over. The cycle takes 7-14 days to heal. Cold sores, caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus, are contagious, being transmitted by skin-to-skin contact. The virus is dormant most of the time and is carried by almost everyone. Fever blisters occur most often in young adults and adolescents and decline in people over 35 years of age. Certain factors activate its outbreak, particularly stress, colds, fevers and/or sunburn.

To reduce occurrences, avoid kissing when the blisters are visible; don’t squeeze or scrape the blister; wash your hands thoroughly before touching someone else; and use UV sunscreen on your lips before spending time in the sun.

Treatment of cold sores includes avoiding spicy and hot foods that will irritate them, application of phenol-containing over-the-counter ointments and administration of some anti-viral antibiotics that will shorten their duration but not prevent their outbreak. With a quick visit to our office, we can prescribe this medication.

Canker sores begin as small red circular swellings that usually ulcerate [rupture] within a day, after which they become white, surrounded by reddish inflammation. They last 8-10 days. As open sores, they can be very painful to the touch. Canker sores afflict about 20% of the population. Their cause has yet to be discovered, although they appear to breakout more in stressful situations, from getting a small “nick” in the skin [mucous membrane] or from foods such as citrus fruits and tomatoes. While they can occur in very young children, they are usually first seen between the ages of 10-20. It’s not uncommon for them to erupt 3-4 times a year, but they occur less frequently or stop all together in adults.

When experiencing canker sores, avoid rough textured or spicy foods that will irritate them. Try not to touch them with eating utensils or your toothbrush. Apply ointment that contains a topical anesthetic or some other active ingredient that will relieve the irritation. At our office we have Negatan which stops the irritation and starts the healing.

Do Dentists Accept Select Health Insurance?

When you’re seeking dental care, one of the first questions on your mind is probably whether or not your insurance will cover the cost. If you’re covered by Select Health insurance, you may be wondering whether or not dentists accept this type of coverage. The answer is yes – many dentists do accept Select Health insurance. Here’s what you need to know.

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Blue Cross Blue Shield In-Network Dentist Utah

Blue Cross Blue Shield is one of the largest providers of health insurance in the United States, offering coverage to millions of individuals and families. One of the benefits of having a Blue Cross Blue Shield plan is access to a network of in-network dentists in Utah who are covered under your plan. In this article, we’ll explore what it means to be an in-network dentist and how to find one in Utah.

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