Spotlight on the Risk Factors for Tooth Loss

Tooth loss is normal in four-to-six-year-old children, but not in adults. Although tooth loss is quite common in adults, it shouldn’t be considered to be a normal consequence of the aging process. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of tooth loss at any age. With good oral care from your dentist and a healthy lifestyle, you can enjoy your pearly whites well into your 80s, 90s, and beyond! 

Never or Rarely Receiving Routine Dental Care 

Some people only visit the dentist when they suffer a toothache or other dental emergency. However, it’s really important to visit a dentist at least every six months for professional teeth cleaning and exam. The dental hygienist uses professional instruments that can scrape away plaque from underneath the gum line. Dental hygienists can also remove calculus or tartar, which is hardened plaque that’s impossible to remove with a toothbrush and floss. This intensive cleaning reduces your risk of developing problems like gum disease and tooth decay, which may eventually cause tooth loss. In addition, the dentist’s exam can detect problems early, before they cause symptoms. The early treatment of oral health problems can help prevent tooth loss. 

Smoking or Chewing Tobacco 

Tobacco use is a significant risk factor for tooth loss. There is no “safe” amount that one can smoke; even just one or two cigarettes per day will harm your health and raise your risk of tooth loss. According to the American Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), smokers are twice as likely to suffer from tooth loss as non-smokers. People who smoke a pack a day can expect to lose at least two teeth every 10 years. Remember that it’s never too late to quit smoking. Even if you’ve already lost some teeth, quitting now can preserve the rest of them. Plus, you might not be a candidate for dental implants while you remain a smoker. 

Tooth loss can be troubling, but with tooth implants, you can enjoy a beautiful and complete smile once again! Call (646) 783-3529 if you’re curious about getting dental implants in NYC. The dentists at Park 56 Dental look forward to meeting you and discussing your treatment options. 

Moderate Dental Sedation 101

Sedation dentistry is an excellent option for patients who are nervous about their upcoming visit to the dentist. There are different levels of sedation. Your dentist may recommend moderate sedation if you have moderate dental anxiety or require a lengthy, complex treatment. Be sure to tell your dentist about your full medical history before receiving any sedatives. Your dentist will consider your current medications and medical conditions before confirming that moderate sedation is a good choice for you. 

Moderate sedation is achieved through oral medications or intravenous (IV) medicines. It’s also referred to as conscious sedation because the drugs won’t force you to fall asleep. However, you’ll be completely relaxed, time will seem to pass quickly, and you probably won’t remember much about your treatment. You may be groggy for quite some time afterward. For your own safety, please arrange to have a responsible adult take you home and stay with you for a little while. 

Park 56 Dental is a leading provider of sedation dentistry services in NYC. New and current patients can give us a call at (646) 783-3529 if they have any questions about upcoming dentist visits. 

Tips for Treating Swollen Gums

If you have gums that are swollen, tender, or bleeding, there’s a good chance that you could have gum disease. Visit a dentist as soon as possible to get the problem under control. Your dentist can clear up the infection and heal your gums with treatment options like scaling and root planing. The sooner gum disease is treated, the easier it is to reverse. 

While you’re waiting for your dentist appointment, watch this featured video to get some helpful tips on managing your swollen gums. You’ll learn why mouth rinse that contains peroxide can help, and you’ll discover which over-the-counter medications can fight inflammation. 

At Park 56 Dental, we focus on delivering friendly, patient-centered care within a relaxing, judgment-free setting. Call (646) 783-3529 to request our next available dentist appointment in NYC. 

What to Expect Before and After Dental Sedation

Dental sedation has allowed countless patients who previously avoided the dentist out of anxiety to get the treatments they need. Sedation also allows your dentist to combine multiple treatments into a single appointment, saving you time and money. There are multiple forms of dental sedation, from mild nitrous oxide—better known as laughing gas—to deep IV sedation. Your dentist will help you select the best kind of sedation for your needs. Here is a closer look at what you can expect before and after your sedation dentistry appointment.  

Before Sedation 

Your dentist will provide you with instructions for preparing for sedation. It is important to follow them closely, as failing to so could lead to your appointment being rescheduled. In some cases, it is not necessary to do anything other than arriving at your appointment. This is the case for nitrous oxide. For other kinds of sedation, you may need to avoid eating within six hours of your appointment and drinking for two hours before your appointment. If you are taking an oral sedative, you will need to take the pill at the time requested by your dentist, to make sure the sedation is in effect for your appointment. Before your sedation dentistry appointment, you should also arrange for someone to take you to your appointment and drive you home afterward.  

After Sedation 

With some forms of sedation, such as nitrous oxide and intramuscular injections, the effects wear off quickly. However, other forms of sedation will leave you feeling tired and groggy for a few hours afterward. It is recommended to take the remainder of the day off to relax at home while the sedative wears off. All forms of sedation can cause headaches and nausea, but these symptoms are typically mild and clear up quickly.  

Could sedation dentistry be right for you? The best way to find out is to schedule a consultation with Park 56 Dental. You can make an appointment at our dental office in NYC by calling (646) 783–3529.  

What Kind of Filling Is Right for You?

If you have a cavity, one of the facets of your treatment plan that your dentist will review with you is the material used for your filling. Gold, porcelain, and composite are all common options for dental fillings, and now, ceramic and plastic materials that look like your natural teeth are also popular choices. When choosing the right material for your filling, your dentist will discuss several factors with you.  

One important consideration is how much of the tooth will need to be filled. If the filling is large, a natural-looking filling material is often preferred. The location of the tooth also matters. Teeth in the back of your mouth that are less visible may be better suited to fillings that don’t mimic the appearance of natural teeth than those in the front of the mouth. The chew load of the tooth is also a consideration, as are your personal preferences.  

At Park 56 Dental, we specialize in providing patients with high-quality dental care that helps them look and feel their best. If you need a dental filling in NYC, you can make an appointment by calling (646) 783–3529.  

What Is a Sinus Toothache?

Toothaches are extremely painful and can make it difficult to focus on your everyday tasks. What you may not realize is that toothache pain is not always caused by your tooth. In some cases, when you visit your dentist about tooth pain, he or she may refer you to your doctor instead because your sinuses are causing your toothache. 

Watch this video to learn more about sinus-related toothaches. Sinus infections can cause referred pain that seems like a toothache but can actually be relieved by treating the infection instead of focusing on dental treatments.  

At Park 56 Dental, our top dentist in NYC can help you get fast relief from tooth pain by diagnosing the root cause. Make an appointment at our dental clinic by dialing (646) 783–3529.  

Exploring Common Reasons for Root Canals

If your dentist tells you that you need a root canal, chances are that you’ll have many questions about what to expect, starting with why you need one in the first place. There are a number of different reasons to perform a root canal, but in each case, root canals allow natural teeth to be saved rather than extracted. Keeping your natural teeth is healthier than relying on dental implants and other restorations. Here is a closer look at some of the common reasons dentists perform root canals for their patients.  

Tooth Decay 

In the case of a small area of tooth decay, your dentist may remove the decay and perform a filling. However, when the area of decay becomes large and infects deep parts of the tooth, a root canal is usually necessary. During a root canal, the bacteria causing the decay are cleaned from the inside of the tooth, and the tooth is sealed and capped. This prevents the need for removing the infected tooth and stops the infection from spreading throughout the mouth.  

Repeated Procedures 

If a tooth is treated for a cavity on multiple occasions, it is often necessary to perform a root canal. Repeated procedures will eventually lead to a significant amount of the tooth being removed, but a root canal and crown can stop the repeated infections and rebuild the structure of the tooth.  

Cracks or Chips 

When a tooth is injured, the pulp may become damaged or inflamed. In addition to causing pain, the damage to the surface of the tooth leaves it more vulnerable to infections. A root canal can remove inflamed pulp and protect the tooth surface to prevent further damage.  

Your dentist at Park 56 Dental will be happy to answer all of your questions about root canal treatment and why it is the right choice for you. For all of your dental care needs, from root canals to dental cleanings in NYC, call us for an appointment at (646) 783–3529.  

Common Reasons for Emergency Dental Care

Experiencing a dental emergency can be stressful, but at Park 56 Dental, we’re available to help you get out of pain with the emergency treatment you need around the clock. We always have a doctor on-call to help with a dental emergency, and we can tell you whether you can manage care on your own until normal office hours or if you need to meet us right away for treatment. Keep in mind that you should call 911 if you can’t reach us and have experienced a significant injury. Here are some of the most common dental emergencies we deal with at our office.  

Knocked Out Tooth 

Having a permanent tooth knocked out may cause you to panic, and it certainly qualifies as a dental emergency. If your tooth is knocked out, pick up the tooth, if possible. Be sure to grab it by the crown without touching the roots, which could damage them. Rinse it off, and if you can, put it back in the socket. If you can’t, keep it between your gum and cheek or in milk or water. The sooner you see your dentist after a tooth is knocked out, the better your odds of reattaching it will be.  

Severe Toothache 

A toothache is almost always the sign of a serious problem. While a moderate toothache can be addressed during office hours, a severe toothache is an emergency. Severe pain could be the sign of an abscess, which can release a dangerous infection into your body, so seek emergency dental care if you’re dealing with a strong toothache.  

Broken Jaw 

A broken jaw is a serious injury that needs immediate attention. In some cases, your dentist may be able to treat your break by using a bandage to hold the jaw in alignment. In other cases, he or she may recommend surgery. Get emergency dental care right away so that the injury doesn’t get worse.  

Park 56 Dental provides care for your emergencies around the clock, so call our dentist office in NYC when you have an urgent need. Dial (646) 783-3529 for more information.

Are There Any Side Effects of Having Dental Sedation?

Dental sedation is an ideal way to get the oral health care you need without anxiety or discomfort. There are several different kinds of dental sedation available, depending on your specific needs. Your dentist will work closely with you to choose the right kind of sedation according to your treatment needs, medical history, preferences, and potential side effects.  

Some kinds of dental sedation cause little to no side effects. For example, nitrous oxide won’t cause prolonged sedation, through it may cause a headache. Deeper sedation techniques may cause lingering feelings of drowsiness. With IV sedation, patients will experience prolonged grogginess and need someone to drive them home from their appointment.  

Park 56 Dental is pleased to offer several forms of dental sedation to allow you to have your oral health treatments comfortably. If you’re interested in sedation dentistry in NYC, call (646) 783-3529 to schedule a consultation with one of our dentists.  

Are All-on-4 Implants Right for You?

If you have several missing or damaged teeth, the toll on your oral health and your self-esteem can be huge. Missing teeth make it difficult to eat and speak normally, and you face the risk of damage to the soft tissue in your mouth and your remaining natural teeth. You may also hesitate to smile and struggle in professional and social settings. All-on-4 implants offer a fast and effective solution to help you feel better about your smile while improving your overall oral health. Here is what you need to know.  

What are All-on-4 implants? 

All-on-4 implants can replace a full arch of missing teeth in one appointment, without the need for bone grafting. They are the perfect alternative for people who want the speed of dentures but the stability of dental implants. The All-on-4 system involves using four posts, which are tilted at a 45-degree angle. The angle improves stability and ensures the nerves and the sinus cavity are not affected. Then, a customized set of crowns designed to look like your remaining natural teeth is attached to the posts. You have a brand new smile in a single appointment.  

What are the benefits of All-on-4 implants? 

All-on-4 implants deliver fast results, which is important to many people with missing teeth. They are more comfortable and appear more natural than dentures, and unlike dentures, they don’t require any kind of special care. Bone grafting is not usually required, and the system is more affordable than individual dental implants.  

Who is a good candidate? 

Nearly anyone who has multiple missing teeth is a good candidate for All-on-4 implants. They are a good alternative for people who can’t get traditional dental implants without bone grafting and who don’t wish to wear dentures.  

The best way to find out if you are a candidate for All-on-4 implants it to make an appointment for a consultation at Park 56 Dental. To schedule your appointment with a top dentist in NYC, call our dentist office at (646) 783-3529.