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.

 

Smoking and Pulpitis

Smoking is harmful to a patient’s immune system. There are also several reasons why it is harmful to oral health, including that it causes oral cancer and bad breath, but recently, scientists found evidence of a new way in which its interactions with the immune system are harmful to teeth, specifically. We at the Midtown dental practice of Dr. Joseph Dallessandro want our patients to be fully aware of the health hazards they’re facing, so we thought we’d take a moment to talk about dental pulp infections.

Pulpitis is the condition in which the sensitive pulp of a tooth is swollen, resulting in soreness. Like other forms of inflammation, it is an immune system response that traps disease-spreading bacteria and concentrates white blood cells and antimicrobial peptides. The latter are acids which latch onto bacteria, allowing them to be killed, and they’re one of the body’s most important defenses against infection. But according to a new study, smokers lack antimicrobial peptides in their dental pulp, putting them at risk for longer, more severe, and recurring infections.

Dental pulp infections are a serious concern. If they progress, they can cause facial abscesses and blood poisoning. Root canal therapy, in which dental pulp is extracted and replaced with a sealant, can be effective at treating them. But patients who wish to avoid severe pulp infections would do well to abandon smoking. The study also found that after a patient quits, peptides can sometimes return.

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.

 

Digital X-Ray's

At Joseph Dallesandro, DDS we use digital radiography to take x-rays instead of traditional photographic film. Digital x-rays are more efficient, bypassing chemical processing and allowing us to transfer and view the photos of your mouth faster. Soon after we take your x-ray’s we will look for any potential uses that need to be fixed with your teeth. 

Digital radiography uses 80% less radiation than traditional films. At our practice, your health is the most important thing for us.

Digital x-ray allows us to detect bone loss, tumors, infections in the tooth nerve, tooth decay, and other abnormalities. Digital radiography provides you with the best care possible by being convenient, safer, and faster.

Remember to make an appointment with us so we can diagnose the source of your pain and treat it. The health of your teeth is our number one priority!

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.

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.

 

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.

 

Is an Electric Toothbrush Right for You?

We want patients at Dr. Joseph Dallessandro’s Midtown dental office to feel confident in their oral hygiene products. There is a vast array of toothbrushes out there, so we’ve provided this guide to help our patients with one of the most difficult decisions: whether or not to go electric.

A manual toothbrush must be used for two minutes during each session to be effective. Electric toothbrushes make tens of thousands of strokes per minute, which cuts down on time. While studies have not shown manual toothbrushes to be any less effective when used properly, people with problems moving their hands or maintaining focus benefit from saved labor.

An electric toothbrush still has to be used on every tooth surface, but many now come with apps and Bluetooth technology that make that easier. Besides alerting users of when they miss a spot, toothbrushes can also be programmed to send warnings if the user is brushing too hard and to provide feedback on improved technique. Some also come with games for mobile devices that encourage better brushing habits in children.

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.

 

Dental Instruments

The Midtown office of Dr. Joseph Dallessandro is fully equipped to meet all of our patients’ general dentistry needs. There are a number of specialized tools we use to conduct diagnostics and fight decay, and in order to get patients more comfortable with oral care, we wanted to explain how some of them work.

The explorer, or probe, is the tool the patient will see us use the most often, along with the mouth mirror. The explorer has a hook at the end and is used to scrape small amounts of tartar. We use it to determine whether spots with decay still have active infections and whether tartar has accumulated beneath the gum line. Scalers are also hooked instruments that are used to scrape tartar out of the gum pockets. Hooked instruments come in a variety of shapes for different kinds of teeth.

If a tooth has decay, a drill is used to remove the damaged part. A dentist may also mix material for the filling on a tiny spatula and shape it onto the tooth with a placement instrument, which is a metal hook that flattens out at the end. When a tooth needs to be replaced, dentists use a spoon-like instrument called an elevator to loosen it and forceps to pull it the rest of the way out. The socket is then scraped clean of debris.

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.

 

Mouth Ulcers

If you need help with a mouth ulcer, the Midtown office of Dr. Joseph Dallesandro is the place to go. Although ulcers usually clear up on their own in about a month, it is worth consulting with us to determine if the problem is being caused by a bad bite and if there’s any treatment we can provide for the symptoms.

The herpes simplex virus-1 is responsible for cold sores. It is easily transferable during an outbreak and most people already have it from sharing cups or straws in childhood. Although the cold sore does little serious harm, it is important for patients not to transmit any fluid from the sore to their eyes. We can provide antibiotics and topical painkillers, if necessary. Unlike cold sores, cankers are lesions that are large and white. It is unknown what causes them, but they tend to occur in teenagers suffering from stress and nutritional problems.

Ulcers resulting from the patient biting down on the soft tissue of their mouths will recur until the teeth’s alignment is corrected or whatever habit is causing the patient to bite their cheek or lip is broken. Bruxism, or nighttime tooth grinding, is one possible culprit.

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Intrinsic Stains

The whitening treatments we offer at Dr. Dallessandro’s Midtown office are highly effective against extrinsic stains, but some stains are so deep bleach is unlikely to reach them. These are called intrinsic stains, and they affect the pulp of a tooth. While they may only be a cosmetic problem, in some cases, they represent a risk to the patient’s health.

The harmless intrinsic stains are those caused by the tooth being exposed to dark molecules during its formation. Common sources for these are tetracycline antibiotics and excessive amounts of fluoride. In these cases, the tooth can simply be covered with a veneer. The dangerous stains are caused by inflammation of the dental pulp in response to an infection. The body has a hard time fighting off dental infections on its own, and our doctors will recommend a root canal. Using the advanced imaging tools in our office, they will be able to determine whether the infected material has been eliminated. Once the patient is no longer at risk, the cosmetic restorations can proceed.

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.

 

Flossing with Bridges

Patients at Dr. Joseph Dallessandro’s Midtown practice can count on receiving helpful instructions for maintaining their oral hygiene. As patients get different kinds of restorations, their hygienic needs will change, and we want to make sure our patients with fixed bridges understand how to floss correctly.

There is no space in between teeth on a bridge that requires flossing, but there is a space between the bridge and the gum. This area must be kept clean in order to prevent plaque build-up, inflammation, and bad breath. Most commonly, patients use a threader (a device similar to a big, floppy needle) to loop a strand of floss around the bridge, and then floss normally. Some companies also manufacture stiffened floss which can be pushed through the gap.

Patients whose fixed bridges rest on implants instead of on reshaped natural teeth may have some more space to work with. If so, they can use proxy brushes to push debris out of the gap. Manufacturers are now making toothbrush and water pick heads that are specially shaped for use on implants, and these tools are useful for structures supported by multiple implants, as well.

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.

 

Reasons for Tooth Sensitivity in Children

Dr. Dallessandro’s Midtown office is fully equipped to diagnose the causes of tooth sensitivity in all our patients, including the youngest. In adults, sensitive teeth are usually due to enamel erosion, and while that is possible in children, there are a few other reasons why children get tooth aches which need to be investigated.

Children are the people most likely to get cavities (also known as caries), which is why regular brushing is the focus of most dental education materials aimed at them. But it is possible to overdo it; people who brush too hard bruise their gums, and as the gum line recedes, the teeth’s sensitive roots are exposed to air as well as hot and cold. Likewise, permanent teeth that are newly erupted from the gums will be sensitive for a little while.

It is possible for tooth sensitivity to indicate a problem elsewhere. Sinus infections often cause children’s upper teeth to feel sore. If a child clenches or grinds their jaws in their sleep in response to stress, sleep apnea, or tooth misalignment, they may also feel aches throughout their head and neck area.

Joseph S. Dallesandro, 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.