Visit our Family Dentist Office to Have Your Sensitive Teeth Treated

If your teeth are in pain, schedule an appointment with our dentist office.  We will examine your teeth and determine what is causing the pain in the first place.  Many people suffer from tooth sensitivity.  This can be due to a cavity, gum disease, and a lack of enamel.  In order to treat it properly, we need to know why your teeth are sensitive.  We recommend having a dental exam and teeth cleaning twice a year which can prevent a lot of these issues, but regardless of when you had your last appointment, call us if you are in pain.

One of the things we will look for is whether or not the enamel on your teeth has worn away.  As people age, it is common for teeth to go through a process called demineralization.  This is when the enamel starts to wear off, and the dentin underneath is exposed.  The challenge with dentin being exposed is that it is full of tiny holes that lead directly to the roots of the tooth.  This means that when you eat or drink anything, sensations are sent through the dentin and to the roots.  This is what can lead to a sudden painful sensation.  You can help to reduce the pain at home by brushing with desensitizing toothpaste and a soft toothbrush.

If your enamel is strong, then the pain is likely caused by either a cavity or gum disease. A cavity can be diagnosed and treated easily.  Once the cavity is removed, and a filling is placed, your tooth should stop hurting.  If the infection is in the center of your tooth, a root canal will likely be necessary in order to remove the infection.  Afterwards, we typically place a crown around the tooth in order to protect it.  This will prevent anything from touching the tooth directly since a crown is essentially a cap that surrounds the tooth. As a family dentist, we have multiple ways to treat a cavity that are painless and can help you to feel better right away.

When there are no cavities and your enamel is strong, the pain in your mouth is likely due to gum disease. As bacteria gathers around your gums, it can get between the gum tissue and your tooth.  This can make your gums swell, bleed, and be in pain.  This creates an overall sensitivity in your mouth and as the disease grows, it can be painful. Our goal is to catch gum disease quickly before it can spread and create issues with your teeth.  In its early stages, we can treat gingivitis by performing a deep cleaning and removing the bacteria from under the gum tissue.  This will give your gums the natural ability to heal themselves and the symptoms will go away.

If gum disease is allowed to spread, it will make your gums recede.  This can be painful, and as the roots and tooth structure are exposed, your teeth can start to hurt.  In this scenario, a gum graft is typically necessary for protecting the teeth and restoring gum health.

To find out what is causing your sensitive teeth, call and schedule an appointment with our family dentist office today. 

As Football Games Take Place Across the Country, Dental Implants Can Restore Knock Out Teeth

Fall is here and with it comes fall sports and the need for dental implants.  According to the American Dental Association, sports injuries account for 13 to 39 percent of dental injuries leading to tooth loss. Parents should consider this when putting their kids in sports and look for ways to keep their teeth safe.  When teeth do fall out, many athletes are turning to implants as a permanent solution but this is normally a solution for adults, not children.

In order to keep kids safe, we recommend starting with ongoing preventative care.  By brushing and flossing their teeth twice a day and having their teeth professionally cleaned twice a year, their teeth will be stronger and less susceptible to becoming injured during an accident.  Brushing with fluoride toothpaste and getting a fluoride treatment at the dentist can also help.  In addition, to ongoing preventative care, we recommend that athletes of all ages wear a customized mouth guard in order to protect their teeth.

Football injuries may be significant but fewer football players lose teeth as a result of the sport because they wear mouth guards and a protective helmet. It is actually more common for basketball players to need dental implants than football players.  The University of California reviewed accident records from their athletic department in order to find out which sports had the highest likelihood of producing an oral injury.  It turns out that 11 out of every 100 basketball players reported a dental injury.  This could mean tooth loss, a cracked tooth, etc.  Since basketball players are not required to wear a mouth guard and do not have any protective face gear, these statistics make sense.  As a parent, if your child plays basketball you should consider the mouth guard as their only real means of protection.

Why Dental Implants Are So Popular

During the procedure, we implant a metal post under the gums and secure it to the jawbone.  Over time, the post and bone will fuse together and create a new root system.  It can take several months for this process to complete but it makes the implants incredibly secure and durable.  The new synthetic tooth is secured to the metal post, and once the procedure is complete, it won’t become loose while playing sports or eating.  The process makes implants as sturdy as a natural tooth would be.  This is significant since for athletes and adults with active lifestyles, slowing down is not an option.  It is important to be able to function like normal without thinking about a missing tooth, and this is the best option for doing so.

Once installed, people can take care of dental implants just like they would a natural tooth.  Brushing and flossing throughout the day along with regular teeth cleanings are all that is needed to keep teeth in good shape.  The healthier the mouth is, the stronger teeth will be overall so remember to schedule your teeth cleaning today.

An Orthodontist Can Do More Than Give You Braces

If you need to see an orthodontist, you are in good company.  Millions of children and adults need to straighten their teeth and work with a professional in order to do so.  Having straight teeth is important for more than your appearance.  While it can give you a gorgeous smile, straight teeth are also less likely to become infected and are easier to keep clean and white.  

Some people need to have their teeth moved because they are experiencing jaw and face pain.  When the bite is misaligned, it can produce symptoms that are similar to TMJ and can be painful.  The only way to deal with this issue is to have your bite corrected and moved into place so that the front teeth sit securely over the top of the back teeth and that your molars are where they should be when relaxing and eating.  

Orthodontics can help by moving teeth into place and aligning a person’s bite. Most people think of an orthodontist as someone who works with braces only. Braces are an excellent way to straighten and move teeth, so this is a common procedure.  There are, however, other oral health issues that are typically not addressed with braces, but still require treatment by a professional orthodontist.  

These procedures include:

• Spacers.  Fixed spacers can be used to hold a place for an adult tooth to come in.  This is frequently used when a child loses a baby tooth prematurely and, as a result, the pallet starts to move and overcrowding takes place.  Permanent teeth can start to come in behind other teeth as a result of this problem, making a spacer an important solution for keeping room in the mouth for adult teeth to come in properly. 
• Invisalign ®.  Those that want straight teeth without wearing braces can use Invisalign® or another type of aligner to move their teeth into place.  This is basically a series of clear retainers that surround the mouth and move the teeth slowly into place with new aligners being worn every couple of weeks. 
• Jaw repositioning appliances.  This is a removable device that is worn on the upper or lower jaw and ensures that the jaw stays in position.  It is used to train the jaw to close a certain way. 
• Expanders.  Those that need to expand their pallet may need to wear one of these devices.  It is used by itself and in conjunction with braces in order to open the pallet enough for the teeth to fit in place without overcrowding. 
• Retainers.  A removable retainer is often required after braces are taken off in order to keep teeth from moving back into their old position.  They can also be used to help move teeth overtime. Some children wear a modified retainer to help stop thumb sucking. 

These are only a few of the ways that an orthodontist can help to straighten teeth, address oral health problems, and prevent jaw and face pain.  To learn more, schedule a consultation. 

Teeth Whitening Can Make You More Attractive

Did you know that teeth whitening can do more for your appearance than simply brightening your smile?  People have often wondered what makes a person attractive, and a recent study by Match.com may have the answer.  They polled 5,000 single people and found that a beautiful smile was the one thing that both men and women found to be the most attractive quality when looking for someone to meet.  They could have selected a variety of both physical and personality traits, but this one feature made the top of the list.  If you want to improve your appearance, this is by far the easiest way to do so because it doesn’t require hours in the gym or a makeover by a stylist.

A beautiful smile starts with a healthy one.  In order to keep your smile glowing, it has to remain in good condition.  That includes teeth free from cavities and gums that are healthy and not receding.  In order to have a healthy smile, brush and floss your teeth at home on a daily basis.  You can do this several times a day to reduce the risk of your teeth becoming stained or an infection developing.  If you smoke or use smokeless tobacco products try to eliminate the habit as this also puts your teeth and gums at risk of becoming infected.  Additionally, you should have your teeth cleaned at least twice a year to ensure that any lingering bacteria are removed before it can create an infection.

When your teeth are healthy, improving your smile is easy.  Tooth whitening is a quick and pain-free solution for brightening your smile.  There are several ways to do so and professional teeth whitening is by far the most effective.  It can whiten your teeth by up to eight shades, producing dramatic and noticeable results.

Over-the-counter whitening solutions work but only slightly.  For example, you can purchase whitening strips or trays at the drug store but they typically only whiten teeth by around two shades.  This will help to brighten your teeth but won’t restore them to a gorgeous youthful glow.  Over time teeth tend to become dull and get stained.  The older you are, the more likely your teeth are to lose their luster.  These in-store solutions will help to start the process but are nowhere near as effective as what the dentist provides.  An additional challenge with over-the-counter solutions is that they are made in a one size fits all design.  Since they are not customized for your teeth, there is the risk of them slipping out of place which can be uncomfortable.  It would be similar to purchasing an XL T-shirt at the store when you wear a medium.  The shirt would do its job but not as effectively as one that actually fit.

We create customized teeth whitening trays that are made after a mold is taken of your mouth.  This allows us to design a solution that fits snuggly and securely around your teeth.  When the whitening gel is added, it won’t slip out, so the process is very comfortable.  After wearing the trays at night for a week or so, you will see dramatic results that will improve your smile and overall appearance.  Additionally, we provide in-office whitening procedures for people that want faster results.

Dental Implants Provide People with a New Level of Freedom

MG Dental provides http://www.mgdental.com for patients that want to replace a missing tooth in a way that looks and feels completely natural.  It is common for a person to lose a tooth at some point in their lifetime.  In fact, seventy percent of U.S. adults suffer from some form of tooth loss.  This is a common problem, and modern dentistry provides multiple solutions for addressing it.

One common way to replace a tooth is to create a dental bridge.  In this procedure, a crown is placed on the two teeth surrounding the missing one in order to form a “bridge” that holds the new tooth in place.  A cosmetic dentist can do this and make the tooth look natural.  However, many people that wear bridges end up with an uncomfortable tooth that looks out of place. Patients that have gotten a bridge, years ago, may now benefit by replacing it with an implant.

Dental implants are also superior to dentures.  While a common solution, dentures don’t feel like natural teeth.  They look better than ever and are more comfortable than they used to be, however, they are still a foreign object in the mouth.  That means that people often have difficulty eating and speaking like normal because they have to get used to wearing something new.  A full set can also reduce the number of flavors that person can taste.  Dentures will always have their place in dentistry and are a good solution for certain patients.  They are not, however, a permanent solution that behaves like a natural tooth.

Patients of MG Dental can benefit from the latest in dental technology.  Dental implants have become more common recently and are ideal for people that have an active lifestyle and want to keep it that way.  The best thing about implants is that once the procedure is complete, patients no longer have to think about their teeth.  Since it feels completely natural and is as durable as a natural tooth, there is no need to eat carefully or add more steps to the daily hygiene routine.  Brushing and flossing like normal, along with trips to the dentist, is all it takes to keep teeth fresh, beautiful and healthy.

The first step in the procedure is to have a metal post implanted under the gums and secured to the jawbone.  This must be done by an expert in order to reduce any recovery time and prevent complications.  In time, the metal and the jawbone will fuse together to create a completely durable synthetic root system.  The new root is the key to the entire procedure and the component that separates this from other types of cosmetic dental work.  It can take several months for the gums to heal entirely, but the process is worth the wait due to the stability it creates.

The new tooth will be created in a dental lab and will match the surrounding teeth perfectly.  After the gums have healed the new tooth will be secured to the post at the surface of the gums and positioned in place.  The result is a smile that looks, feels, and behaves completely naturally – perfect for patients with active and busy lifestyles.

How to Take Care of Your Braces

Once your braces are firmly on your teeth the work of straightening your smile can start.  Your Orthodontist will examine and inspect your braces on a regular basis.  At each visit, they will be adjusted by changing or tightening your wires, changing your rubber bands, and anything else that the orthodontist recommends.

In between visits, it is important to care for your teeth at home.  Eating the wrong thing or failing to brush and floss properly can lead to complications and make the process last longer.  The typical time a patient has them on is around two years.  A delay or complication can extend the process out much farther.

Here are tips for how you can care for your braces and teeth at home.

·         Brush after meals.  Do not wait for the evening to brush your teeth.  Carry a soft toothbrush with you and use it after every meal and some snacks.  This will help to remove food that has gotten stuck around your braces and will help to prevent staining and cavities.

·         Use a wire brush.  A special wire brush can be used to clean the plaque off from around your braces.  Its small pointed tip can get into small spaces.

·         Floss daily.  There are flossing tools that are made for patients with braces.  Use this at least once a day.  Food and bacteria will become trapped on and in between your teeth if you are not careful with your oral care habits.

·         Use mouthwash.  Instead of chewing gum, use an antiseptic mouthwash.  This will kill bacteria that is forming in your mouth, on your teeth, and gums.  It is also safer since gum tends to be sticky and can even cause your rubber bands or wires to become loose.

·         Drink water.  Substitute soda, juice, coffee, and other sugar filled liquids with water.  Your overall health may improve, and you will prevent sugar and bacteria from sitting on your teeth throughout the day. 

·         Visit the dentist.  Continue with your preventative care treatments.

·         Avoid candy.  Biting down on hard candy can cause your braces to become damaged.  Any damage to your braces will elongate the amount of time you have to wear them. Additionally, caramels and other soft chewy candies can become stuck in your braces which creates a risk of getting cavities.

·         Stay away from hard foods.  Things like nuts, ice, carrots, and hard pizza crust can all damage your braces or the hard pieces can be stuck in between your brackets and cause pain.  If you want to eat these foods look for a softer version.  For example, steamed carrots, soft crust, and pecans instead of almonds.

Follow your orthodontists’ instructions on anything additional you need to do for your specific situation.  Make sure to attend all of your scheduled appointments so that your braces stay in the best shape possible, and your smile is straightened on time and on schedule.  By caring for teeth and braces, you will have a gorgeous smile in no time.

Invisalign is the Clear Way to Straighten Your Smile

You can have a straight and a gorgeous smile with Invisalign.  A bright, straight, and warm smile exudes confidence and can transform someone’s appearance.  Most people want a straight smile but may not have the time or desire to wear traditional braces.  Fortunately, there is another option.

MG Dental provides patients with multiple ways to straighten their smile.  While we offer traditional braces, this is not a good fit for everyone.  People with busy careers that need to maintain a certain image may be unable to wear braces while people that travel a lot don’t have time to visit the orthodontist on a frequent basis.

Invisalign is ideal for people with a busy schedule because the progress can be made at home.  Appointments are simply to make sure that the teeth are adjusting as they should.  Traditional braces have multiple components – brackets, wires and rubber bands. These components need to be adjusted or changed regularly at the orthodontist office in order to keep teeth moving in the right direction.  Invisalign is different because there is only one piece to worry about, an aligner.

Clear aligners are created using a mold of your mouth.  They slowly change so that every couple of weeks you can remove the old one and start to wear a new one.  They go in stages so that each time you start wearing a new aligner it will move the teeth that much close to your smile goals.  Patients are given the aligners at the beginning of the process, so there is no need to visit the orthodontist before switching one out.  Regular inspections still need to be completed, but that can be done on a patient's schedule without worrying about causing delays.  Flexibility is important because people’s lives are so incredibly busy.  Even those that are committed to having straight teeth may find the number of office visits cumbersome, making this alternative option ideal.

Invisalign is also an excellent option for those worried about their appearance.  Many people are uncomfortable with the idea of having metal braces on their mouth.  Whether needing to blend in at work or a high school senior wanting to look amazing for the prom, braces do impact your overall appearance where this option won’t.  Since the aligners are clear, a patient can wear it with them with confidence that no one can tell they are on.  This makes them a viable alternative for people that want to straighten their smile without calling attention to it.

Another benefit is that you can care for your teeth like normal without any additional maintenance steps.  Simply brush your teeth after each meal or sticky snacks, floss daily, and use an antiseptic mouthwash to kill bacteria and to remove plaque.  Your aligners can also be brushed using a soft toothbrush and toothpaste.

To learn more about the process or to schedule a consultation call MG Dental at 718-416-6444 and speak with one of our experienced team members or our orthodontist.