Smoking and Pulpitis

As specialists in prosthodontics, we at the Oyster Bay Family Dentists have seen a lot of damage caused by smoking. We’ve provided prosthetic face pieces as well as teeth for people suffering from oral cancer. Recently, scientists uncovered evidence of even more oral health hazards caused by smoking: the disappearance of immune system mechanisms in dental pulp.

When dental pulp becomes inflamed, it is said to have “pulpitis.” This can be due to an injury, but is usually because bacteria have decayed the surrounding enamel and acid is leaking in. The pulp within our teeth depends on antimicrobial peptides to defend it from infection. Smoking is known to weaken the immune system, making smokers more vulnerable to gum infections, and now it appears that smoking can wipe out the pulp’s antimicrobial peptides.

Pulp infections make teeth extremely sensitive. They can also spread into the bloodstream or into surrounding tissues, causing sepsis. We can treat pulp infections with a root canal, although the odds of success for smokers are lower. If necessary, we may talk to the patient about removing and replacing the tooth. However, it is important to note that the researchers also found that defense mechanisms can return after the patient quits smoking.

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.

 

Tooth Decay during the Holidays

Between candy canes, eggnog, and Christmas cookies, sweet treats abound at the end of the year. We’ve provided a lot of people with replacement teeth at the Oyster Bay Family Dentists, and would hate to see anybody have another outbreak of gingivitis due to tooth decay. But we want our patients to enjoy the holiday fun, too, so we thought we’d offer some suggestions for teeth-friendly winter socializing.

The longer the teeth are exposed to sugar, the more time bacteria will have to eat it and produce acid. Bacteria are able to consume simple sugars quickly, but they can also metabolize starch. Bits of food debris lodged in between teeth and dental cusps are obviously a potential source of decay, but so is the residue left by sugary drinks. Hard candy is also a tooth decay hazard because it remains in contact with the teeth for a long time and tends to deplete the mouth’s saliva, which is needed to rinse away food debris and maintain the mouth’s pH level.

People produce the most saliva while eating large meals, but socializing sometimes prevents us from avoiding snacks and drinks. Often, it is still acceptable to chew sugar-free gum (as long as it is spat out discreetly). This will dislodge some food and stimulate saliva production. Another option is to alternate sips of water with sips of other drinks to prevent dry mouth and give the teeth a wash. We can also try to favor sugar-free candy and remember to bring floss with us to use when convenient.

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.

 

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ/TMD)

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your lower jaw (the mandible) to your skull at the temporal bone. Injury to your jaw, the joint, or muscles of your head and neck can lead to severe pain and discomfort. In most cases, the pain and discomfort associated with TMJ disorders can be alleviated with self-managed care or nonsurgical treatments such as a mouth guard. The Oyster Bay Family Dentists can provide long-term relief for patients who are experiencing Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD) symptoms.

Other causes of TMD include: grinding or clenching your teeth, which puts a lot of pressure on the joint, movement of the soft cushion or disc between the ball and socket of the joint, arthritis in the TMJ joint and stress, which can cause you to tighten facial and jaw muscles or clench the teeth. Common symptoms include clicking, popping, or grating sounds in the jaw joint when you open your mouth, a tired feeling in your face, or pain or tenderness in your face, jaw, neck, and shoulders.

If you have questions or concerns about TMJ or TMD, 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.

Reasons for Extractions

With the advanced imaging tools available in our office, The Oyster Bay Family Dentists are well-prepared to do routine dental extractions as well as prosthodontic work. In general, we would rather save a tooth than remove one, but there are times, particularly in adolescence, when extractions are the best choice.

Overcrowding is the most common reason for extractions in young patients. Permanent teeth start erupting in childhood, but the back molars, or wisdom teeth, often do not emerge until the end of the teen years. Orthodontic work has usually already been completed by this point, so the wisdom teeth may disrupt other teeth’s alignment, and they are likely to get caught themselves. The wisdom teeth are not the only teeth that can be impacted; baby teeth may need to be extracted if they do not fall out on their own because they create a risk of the adult teeth getting stuck. Premolars are also frequently removed to prevent overcrowding.

It’s rarer for teeth to be extracted due to infection, but it can happen if repeated root canals fail. It was formerly common for dentists to remove patients’ teeth when supplying them with dentures, but we can now fabricate partial dentures that have room for a patient’s natural teeth. When patients come in for regular cleanings, our x-rays will help us determine whether a tooth is infected or at risk of being impacted.

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.

 

Diabetes and Tooth Loss

The experienced prosthodontists of the Oyster Bay Family Dentists have provided many people with dental implants and dentures. Even if a person suffered from periodontal disease and their teeth become loose as a result, it may be possible to provide them with a second chance at oral health. But gum disease has some complicating factors we want our patients to be on the look-out for, and one of the most common of these is diabetes.

People with diabetes have elevated levels of inflammation and more difficulty fighting off infections. Inflammation is the immune system’s way of isolating disease-causing bacteria and of providing white blood cell support to an infected area. But it also causes pain and discoloration, and when there are bacteria in the gum pockets, it often causes gums to bleed. Gingivitis literally means “gum inflammation” and is usually caused by bacterial infections. If an infection progresses, it could turn into periodontal disease (also called periodontitis), which describes the recession of gum tissue from around tooth roots. This causes teeth to come loose and could result in their falling out.

There is some evidence that gum disease and uncontrolled blood sugar influence each other. People with gum disease have higher glucose levels, and people with diabetes have higher rates of gum disease than the general population. But the relationship also works in reverse; when people with periodontitis are treated, their blood sugar tends to be better regulated. We hope that people with diabetes will understand how important it is for them to maintain their oral hygiene and to continue to see us for regular cleanings.

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.

 

Oral Systemic Health Connection

Oral systemic health is the connection between oral health and overall health. Over the years, numerous studies have been conducted that prove if a patient has poor oral health or a lack of an oral care routine, they have a higher risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and dementia. The health of your teeth and gums is critical to maintaining healthy organs. Your best form of prevention is visiting The Oyster Bay Dentists twice a year for routine exams and professional dental cleanings.  

According to numerous studies, there are three ways that oral disease may affect your overall health. First, bacteria from the gums will enter the saliva and from there may adhere to water droplets within the air you inhale each time you breathe. These bacteria may be aspirated into the lungs, and may potentially cause infection. Additionally, periodontal disease that is left untreated can become so aggressive that bacteria may enter the bloodstream and lead to further complications. To keep a healthy body, maintain a healthy mouth by brushing for two minutes at least twice a day, and floss at least once a day.

If you have questions or concerns about oral-systemic 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.

Post-Operative Swelling

We do a lot of restorative work and extractions at The Oyster Bay Family Dentists. Some of our procedures can get pretty involved, but tooth extractions are usually a simple process. Following any kind of surgery, some swelling is expected, which is why patients should know what to expect and how to handle it.

The body’s inflammatory response rushes white blood cells and nutrients to the site of an injury. It will usually be more severe following complicated procedures. However, even a simple extraction will result in noticeable swelling within twenty-four hours. Patients should minimize this by using cold-packs. A cold pack can be held against the skin for fifteen minutes at a time, and then removed for fifteen minutes. If all goes well, swelling will peak within thirty-six hours, and patients can then work to reduce it by applying the same procedure with hot packs.

If the swelling continues to get worse forty-eight hours after the procedure, the patient should inform us. We also need to know if the skin turns black or white, as that could indicate infection. For many procedures, patients’ lips are anesthetized. Biting down on them when they are in this state could lead to a lot of swelling, but swollen lips will usually get better on their own unless the skin is broken and they become infected.

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.