Joseph S Dallessandro, DDS

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Arestin for Fighting Gum Disease

When battling gum disease, if careful measures are not taken, the gum disease can become difficult to fully get rid of. Dr. Joseph S. Dallessandro, DDS offers Arestin here in our New York, NY office to increase the success of clearing away gum disease.

When gum disease causes the irritated gums to pull away from the tooth and develop deep pockets, bacteria can reach down deep, by the tooth’s root. A scaling and root planing is performed to remove the hardened tartar from the tooth and the tooth root. The tooth is then smoothed out to remove any hiding spots for bacteria. This is where normally, the process would end. However, we add Arestin, an antibiotic made of microspheres. We place this into the gum pocket will help clear up any bacteria left over. The tiny microspheres are not visible to the naked eye, and they will dissolve on their own, so there is no need to go back to the dentist to have them taken out. Arestin is time-released, so it works for a long time after it is placed.

If you suspect you have gum disease, be sure to set up an appointment with us. To schedule your 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.

Brushing Your Baby’s Teeth

Imagine, after weeks of hearing your baby fuss and moan you finally spot that first little tooth bud popping up through the gums. Baby teeth may be small, but they act as placeholders for adult teeth. Without a healthy set of baby teeth, your child will have trouble chewing and speaking clearly. Dr. Joseph S. Dallessandro, DDS wants to ensure a healthy smile down the road, and since your baby can’t hold a toothbrush, they rely on you to maintain their oral health care.

Starting from the day you bring your newborn home until your baby’s first tooth appears, usually around six months, rub a damp, clean washcloth over his or her gums (front and back) at least once per day.  This allows your child to get used to an oral cleaning routine while removing lingering plaque and food. You should brush your baby’s teeth until he or she is old enough to hold a toothbrush. Meanwhile, keep on the lookout for any signs of baby tooth decay.

If you have questions about pediatric oral care, please give us a call. To schedule your 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.

How to Reduce Dental Plaque

Plaque develops when foods containing carbohydrates, such as milk, soft drinks, cakes, etc. are frequently left on the teeth. Bacteria that live in the mouth thrive on these foods, producing acids as a result. Over a period of time, these acids destroy tooth enamel, resulting in tooth decay. This is why Dr. Joseph S. Dallessandro, DDS wants patients to know how they can reduce dental plaque to avoid advanced dental procedures in the future.

To prevent plaque you must first pay attention to your diet. Since plaque needs carbohydrates to form, the fewer carbs you eat, the better. Avoid candy, cookies, and other sweet things as much as possible in order to prevent plaque build-up. If you need a snack, choose nutritious foods such as plain yogurt, cheese, fruit or raw veggies. Vegetables such as celery help remove food and help saliva neutralize plaque causing acids.  In addition, the best thing you can do to reduce dental plaque is brush and floss twice a day. Brushing removes plaque that has built up on your teeth, while flossing removes food particles and debris from between your teeth.

If you are overdue for a dental appointment, please give us a call. To schedule your 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.

Overbite Complications

If you have been diagnosed with an overbite, this simply means that your top teeth extend beyond your bottom teeth. It is a common dental problem that Dr. Joseph S. Dallessandro, DDS may recommend correcting with dental braces. Overbite teeth are considered a type of “bad bite.” It can either be noticeable or unnoticeable, but it some extreme cases it can make your jaw look significantly larger or your bottom jaw look much smaller.

Most often, overbites are inherited as traits just as the color of your eyes or the freckles on your cheeks. Other causes of misaligned bites may result from an early loss of baby or adult teeth, gum disease, or common oral health problems in children, such as thumb sucking. Once one of our doctors confirms your overbite with X-rays, he or she may take regular photographs of your face to further examine the relationship between the teeth, jaws, and head. From there, an individualized treatment plan will be developed to give you the smile you’ve always dreamed of.

If you would like to discuss malocclusion treatment options, please give us a call. To schedule your 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.

Toothbrush Care

Brushing your teeth plays an important everyday role for personal oral hygiene and effective plaque removal. You may not give much thought to cleaning your toothbrush; however appropriate toothbrush care and maintenance are important considerations for oral hygiene. At the dental practice of Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro, we want you to know how and when to replace, clean, and store your toothbrush.

The American Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush approximately every three to four months or sooner if bristles are frayed. However, toothbrushes will wear out more rapidly depending on factors unique to each patient. It is also important to never share a toothbrush because this practice could be a concern for people with compromised immune systems or existing infectious diseases. If your toothbrush comes in contact with another, thoroughly rinse the brush with warm tap water to remove any remaining toothbrush and debris. When you are done using the toothbrush, store it in an upright position and allow the toothbrush to air-dry until used again.

If you have further questions regarding toothbrush care, 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.

Thank You For Your Testimonials!

At the dental practice of Dr. Joseph S Dallessandro, our staff appreciates feedback from our patients because it teaches us how to improve as a team. Our team would not only like to thank Ron M. for this five-star review, but we would like to thank him for being an excellent patient. If you recently experienced exceptional service from our office, please let us know! 

“Dr. Dallessandro and staff always put the interest of their patients first and consistently perform service of the highest regard. The staff does not try to "over treat", and truly takes into account your wishes. The Dental skills of Dr. Dallessandro and Dr. Choi are top flight, and the Hygienist is probably the best around. I heartily recommend this practice for all of your dental care needs.” – Ron M. (Patient since 2004).

If you would like to leave a review or are interested in learning about the services we provide at the dental practice of Joseph S Dallessandro, 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.

Occlusal Adjustments for Misaligned Bites

When a person’s bite is misaligned, it can cause pain, sensitivity, and abnormal wear-down of teeth. Dr. Joseph S. Dallessandro, DDS is able to correct this problem with a simple occlusal adjustment here in our New York, NY office.

A bite can become uneven due to grinding, clenching, crowded teeth, or shifting teeth. Basically, an uneven bite is when the top teeth do not match up correctly with the bottom teeth. This can leave the patient feeling like they have a lopsided jaw. It can cause pain and pressure that not only is disruptive to one’s life; it can also harm other teeth.

An occlusal adjustment is simply altering how your top and bottom teeth meet. We take a very fine file with a dental drill to reshape areas of the teeth. Our dental technology allows us to detect very small disturbances in the bite, so we can make very minor but very accurate adjustments. Our computer program scans your mouth to find these tiny irregularities. We then use the dental drill and file to reshape the irregularities so that they will meet up with the rest of your teeth properly. In the end, you will have teeth that fit comfortably together.

If a misaligned bite sounds like something you are dealing with, an occlusal adjustment may be what you need. To set up an appointment with Dr. Joseph S. Dallessandro, DDS, call our New York, NY office at (212) 988-1089 or visit our website, www.josephdallessandrodds.com.