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Diabetes is a potentially serious health condition that happens when the body cannot regulate blood sugars, leading to high blood glucose. If you have diabetes, your risk of oral problems is higher than those without diabetes. For instance, diabetes can affect your immune system cells, making your mouth more vulnerable to bacterial infections like periodontal disease and tooth decay.

Similarly, oral problems like gum disease can make diabetes harder to control or increase your risk of developing it. Therefore, taking great care of your mouth is critical to maintaining a healthy mouth and controlling your blood sugar. This article looks at the relationship between your mouth and diabetes and common oral problems associated with diabetes.

Diabetes and your oral health

For starters, diabetes leads to high blood sugar in the blood. These sugars are also high in your saliva. Oral bacteria feed on these sugars for food, increasing your risk of infections in the teeth, gums, bones, and mouth.

Similarly, diabetes and some of its medications can affect the salivary glands, leading to less saliva production and flow in the mouth. Enough saliva is essential to wash away debris and bacteria and balance the mouth’s pH. Inadequate saliva allows bacteria to thrive and encourage plaque and tartar buildup in the mouth, putting you at a greater risk of infections.

Additionally, high blood sugar interferes with the body’s natural defense mechanism and its ability to fight inflammation and infections. The weakened immune system makes you vulnerable to oral diseases.

Oral conditions associated with diabetes

If your blood sugars aren’t well controlled, you’re at a greater risk of developing the following oral health problems:

• Gum disease

Gum or periodontal disease is the most common oral problem among people with diabetes. The high sugars in the saliva and weakened immune system make your gums more vulnerable to infections, leading to gum disease. Gingivitis is the first phase of periodontal disease. It causes your gums to feel sore, turn red, and easily bleed, especially when brushing.

When left untreated, gingivitis turns to periodontitis, a more severe periodontal disease that causes severe gum damage, bone loss, receding gums, and even tooth loss. At this stage, you might need more invasive treatments like flap surgery or soft tissue grafting to restore the health of your gums and save your teeth.

• Dry mouth

Diabetes and some medications can cause reduced saliva production, causing a dry mouth or xerostomia. The risk is even higher for older patients, especially women. A dry mouth increases your risk of oral sores, ulcers, thrush, gum disease, and tooth decay.

• Oralthrush

People with uncontrolled diabetes are prone to tongue and mouth fungal infections. The high glucose in the saliva makes their mouth a breeding ground for fungus, which can cause a fungal infection called thrush. Thrush often causes painful red or white patches on the tongue and inner cheeks.

• Burning mouth syndrome

People with diabetes are more vulnerable to dry mouth and thrush, which can lead to burning mouth syndrome. The syndrome makes you feel like you’ve scalded your mouth with coffee. Your mouth might also feel numb, lose your ability to taste, or experience a tingling effect.

• Slow wound healing

People with unmanaged diabetes often experience poor healing of oral tissues, especially after oral surgery or other invasive oral procedures. Slow wound healing consequently increases your risk of infections which can result in complications. People with diabetes who smoke and take alcohol are at a greater risk of slower wound healing.

• Tooth decay

Diabetes can increase bacteria growth in the mouth and cause a dry mouth, leading to plaque and tartar buildup. If not cleaned, these deposits release toxic chemicals that erode your teeth’s enamel to cause decay and cavities.

Signs you have oral issues from diabetes

The following symptoms could indicate that you have oral problems associated with diabetes:

• Swollen, sore, or red gums
• Bleeding gums, especially when brushing
• Receding gums (gums that pull away from teeth)
• Dry mouth
• Increased spaces between teeth
• Loose or falling teeth
• Persistent bad breath
• Tooth pain or sensitivity

See your dentist right away if you experience any signs of oral problems.

Do you Need Dental Treatments for Diabetic Patients?

Do you have more questions about diabetes and your oral health? Or do you have symptoms that could indicate oral conditions from diabetes? Contact Stony Brook Dental Group for dental treatment, routine dental exams, and cleanings in Stony Brook, NY.

When your tooth is severely damaged or decayed, you might wonder what the best solution is for your condition. Should you get a root canal or extract the tooth and then replace it with a dental implant?

Generally, both treatments are safe and effective, and each has pros and cons. Keep reading to learn more about root canals and dental implants to decide which treatment is right for you.

Root Canals, Tooth Extractions & Dental Implants

All these treatments address your dental imperfections. However, they do that in different ways.

Root Canal Treatment

A root canal treatment or therapy is an endodontic procedure removing an infected or decayed tooth’s pulp. It is important to stop the infection and save the tooth.

The dentist will begin by numbing the area around the tooth with a local anesthetic injection. Next, they use a drill to open the tooth to access the pulp.

Then, the dentist removes the infected, inflamed, and decayed tissues from the tooth using small dental files. The tooth is then cleaned, rinsed, and disinfected to prevent re-infection.

Since removing the pulp leaves empty spaces, the dentist uses a biocompatible gutta-percha material to fill the space. Then, the opening is sealed with a temporary filling.

After about two weeks, they remove the temporary filling. A permanent filling or crown is placed over the tooth to strengthen and protect it from infections and fractures. Contact our dentist for root canal treatment in Stony Brook, NY.

Tooth Extraction

Removing the tooth may be the only option if a tooth is extremely damaged or diseased and can’t be saved with restorative treatments. Based on the nature of the tooth, you can either have a simple or surgical procedure.

A simple extraction is performed if the tooth is visible and accessible above the gum line. The dentist uses a pair of forceps to remove the tooth. In a surgical extraction, the dentist cuts through the gums and sometimes bone to access the tooth. They may break the tooth into pieces for easier removal.

Dental Implants

You can get an immediate dental implant after a tooth extraction if you have healthy gums and jawbone. In most cases, you must wait a few weeks for the gums and bone to heal to get the implant.

During the implant surgery, the dentist will begin by numbing the area to prevent pain throughout the procedure. Then, they drill through the jawbone and place an implant post that resembles a screw. The jawbone heals around the implant in the process of osseointegration which takes about 3 – 6 months.

After healing, the dentist will place a restoration crown over the implant to give it the appearance of a natural tooth. The implant should now feel, function, and look like your natural teeth. Visit our dental office for dental implants in Stony Brook, NY.

What is the Best Option? Factors to Consider

• Saving Your Natural Tooth

There are no restorations that can match your natural tooth. Therefore, a dentist will always strive to save your natural tooth. A root canal procedure can save your tooth and eliminate the need for tooth extractions and dental implants.

• Condition of the Tooth

If your tooth has damage beyond repair, an extraction followed by a dental implant may be your best option. However, a root canal procedure is suitable if there’s a chance to repair the damage and save the tooth.

• Cost

When considering the cost, a root canal treatment is significantly cheaper than extracting a tooth and replacing it with an implant. A root canal may be covered by insurance, while an implant may not. A root canal can cost anywhere from $250 – $1,600, while the average price for an implant is $4,000.

• The Complexity of the Procedure and Recovery

Generally, a root canal is less invasive than surgical extraction and dental implant surgery. It’s also easy and quick to recover from a root canal compared to tooth extraction and implant surgery.

• Length of Treatment

Getting a complete root canal requires around two dental appointments. On the other hand, extracting a tooth and getting a dental implant requires several appointments and can take 6 – 12 months or more.

Final Verdict

Generally, a root canal procedure is a suitable option if there’s still a chance of saving your tooth. However, tooth extraction and dental implants might be the best option if your tooth is beyond saving.

You can discuss both procedures’ benefits and cons, goals, and preferences with our dentist and get their recommendations. For more information about root canals, dental implants, and other restorative treatments, contact Stony Brook Dental Group.

Do you feel proud of your smile? A beautiful smile plays a major role in your appearance and self-confidence. Oral imperfections like teeth gaps, stains, and misalignments can make you feel and look unattractive, significantly lowering your self-confidence and overall quality of life.

However, you no longer have to be ashamed or embarrassed if your smile isn’t perfect. Thanks to cosmetic dentistry, your dentist can correct dental imperfections for a beautiful and healthier smile.

If you’re considering cosmetic dentistry in Stony Brook, NY, you should begin by scheduling a consultation with our cosmetic dentist. The dentist will examine your imperfections and evaluate your needs to determine how best to enhance your smile.

What Does Cosmetic Dentistry Involve?

Cosmetic dentistry uses a variety of cosmetic procedures and techniques to improve your smile. You might benefit from cosmetic dentistry if you have dental flaws like:

• Missing teeth
• Tooth damage like chips, cracks, and breaks
• Teeth misalignments
• Improper teeth gaps
• Gummy smile
• Teeth stains or yellowing
• Overcrowding

Based on your condition, budget, and needs, the dentist can suggest various cosmetic treatments and techniques like:

• Dental veneers are thin shells adhered to the front of a tooth.
• Dental implants, bridges, and dentures are dental prostheses that replace missing teeth.
• Teeth whitening involves using bleaching agents to whiten teeth.
• Dental crowns are tooth-shaped caps that fit over a damaged tooth.
• Dental bonding involves applying a tooth-colored bonding material to a tooth.
• Gum contouring involves reshaping the gums to improve a gummy smile.
• Orthodontic treatments like braces and Invisalign

Why Choose Cosmetic Dentistry?

There are numerous benefits of cosmetic dentistry, including:

• • Improved appearance

Cosmetic dentistry mainly focuses on improving your oral aesthetics. For instance, your dentist can use dental veneers or crowns to improve the appearance of damaged or stained teeth. If you have a gummy smile, your dentist can improve your smile with treatments like veneers or gum contouring.

Similarly, the dentist can use dental implants, bridges, or dentures to replace missing teeth, giving you a full set of teeth you love. The dentist can use orthodontic treatments like Invisalign and braces to straighten teeth, remove overcrowding, and close, improper teeth gaps.

• • Enhanced oral function

While a perfect smile is the main reason for cosmetic dentistry, some cosmetic procedures also improve oral function. For instance, teeth loss and damages like chips, cracks, breaks, and decay are likely to cause difficulties or discomfort, especially when eating. It can cause you to avoid certain foods, leading to malnutrition.

Similarly, misaligned, overcrowded, or poorly gapped teeth can cause chewing difficulties or discomfort. Your dentist can use treatments like dental veneers, implants, crowns, and Invisalign to correct these imperfections, giving you a perfectly brighter and fully functional smile. You should be able to eat harder foods normally as you did when your teeth were healthy.

• • Improve oral hygiene

Surprisingly, cosmetic dentistry can also improve your oral hygiene. For instance, imperfections like improper teeth gaps, breaks, and misalignments can trap food particles between teeth, especially at the back teeth. These problems also make brushing and flossing your teeth difficult, exposing you to bacterial infections like tooth decay and gum disease.

Eliminating overcrowding, straightening your teeth, and closing teeth gaps improve your smile and make oral hygiene easier and more effective. Similarly, many cosmetic treatments like teeth whitening, dental veneers, crowns, and dental implants require great care and maintenance and promote excellent oral hygiene.

• • Improved oral and overall health

Another great benefit of cosmetic dentistry is improving oral and overall health. For instance, cosmetic treatments correct dental imperfections like chips, cracks, decay, and misalignments, improving your smile and bite function. Correcting these issues also prevents further damage, preserving your oral health.

These oral problems would likely progress to advanced stages if not treated, resulting in serious oral and overall health issues like periodontitis, jawbone loss, tooth loss, diabetes, weakened immune system, and cardiovascular diseases.

Schedule an Appointment Today

Are you ready to enhance your smile with cosmetic dentistry near you? Contact Stony Brook Dental Group for more information.

Sports accidents and bruxism are common causes of dental injuries and tooth loss. A heavy blow to the jaw during a game can cause your teeth to chip, break, or dislodge from the socket. Regular teeth grinding can cause your teeth to wear down, making them susceptible to chips, cracks, and breaks.

A mouth guard is an excellent way to protect your teeth and mouth from sports accidents and bruxism. Please keep reading to learn more about mouthguards and why they are essential. Visit our best dentist near you for custom mouthguards in Stony Brook, NY.

What is a Mouthguard?

A mouthguard is a dental device worn over the teeth to protect the teeth, jaw, cheeks, and gums from trauma caused by sports inquiries or teeth grinding. You or your child might be a good candidate for a mouthguard if they:

• Grind or clench their teeth
• Play contact sports like football, hockey, soccer, or basketball – These sports have a higher risk of a heavy hit to the face or jaw.
• Engage in non-contact sports or activities like skating, biking, gymnastics, and ice skating

Types of Mouthguards

There are three main categories of mouthguards:

• Stock mouthguards. They are ready-made generic guards in small, medium, and large sizes. Since they aren’t custom-made for your teeth, they rarely fit well and tend to be bulky. Unfortunately, the poor fit and bulkiness can make breathing and speaking difficult, affecting your game or sleep. While they are the cheapest, they offer the least protection and comfort.
• Bite-and-boil mouthguards. Like stock guards, bite and boil guards are generic, and you can get them in the nearby drug or sports store. It would help if you placed the guard in hot water, put it in the mouth, and then bite down did about 20 seconds. It provides a custom-like fit. Then, remove the device and place it in cool water. You can repeat these steps for the best fit. While better than stock guards, boil-and-bite guards tend to be bulky and less durable.
• Custom-made mouthguards. Your dentist uses impressions of your teeth and mouth to make a custom guard. They are specifically designed for your mouth and provide the best fit and comfort. They are also made from high-quality materials, meaning they are durable.

Benefits of Wearing a Mouth Guard

• • Protects tooth damage

A guard creates a protective barrier, ensuring that the top and bottom teeth don’t come into direct contact while sleeping or during a sports accident. Without a guard, regular teeth grinding and clenching wear down the teeth, making them vulnerable to chips, cracks, and breaks. A heavy blow to the face or jaw can also cause the teeth to crush against each other, resulting in damage.

• • Prevents tooth displacement and loss

A significant blow to the jaw or face can cause substantial displacement or completely knock out your teeth. A sports guard absorbs and distributes the impact of a crash, reducing the risk of displacing and dislodging your teeth.

• • Prevents damage to your restorations

Grinding your teeth at night or dental injuries during sports can cause your restoration, like fillings and crowns, to fall off, break, or chip. A mouth guard protects you against teeth damage from sports injuries and teeth grinding.

• • Jaw damage

During sports, chronic bruxism or a heavy blow to the jaw can lead to severe jaw damage and disorders like TMJ. Wearing a night guard or sports guard reduces jawbone damage and dislocation, preventing jawbone pain, discomfort, and damage.

• • Saves you money and time

Sports accidents and bruxism increase your risk of teeth, jaw, and head injuries. Wearing a mouthguard protects you from all these injuries, saving you from the discomfort, time, and money of repairing and replacing missing teeth.

• • Better sleep

Chronic or regular teeth grinding and clenching can disrupt sleep, leading to sleep deprivation. It can lead to daytime fatigue, sleeplessness, and difficulty concentrating. It can also cause or worsen airway disorders like sleep apnea and snoring, increasing your risk of serious health problems like heart disease and respiratory problems.

• • Soft tissue injuries

A blow to the face or jaw during a game can cause you to bite your cheeks, lips, tongue, and gums. Similarly, teeth injuries can have sharp edges which can hurt your soft tissues, resulting in pain, swelling, and bleeding. Wearing a mouthguard protects your mouth’s soft tissues from injuries.

Schedule an Appointment Today

Are you interested in custom oral appliance therapy near you? Contact Stony Brook Dental Group for more information.

Are you experiencing jaw pain, or are you unable to open your mouth wide? These are common signs of temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Normally, the temporomandibular joint allows you to perform various oral functions such as chewing, speaking, and laughing.

Due to certain reasons, these joints can develop problems, leading to significant discomfort when performing normal oral functions like opening the mouth. That said, you should seek treatment to manage your symptoms. To manage your TMJ symptoms, you must be careful about specific actions that can aggravate your symptoms. Contact our dentist in Stony Brook, NY, for TMJ treatment near you.

Let’s look at the ten foods you can have and ten foods to avoid to prevent or manage TMJ dysfunction.

Symptoms of TMJ

• Headaches
• Jaw and jaw muscles pains
• Clicking or popping jaw
• Difficulty chewing or biting
• Limited mouth opening
• Pain when yawning
• Earaches or tinnitus
• Worn-down teeth
• Change in bite
• Neck pain

10 Best Foods for TMJ

A good TMJ diet does not require significant chewing efforts and thus doesn’t aggravate the TMJ joints. Food options can include:

• Ice cream is soft and doesn’t require chewing, thus unlikely to aggravate TMJ dysfunction.
• Mashed potatoes are soft, require minimal chewing, and are therefore suitable for TMJ.
• Soups are delicious and require minimal chewing, making them ideal for TMJ patients.
• Pudding is easy to chew and provides a wide array of nutrients.
• Scrambled eggs are easy to make, healthy, delicious, and require minimal chewing effort.
• Cutting or slicing your foods into small chunks makes them easy to chew and swallow.
• Yogurt is healthy and nutritious and requires no chewing, making it a great food option for TMJ.
• Fish, like salmon, contains numerous nutrients and is soft to chew.
• Cooked soft vegetables like broccoli and spinach are nutritious and easy to chew.
• A diet rich in anti-inflammatory items like vegetables, fish, healthy fats, and fruits can help manage TMJ pain and inflammation.

10 Foods to Avoid with TMJ

Be sure to limit or avoid the following foods to minimize your TMJ symptoms:

• Chewing gum requires continuous jaw movements and effort. It can cause significant pressure on the jaw muscles, resulting in fatigue, jaw pain, earaches, and headaches.
• While very healthy, you may want to limit or avoid fruits and vegetables that are hard to chew until your TMJ is gone. Eating such will only worsen your pain and other symptoms.
• While delicious, bagels tend to be bulky and thus require wide jaw opening, which can cause excessive strain in the irritated joints and muscles, worsening your symptoms.
• Chewing hard or crunchy bread can exhaust the jaw muscles, resulting in TMJ problems.
• Chewing ice requires great biting forces, which can strain your jaw, cause inflammation, and even cause teeth damage, such as chips and cracks.
• While healthy, eating crunchy chips, cereals, and nuts requires a lot of chewing, which can cause increased pressure on the jaws, causing TMJ problems.
• Eating meat requires continuous chewing effort, which can cause increased jaw pain and inflammation.
• Pizza. Pizza crust can be hard and crunchy, which can cause significant pressure on the jaw muscles, causing pain and inflammation.
• Eating popcorn requires continuous jaw motions, which can worsen or cause TMJ pain.
• While healthy, eating chewy salads requires continuous chewing effort, which can cause further jaw pain and inflammation.

When to Seek Treatment

A well-balanced, soft diet is a great way to manage TMJ dysfunction. While mild TMJ discomfort may go away on its own after a while, it’s still important to speak with your dentist.

Sometimes TMJ disorders could signify a bigger issue, with potentially severe and long-term complications. Seeking treatment will help the dentist to examine your problem and provide the necessary treatment.

Schedule an Appointment Today

Do you need more information or treatment for TMJ in Stony Brook, NY? Contact Stony Brook Dental Group for more information or to book an appointment.

Do you have a painful tooth? There’s a good chance your tooth may be infected. When the tooth enamel is compromised, bacteria can enter the tooth, infecting the tooth’s pulp. The pulp is the innermost part that hosts the tooth’s blood vessels, connective tissues, and nerves. Bacteria can infect these tissues, causing decay. If not eliminated, the infection continues to eat up more of the tooth’s structure, eventually leading to tooth loss.

You can remove the infection and save your tooth through root canal therapy. Keep reading to learn more about root canal treatments and their importance.

What is Root Canal Treatment?

A root canal is an endodontic procedure for removing an infected or decayed dental pulp. A root canal treatment aims to stop the infection to prevent further damage and save your natural tooth.

Several factors can cause the need for a root canal, including:

• Dental trauma. Tooth damage, such as chips, cracks, and breaks, can expose the tooth’s pulp, resulting in infection.
• Deep cavities. Acids and bacterial plaque are key causes of tooth cavities. If not treated promptly, cavities deepen over time, exposing the tooth’s pulp and causing decay.
• Damaged restorations. Ill-fitting or damaged restorations like dental crowns, veneers, and fillings can cause bacteria to enter the tooth, causing decay.

Root Canal Procedure

Root canal therapy is an outpatient procedure completed in a dental office. When you visit the dentist or endodontist, they will examine and take X-rays of the tooth to determine whether you’re eligible for the procedure. They might recommend tooth extraction if the damage is too much to repair.

The dentist will always begin by numbing the area around the infected tooth to keep you relaxed and painless. Next, the dentist or endodontist drills through the tooth to access the infected pulp. They use specialized files to remove the infected or decayed pulp. They rinse the tooth and disinfect it to remove any debris and bacteria.

Since removing the infected pulp leaves a hole in the tooth, the dentist uses a gutta-percha sealer to fill the tooth. Then, a temporary filling or crown protects the tooth from further damage and infections. Later, they place a permanent filling and crown. Contact our dentist in Stony Brook for a root canal near you.

What’s the Purpose of a Root Canal Treatment?

A dentist will always try to preserve your natural tooth. That said, a dentist primarily recommends a root canal treatment to stop the infection and save your tooth. The other option would be to extract the tooth, which has disadvantages.

While the tooth is typically dead after removing the pulp, it’s restored with a filling and crown. You’ll still have your natural bite function and smile.

If you don’t treat the tooth with a root canal, the infection will likely spread, leading to tooth loss and damage to adjacent teeth, gums, connective tissues, and jawbone.

Alternatively, extracting the tooth comes with additional problems. For instance, missing teeth can cause a poor bite, unattractive smile, teeth misalignments, jawbone deterioration, collapsed facial muscles, and impaired speech function. You can get a tooth implant or bridge to prevent these side effects.

If possible, saving your natural tooth through a root canal is wise. It’s cost-effective, saves money, and protects you from unnecessary complications and hassles.

Root Canal Aftercare

After a root canal treatment, you’ll likely experience minor discomfort and swelling. Fortunately, your dentist will prescribe medication and give you a few care tips to facilitate faster healing and recovery. These can include:

• Take medicine as prescribed.
• Use ice packs.
• Contact your dentist if the symptoms persist beyond normal or worsen.
• Avoid hard, sticky, chewy, spicy, and sugary items.
• Eat a soft food diet. Do not chew on the side of the treated tooth.
• Maintain excellent oral hygiene.
• Attend your follow-up appointments.

Schedule an Appointment Today

Do you suspect you need a root canal? Contact Stony Brook Dental Group to speak with our dentist near you.

The desire for a dazzling and stunning smile has led to numerous innovations in cosmetic dentistry. Cosmetic dentistry is an excellent solution if you’re interested in altering the shape, color, and shape of your teeth, gums, and mouth. Whether you’re dealing with tooth damage, a gummy smile, tooth misalignments, missing teeth, or improper teeth gaps, your cosmetic dentist can help you achieve the smile of your dreams.

Standard cosmetic dentistry procedures include teeth whitening, dental bonding, gum contouring, dental veneers, dental implants, dental bridges, dental fillings, and dental crowns. Your dentist will begin by examining your condition to determine which treatment is right for you. Stony Brook Dental Group offers cosmetic dentistry near you.

If you’re unsure about cosmetic treatments, below are key benefits and side effects.

Benefits of Cosmetic Dentistry

• It gives you a youthful appearance. 

Oral imperfections like missing teeth, misalignments, and damages like chips, cracks, or stains can make you look less attractive and older than your biological age. Our dentist can effectively treat your dental imperfections and improve the aesthetics of your teeth, gums, and smile. When your teeth are whiter, properly aligned, and well-proportioned, it will make you look younger and more beautiful.

• Restore confidence 

Dental imperfections like misalignments and missing teeth can make you feel insecure or ashamed about your smile. You may want to hide your smile or avoid interactions, especially with new people. Low self-confidence can affect your career, education, and relationships and even lead to physiological issues like stress and depression.

Once the dentist straightens your teeth, brightens your teeth, or replaces missing teeth, you will significantly transform your smile. You’ll look and feel fabulous and beautiful, making you more confident to laugh and interact freely. More confidence will also improve your career productivity, education, and overall well-being.

• Improve oral health and function 

While cosmetic dentistry will enhance the appearance of your smile, it also offers restorative benefits. For instance, the dentist can use a dental implant to replace missing teeth, which restores your bite function, improves oral health, and transforms your smile.

Similarly, dental imperfections like misalignments can affect your appearance and increases your risk of tooth decay. Straightening your teeth will improve your appearance and make it easier to clean your teeth, protecting you from tooth decay.

• Prevents further damage

The benefits of cosmetic treatments go beyond improved appearance and bite function. When you have dental flaws like missing teeth, tooth cracks, or tooth decay, cosmetic treatments like dental veneers, crowns, and dental implants address your issues to prevent further damage like jawbone deterioration and additional tooth deterioration.

• Improves your overall well-being 

Oral problems might seem like minor issues bearing in mind that it’s only a part of your body. However, unaddressed oral problems can cause severe and life-threatening symptoms. For instance, dental issues can affect your bite functions, impacting how you feed and leading to malnutrition.

Similarly, infections from untreated, periodontal disease can spread to other parts of the body like the heart and brain, increasing your risk of serious health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and pneumonia.

Cosmetic treatments can help correct gum problems, correct bites, replace missing teeth, strengthen teeth, and align your teeth properly. It will transform your bite function, oral health, and overall well-being and give you a beautiful smile.

• It saves you money in the future. 

If not addressed on time, dental imperfections like chips, overcrowding, and missing teeth will likely progress, leading to future dental issues. It will cause the need for more invasive, complex, and costly treatments. Seeking cosmetic treatment on time will address these flaws and save you money.

• Long-lasting results 

The results can last for 3 – 20 years or more, depending on your cosmetic treatment. Dental implants that replace missing teeth can last a lifetime. Ensure you use high-quality materials like porcelain for your restorations.

Side Effects of Cosmetic Dentistry

Like most treatments, cosmetic dentistry comes with side effects. Still, the benefits outweigh the risks. Common side effects of cosmetic dentistry include:

• Teeth sensitivity if your tooth’s enamel was trimmed or etched
• Gum irritation and sensitivity from whitening treatments

Schedule an Appointment Today

Ready to transform your smile with cosmetic dentistry in Stony Brook, NY? Please schedule your appointment with our dentist today.

Thanks to modern technology in dentistry, you don’t always need to extract a tooth if it’s damaged. Whether you have a stained, cracked, chipped, or misshapen tooth, your dentist can help you restore the function and aesthetics of your tooth. Dental crowns and veneers are popular treatments to repair tooth damage and restore your smile.

While both treatments are effective, they are different and serve different purposes. Perhaps the main difference is that a dental veneer only covers the front of the tooth while a dental crown covers the entire tooth’s structure. Let’s learn more about these treatments to help you decide which one is right for you.

What are Dental Veneers?

A veneer is a thin shell or coating placed on your tooth’s front to hide or repair the damage. A veneer is customized to blend perfectly with the rest of your existing teeth. Your veneer can contain composite resin or porcelain material based on your budget and needs. Porcelain veneers are stronger, durable, and more resistant to stains than composite veneers. Your dentist can recommend dental veneers to correct dental imperfections like:

• Minor teeth chips and fractures
• Improper tooth gaps
• Minor teeth misalignments
• Stained or discolored teeth
• Misshapen teeth

Dental Veneers Procedure

Getting a dental veneer is a straightforward and less invasive procedure. Standard veneers only require two dental appointments. During the procedure, you’ll be numbed to prevent pain and anxiety. Next, the dentist will remove a tiny part of the tooth’s enamel to create enough room for the veneer to fit perfectly. Some veneers, like Lumineers, require very little or no tooth shaving.

Next, the dentist will make an impression on the prepared tooth and send them to a dental lab where they create a customized veneer. Most likely, the dentist will use a temporary veneer to protect the prepared tooth. When the permanent crown is ready, you’ll go in for the second appointment. The temporary veneer is replaced with the customized one. Contact our dentist for dental veneers in Stony Brook, NY.

What is a Dental Crown?

A crown is a tooth-shaped dental device placed over a damaged tooth. Like a veneer, a crown blends with your natural teeth. A crown can contain gold, porcelain, composite resin, zirconia, and porcelain-fused metal. Your dentist can recommend a dental crown to:

• Protect and strength a worn-down tooth
• To repair a cracked, chipped, decayed, or broken tooth
• To enhance the appearance of a severely discolored, yellowed, or stained tooth
• To hold a dental bridge
• To cover a dental implant
• To cover a tooth after root canal therapy

Dental Crown Procedure?

Like a dental veneer, placing a crown requires about two dental appointments. The dentist will begin by numbing you to keep you relaxed and pain-free during the procedure. Next, they shave down the tooth. A crown typically needs more shaving than a dental veneer. The dentist may have to build up the tooth if there isn’t enough tooth structure to hold a crown adequately. If you have tooth decay, the dentist will remove the decay before placing the crown.

The dentist will take impressions of the shaved and send them to a dental lab to create the permanent crown. The dentist will use a temporary crown to cover the prepared tooth. Once the custom-made crown is ready, the dentist will remove the temporary crown and then place the permanent crown. Contact our dentist in Stony Brook, NY.

Dental Crown vs. Veneers. Which is Better?

A dental crown is better if you have average to severe dental imperfections. Since a crown covers the entire tooth structure, it offers great strength, stability, and aesthetics. Alternatively, a dental veneer is a good option if your tooth only requires minor imperfections.

In most cases, a dental crown is used for restorative benefits, while a veneer is more of a cosmetic procedure. Fortunately, our dentist in Stony Brook, NY, can help you decide which treatment is best for you.

Schedule an Appointment Today

For more information about restorative and cosmetic treatments in Stony Brook, NY, contact Stony Brook Dental Group.

Since people are prone to losing teeth for various reasons, teeth replacement options and techniques are readily available today. Even though many teeth replacement techniques exist, dental implants are the most sought after. They naturally blend in and are reliable.

Dental implants are either full or partial. Partial implants are for when you have a few missing teeth, while full mouth dental implants are when you have a complete arch of missing teeth or multiple missing teeth.

The dentist would have to do full dental implants in several appointments in the past. Thanks to improvements in technology, some dentists now offer same-day dental implants. They are reliable and more effective since they involve minimal disruptions in your personal life.

If you are interested in same-day dental implants, you should visit a dental office like Stony Brook Dental Group. Interestingly, same-day implants are significantly cheaper than traditional ones.

Pros

• You receive permanent teeth on the same day
• You regain about 90% of your chewing ability
• You only receive a single surgery
• Saves time
• Cost-effective as compared to the traditional implants

How Many Implants are Required for Full Mouth?

Full mouth implants are for when you have missing teeth in an entire arch. You need four or six implants to replace your teeth successfully. These implants are sufficient to hold your artificial teeth firmly. Several factors determine whether to use four or six implants.

On the other hand, single dental implants require an implant for each tooth. If you have several consecutive missing teeth, a single implant may anchor the artificial teeth to the remaining healthy teeth like a bridge.

Same Day Full Mouth Dental Implant Procedure

When you visit a dental office for the same-day full mouth dental implant procedure, the dentist first conducts a comprehensive dental examination, including 3D imaging and x-rays. A thorough examination will help them assess whether or not your jawbones are fit to firmly support the dental implants and check to see that the gums are healthy.

The dentist then creates a treatment plan which includes additional procedures that may be necessary, such as bone augmentation and sinus lift. Once the plan is complete, the dentist starts the surgical procedure. They perform all surgical procedures such as tooth extraction and attachment of implants at this stage.

The dentist creates the restorations in an in-house dental laboratory that custom fits your implants. The restorations are created with the help of the scans taken. They are placed when tested. The artificial teeth can be adjusted to your comfort level before being permanently fixed.

During a dental visit that involves full mouth implants, it’s advisable to disclose your medical history and any preexisting conditions. It helps the dentist make the best decisions, such as prescribing the right antibiotics if you suffer from certain infections.

Pre-Cautions

Since the procedure is invasive, it is administered under general anesthesia. The type of anesthesia depends on your condition. Also, you do not require a waiting time since the implants are made of titanium metal bar, stabilizing the implants as they heal. It is also integrated into the jawbone quickly.

Costs

When discussing the cost of the implants, it’s always good to understand that the cost includes non-monetary attributes. It is an investment to better your life by improving your smile, speech, chewing ability, and visual appeal.

Since performing a complete arch of individual implants would be very costly, most patients prefer the four or six implants with a fixed bridge alternative. With the same-day dental restoration, the cost of full mouth implants is not bad. It is roughly three times cheaper than the traditional full mouth implants, which also require a lot of time to heal fully.

Conclusion

Full mouth dental restorations restore happiness and confidence in your life. They are reliable, efficient, and durable. Same-day implant procedures are now available, making it more convenient for patients. You no longer have to wait for a full-mouth dental implant procedure. You save on costs and time spent at the dentist too.