White Fillings

In the past, silver amalgam fillings did their job of restoring decayed teeth, but they did not look very good for a smile. These days, we have the technology available to provide white fillings that blend right in with the color of your natural tooth. Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro, DDS prides himself for being able to offer our patients restorative dentistry that improves teeth cosmetically at the same time. We offer white fillings here in our New York, NY dental practice.

White fillings work just the same as regular fillings. The decay is first removed from the tooth and any debris is cleared away. A composite resin that is color-matched to the shade of your tooth is then applied in layers. Each layer is hardened with a curing light. Afterwards, Dr. Dallessandro will shape the resin and make sure there isn’t any extra material. He will then polish the resin so that it shines like the rest of your tooth. Your tooth is now newly restored with a strong and good-looking white filling.

Fillings should be taken care of just like the rest of your teeth. You should continue to brush two to three times per day and floss once per day. Routine visits to your dentist for cleanings and examinations are also part of good oral hygiene.

If you suspect you have a cavity due to pain, sensitivity, or a dark spot on your tooth, come in for an examination. To schedule 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. 

Tips for a Charming Smile

With the popularity of selfies and instant photo sharing on the rise, having a camera-ready smile is a nice thing to have. However, with all of the coffee, wine, smoking and other foods that have the ability to stain our teeth on a daily basis, keeping our teeth their whitest is a lot harder than it sounds. Fortunately, at the dental practice of Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro, we can provide our patients with cosmetic options to give you the smile you’ve always dreamed of. Whether you decide to go the cosmetic route or not, we’d like to share some tips on how to flash your pearly whites once your dream smile is achieved!

• Be natural – when it’s picture time, smile gently. That way, your face looks relaxed. Your mouth opens slightly, and your lower lip matches the curve of your upper teeth.


• Check your teeth and gums – getting your smile camera-ready sometimes calls for a little behind the scenes prep work. If your pearly whites have yellowed with age, try an over-the-counter whitening product or pay us a visit! Also, don’t forget about taking care of your gums. They play a critical role in your nice smile. So keep them in good shape by brushing, flossing, and rinsing with a mouthwash every day.


• Practice – your perfect smile may not happen overnight, but if you have a big photo event like a wedding or a graduation coming up, it doesn’t hurt to try out your grin in front of the mirror!

If you wish to enhance the appearance of your smile, 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.

Handling Common Dental Emergencies

Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro understands that accidents happen, and being informed about what to do in case one occurs can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth. If you or your child experience some sort of trauma to your mouth for whatever reason, please give us a call immediately. Meanwhile, in the midst of a dental emergency, utilize these tips to ensure a smooth recovery. 

• For a knocked-out permanent or adult tooth, keep it moist at all times. If you can, try placing the tooth back in the socket without touching the root. If that’s not possible, place it between your cheek and gums, or use a tooth preservation product that has the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of acceptance.


• For a cracked tooth, immediately rinse the mouth with warm water to clean the area.


• If you bite your tongue or lip, clean the area gently with water and apply a cold compress.


• For toothaches, rinse the mouth with warm water to clean it out. Gently use dental floss to remove any food caught between teeth.

If you suffer a dental emergency, please contact our office immediately. 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.

Teeth Types and Their Functions

Can you imagine what life would be like if you didn’t have any teeth? Performing tasks such as eating and speaking would be very difficult. While the mouth is a small part of our overall anatomy, it’s filled with a team of parts, all of which work together to help you eat, drink, speak, and have a radiant smile. Here at the office of Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro, it is the job of our staff to take care of that smile, and if you’ve ever wondered what purpose each tooth serves in your mouth we are here to tell you all about it.

The types of teeth we have and their functions are:

• Incisors – located at the front of the mouth, these teeth have a sharp biting surface and are used for cutting or shearing food into small chewable pieces.


• Canines – located at the ‘corners’ of the dental arches, these teeth have a sharp pointed biting surface. Their function is to grip and tear food.


• Premolars – Unlike incisors and canines, these teeth have a flat biting surface. Their function is to tear and crush food.


• Molars – The molars are the largest teeth in the mouth and they too have a large flat biting surface. The function of these is perhaps the strongest of all as they chew, crush, and grind food.

If you have questions about your teeth, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our 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. 

Athletes and Mouthguards

Mouthguard use has been shown to reduce the risk of sport-related dental injuries. Imagine playing a sport that you love and suddenly your teeth get knocked out. Smiling, talking and eating would be difficult and it will probably take you some time to recover. When it comes to protecting your mouth, a mouthguard is an essential piece of athletic gear that should be part of your standard from an early age. Fortunately, Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro can provide patients of all ages with custom-fitted mouth guards for proper protection.

Custom-fitted mouthguards are made from exact and precise models of an individual’s own teeth. They are also made of resilient and tear-resistant materials ensuring a proper fit. A properly fitted mouthguard absolutely must be protective, comfortable, resilient, tear resistant, odorless, tasteless, and allow room for you to breathe. Because our custom-fitted mouthguards are made for your mouth and your mouth only, they are more reliable than over-the-counter mouthguards.

If you think you may benefit from a mouthguard, 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.

Beat Bad Breath

If you don’t brush and floss your teeth daily, food particles can remain in your mouth, promoting bacterial growth between teeth, around the gums, and on the tongue. This promotes bad breath and it can be embarrassing in social situations and additionally cause lack of self-esteem. Medically called halitosis, bad breath can not only result from poor dental hygiene, it may also be a sign of other health problems. This is why it’s important to schedule regular dental exams with Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro to keep your mouth healthy and rule out serious medical conditions.

In most cases, Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro can treat the cause of bad breath, but prevention is always key. In addition to visiting our office twice a year, you should brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste to remove food debris and plaque. Don’t forget to brush your tongue too. It also helps to rinse with a bacterial mouthwash at least twice a day. Always remember to floss so that you reach places where the toothbrush can’t reach.

If you suffer from bad breath, 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.