Types of Teeth and Their Functions

Most of us know how important it is to look after our teeth, but how many of you know what the different types and their functions are? As humans, we have 32 permanent teeth (including wisdom teeth) and a total of 20 primary teeth. These choppers just don’t help us bite and chew, they play an important role in speaking and support many aspects of our facial structure.

Our staff at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists thought it would be neat to inform you about the four main tooth types in the mouth and their responsibilities. We’d also like to remind you to take care of them by brushing and flossing on a daily basis!

• 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 pearly whites, don’t hesitate to give us a call. To learn more about dental hygiene as well as 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.

Don’t Let Tartar Torture You

If you’ve ever licked your tongue and felt something fuzzy on your teeth, that fuzzy business is called plaque. When plaque is not removed in a timely manner, it sits on the teeth and mineralizes into tartar. Tartar is a mineral buildup that’s fairly easy to see, if above the gum line. However, you don’t want it there because it can lead to more serious conditions, such as cavities and gum disease. Once tartar forms on your teeth our doctors at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists are the only ones who can remove it. This is one of the reasons why it’s important to schedule regular dental checkups twice a year.

Tartar can make it harder to brush and floss like you should and this is what leads to cavities and tooth decay. Any tartar that forms above your gum line can be harmful to you. That’s because the bacteria in it can irritate and damage your gums. Your best bet for preventing tartar buildup is to brush regularly twice a day, choosing an American Dental Association (ADA) approved tartar-control toothpaste, and flossing between your teeth at least once a day.

If you have questions regarding your oral hygiene routine, please give us a call. To learn more about dental health as well as 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.

The Proper Brushing Technique

Here at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists, we want you to keep your permanent teeth for a lifetime and this begins by brushing them twice a day for at least two minutes. We know that two minutes sounds dreadful and you probably think you’re wasting your time, however, if you don’t look forward to the dental drill, you might want to prevent cavities before they begin. The most important part of tooth care begins at home, so the next time you stand in front of the sink, utilize this American Dental Association (ADA) approved brushing technique:

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


• Move the brush back and forth gently in short (tooth-wide) strokes.


• Brush the outer tooth surfaces, the inner tooth surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth.


• Use the tip of the brush to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, using a gentle up-and-down stroke.


• Brush your tongue to remove bacteria.

If you have questions regarding your oral hygiene routine, please give us a call. To learn more about dental health as well as 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.

Are You Flossing?

Flossing your teeth is more important to your well-being than brushing. So why do people come up with silly excuses such as, “I’m not coordinated enough to floss,” or “I don’t know how to floss.” After today, you won’t be able to use these excuses anymore, because our staff at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists is going to teach you how to floss and floss correctly.

• Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand. This finger will take up the floss as it becomes dirty.


• Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.


• Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Never snap the floss into the gums.


• When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a “C” shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.


• Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with up-and-down motions. Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth and don’t forget the back ones!

If you have questions regarding your oral hygiene routine, give us a call. To learn more 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 A Cavity?

Having bacteria in your mouth is a normal thing. Certain types of bacteria, however, can attach themselves to hard surfaces like the enamel that covers your teeth. When this bacteria turns into plaque, if left untreated it can cause cavities. Here at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists we have plenty of materials to fill your cavity, but we would rather you have a better understanding as to what they are and how you can prevent them.

Cavities are what you get from tooth decay. When foods with carbohydrates like bread, cereal, milk, soda, and other sugary treats stay on your teeth this leads to the decaying of your teeth. The bacteria, acid, food debris, and your saliva combine to form plaque, which clings to the teeth. The acids in plaque dissolve the enamel, thus creating holes called cavities. Only your dentist can tell for sure if you have a cavity. That’s because cavities develop below the tooth’s surface, where you can’t see them. Brush at least twice a day and floss daily to remove plaque from between teeth and below the gum line to avoid cavities. In addition, try eliminating starchy and sugary foods from your diet.

If you are experiencing tooth sensitivity, give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about 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.

Scaling and Root Planing

The three stages of gum disease – from least to most severe – are gingivitis, periodontitis and advanced periodontitis. Gum disease is an inflammation of the gum tissue that could affect the teeth and supporting bone in your mouth. If you think the metal scaling tool we use on you during a professional cleaning is scary, our staff at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists doubts you want to get to the point where you’ll need scaling and root planing.

Plaque bacteria, acids and certain foods all contribute to the development of gum disease. Fortunately, two common methods exist to reverse the disease. Dental scaling occurs with manual hand instruments, ultrasonic instruments or both. Our dentist will start the procedure with a thorough examination of your mouth. Next, an ultrasonic scaling device will be used to eliminate the plaque bacteria with sonic vibrations. Root planing involves detailed scaling of the root surface to decrease inflammation of the gum tissue. If your gum tissue is sensitive and diseased, local anesthesia will be administered to numb the tissue. Dental scaling and root planing may take two to four visits based upon the level of oral disease in the mouth.

If you wish to inquire about the comfort level of the scaling and root planing procedure, give us a call. To learn more about scaling and root planing 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.

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.