Do You Suffer from Sensitive Teeth?

Have you ever sipped a hot or cold beverage and felt a sharp pain shoot through your tooth’s nerve? If you’ve answered yes, then you may be suffering from the common problem known as sensitive teeth. This is because the inside of your tooth is primarily made up of a material called dentin, which contains microscopic tubules filled with tiny nerve endings and dentin hypersensitivity or nerve irritation occurs whenever this material loses its protective covering of enamel, exposing these nerve endings to hot, cold, acidic or sticky foods, leaving you in pain. If this sounds all too familiar, having a conversation with Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro is the first step in managing your sensitivity.  

What causes sensitive teeth is a mystery you can solve with Dr. Dallessandro. However, most causes include worn tooth enamel due to brushing aggressively, tooth erosion due to highly acidic foods and beverages, tooth decay, and/or gum recession. After Dr. Dallessandro determines the reason for your sensitivity, he will treat the underlying cause. To prevent sensitive teeth from recurring, twice a day, you should brush your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. In addition, you should schedule dental checkups twice a year, or more depending on the severity of the issue.

If you are experiencing tooth sensitivity, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. 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.

What is a Tooth Abscess?

When a tooth persistently throbs and keeps you up at night with pain, it could be more worrisome than a simple tooth ache. An abscessed tooth is a painful infection at the root of a tooth or between the gum and a tooth. It occurs when the pulp, the soft tissue inside the root canal, dies and becomes inflamed after being left untreated. If an abscessed tooth has you bothered, Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro, DDS can usually resolve the problem with endodontic therapy.

The abscess itself is a pocket of pus that’s caused by a bacterial infection. The most common symptom is an ache in the bone around the tooth, but you may also experience pain when chewing. Other causes of a tooth abscess are trauma to the tooth, such as when broken or chipped, and periodontal disease. The goals of treatment for an abscessed tooth include strategies to eliminate the infection, preserve the tooth, and prevent further complications.

If you are experiencing inflammation of your gums, give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro, DDS in our New York, NY office, give us a call at 212-988-1089 or visit our website, www.josephdallessandrodds.com for more information about the services we provide. 

How Effective Is Your Brushing Routine?

Even though we’ve been brushing our teeth for our whole lives, many of us are surprised to learn that we’re not doing it properly. How many of you think it’s a race when you step in front of the sink? You may brush for less than a minute, leaving a layer of plaque behind. Plaque that isn’t removed can harden into tartar, making it harder to keep teeth clean. That’s why it is important to utilize these brushing tips in between professional cleanings and dental checkups with Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro, DDS.

• Place the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to the gums.


• Move the brush back-and-forth gently in short strokes.


• Brush the outer surfaces, the inside surfaces and the chewing surfaces of all teeth.


• To clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, tilt the brush vertically and make several up-and-down strokes.


• Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and keep your breath fresh.

If you have further questions regarding your oral hygiene routine, give us a call. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro, DDS in our New York, NY office, give us a call at 212-988-1089 or visit our website, www.josephdallessandrodds.com for more information about the services we provide. 

The Proper Flossing Technique

Flossing should never be painful. If you floss too hard, you could damage the tissue between your teeth. However, if you’re too gentle, you might not be removing the food from your teeth. Floss removes food trapped between the teeth and removes the film of bacteria that forms there before it has a chance to harden to plaque. Plaque buildup causes gingivitis, which can lead to a more serious form of periodontal disease. Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro can’t monitor how often you floss (once a day) but he can give you some flossing tips to utilize the next time you get the job done.

• Starting with about 18 inches of floss, wind most of the floss around each middle finger, leaving an inch or two of floss to work with.


• Holding the floss tightly between your thumbs and index fingers, slide it gently up-and-down between your teeth.


• ·        Gently curve the floss around the base of each tooth, making sure you go beneath the gum line. Never force the floss, as this may cut or bruise delicate gum tissue.


• Use clean sections of floss as you move from tooth to tooth.


• To remove the floss, use the same back-and-forth motion to bring the floss up and away from the teeth.

If you have further questions regarding your oral hygiene routine, give us a call. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro, DDS in our New York, NY office, give us a call at 212-988-1089 or visit our website, www.josephdallessandrodds.com for more information about the services we provide. 

Dental Veneers for a Brand-New Smile

Having a radiant and beaming smile is, well, something to smile about! From minor imperfections to major aesthetic issues, dental veneers can offer that brilliant smile you desire! Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro, DDS offers dental veneers to his patients in our New York, NY dental practice!

Veneers are a great solution for patients with gaps, misaligned teeth, misshapen teeth, discolored teeth, cracks, and more. Without any major dental work, veneers are bonded to the front of your existing teeth. They create the look of a completely transformed smile.

To begin the process of creating your new smile, Dr. Dallessandro will prepare your teeth. He will take a very small amount of enamel from the front of your teeth. This amount of enamel equates the thickness of the veneer that will replace it. When the teeth are fully prepared, Dr. Dallessandro will take impressions of them to be sent to a laboratory. The laboratory will create completely customized veneers. During the creation process, you will wear a set of temporary veneers to protect your teeth. When the custom veneers are ready, they are bonded to the front of your teeth. With good care, veneers are able to last for up to ten years. Taking good care means brushing and flossing as you normally would, but it requires no special care. Also remember to visit your dentist for routine cleanings and examinations.

Veneers can take a smile you are insecure about and transform it so you have nothing but confidence! To schedule an appointment with Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro, DDS in our New York, NY office, call us at (212) 988-1089 or visit our website, www.josephdallessandrodds.com. 

Dazzling Smiles with Custom Teeth Whitening Trays

It is no wonder why most people say a smile is the first thing they notice about someone. Whitening your teeth can unleash confidence you did not even know you have. Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro, DDS here in New York, NY offers our patients a customized take-home tray whitening system for dramatic whitening results.

When you choose a whitening system that is supervised by your dentist, it means that you are going to get professional results. When store-bought whitening kits do not work, it may be time to try a professional teeth whitening system.

Dr. Dallessandro begins the whitening process with taking impressions of your teeth. These impressions are used to construct retainer-like trays that fit perfectly over your teeth. A special whitening gel that breaks the carbon bonds responsible for holding in stains is placed into the trays. The trays are worn for a short time over a period of a few days. Whitening in the comfort of your own home is a definite plus over sitting in the dental chair for the duration of your treatment. Our custom take-home whitening trays have been known to produce results four to eight shades whiter!

If you are looking for a dazzling new smile, try our completely custom take-home whitening tray system. To schedule an appointment in our New York, NY dental office, call the office of Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro at (212) 988-1089 or visit our website, www.josephdallessandrodds.com. 

Dental Implants in New York, NY

When it comes to tooth replacement, you want to look for the best options. Here in our New York, NY dental practice, Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro, DDS utilizes dental implants for life-long tooth replacement. Dental implants are the closest to a real tooth as you can get.

When teeth become too damaged or decayed to be repaired, they will have to be extracted. Sometimes the tooth may just fall out on its own. In the event of a tooth gone missing, it is important to replace it as soon as possible. Leaving an open space could cause teeth to shift, jawbone to deteriorate, and gum tissue to be left vulnerable. While there are other options that are available for tooth replacement, dental implants are the only options that may last a lifetime.

Dr. Dallessandro surgically inserts the implant post into the bone socket at the site of the missing tooth. The implant post is a screw made of titanium; however it bonds to your jawbone just like a tooth’s root would. The healing process takes a few months, so to protect the area and to allow normal use of your teeth, a temporary dental crown will be applied to the implant. When the healing is finished, the temporary crown is removed, an abutment is attached to the implant, and a permanent dental crown is attached.

If you do not like the idea of having to eventually replace a replacement, dental implants are the option for you. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro, DDS of New York, NY, call our office at (212) 988-1089 or visit our website, www.josephdallessandrodds.com.