Cracked Tooth Syndrome

If you grind or clench your teeth on a daily basis, you may be putting yourself at risk for cracked tooth syndrome. Unlike teeth with obvious fractures, teeth with cracked tooth syndrome usually have fractures that are microscopic and difficult to identify on X-rays. Sometimes, the fracture will develop below the gum line, making it even more difficult to identify. Fortunately, our doctors at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists can perform a thorough examination of your oral cavity to detect and treat the problem if it occurs.

You may suffer from cracked tooth syndrome without knowing because the pain is not always consistent when present. The tooth may be painful only when you eat certain foods or when you bite in a specific way. To diagnose the problem, our doctors may use a sharp instrument called an explorer to feel for cracks in the tooth and will inspect the gums around the tooth for irregularities. He or she may also take X-rays although X-rays often do not show the crack.

If you have a tooth that is causing you pain, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.oysterbaydentists.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists of Oyster Bay, NY call 516-922-5730.

Senior Teeth Care

As we age, our bodies become weaker and the same applies to our teeth. If you are over the age of 60, maintaining good oral health habits now is especially important because unhealthy bacteria in the mouth not only can harm your teeth and gums, but they may be associated with serious medical conditions. Regardless of age, however, our staff at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists of Oyster Bay, NY encourages you to visit us at least twice a year for dental exams and professional cleanings.

Even if you brush and floss regularly, you may face certain issues in your senior years when it comes to your oral health. This is because advancing age puts many seniors at risk for a number of oral health issues, such as darkened teeth, dry mouth, root decay, gum disease, and a diminished sense of taste. Even at 55 plus years, adults can still develop tooth or root decay if gum recession has occurred. To summarize, you only get one set of permanent teeth, so it’s crucial to take care of them for our entire lives. Don’t forget to brush and floss your teeth daily!

If you or a loved one is due for a dental exam, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.oysterbaydentists.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists of Oyster Bay, NY call 516-922-5730.

Common Reasons for Tooth Extractions

As much as you may think our staff at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists of Oyster Bay, NY enjoys pulling teeth, it’s truly no pleasure of ours. In fact, before one of our doctors even considers extraction, every effort will be made to repair and restore your tooth first. However, sometimes tooth extractions are unavoidable. Although permanent teeth are meant to last a lifetime, this isn’t always the case. You’re probably most familiar with wisdom teeth extractions, but aside from wisdom teeth removal, other reasons for extractions may include:

• Severe tooth damage/trauma – some teeth have such extensive decay and damage (broken or cracked) that repair is not possible.


• Orthodontic treatment – people getting braces may need teeth extracted to create room for teeth that are being moved into place.


• Some teeth may need to be extracted if they have the potential of becoming infected.


• Extra teeth – extra teeth may block other teeth from erupting, therefore, will require extraction.

If you have a tooth that is causing you pain, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.oysterbaydentists.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists of Oyster Bay, NY call 516-922-5730.

Are You Cleaning Your Tongue?

Keeping your mouth clean is vital to your oral and overall health. The Oyster Bay Family Dentists of Oyster Bay, NY want to make sure our patients are doing all they can to maintain a healthy mouth. If you are not brushing your tongue already, read on to find out why you should!

The tongue is filled with those tiny taste buds that can collect and hang on to bacteria and debris. Just like how a layer of plaque can form on teeth, a film of bacteria can also form on the tongue. It can contribute to more cavities, gum disease, and bad breath.

To clean your tongue, you just need a simple toothbrush. You can use the same toothbrush you use to brush your teeth. Some patients prefer to use a tongue scraper, which is also fine. Take the toothbrush or scraper and place it at the back of your tongue. Press down firmly and drag the toothbrush down your tongue to the tip. Keeping doing this until your tongue looks clean. Rinse off the toothbrush with each stroke. You should brush your tongue every time you brush your teeth.

To learn more about dental hygiene or to schedule your exam and cleaning, call The Oyster Bay Family Dentists of Oyster Bay, NY at (516) 922-5730 or visit our website, www.oysterbaydentists.com. 

Cosmetic Periodontal Surgery

While there are many ways to improve your smile through your teeth, we have some patients who are unhappy with their smile for a different reason. “Gummy smile” or recessed gums can often make teeth appear too short or too long. This is why here in Oyster Bay, NY, The Oyster Bay Family Dentists perform cosmetic periodontal surgery.

We know that a perfect smile is a route to great confidence. When you are self-conscious about smiling or laughing, it can really have an effect on your self-esteem. For those with excess gum tissue, uneven gum lines, or recessed gums, cosmetic periodontal surgery can help you.

Cosmetic periodontal surgery consists of gum grafts, crown lengthening, or both. When gums have shrunk due to gum disease or genes, we can take a soft tissue graft from another area of your mouth and place it where the gums are needed. They heal into a beautiful and healthy gum line. In other cases where there is too much gum tissue that makes teeth appear short, we can simply remove the excess gums and create a new gum line that shows off more of your teeth. In certain cases where the gum line is very uneven, we will use both procedures.

If you are unhappy with your gum line, you do not have to leave it the way it is. To schedule a consultation with The Oyster Bay Family Dentists of Oyster Bay, NY, call our office at (516) 922-5730 or visit our website, www.oysterbaydentists.com. 

Gum Grafting in Oyster Bay, NY

Gum disease can leave gums with deep pockets and irreversible recession. After gum disease is cleared up, it is essential to fix damaged gums to avoid another infection. The Oyster Bay Family Dentists of Oyster Bay, NY perform gum grafting for their patients with recessed gums.

The gums should fit around the teeth snugly. They should be loose enough so you can floss, but tight enough so that bacteria and other debris cannot fall down into them. Gum disease is a major contributor to gum recession, although it is not the only case where patients have recessed gums. Some patients just have the genes for a smaller amount of gum tissue.

In order to add gum tissue and cover the exposed tooth roots, we take soft tissue from the palate or from another area of the gums and move it over to where extra tissue is needed. We stitch the gums down so that they can heal and promote further gum growth. The end result is a healthy gum line that keeps bacteria out.

To learn more about gum recession and gum grafting, schedule a consultation with us. You can schedule a consultation in our Oyster Bay, NY office by calling (516) 922-5730 or by visiting The Oyster Bay Family Dentists website, www.oysterbaydentists.com. 

How to Get Kids to Happily Brush and Floss

Getting kids to brush and floss their teeth isn’t always easy, but it is so important. Strong oral hygiene skills built at a young age will carry on through adulthood. The Oyster Bay Family Dentists of Oyster Bay, NY want to give our patients ideas for making dental care a little more interesting for kids.

Interactive games are great ways to teach kids about almost anything. Use safe online resources like games and fun videos to teach your child why it is important to brush, floss, and visit the dentist. They will have fun and get a better understanding for why dental health is essential.

Games at home are also another good way to get kids brushing. Make a “monkey-see-monkey-do” game out of it. Brush and floss your own teeth in the mirror alongside your kids and have them copy you. Kids love to imitate and see it as a fun game. At the same time, they will be learning the proper way to brush!

Use something fun to keep track of the time they spend brushing. A musical timer or a toothbrush that plays music can often entice your child to participate in brushing. You want to be sure that they are not only brushing but doing a thorough job.

Kids’ oral health is important because their baby teeth are the place markers for their future adult teeth! To schedule your child’s next appointment with The Oyster Bay Family Dentists here in Oyster Bay, NY, call our office at (516) 922-5730 or visit our website, www.oysterbaydentists.com.