Sectioning Teeth

Sometimes wisdom teeth have to be removed in order to prevent infection or preserve the alignment of the rest of the teeth. At the Upper East Side dental office of Dr. Joseph Dallessandro, we understand that patients may not be happy to hear this, but we strive to make the procedure as easy on them as we can. One way to make extractions easier is by sectioning teeth.

The molars have strong ligaments holding them in place and multiple roots. (Lower molars have two roots; upper ones may have three.) Extracting a tooth is done my rocking it back and forth in order to loosen it, but this may not be possible to do when a tooth is firmly secured into the jaw. It may also not be possible if the reason a tooth is being removed is that is not fully exposed. Furthermore, trying to yank out a tooth with an enormous amount of force could break it or hurt the patients.

As an alternative, we can use a drill to cut a large tooth into sections. The patient will be anesthetized and not feel this, but the tooth will be cleanly broken down into smaller pieces. The sections can then be lifted out individually through smaller paths without needing to be yanked or twisted as much.

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 DDS and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Research into Filling Failure

We work hard to stay up-to-date on new medical research at the Upper East Side dental office of Dr. Joseph Dallessandro. Recently, scientists examined data on people who had suffered from premature filling failures to look for common features, and they were surprised by what they found.

The bonding used to secure dental fillings has an expected lifespan of ten years, but the people in the study required replacements after five years, at most. The researchers found that they were likelier than people with successful fillings to be smokers or to use alcohol. They also found a strong correlation between filling failure and a particular DNA sequence. The possibility that people could be more predisposed toward filling failure because of their genetics merits further investigation, but in the meantime, people whose relatives have struggled with poor oral health should be especially vigilant about maintaining their regular check-ups.

Another major finding was that resin bonding is just as successful as amalgam fillings. This is significant because resin is the same color as natural teeth and lacks mercury, making it a more popular option. Knowing that it is not prone to higher failure rates will contribute to its increasing popularity.

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 DDS and fill out a contact sheet.