Oral Piercings and Teeth

These days, tongue rings, lip rings, and cheek piercings are a popular form of self-expression amongst young adults. Though they may look trendy, The Oyster Bay Family Dentists want to explain the consequences that can stem from oral piercings. The mouth contains millions of bacteria, and if your body rejects an oral piercing it’s possible that your mouth and tongue could swell, making it difficult to breathe. They can also chip or crack the teeth, and if this happens it will require a dental procedure to fix the problem.

It is important to follow aftercare instructions after receiving an oral piercing as this can lead to infection. It’s critical to keep your mouth as clean as possible because an oral infection can become life-threatening if not treated promptly. Additionally, jewelry such as a tongue ring can bump against your teeth while talking or eating. To avoid chipping a tooth, you should avoid “playing” with the jewelry in your mouth as this can damage your teeth and gums. Remember to remove your oral jewelry if you are playing sports, and if you notice any signs of infection, give us a call immediately.

If you have questions or concerns about how oral piercings can affect your oral health, 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.

Night Guards

Night Guards

Here at Oyster Bay Family Dentists, we want our patients to have good oral health, and that starts with preventative care. One type of preventative care is through the use of night guards. Night guards are worn by patients who have a problem with grinding or clenching their teeth at night. While it may not seem like a serious problem, teeth grinding can lead to reduced tooth enamel, which weakens teeth. Teeth grinding may also cause severe headaches, jaw pain, and an irritation of the gums. Night guards help prevent these from occurring.

The benefits of night guards include the following:

• Protecting the patient’s teeth so they don’t weaken or crack from being worn down.


• Saving patients money on future dental procedures.


• Getting relief from headaches and jaw pain.


• Eliminating partner disturbance while sleeping and grinding teeth.

Our night guards are made custom to the patient, so they fit comfortable and do not interrupt their sleep. Dr. Denise VeyVoda starts by making impressions of the patient’s teeth and sending them to the lab. Once they arrive, patients are instructed to wear them every night while sleeping. Night guards last about 10 years with proper care. Contact our dental office in Oyster, Bay, NY to learn more about night guards.

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.