Oral Cancer and Alcohol

We provide oral cancer screenings at Dr. Joseph Dallessandro’s Upper East Side dental office and are a vital part of the care teams of oral cancer patients. As part of our prevention efforts, we want to publicize a new study by the American Society of Clinical Oncology which found alcohol to be one of the causes of oral cancer.

That may not sound like a new discovery since alcohol in combination with smoking was already known to be a risk factor, but the new study was unusual for looking at alcohol in isolation. It found that new cancer cases, including oral cancer, can be attributed to alcohol about 5% of the time. Although heavy drinking created a greater risk, the type of alcohol consumed was apparently irrelevant and drinking lightly or in moderation also presented a risk.

It is still unclear how alcohol causes mouth cancer, specifically. Scientists hypothesize that alcohol breaks down soft tissues in the mouth, which then have to rebuild, with a risk of forming cancerous material each time. But one thing which is clear from the research is that when people stop drinking, their risk of developing oral cancer decreases.

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

 

Cosmetic Dentistry: Veneers

If you wish to enhance the color or shape of your teeth, veneers may be an option for you. Veneers are routinely used to fix teeth that are discolored due to excessive coffee, tea, and wine consumption, teeth that are worn down due to clenching or grinding, and teeth that are chipped or broken. Getting veneers is a simple process that is usually completed in three trips to the office. If you wish to discuss veneers to restore your smile, schedule a consultation with Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro, DDS.

A dental veneer is a shell or layer of tooth-colored porcelain or composite that is placed over the facial surfaces of teeth. To determine if you are a candidate for veneers, Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro will discuss your oral health during a consultation. Because the process of placing veneers requires natural tooth structure to be removed, you will need to discuss your smile goals, as removal of any natural tooth structure is permanent. Although veneers fall into the category of cosmetic dentistry because they create bright smiles, they also protect the surface of damaged teeth and may eliminate the need for more extensive treatments.

If you have questions or concerns about veneers or cosmetic dental options, 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.

Winter Lip Care

In the middle of this particularly frigid winter, we at Dr. Joseph Dallessandro’s Upper East Side dental office want to ensure that our patients understand how to protect their lips from chapping. Cold air is unable to retain much moisture, making this a dangerous time of year for soft oral tissues even indoors.

The use of humidifiers can help to increase the air’s moisture content. It is a good idea to keep them in any closed room where people spend long periods of time. However, it is not a good idea to take long, hot showers. Evaporation causes the lips and the rest of the skin to be left with less moisture than they had previously. For the same reason, it is unwise to lick the lips as a way of rehydrating them. Even worse would be tucking them under the teeth, which bruises them and could cause swelling.

People often ask about products, and it is a good idea to use lip balm to seal moisture. The downside is that fragrances and ingredients such as menthol can cause some people’s lips to become inflamed, so it is better to use fragrance-free balm and to switch immediately to a menthol-free stick if any irritation occurs.

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

Sedation Dentistry

If you have a fear of the dental chair or desire a little relaxation during your dental cleaning, Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro has sedation options to meet your needs. Sedation dentistry is used to take a patient’s fears away while visiting the dentist and can be used for everything from invasive procedures like tooth extraction, or simple procedures such as a prophylaxis.

Sedation dentistry is a safe and effective way to help a patient relax during his or her dental appointment. There are different levels of sedation, which range from minimal, where a patient is awake but relaxed, to general anesthesia, where a patient is completely unconscious. The type of sedation used will depend on a person’s situation. Depending on the dose given, the patient may or may not need someone to drive him or her home.

If you have questions or concerns about sedation options, 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.