Teeth Types and Their Functions

Can you imagine what life would be like if you didn’t have any teeth? Performing tasks such as eating and speaking would be very difficult. While the mouth is a small part of our overall anatomy, it’s filled with a team of parts, all of which work together to help you eat, drink, speak, and have a radiant smile. Here at the office of Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro, it is the job of our staff to take care of that smile, and if you’ve ever wondered what purpose each tooth serves in your mouth we are here to tell you all about it.

The types of teeth we have and their functions are:

• Incisors – located at the front of the mouth, these teeth have a sharp biting surface and are used for cutting or shearing food into small chewable pieces.


• Canines – located at the ‘corners’ of the dental arches, these teeth have a sharp pointed biting surface. Their function is to grip and tear food.


• Premolars – Unlike incisors and canines, these teeth have a flat biting surface. Their function is to tear and crush food.


• Molars – The molars are the largest teeth in the mouth and they too have a large flat biting surface. The function of these is perhaps the strongest of all as they chew, crush, and grind food.

If you have questions about your teeth, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.josephdallessandro.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro in our New York, NY office, call 212-988-1089. 

Athletes and Mouthguards

Mouthguard use has been shown to reduce the risk of sport-related dental injuries. Imagine playing a sport that you love and suddenly your teeth get knocked out. Smiling, talking and eating would be difficult and it will probably take you some time to recover. When it comes to protecting your mouth, a mouthguard is an essential piece of athletic gear that should be part of your standard from an early age. Fortunately, Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro can provide patients of all ages with custom-fitted mouth guards for proper protection.

Custom-fitted mouthguards are made from exact and precise models of an individual’s own teeth. They are also made of resilient and tear-resistant materials ensuring a proper fit. A properly fitted mouthguard absolutely must be protective, comfortable, resilient, tear resistant, odorless, tasteless, and allow room for you to breathe. Because our custom-fitted mouthguards are made for your mouth and your mouth only, they are more reliable than over-the-counter mouthguards.

If you think you may benefit from a mouthguard, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.josephdallessandro.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro in our New York, NY office, call 212-988-1089.

Beat Bad Breath

If you don’t brush and floss your teeth daily, food particles can remain in your mouth, promoting bacterial growth between teeth, around the gums, and on the tongue. This promotes bad breath and it can be embarrassing in social situations and additionally cause lack of self-esteem. Medically called halitosis, bad breath can not only result from poor dental hygiene, it may also be a sign of other health problems. This is why it’s important to schedule regular dental exams with Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro to keep your mouth healthy and rule out serious medical conditions.

In most cases, Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro can treat the cause of bad breath, but prevention is always key. In addition to visiting our office twice a year, you should brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to remove food debris and plaque. Don’t forget to brush your tongue too. It also helps to rinse with a bacterial mouthwash at least twice a day. Always remember to floss so that you reach places where the toothbrush can’t reach.

If you suffer from bad breath, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.josephdallessandro.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro in our New York, NY office, call 212-988-1089.