Cosmetic Care after Pulp Infections

We take care at the Oyster Bay Family Dentists that our patients will be pleased with the appearance of their smiles. When providing prosthetic teeth, we match their color to the teeth the patient already has, and we provide whitening services to remove external stains. But what do we do about intrinsic stains? Those could require a different approach because of their implication about a patient’s health.

Some intrinsic stains are harmless. Teeth may appear brown if a patient consumed too much fluoride during their childhood or black if they were exposed to tetracycline antibiotics. But those are rare cases. More often, intrinsic stains are due to an injury to the dental pulp. Besides causing a tooth to be black, red, or purple in color, pulp injuries and infections usually cause pain and a bad smell. If left untreated, an infection can spread, causing an abscess in the gum.

Root canal therapy is the normal way of removing infected pulp. Once the infected material is out and the patient is in less danger, their tooth may be filled with whitening gel and then sealed. After a week, the whitening agent can be removed and the tooth may be filled in normally. If the patient is still displeased with the color of their tooth, it may be covered with a veneer.

Drs. Denise VeyVoda and Robert G. West operate The Oyster Bay Family Dentists at 123 South Street, Oyster Bay, New York, 11771. To schedule an appointment, call 516-922-5730 or visit Oyster Bay Dentists and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Root Canal

The Oyster Bay Family Dentists offer endodontic services for our clients. Endodontics is the dental specialty that focuses on the nerves or root of the teeth. When a tooth becomes infected, the cause is often in the roots. This results in what is known as the most common endodontic procedure, the root canal. If you are in need of a root canal, schedule your appointment with Drs. Robert G. West and Denise VeyVoda.

 

If you suspect that your tooth is infected, do not wait to make an appointment. Left untreated, infections can spread and progress, including bone loss in the jaw. Modern technology makes root canals relatively straightforward and painless. At your appointment, a local anesthetic will be applied to the tooth. Then either Dr. West or VeyVoda will drill into the root canal. From here, the infected material can be spotted and removed. The tooth will then be filled with a sealant and a crown will be placed.

 

You may experience pain and soreness after the procedure. This is completely normal. Take over-the-counter pain medication to help. If you are worried that this isn’t strong enough, contact our office. Once your tooth heals you will be able to resume life as usual. You shouldn't experience any pain when eating or drinking.

 

To schedule your root canal at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists, visit our website or call 516-922-5730. Our office is located in Oyster Bay, NY. Appointments can be scheduled for both Dr. Robert G. West and Dr. Denise VeyVoda.

What Is Arestin?

When the body develops a bacterial infection, we use an antibiotic to treat it. The same applies to infections in the mouth.  The Oyster Bay Family Dentists utilize arestin for patients with periodontitis who need a scaling and root planing procedure performed. Periodontitis is a chronic bacterial infection, caused by plaque, which has settled underneath the tooth’s surface below the gum line.

Arestin has the ability to reduce the severity of periodontal disease.  After a scaling and root planning procedure, the medicine is applied to the gum in powder form.  In a clinical study, when used in addition to scaling and root planing, arestin reduced harmful bacteria by nearly 2 times as much as scaling and root planing alone. This is because adding arestin to the mix disrupts the progression of periodontitis by specifically targeting the active infection.

If you have questions or concerns about the status of your periodontal health, please give us a call. To learn about the treatments we offer, visit www.oysterbaydentists.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists in Oyster Bay, NY, call 516-922-5730.

What Is An Apicoectomy?

The Oyster Bay Family Dentists perform many root canals to save and repair teeth that are badly damaged or infected.  A root canal procedure involves removing any inflamed or infected tissue, and thoroughly cleaning the root canal system.  In most root canal cases, the tooth heals and doesn’t require further treatment. When an infection won’t go away or the canals become re-infected, our doctors can perform an apicoectomy.

An apicoectomy removes damaged tissue and seals a tooth’s root from any further infections.  The procedure involves a small incision in the gums, followed by removal of any infected tissue and finally the end of the root tip itself.  A root-end filling is placed there to act as a seal, preventing reinfection. The gum is sutured, and most patients only feel slight discomfort or swelling during healing.  If you have a tooth infection lingering after a root canal gone wrong, please contact us to discuss your treatment options.

To learn more about the apicoectomy procedure and all the services we provide, visit www.oysterbaydentists.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists in Oyster Bay, NY, call 516-922-5730.

Smoking and Pulpitis

As specialists in prosthodontics, we at the Oyster Bay Family Dentists have seen a lot of damage caused by smoking. We’ve provided prosthetic face pieces as well as teeth for people suffering from oral cancer. Recently, scientists uncovered evidence of even more oral health hazards caused by smoking: the disappearance of immune system mechanisms in dental pulp.

When dental pulp becomes inflamed, it is said to have “pulpitis.” This can be due to an injury, but is usually because bacteria have decayed the surrounding enamel and acid is leaking in. The pulp within our teeth depends on antimicrobial peptides to defend it from infection. Smoking is known to weaken the immune system, making smokers more vulnerable to gum infections, and now it appears that smoking can wipe out the pulp’s antimicrobial peptides.

Pulp infections make teeth extremely sensitive. They can also spread into the bloodstream or into surrounding tissues, causing sepsis. We can treat pulp infections with a root canal, although the odds of success for smokers are lower. If necessary, we may talk to the patient about removing and replacing the tooth. However, it is important to note that the researchers also found that defense mechanisms can return after the patient quits smoking.

Drs. Denise VeyVoda and Robert G. West operate The Oyster Bay Family Dentists at 123 South Street, Oyster Bay, New York, 11771. To schedule an appointment, call 516-922-5730 or visit Oyster Bay Dentists and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Endodontics: Root Canal

Most of us know how painful a toothache can be, but when a toothache is the result of dead pulp, a root canal may be necessary. The Oyster Bay Family Dentists understand that the term, “root canal” may sound terrifying, but it’s much more painful to leave with a diseased or damaged tooth. With advances in dental technology, a root canal is very similar to a routine filling and can usually be completed in two appointments.

Endodontic treatment is necessary when the dental pulp inside of a tooth becomes inflamed or infected. If this is left untreated, a painful dental abscess may form. A root canal saves the tooth by allowing one of our doctors to remove the inflamed or infected pulp while carefully cleaning and shaping the inside of the tooth’s root canal. Once the procedure is complete, the tooth will be placed with a crown to protect it and restore it to its full function.

If you have questions or concerns about root canal treatment, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at the practice, visit www.oysterbaydentists.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists in Oyster Bay, NY, call 516-922-5730.

What Is An Apicoectomy?

At The Oyster Bay Family Dentists, our doctors perform many root canals to save and repair teeth that are badly damaged or infected.  A root canal procedure involves removing any inflamed or infected tissue, and thoroughly cleaning the root canal system.  In most root canal cases, the tooth heals and doesn’t require further treatment. When an infection won’t go away or the canals become re-infected, our doctors can perform an apicoectomy.

An apicoectomy removes damaged tissue and seals a tooth’s root from any further infections.  The procedure involves a small incision in the gums, followed by removal of any infected tissue and finally the end of the root tip itself.  A root-end filling is placed there to act as a seal, preventing reinfection. The gum is sutured, and most patients only feel slight discomfort or swelling during healing.  If you have a tooth infection lingering after a root canal gone wrong, please contact us to discuss your treatment options.

To learn more about the apicoectomy procedure and all the services we provide, visit www.oysterbaydentists.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists in Oyster Bay, NY, call 516-922-5730.

Intrinsic Staining

The Oyster Bay Family Dentists provide technologically advanced services for removing dental stains, but there is an important distinction to be made between stains that are extrinsic to the tooth and those that are intrinsic. Extrinsic stains caused by things such as smoking and drinking dark fluids and only affect the outermost layers of the teeth. They can be removed through bleaching. But intrinsic stains are caused by overexposure to fluoride, use of tetracycline antibiotics, or pulp inflammation, and sometimes require a different approach.

Of course, an intrinsic stain can still be masked with a veneer or bonding. But pulp inflammation indicates that a tooth is injured or infected. We will use the advanced imaging devices in our office to detect whether there is an infection within the tooth or at its root. A root canal may be necessary to remove the inflamed tissues, after which the crown may be either filled and sealed or replaced entirely. Our doctors are highly skilled prosthodontists, so if a crown does need to be replaced, patients may rest assured the new one will be cosmetically pleasing.

Drs. Denise VeyVoda and Robert G. West operate The Oyster Bay Family Dentists at 123 South Street, Oyster Bay, New York, 11771. To schedule an appointment, call 516-922-5730 or visit OysterBayDentists.com and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Rotary Endodontics for Smoother Root Canals

With the technological advances in dental equipment, many dental procedures have changed over the years. One of these advances we use here in our office called rotary endodontics has improved the process of a root canal, making the procedure, quicker, quieter, and more comfortable. Root canals used to have a scary reputation, which is why The Oyster Bay Family Dentists of Oyster Bay, NY have chosen to utilize rotary endodontics.

In the past, performing a root canal included using a manual file made of steel. Rotary endodontics uses an electric drill that has a much more flexible file made of titanium alloy. The more flexible file lets us drill deep into the root canal without stretching or damage. This means a much more comfortable experience during and after a root canal. Root canals are now usually no more uncomfortable than having a cavity filled. Rotary endodontics also make root canals a much quieter process, so those who get anxious about hearing the drilling will be able to relax more. Rotary endodontics also makes the process of a root canal quicker, a benefit for both the patient and the dentist.

Our patients' comfort and health are our top priorities which is why we choose to update our office with advanced technology. To learn more about the technology we use here in our Oyster Bay, NY office, call The Oyster Bay Family Dentists at (516) 922-5730 or visit our website, www.oysterbaydentists.com. 

The Root Canal Procedure

Hearing that you need a root canal might shake you to your core, but at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists we are here to make you as comfortable and relaxed as possible. Signs you may need root canal therapy include: severe toothache pain upon chewing or application of pressure, prolonged sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures (after the heat or cold has been removed), discoloration (darkening) of the tooth, swelling and tenderness in the nearby gums and/or a persistent or recurring pimple on the gums.

The root canal procedure itself requires one or more office visits and can be performed right here in the office. The first step in the procedure is to take an X-ray to see the shape of the root canals and determine if there are any signs of infection in the surrounding bone. Once anesthesia is administered, your dentist will make an opening in the crown of the tooth. Very small instruments are used to clean the pulp from the pulp chamber and root canals and to shape the space for filling. After the space is cleaned and shaped, your dentist will fill the root canals with a biocompatible material called gutta-percha. In most cases, a temporary filling is placed to close the opening. There may be some soreness after the procedure, but that is perfectly normal.

If you are experiencing tooth sensitivity, give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about root canal therapy as well as other services we provide at the practice, visit www.oysterbaydentists.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists in Oyster Bay, NY, call 516-922-5730.

Veneers vs. Crowns

Veneers vs. Crowns

Veneers and crowns are both reliable restorative solutions that protect the structure of a tooth while refinishing its surface to create a strong, reliable and beautiful smile esthetic. However, veneers and crowns have many differences with regard to their purpose, placement and function.

Veneers: Veneers are most frequently used as a cosmetic smile solution. They can be used use refinish the surface of a tooth and correct teeth that are too narrow or short, and cover-up stains, small chips and cracks. While a single veneer can be used to refinish an individual tooth, multiple veneers are most often used to refinish the most visible teeth and provide a smile makeover that’s fully customized and idealized. Like crowns, veneers are comprised of a thin porcelain shells that are fabricated from an impression of the existing tooth site. Veneers are usually much thinner than crowns, but the existing tooth structure will need to be slightly modified for permanent bonding and placement. 

Crowns: Crowns may be used for cosmetic purposes, but they’re most frequently used to restore the surface of a tooth due to a fracture, severe chip, deep cavity, or following a root canal or other procedure that calls for the modification of the tooth.  Like veneers, crowns are custom fabricated to perfectly restore the appearance of a tooth, in addition to protecting its structure.  Crowns are frequently created from porcelain or ceramic, but they may also be formed from gold, porcelain fused to metal or other material.