Baby Bottle Tooth Decay

Baby teeth aren’t built to last into adulthood. They are naturally weaker than their adult counterparts, which is what makes them so susceptible to tooth decay. That’s why children are more likely to get cavities than older individuals. It’s important to practice good dental hygiene with your children, including infants. Otherwise, they are at risk for Baby Bottle Tooth Decay. Drs. Joseph Dallessandro and Jiah Choi provide dental services for the entire family. Contact our office in Upper New York, NY, to learn more.

 

Baby Bottle Tooth Decay begins as all cavities do, with a surplus of oral bacteria. This is often caused by high sugar intake levels. The cause is right in your child's bottle. The American Dental Association recommends only giving your infant breast milk, formula, or regular milk. Do not fill bottles with sugary drinks like juice, soft drinks, and sugar-water. Older children should drink water. It naturally contains fluoride, a cavity-combating chemical.

 

It’s suggested that you don’t give your child access to a bottle in their crib or bed. This creates moisture in the mouth, leading to Baby Bottle Tooth Decay. Giving them clean pacifiers is also important. Don’t dip them in sugary substances like honey.

 

An infant’s parents, especially the mother, are big sources of bacteria. It is often transferred through the mother's saliva. This is done by sharing food or improper pacifier cleaning. Abstain from all unnecessary mouth-to-mouth contact.

 

Schedule your child’s first dental appointment with Drs. Joseph Dallessandro and Jiah Choi. We offer family-friendly services in the Upper New York, NY, area. To schedule an appointment, visit our website or call 212-988-1089.

Cleaning Your Tongue

It’s important to brush and floss your teeth daily, if not twice a day. But what about your tongue? Most dental routines focus on the teeth and gums while neglecting it. Instead of brushing your tongue, invest in Tongue Cleaners/Scrapers. Drs. Joseph Dallessandro and Jiah Choi recommend these handheld dental appliances. They remove coatings off your tongue by scraping away the dead cells and bacteria. Learn more at our office in New York, NY.

 

Tongue cleaning apparatuses are sold at most grocery stores and supermarkets. They are a great and inexpensive investment. Using them is simple and easy! Start off by placing the scraper at the back of your tongue. Slowly move it forward, scraping your tongue as you go. Once you reach the tip, rinse off the cleaner. Clean out your mouth with water as well. Repeat for as many times as necessary

 

There are a handful of benefits to daily tongue cleanings. Tongue coatings are caused by dry mouth, smoking, yeast infections, medications, and poor oral hygiene. Removing the build-up of dead cells improves your breath. Certain scientific studies state that daily tongue cleaning can improve your overall sense of taste. Removing harmful bacteria will improve your health.

 

Use caution and the right amount of force when cleaning. The sharp edges that clean the tongue can also cut you. Be cautious of where and how much pressure you are using. Try to avoid activating your gag reflex.

 

The office of Joseph Dallessandro and Jiah Choi is located in New York, NY. To schedule an appointment, visit their website or call 212-988-1089.

Periodontal Splinting

Growing up, finding out you had a loose tooth was a celebratory event! It meant you were getting older and growing up. Finding a loose tooth as an adult usually creates some alarm. Causes range from periodontal disease, injury, and misalignment. Schedule an appointment with Drs. Joseph Dallessandro and Jiah Choi immediately. Our office is located in New York, NY.

 

The recommended solution for a loose tooth is Periodontal Splinting. It connects your loose teeth together into a solidified unit. Teeth, like people, are stronger together. Patients are offered temporary and permanent periodontal splinting. Temporary comes in the intra-coronal and extra-coronal form. The difference lies in how they attach to your teeth. Extra-coronal simply attaches to the enamel. Intra-coronal requires a channel to be built into the tooth. Within the channel a splint is placed. Permanent splinting is more advanced. This is due to its longevity. Every loose tooth receives a dental crown. A splint fuses the crowns together, merging them into one.

 

A loose tooth should never be ignored. Left untreated, it will damage the surrounding structures. It will either fall out or need to be extracted. The biggest cause of a loose tooth is injury or facial trauma. Personal injury or falling can also knock a tooth loose. Advanced periodontal disease is another factor. There is also misalignment due to bruxism or teeth grinding. The unnecessary pressure can cause your teeth to shift.

 

Worried you might have a loose tooth? Have you suffered from a facial injury? Contact our New York, NY, office today. To schedule an appointment with Drs. Joseph Dallessandro and Jiah Choi, visit our website or call 212-988-1089.

Teeth Extraction: Sectioning

Having a tooth extracted is a nerve-wracking procedure regardless of age. Teeth Sectioning is an easier form of removal. Drs. Joseph Dallessandro and Jiah Choi offer it to our patients in the New York, NY, area. The soon-to-be extracted tooth is broken into multiple sections. This makes it easier to remove and requires less force. Contact our office to learn more!

 

Your New York dentists may recommend teeth sectioning for a few different reasons. Certain teeth may prove to be difficult. Some are unique and are multi-rooted. Impacted wisdom teeth are another example. They are larger by nature, making them prime candidates for sectioning. Sectioning provides a faster recovery time and needs less force. This makes it the best option for pediatric extraction.

 

The procedure begins with Drs. Dallessandro or Choi applying a local anesthetic to the area. General anesthesia is used in certain cases. The pulp and nerve are severed for the tooth removal. A dental drill breaks the tooth into pieces. Water is continually flushing out the area, removing bone chips and fragments. Finally, they removed the sectioned pieces. Your dentist will stitch up the area.

 

The entire procedure produces minimal amounts of pain. One of the major benefits of sectioning is that it requires less force, resulting in less pain. A smaller wound also means a quicker healing time. Follow the instructions given by your New York dentists. Doing so prevents your stitches from tearing. Use over-the-counter pain medication or prescription medication to manage your pain levels.

 

If you or a loved one are in need of tooth extraction and are interested in our Teeth Sectioning services, contact our office in New York, NY. Drs. Joseph Dallessandro and Jiah Choi are available by appointment either by calling 212-988-1089 or visiting their website.

Inlays/Onlays

Inlays and Onlays are restorative devices commonly referred to as partial crowns. They are placed onto a tooth, restoring function and appearance. Drs. Joseph Dallessandro and Jiah Choi provide these services to our patients in the New York, NY, area. We can help you if you’re self-conscious of your smile. Contact our office today.

 

The difference between inlays and onlays is the severity of the damage to the teeth. These partial crowns are applied at the tooths base. If the cusp isn’t damaged then an inlay can be used. It’s bonded directly to the tooth. Onlays are needed when the cusps need replacing. They extend onto the chewing surface to do so.

 

Inlays/onlays are available in a variety of different materials. These include gold, composite resin, and porcelain. Your New York dentists recommend porcelain. It’s the strongest and most natural looking in appearance. With porcelain, you won’t even be able to notice that the partial crowns are there.

 

The entire inlay/onlay process takes between 2-3 appointments. The first step is removing the decayed material. An impression or mold is then made of the tooth. This is the basis for your restorative device. It is sent to a dental laboratory to be created. It will take between 2-3 weeks for completion. In the meantime, a temporary sealant is applied. At the second appointment, the sealant is removed. Your inlay/onlay will then be permanently bonded.

 

If the biting surfaces of your teeth are damaged, prohibiting their use and hurting your appearance, contact Drs. Joseph Dallessandro and Jiah Choi of New York, NY. To schedule an appointment, visit our website or call 212-988-1089.

 

Root Canal Therapy

An infected tooth requires immediate treatment. This is the best way to prevent the infection from spreading, stop bone loss, and possibly save the tooth. In the dental profession, endodontics is the specialty comprising of the nerves and roots. The most common procedure; the root canal. Root canal therapy is used for infections. At your New York, NY, dental office, Drs. Joseph Dallessandro and Jiah Choi offer root canal therapy.

 

Infections are often found in the roots of the tooth. Thus, a root canal is necessary. At the procedure, a local anesthetic is applied to the tooth. This keeps you comfortable and experiencing minimal discomfort. Your New York dentist will drill into the tooth, opening the root canal. The infection can be spotted. All affected tissue is removed and the area thoroughly cleaned. Afterward, the hole is sealed and a temporary crown is applied. The crown assists the healing process while restoring appearance.

 

Root canals are the most infamous of dental procedures. They have a bad reputation that is simply incorrect. With today's technology and medicine, root canals are highly successful and almost pain-free. Any soreness experienced the next day can be treated with over-the-counter pain medication. Antibiotics may also be prescribed if an infection occurs. The result is an infection-free mouth and the ability to enjoy the foods you love.

 

If you or a loved one need root canal therapy, contact our New York, NY, office. To schedule an appointment with Drs. Joseph Dallessandro and Jiah Choi, visit our website or call 212-988-1089.

Periodontal Splinting

When you’re a child, a loose tooth is exciting! As an adult, the reaction is quite the opposite. A loose adult tooth is often caused by injury, misalignment, lost gum tissue, or orthodontic treatment. Like people, teeth are stronger together. Periodontal splinting attaches weak teeth, combining them into a stronger unit. If you are interested in learning more about this procedure, contact Drs. Joseph Dallessandro and Jiah Choi at their New York, NY, office.

 

It’s important to schedule an appointment with your New York dentist as soon as a loose tooth is noticed. If left untreated, a loose tooth damages the other periodontal structures. Trauma is one of the main factors behind this problem. It’s caused by grinding or clenching your teeth or loss of bone support. A combination of the two is also possible. Periodontal disease is the other major cause.

 

The act of splinting loose teeth corrects the uneven pressure caused by the misaligned bite. There are temporary and permanent splinting available. For temporary splinting, there are extra-coronal and intra-coronal splints. Extra splints are bonded to the enamel. Intra splints require a channel cut into the teeth. It’s then placed in this area and cemented into place. For permanent splinting, the teeth are crowned and a splint fuses each crown together.

 

Drs. Joseph Dallessandro and Jiah Choi are located in New York, NY. To schedule an appointment, visit our website or call 212-988-1089.

Occlusal Adjustment

If you’re waking up with sore jaws, or feel like your bite is uneven when eating, you need an occlusal adjustment. An occlusal adjustment fixes the misalignment of the teeth. Drs. Dallessandro and Choi provide this service to our patients at our New York, NY, office. When left untreated a misaligned mouth leads to chronic pain and/or a temporomandibular joint disorder.

 

The main cause of a misaligned bite are teeth that are crowded, missing, loose, or shifting. The result is abnormal pressure caused by an uneven distribution. Teeth are meant to come and work in a complete set. When one piece of the puzzle is out of place, the whole thing falls apart. Fixing your bite makes your teeth meet properly.

 

The procedure itself is relatively painless. Local or general anesthetic are applied. Your New York dentists use a dental drill with a fine filing stone. Removal mouthpieces are placed to relax the jaw and protect the teeth.

 

Patients that are eligible for an occlusal adjustment are those with shifting teeth, who clench or grind or have an uneven bite. In some cases, tooth sensitivity can be treated with an occlusal adjustment. A computer scan of the mouth pinpoints discrepancies in your mouth. These indicate where the adjustments need to be made. It’s highly efficient and prevents unnecessary procedures.

 

For more information, contact our New York, NY, office. To schedule an appointment with Drs. Joseph Dallessandro and Jiah Choi, visit our website or call 212-988-1089.

Night Guard Maintenance

For people who suffer from bruxism, a night guard can be essential to oral comfort. Bruxism, or night time teeth grinding, puts strain on the temporomandibular joint and can erode or crack enamel. A custom-fitted oral appliance can keep the patient’s jaws parted, sparing them dental trauma and helping to keep their airways open if they have obstructive sleep apnea. But night guards need to be kept clean, and we at Dr. Joseph Dallessandro’s Midtown dental practice want to make sure patients are doing it right.

The specifics of how to clean an oral appliance will depend on its design and may be found on a manufacturer’s website. But the biggest variance is whether it should be kept wet or dry when not in use. After being removed in the morning, a night guard should be brushed with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Patients should not use toothpaste, as the fluoride could scratch plastic. Many manufacturers also sell cleaning solution which can improve a night guard’s smell and help kill lingering bacteria. But patients also need to remember to clean the container out daily, which can be done with antibacterial soap and water.

Patients should be careful to keep the night guard at room temperature and not subject it to hot water or prolonged sunlight. Like a denture, the oral appliance’s shape could become distorted in excessive heat. Patients should not attempt to fix a broken night guard on their own or wear one that is no longer fitting well.

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.

 

Crooked Teeth

Many people have crooked teeth, and at Dr. Joseph Dallessandro, DDS we want you to understand why crooked teeth and crowding occur along with your treatment options. As your permanent teeth begin to develop, they can start to shift and overlap.

When your mouth is too small for your teeth, crowding can occur and leads to your teeth shifting. In some cases, overbites can form when your upper and lower jaws aren’t the same size, which extends your bottom teeth and jaw outward. While crooked teeth can be hereditary, losing your baby teeth early can also cause misalignment of the jaw and your teeth to shift.

If you have difficulty chewing while eating, you may need a tooth extraction or braces. Crooked teeth can make it difficult to clean your teeth that can lead to cavities and gum disease. For most of our patients, braces are required to fix crowding and crooked teeth.

We encourage our patients with crooked teeth to get braces at a younger age when their mouth is still developing. The younger you get braces, the easier it is for your teeth to be realigned because you are still growing and there is room for your teeth to be adjusted.

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.

Causes of Bad Breath

Bad breath is no fun, and we at Dr. Joseph Dallesandro’s Midtown dental office don’t want you to suffer from it either. That’s not just because we’re the ones who clean your mouth; halitosis could also be a sign of an oral health problem.

When bacteria build up inside the mouth, it produces a foul odor. You doubtlessly knew that any food in your mouth that doesn’t become food for you becomes food for bacteria, but you may not have known that bacteria lurk on the tongue, as well as the teeth. There, they can eat nasal discharge when the patient has a stuffed or runny nose. They may also grow on oral appliances such as night guards, or in between an implanted denture and the gum line if the patient can’t clean properly.

Sometimes, food doesn’t have to be in the mouth to cause bad breath. Garlic and onions cause halitosis by releasing chemicals into the patient’s bloodstream that eventually wind up in the lungs. They, as well as red meat, alcohol, and caffeine can also trigger acid reflux, which allows acidic gas into the mouth. People with diabetes have elevated levels of sugar in their saliva, which could fuel bacteria growth. Any food or drink that causes dry mouth will also cause bad breath, since ordinary saliva is crucial to removing food debris. For that reason, one of the best defenses against halitosis is to drink lots of water.

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.

 

Choosing the Proper Toothbrush

At the Midtown office of Dr. Joseph Dallessandro we advise our patients on how to practice good oral hygiene. Brushing twice a day is important for maintaining good oral hygiene, which can be compromised if you are not using the proper toothbrush. Choosing the right toothbrush can be difficult, which is why we encourage our patients to ask us for advice.

The first thing you have to do when choosing a toothbrush is deciding between traditional or electric. Traditional toothbrushes work fine if you are brushing for a full two minutes and are covering all areas of your mouth. We encourage our patients who have a tendency to brush for a shorter time use an electric toothbrush to reach the area’s you may miss.

Regardless of the type of brush you choose, it should fit comfortably in your mouth. The right toothbrush allows you to easily access and brush all areas of your teeth and gums. Don’t forget to look at the bristles for each toothbrush at the store. Our doctors recommend soft-bristled toothbrushes, as they are the safest and most comfortable. If you have dexterity issues, you might also want to look into getting an attachable grip.

Remember, the type of toothbrush you use affects how well your teeth are cleaned. Be sure to practice good oral hygiene to have the healthiest teeth possible!

To learn more about the best toothbrush for your teeth and to learn about all of the services provided at our practice, visit www.josephdallessandrodds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro in our New York, NY office, call 212-988-1089.

Bite Checks

One of the most important parts of a dental examination is a bite check. Particularly in children, bite checks are a way of monitoring whether a patient is likely to develop misalignments or enamel wear. We at Dr. Joseph Dallessandro’s Midtown dental office hope that if our patients understand why these examinations are important, they’ll be motivated to maintain regular appointments.

For a bite check, we’ll need patients to demonstrate how they close their teeth together. Often in children, new permanent teeth pushing into the gum line push others out of place. The molars, which are mainly used for chewing, come in last, which can cause the front teeth to get jumbled and rub together the wrong way. Adults who have never undergone orthodontic treatment may have this problem, too, and experience pain from temporomandibular joint disorder as a result. For this reason, the bite check also includes a tactile examination of the jaw joints.

It’s never too late for minor orthodontic therapy, and adults frequently get it for cosmetic reasons or to spare slightly overcrowded teeth from grinding. But because children’s jaws are softer, they can receive major corrections. They usually get their first orthodontic assessment when they’re about seven years old, when it is possible to use x-rays to predict the future location of their permanent teeth. We also use x-rays to determine whether adults’ teeth are being displaced by bony growths in the jaw, which are usually benign.

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.

 

Flossing

One thing that dentists and hygienists stress to patients that are often ignored is the art of flossing. Flossing is a little bit time consuming but is so important when it comes to good oral health. Flossing is responsible for removing about 40% of bacteria and plaque from your teeth. Plaque generates acid, which can cause cavities, irritate the gums, and lead to gum disease. There is no substitute to eliminate bacteria stuck in between your teeth, flossing is the only way.

If conventional flossing is challenging for patients, floss picks are a great alternative and easy to use. A dental floss pick is a small plastic tool with a curved end that holds a piece of dental floss and makes it easy to get in between your teeth effortlessly. It doesn’t matter how you floss, as long as you are flossing.

Incorporating water picks into your oral care routine is also helpful as it rinses out chunks of food that are stuck and stimulates your gums. Dr. Joseph S. Dallessandro knows it’s easy to skip flossing but stresses the importance of it for healthy teeth and healthy gums.

Joseph S. Dallessandro, 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 Joseph S. Dallessandro and fill out a contact sheet.

Retreatment

The long-term success of a root canal is around 95% and in most cases the root canal lasts as long as natural teeth. When the root canal isn’t successful, the tooth might become diseased or painful and need retreatment. When root canals reach that point, an endodontist (root canal specialist) will need to do a new root canal.

When the root canal doesn’t heal successfully, there are a variety of cases why the tooth failed to heal properly. The placement of the crown might not have been done in a timely manner following endodontic treatment, narrow canals weren’t treated properly, and in some cases canal anatomy went undetected and therefore went untreated during the procedure.

Two visits are needed with an endodontist, the first one visit is to take x-rays and diagnose the problem, then the crown is removed and the canal is cleaned and filled with a temporary filling. After your endodontist completes retreatment, you will need to return to your for a second visit  as soon as possible to have a new crown or other restoration placed on the tooth to protect and restore it to full function.

Joseph S. Dallessandro, 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 Joseph S. Dallessandro and fill out a contact sheet.

Arestin To Treat Periodontitis

When the body develops a bacterial infection, an antibiotic is used to treat it. The same applies to infections that start in the gums.  Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro and his staff utilize arestin for patients with periodontitis who need a scaling and root planing procedure performed. Periodontitis is a chronic bacterial infection, caused by plaque, which has settled underneath the tooth’s surface below the gum line.

Arestin has the ability to reduce the severity of periodontal disease.  After a scaling and root planning procedure, the medicine in powder form is applied to the gums.  In a clinical study, when used in addition to scaling and root planing, arestin reduced harmful bacteria by nearly 2 times as much as scaling and root planing alone. This is because adding arestin to the mix disrupts the progression of periodontitis by specifically targeting the active infection.

If you have questions or concerns about the status of your periodontal health, please give us a call. To learn about all the treatments provided at the practice, visit www.josephdallessandrodds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro in our New York, NY office, call 212-988-1089.

A Whiter Smile This Year

Everyone likes to make a great impression with a nice bright smile.  At the dental practice of Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro, we provide an at-home whitening system to patients that you can use to whiten and brighten your smile gradually at home.  Patients with serious and minor stains can both see great results from this whitening treatment.  A consultation can help you determine how severe your stains are and what kind of results you can expect from a whitening treatment.  Come visit us about teeth whitening and start the New Year with your best smile!

To whiten your teeth at home, we outfit patients with whitening gel and a set of custom trays for application.  A dentist takes an impression of your teeth, and from this impression two custom trays are made for your top and bottom teeth.  The trays are made for you to take home and use by applying gel to the trays and then fitting them over your teeth. The dentist’s recommendation of how often to treat and how long each treatment should last may vary.  When following the dentist’s recommendations, most patients see results of teeth whitening 4-8 shades.

To learn more about teeth whitening and all the services provided at the practice, visit www.josephdallessandrodds.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro in our New York, NY office, call 212-988-1089.

Post-Extraction Swelling

Dental extractions are generally simple affairs at the Midtown office of Dr. Joseph Dallessandro. When patients follow their instructions, they are likely to have easy recoveries, and we’re available to help if something goes wrong. But we want patients to be able to recognize if they need additional attention, so we thought we’d provide some instructions about post-extraction swelling.

The body recognizes the removal of a tooth as an injury and triggers its inflammatory response. The swelling is usually proportionate to the “injury,” so non-surgical extractions trigger less of it. Nonetheless, the patient will experience sensitivity and swelling for a few days. During the first forty-eight hours after an extraction, the patient should try to limit swelling by holding a cold pack against their face. They should be careful to use it for no more than fifteen minutes at a time and to take fifteen-minute breaks between applications.

Swelling should peak after three days. After seventy-two hours, patients can try to reduce it by applying heat packs, again for fifteen minutes at a time with fifteen-minute breaks. Patients should seek emergency care if they are in extreme pain or notice the surgical site turning black or white, but swelling should disappear within a week.

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.

 

Gum Disease and Diabetes

We’ve helped a lot of people deal with complicated oral health situations at the Midtown dental office of Dr. Joseph Dallessandro. Diabetes is one of the most common conditions that make people particularly vulnerable to gum disease. We want to assure our patients that they will receive compassionate, comprehensive care here and that we want to help raise awareness about the implications diabetes and oral health have for each other.

People with uncontrolled diabetes have weakened immune systems. Gum disease is common in the general population, but it is even more common in people with diabetes, and therefore, so are inflammation symptoms such as bleeding gums. Inflammation is not a bad thing in itself—it is the immune system’s way of providing molecular resources to white blood cells and of isolating bacteria. But people with uncontrolled diabetes suffer chronic inflammation because their bodies struggle to defeat infections, and there is increasing evidence that gum disease bacteria contribute to rises in blood sugar.

Luckily, there is also evidence that gum disease treatment can help to bring blood sugar levels back under control. People with uncontrolled diabetes may need additional consideration for major procedures because they will take longer to recover from surgery, but they are usually eligible for simple gum cleanings. Regular brushing and flossing can also help them to prevent gum disease from returning.

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.

 

Reasons for Extractions

Tooth extractions at the Upper East Side office of Dr. Joseph Dallessandro are usually a simple affair. But because we work so hard to save teeth, if we’ve recommended an extraction, it means there’s a major issue. To help patients understand what they’re facing, we’re dedicating this week’s post to reasons for tooth extractions.

If a tooth’s pulp is infected, root canals are usually an effective means of treatment. Sometimes root canals can fail due to abnormalities in the tooth’s structure, but even then, a specialist would retreat it while replacing the tip of the tooth root. But if an infection has progressed too far, it poses a danger to the patient’s overall health. A tooth may also need to be extracted if it is badly cracked along the root or if the surrounding gum tissue is too compromised to support it.

What’s much more common is for teeth to be extracted due to overcrowding or difficulty erupting. The wisdom teeth, which are the largest teeth and the last to emerge, often get trapped, requiring them to be extracted. Premolars may also be removed to allow the remaining teeth to form an arch, and baby teeth may be removed if they do not fall out naturally while the adult tooth is pushing through.

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.