Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that most people get in their late teens or early twenties. Sometimes these teeth can be a valuable asset to the mouth when healthy and properly aligned, but more often, they are misaligned and require extraction. 

Not all wisdom teeth need to be extracted, but sometimes the wisdom teeth cause pain.  Wisdom teeth are often impacted. An impacted tooth is one that gets blocked as it is pushing through the gum into your mouth. An impacted tooth can be painless, but it can also lead to a bacterial infection. If there is swelling, infection or intense pain, then antibiotics may be prescribed or the wisdom teeth may need to be extracted as soon as possible. 

Dr. Joseph Dallessandro and Dr. Thomas Chung can can determine whether or not your wisdom teeth should be extracted.

If your wisdom teeth are impacted and causing you pain, give us a call today to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about wisdom teeth extraction and other services that we offer, visit www.josephdallessandrodds.com for more information. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Joseph Dallessandro Or Dr. Thomas Chung, in New York, NY, call 212-988-1089.

Dangers of Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which you have one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breathes while you sleep. People with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times. This can lead to problems, including high blood pressure, stroke, heart failure, diabetes and depression. In addition, untreated sleep apnea may be responsible for poor performance in everyday activities, such as at work and school. This is why Dr. Joseph Dallessandro and Dr. Thomas Chung offer a non-surgical treatment to patients who suffer from a type of apnea called obstructive sleep apnea.  

Obstructive sleep apnea is the more common of the two forms of apnea. It is caused by a blockage of the airway, usually when the soft tissue in the back of the throat collapses during sleep. Dr. Dallessandro and Dr. Chung can custom fabricate a dental appliance which allows air to move through the throat more easily when you breathe during sleep, reducing the severity of obstructive sleep apnea.

Even if you do not suffer from sleep apnea this type of dental appliance is very effective in significantly reducing snoring allowing a more peaceful night sleep for both you and your partner.

 Sleep apnea is diagnosed by the patient’s symptoms and by a sleep study test. If you have been told that you have sleep apnea or simply want to stop snoring, give us a call today to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about sleep apnea procedures that we offer visit www.josephdallessandrodds.com for more information. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Joseph Dallessandro, DDS in New York, NY, call 212-988-1089.

Dental Hygiene Affects Your Overall Health

To ensure that you maintain great oral health, Dr. Joseph S. Dallessandro and Dr. Thomas Chung want to make sure that your personal oral hygiene routine is at its highest quality.

Most of us are aware that poor dental hygiene can lead to bad breath, gum disease and tooth decay, but not brushing your teeth may also lead to more serious illnesses.

Like many areas of the body, your mouth is flooded with bacteria – most of them harmless. Normally, the body’s natural defenses can keep these bacteria under control. However, without proper oral hygiene, bacteria can reach levels that might lead to oral infections, including abcesses, gingivitis and periodontal disease. This in turn may lead to episodes of "bacteremia," where bacteria in the mouth enter the bloodstream and may spread to other parts of the body.

Bacteremias may cause serious consequences. The immune response to the bacteria in the bloodstream can cause inflammation, sepsis and septic shock. Bacteria can also use the blood to spread to other parts of the body, causing infections away from the original site of infection. Examples include endocarditis or osteomyelitis.

While still under study, more and more research suggest significant links between poor oral health and such systemic conditions as cardiovascular disease, stroke,and diabetes, in additon to adverse affects on pregnancies.

Several studies have found that gum disease is associated with an increased risk for heart attack. It may be that oral bacteria enter the bloodstream, attach to fatty plaques in the coronary arteries, increases inflammation and plaque buildup, and cause clots to form.  A 2007 study showed that periodontal disease (associated with bleeding gums and bacteremias) increased the risk of heart disease in men by one third and doubled it in women, even after controlling for smoking.

To protect your oral health, practice good oral hygiene every day and utilize these tips: brush your teeth twice a day, floss daily, eat a healthy diet and limit between-meal snacks, replace your toothbrush every three to four months or sooner if bristles are frayed and last but not least, schedule regular dental checkups.

 

 

If you wish to improve your dental hygiene routine, or you are due for a checkup, give us a call so we can assist you! To learn more about dental hygiene, visit www.josephdallessandrodds.com for more information. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Joseph S. Dallessandro or Dr. Thomas Chung, DDS in New York, NY, call 212-988-1089.