Back to School Check-Up

As kids go back to school, potential problems with their oral health become even more important. At Dr. Joseph Dallessandro’s Upper East Side dental practice, we believe nobody should have to endure a toothache, which is why if a child has missed a dental appointment, we want parents to know why now’s a good time for one.

While healthy teeth may be sensitive when they first erupt, children’s toothaches are still cause for concern. Children get dental infections at higher rates than adults, usually as a result of bad brushing. We can show them better brushing techniques and recommend slide-on handles for toothbrushes if they’re having trouble with motor control. It’s also possible that they’re brushing too hard, which could cause their gums to bleed. Children also have high rates of sinus infections, which could result in pain being deferred into the upper teeth.

Dental visits provide us with a chance to provide sealants to reinforce the teeth’s enamel and eliminate crevices in the molars where food gets stuck. They also allow us to plan for extractions or referrals to orthodontists if the adult teeth aren’t coming in straight. Toothaches cause children to miss meals and sleep and to have delayed speech development, so don’t let them disrupt your child’s education.

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.

 

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.