Gum Grafting

Drs. Robert G. West and Denise VeyVoda of The Oyster Bay Family Dentist offer gum grafting procedures to our patients. These are necessary when patients don’t follow recommended oral routines. Periodontal disease manifests when proper brushing and flossing isn’t utilized. The early stage is Gingivitis. It can be reversed while later stages of periodontal disease cannot. When your gums begin to recede gum grafting is necessary. Contact our office in Oyster Bay, NY.

 

Gingivitis occurs when bacteria and plaque manifest. This bacteria will continuously multiple until large pockets are formed. Drs. West or VeyVoda can clean these pockets out. This won’t get rid of them though. They reveal an abnormal amount of the tooth itself, making it dangerous and displeasing to look at.

 

A gum graft can fix this. It restores and corrects these gum pockets. Your Oyster Bay dentist starts by numbing the areas with a local anesthetic. Gum tissue is removed from the top of the mouth. It’s then stretched and stitched over the gums. The outcome is to cover the exposed areas of the tooth. A successful procedure encourages the gums to grow on their own.

 

Following your post-operative instructions is necessary for a successful procedure. It should take between 2-3 weeks to fully heal. It’s important to avoid eating difficult food during this time. Try to eat only soft and cold foods. Don’t engage in any sorts of vigorous exercise. Be very careful when brushing and flossing the healing area.

 

To learn more about the gum grafting procedure, contact The Oyster Bay Family Dentists. We are located in Oyster Bay, NY. To schedule an appointment with Drs. Robert G. West or Denise VeyVoda, visit our website or call 516-922-5730.

Lumineers

Dental lumineers are similar to porcelain veneers with one big difference: lumineers require no preparation and are done quickly. Veneers are made of thick porcelain while lumineers are ultra thin. At The Oyster Bay Family Dentists, Drs. Robert G. West and Denise VeyVoyda can directly apply lumineers to your teeth. It’s quick, painless, and easy. Contact our office in Oyster Bay, NY, to learn more.

 

You don’t have to be embarrassed about your smile with lumineers. They correct issues like stained, chipped, gapped, crooked, and misshapen teeth. The entire process takes two easy visits to your Oyster Bay dentists. At the first appointment, your upper and lower teeth are used to create an impression or mold. Your customized cosmetic devices are created in a dental laboratory from the supplied impressions. Unlike veneers, you won't need drilling, shots, or temporary restoratives.

 

The lumineers are made between 2-3 weeks. You’ll schedule your second appointment after they’ve returned. Drs. West or VeyVoda will have you test out the lumineers. If they fit, they’ll be placed directly onto your teeth. It’s as easy as that.

 

There are many benefits to dental lumineers. The biggest being that it’s a timesaver. You only need two appointments for the complete process. You also save your natural teeth with lumineers. Veneers require you to trim off layers of your natural teeth. Not the case with lumineers. The bond is a lot more secure. Lumineers are placed directly onto the enamel. Lastly, it avoids creating post-procedure teeth sensitivity.

 

If you are interested in learning more about dental lumineers, contact The Oyster Bay Family Dentists. We are located in Oyster Bay, NY. To schedule an appointment with Drs. Robert G. West and Denise VeyVoda, visit our website or call 516-922-5730.

Dental Implants

Teeth are like a puzzle, they’re meant to come in a complete set. The puzzle doesn’t work without that missing piece. That’s why Drs. Robert G. West and Denise VeyVoda offer dental implant services to our patients at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists. Located in Oyster Bay, NY, dental implants are a permanent and recommended solution for missing teeth.

 

The entire process takes over a few months to complete. It starts with your Oyster Bay dentist taking x-rays of your mouth and jaw. If your bone structure is looking strong, you’ll be eligible for implants. Otherwise, you may need to get a bone graft.

 

At the beginning of the procedure, the specific area receives a dosing of local anesthetic. This will minimize any pain or discomfort. Drs. West or VeyVoda creates an incision in the gums. The implant, composed of a titanium screw, is inserted. It’s then shut with a suture. The placement of a temporary dental crown restores everyday functions. This lets you continue to eat and speak normally. It takes between 3-6 months for the area to heal. A healing process called osseointegration occurs, where the bone grows around the screw.

 

Once the implant has healed, the next stage can begin. An abutment is placed onto the screw. It will serve as the base for your new restorative device. A permanent restorative device is created from the abutment. At your final appointment, it’s permanently placed.

 

To learn more about dental implants, contact The Oyster Bay Family Dentists. Our office is located in Oyster Bay, NY. To schedule an appointment with Drs. Robert G. West or Denise VeyVoda, visit our website or call 516-922-5730.

 

Bite Checks

As prosthodontists, the doctors of The Oyster Bay Family Dentists often restore people’s bite function, allowing them to chew and speak without pain. One of the most important parts of the biannual dental examination for every patient is the bite check, during which we’ll assess the mechanical condition of a patient’s jaw and inspect their teeth for wear.

People with obstructive sleep apnea or temporomandibular joint disorder commonly develop bruxism. The word “bruxism” describes nighttime teeth grinding and jaw clenching, which causes attrition to enamel and puts it, as well as prosthetic teeth, at risk of cracking. People who grind their teeth are also likely to develop jaw pain and their natural teeth may be pushed out of position.

We’ll ask patients whether they’ve been suffering from headaches or neck pain that could be related to bruxism. Our hygienists will inspect the patient’s teeth for signs of wear associated with bruxism, and the digital x-ray machines in our office will help us to determine whether the jaws’ shape and tooth placement is healthy. If there is a problem, we can recommend the patient use a night guard to relieve bruxism and discuss orthodontic options for tilted teeth. We may also do restorative work on teeth that have been worn down and reshape artificial palates to accommodate changes in the patient’s facial shape.

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.

Sensitive Teeth

Do you dread your teeth coming into contact with something cold? If so, you don’t have to let dental sensitivity ruin anymore ice cream treats. At the Oyster Bay Family Dentists, we restore patients’ teeth, protecting the nerves within, and we also educate patients about how to preserve their teeth’s natural protective tissues.

Our teeth have several layers. Surrounding the pulp is dentin, which is a porous substance. Covering it is cementum, and on the crowns, another protective layer called enamel. A crack in the outer layers makes the pulp vulnerable to infection and extreme temperatures, but more often, the problem is that the protective layers have slowly been worn away. This can be caused by exposure to acid.

Cavities are caused by caries, bacterial infections on the surface of teeth that secrete acid. Regular brushing and flossing is essential to preventing the development of caries. Acid might also enter the oral cavity from the stomach if the patient suffers from acid reflux or bulimia. The roots of the teeth are more vulnerable to sensitivity. Fluoride sealants can be used to bolster the teeth’s protective minerals, arresting the progression of wear. Avoiding soda and citric juice reduces direct contact of acid to enamel. We may also recommend that patients use extra-fluoridated toothpaste and get a gum graft if their tooth roots have become exposed.

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.