Loose Permanent Teeth

While many of us were excited to have loose teeth as children, the same is not true in adulthood. If a permanent tooth wiggles around, it’s in serious trouble, and patients should seek help from a dentist immediately.

Doctors classify long-term damage to the teeth as primary or occlusal trauma. Primary trauma is the result of damage from stress, as happens when a patient grinds their teeth at night. Secondary occlusal trauma is the result of severe periodontal disease. When the gums are severely infected, they, the roots of the teeth, and the jaw bone all lose tissue.

With a weakened jaw bone, other teeth are vulnerable to becoming loose, as well. Dentists must act quickly and the first thing that needs to be done is controlling the periodontal infection. Once the decay has been stopped it will probably be necessary to put the teeth in a splint for a time. Teeth that are severely compromised may need to be replaced with implants, which may also necessitate a jaw bone graft depending on how much tissue it has lost.

Joseph S. Dallessandro, DDS, and Jiah Choi, DDS, operate at 360 E 72^nd St, Ste B, New York, New York, 10021. To set up an appointment, call 212-988-1089, or visit JosephDallessandroDDS.com, and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Why Sugar Is Bad For Teeth

Sugar has many labels – glucose, fructose, sucrose – but they all mean the same thing. It should be no secret that sugar is bad for your teeth, but Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro, DDS is here to explain why. Sugars are the main culprit when it comes to cavity development. This is because when sugars are ingested, acidity levels rise which can be too much for tooth enamel to handle, thus leading to the dissolution of enamel and dentin, causing cavities.  

Sugar takes on many forms and it can be found in almost anything. Without getting into too much detail, sugar is bad for teeth are because it creates acids that break down tooth enamel. Dr. Dallessandro doesn’t expect patients to give up sugar cold turkey, but there are replacement options. Take small steps by switching to sugar-free chewing gum and try to work your way up to reducing your sugary beverage intake.

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

Water Benefits Teeth

Water keeps us hydrated and without it, we wouldn’t be able to survive. Saliva is the mouth’s primary defense against tooth decay and water replenishes saliva with every sip. By drinking more water, especially if it contains nature’s natural cavity-fighter – fluoride – this will protect you from dry mouth and tooth decay. Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro, DDS is here to give you more reasons to drink water.

Saliva is made up of 99% water. When we are low on saliva, our mouths will begin to feel dry and uncomfortable. This condition can make it hard to swallow and chew because saliva washes away leftover food. Water also washes away acids that have been left behind on the teeth that may cause cavities. Water doesn’t wreak havoc on your teeth like sugary beverages do. Sugar provides no nutritional value for dental health, but water provides many.

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

Pain with Fillings

Fillings are a common method of restoration intended to ease a patient’s pain from tooth decay and to prevent further erosion. However, patients sometimes continue to experience discomfort after a filling is placed. While this is normal, persistent pain should be examined by a skilled dentist such as Dr. Dallessandro or Dr. Choi.

If the area around a filling is still painful days after the filling was placed, the filling may be misshapen. This could prevent the patient from biting properly or provide bacteria with a crevice to hide in and continue to cause decay. It could also be that the decay went all the way to the pulp of a tooth and a root canal will be necessary to undo the damage.

Fillings do not always last forever. A tooth with a filling that had been comfortable for years may become painful if the sealant surrounding a filling breaks. This would provide bacteria with another hiding spot and could cause the filling to come loose. It is also possible that a second crack has formed within the tooth, and the pain from the second episode of decay is being confused with pain from a faulty filling.

Joseph S. Dallessandro, DDS, and Jiah Choi, DDS, operate at 360 E 72^nd St, Ste B, New York, New York, 10021. To set up an appointment, call 212-988-1089, or visit JosephDallessandroDDS.com, and fill out a contact sheet.