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.

 

Chew Gum with Xylitol

Xylitol is added to some chewing gums and other oral care products to prevent tooth decay and dry mouth. Xylitol tastes sweet but, unlike sugar, it is not converted in the mouth to acids that cause tooth decay. If you’re going to chew gum, Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro suggests reaching for gum that contains this ingredient to do your oral health a favor.

Benefits of replacing sugar with xylitol include increased absorption of calcium in the digestive system, which is good for your teeth and increased production of saliva. Saliva contains calcium and phosphate, which get picked up by the teeth and aid in remineralization. In addition, xylitol reduces the acidity of saliva, which helps to fight acid-driven degradation of tooth enamel.

If you have questions or concerns regarding tooth sensitivity or periodontal disease, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.josephdallessandro.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro in our New York, NY office, call 212-988-1089.

Cavity Development

A cavity is a form of tooth decay that develops over a course of time. In this time, the patient likely didn’t practice adequate oral care, visit a dentist, or has a diet that is high in acidity and added sugars. Cavities are permanently damaged areas on the hard surface of your teeth that develop into tiny openings or holes. The best form of prevention is to visit Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro twice a year for an oral exam and routine cleaning.

Though cavities are common in children and teens, they can develop in adults, too. Cavities are caused by a combination of factors, including bacteria in the mouth, frequent snacking on junk food, and not brushing and flossing on a daily basis. To prevent cavities, it’s important to pay attention to the teeth by brushing at least twice a day for two minutes and flossing at least once a day. If you experience a toothache, pain when you bite down, or tooth sensitivity, give us a call.

If you have questions or concerns regarding tooth decay, dental health, or cavity prevention, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.josephdallessandro.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro in our New York, NY office, call 212-988-1089.

White Spot Lesions

We hope none of our patients at the Upper East Side dental practice of Dr. Joseph Dallessandro experience tooth decay, but if they do, we want them to recognize it. Contrary to what people might think, incipient lesions in tooth enamel don’t usually start off painful or dark-colored. They look chalky and white.

Decaying enamel’s unusual texture and whiteness are due to acid exposure. This is one of the ways in which a dentist can identify if a patient is suffering from acid reflux or if they aren’t brushing enough. As bacteria eat and multiply, they secrete acid, which gets stuck to the thin layer of plaque near the gum line. White spots also develop in other places that are hard to brush, such as around traditional braces.

It only takes about thirty days of acid exposure for a white spot to form. The good news is that if the infection’s progress is stopped, the body can remineralize enamel. The bad news is that if enamel material is lost outright, it cannot regrow and must be replaced artificially. Patients should think of white spots as an early warning system and come see us if they need help.

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.

 

Cavity Prevention

Many people think that only children get cavities, but that is a myth that Dr. Joseph Dallessandro, DDS is about to debunk. It doesn’t matter how old you are, the sugars that are consumed through food and beverages feed off the plaque that sits on teeth and causes decay. If not removed by proper brushing and flossing, the acids in plaque can dissolve tooth enamel, creating cavities, or tiny holes in the teeth.

Any person who eats a lot of sugary or high-carbohydrate foods is more likely to develop cavities. The best way to prevent cavities is to keep the mouth as clean as possible. It’s important to maintain a rigorous oral hygiene routine that consists of brushing at least twice a day and flossing at least once a day in addition to visiting our office twice a year for dental checkups.

If you have questions or concerns about tooth decay, 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.

Why Sugar Is Bad For Teeth

Sugar has many labels – glucose, fructose, sucrose – but they all mean the same thing. It should be no secret that sugar is bad for your teeth, but Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro, DDS is here to explain why. Sugars are the main culprit when it comes to cavity development. This is because when sugars are ingested, acidity levels rise which can be too much for tooth enamel to handle, thus leading to the dissolution of enamel and dentin, causing cavities.  

Sugar takes on many forms and it can be found in almost anything. Without getting into too much detail, sugar is bad for teeth are because it creates acids that break down tooth enamel. Dr. Dallessandro doesn’t expect patients to give up sugar cold turkey, but there are replacement options. Take small steps by switching to sugar-free chewing gum and try to work your way up to reducing your sugary beverage intake.

If you have questions or concerns about dental health, 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.

Water Benefits Teeth

Water keeps us hydrated and without it, we wouldn’t be able to survive. Saliva is the mouth’s primary defense against tooth decay and water replenishes saliva with every sip. By drinking more water, especially if it contains nature’s natural cavity-fighter – fluoride – this will protect you from dry mouth and tooth decay. Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro, DDS is here to give you more reasons to drink water.

Saliva is made up of 99% water. When we are low on saliva, our mouths will begin to feel dry and uncomfortable. This condition can make it hard to swallow and chew because saliva washes away leftover food. Water also washes away acids that have been left behind on the teeth that may cause cavities. Water doesn’t wreak havoc on your teeth like sugary beverages do. Sugar provides no nutritional value for dental health, but water provides many.

If you have questions or concerns about dental health, 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.

Wisdom Teeth

With age come wisdom teeth, also known as the third and last set of molars that appear during our late teens and early twenties. If your wisdom teeth are perfectly aligned, then there will probably be no reason to remove them, however, the chances of this happening are very unlikely. Healthy wisdom teeth can help you chew your food better, but if they are impacted – trapped under the gums – then Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro may need to discuss extraction.

The condition of a person’s wisdom teeth usually changes between the ages of 16-23. Though every patient is unique, extraction may be necessary if the person experiences pain or infection.  Wisdom teeth can additionally lead to problems if they don’t have room to grow because they can cause damage to neighboring teeth. Before making the decision to extract a patient’s wisdom teeth, Dr. Dallessandro will make sure that the teeth are functional and not problematic to your bite.

If you have questions or concerns regarding the status of your wisdom teeth, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.josephdallessandro.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro in our New York, NY office, call 212-988-1089.

Gum Disease: Periodontitis

Periodontitis is an advanced form of gum disease that can develop if the first stage of gum disease – gingivitis – is left untreated. Unlike gingivitis which leaves a little bit of blood behind when you brush, periodontitis causes gums to pull away from the teeth. This action leaves deep pockets where plaque and bacteria can build up a lot faster. Periodontitis can progress until the teeth are loose and the bones that support the teeth are damaged. This is why it’s important to visit Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro twice a year for professional cleanings to prevent all stages of periodontal disease.

Periodontitis not only destroys the bones that support the teeth, this condition is critical to your oral health. Your mouth is the window to your overall health and long-term periodontitis may lead to increased blood sugar levels, as well as an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Like any other form of periodontal disease, periodontitis begins with plaque. Therefore, the more frequently your teeth are plaque-free, the less likely you are to succumb to periodontal problems. It’s important to prevent periodontal disease with a rigorous oral hygiene routine. You should brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss at least once a day, and visit Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro for dental health exams at least twice a year.

If you have questions or concerns regarding periodontal disease, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.josephdallessandro.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro in our New York, NY office, call 212-988-1089.

Acid Reflux

Toothaches often have preventable causes. In adults, one of the most common contributing factors to tooth decay is gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as acid reflux or GERD. At Dr. Joseph Dallessandro and Dr. Jiah Choih’s Lenox Hill office, we have a number of treatments that can mitigate acid reflux’s damage, but the patient will often have to make changes to their lifestyle to stop the disease from coming back.

Hydrochloric acid is highly corrosive to the body’s tissues. The stomach is protected from it by a layer of mucus, but if the acid escapes up the esophagus and into the mouth, it can cause quite a bit of pain. It dissolves enamel, leaving teeth sensitive and discolored, and prevents the saliva glands from keeping the mouth wet. We can strengthen enamel with fluoride treatments, but once it’s gone, it cannot grow back. However, we can replace it with fillings or partial crowns. When acid reflux causes gum recession, we can also use bonding to keep the teeth strong and brightly colored.

Avoiding acid reflux in the future may require a patient to consume less alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, fatty meat and dairy, and citrus juice. New saliva production can be stimulated by chewing sugarless gum and patients on medication may need to consider alternatives if the side effects are causing tooth decay.

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.

 

Necessary Tooth Extractions

Although permanent teeth were meant to last a lifetime, having a tooth pulled is sometimes necessary. At the dental practice of Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro, our staff would like you to know that before the doctor considers tooth extraction, every effort will be made to try to repair and restore it.  You’re probably most familiar with wisdom teeth extractions, but other necessary reasons for the removal procedure may include:

• Severe tooth damage/trauma – some teeth have such extensive decay and damage (broken or cracked) that repair is not possible.


• Orthodontic treatment – people getting braces may need teeth extracted to create room for teeth that are being moved into place.


• Some teeth may need to be extracted if they have the potential of becoming infected.


• Extra teeth – extra teeth may block other teeth from erupting, therefore, will require extraction.

If you have a tooth that is causing you pain, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.josephdallessandro.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro in our New York, NY office, call 212-988-1089.

Seal out Cavities with Sealants

Dental sealant is a thin, plastic coating painted on the chewing surfaces of teeth – usually the back teeth (premolars and molars) – to prevent tooth decay. At the dental practice of Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro, our staff applies dental sealants as a barrier to prevent cavities in pediatric patients. Though cavity prone adults can benefit from sealants too, the likelihood of developing pit and fissure decay begins early in life, so children and teenagers are primary candidates.

Although thorough brushing and flossing can remove food particles and plaque from smooth surfaces of teeth, they cannot always get into the grooves of the back teeth to remove the food and plaque. Sealants protect these vulnerable areas from tooth decay by “sealing out” plaque and food. The sealant acts as a barrier, protecting enamel from plaque and acids. As long as the sealant remains intact, the tooth surface will be protected from decay.

If you think you may benefit from dental sealants, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.josephdallessandro.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro in our New York, NY office, call 212-988-1089.