Canker Sore

What is a Canker Sore?

You may have heard the term, but may not be exactly sure what is a canker sore. Known in the medical community as aphthous ulcers, a canker sore is an open sore in the mouth (mouth ulcer) that can be quite painful, and make chewing, eating, and talking problematic.  The good news is that they can be treated.

Canker sores can develop due to a number of reasons, including:

• Brushing your teeth too roughly


• Biting your cheek or tongue


• Experiencing stress


• Changes in hormones


• Allergies to food


• Lack of some kinds of minerals and vitamins, particularly vitamin B-12, folic acid and iron

For many people, canker sores go away on their own typically within two weeks. However, if your canker sore does not go away after two weeks, is especially large, accompanies other symptoms such as skin rash, diarrhea, fever, or headache, or you tend to get canker sores more than three times a year, contact us here at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists for an evaluation.

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.