East Hills Dental Associates Blog

When it comes to altering the appearance of a smile, or to conceal minor chips or cracks on the surface of a tooth, your cosmetic dentist may recommend porcelain veneers as an ideal treatment.

Veneers are thin tooth-shaped shells that can be shaped and shaded to provide a dazzling, natural appearance that not only looks good, but is practical, too. Although veneers are most commonly crafted from porcelain, they can also be made using composite resins; there are, however, advantages to porcelain veneers over their composite counterparts.

Dental veneers are delicate in appearance, due to the fact that they are extremely thin, but when bonded onto the surface of a tooth, they are very durable. This is because the tooth itself acts to provide support to the veneer and once bonded, the veneer and the natural tooth work together to provide strength and support.

Veneers give a more natural finish and so better aid in the wearer’s appearance than composite. Porcelain is a semi-translucent material, which allows natural light to better penetrate the veneer surface, where it is reflected back from the natural tooth enamel. As a result, a natural appearance of the smile is attained.

Composite veneers, on the other hand, are more dense and so light cannot penetrate as well as is the case for porcelain. Composite veneers can leave the smile looking dull and so is more noticeably false.

To provide an even better natural finish, the porcelain used in veneers can be shaded and blended to match seamlessly with the patient’s remaining teeth; this, in combination with the translucent properties of porcelain, aid in making veneers almost indistinguishable from natural teeth. The end result is a smile that people will notice for all the right reasons!

Stain resistance is better served by porcelain veneers. Because it is a man-made compound, porcelain doesn’t suffer the same absorbency issues as natural tooth enamel. This means normal staining agents, such as dark teas, coffee or red wine are much less likely to leave behind unsightly stains on the surface of veneers.

And so, to attain a great-looking smile that appears natural, porcelain veneers have become a highly popular method of smile restoration among cosmetic dentists. To learn how you can benefit from porcelain veneers, contact our experienced team at East Hills Dental Associates and schedule your informative consultation today.

The use of dentures as a method of tooth replacement continues to be common, despite the emergence of alternative treatments. Dentures are a good way to ensure that remaining teeth remain in position, and so helping to maintain the wearer’s bite pattern.

In the past, many dentists have often recommended that at least initially, new denture wearers should keep their replacement teeth in continuously for the first couple of weeks following their fitting. This would be done to allow the patient to acclimatize themselves to wearing the prosthetic, but also to help both the denture and the surrounding teeth to settle cohesively.

Changes in the design and construction of dentures in recent times, however, have made the acclimation time decrease, primarily due to the fact that dentures can be crafted to fit the patient’s mouth with greater precision and so are much more comfortable. As a result, most patients are now advised to remove their dentures for at least eight hours per day. The most logical time to do this is at night, while the patient is asleep.

Removing dentures at night helps to promote good oral health by allowing the gum tissue to rest, while allowing the mouth to be stimulated, thus producing saliva which helps to keep the tongue, teeth and oral cavity clean.

The soft tissues of the mouth are those which provide support to the dentures, and so it is important that these tissues are given a regular opportunity to rest in order to allow for blood flow to circulate and to keep the tissues healthy.

While removed at night, it is also an ideal time for dentures to be cleaned. Brushing with a soft toothbrush and denture paste upon removal helps to remove any bacteria from the surface of the dentures. Soaking them in a glass of water, along with a cleansing tablet, also helps to keep dentures clean, as well as helping the devices to retain their shape.

By taking good care of the replacement teeth, denture wearers can look forward to a beautiful and healthy smile for years to come. To find out if you are a good candidate for dentures, contact the office of Dr. Richard Sousa at 516-484-6600 and schedule your professional consultation today.

If you are a denture wearer who is fed up with your dental adhesive, you’re not alone. Those unpleasant pastes are inconvenient, often ineffective and they taste bad, too. Now you have a better option – dental implants.

Your dentist can use those implants to secure the prosthetic arch permanently. The denture is altered and equipped with holes to let it slide over the dental implants.

Implant dentures are more stable and reliable than the conventional appliances that rely on adhesives. The implants are far more effective than dental adhesives in holding the denture in place. You’re less likely to have an embarrassing slip-up with an implant denture. There’s no mess and no unpleasant taste with implants, either.

Implant dentures have benefits beyond eliminating dental adhesives, too. They prevent jawbone atrophy that occurs in the absence of the missing teeth’s roots. When that erosion takes place, the shape of the jaw changes. With conventional dentures, that evolution will lead to a looser fit as years pass. Your appliance will need to be re-fitted periodically and may even need to be replaced at some point.

You’ll also get better chewing function with implant dentures. The connection between the appliance and the jaw helps the denture to withstand greater chewing forces. Held in place by an adhesive, a standard denture can’t match up. Implant denture wearers enjoy a more varied diet.

Proper maintenance of your dental implants will help to extend their life. To prevent gum disease that may compromise the implants, it’s important to keep the gumline clean if you have implant dentures, so remember to clean underneath the denture every day.

Patients who choose implants do need to have an adequate amount of bone to support those implants. If you are a long-term denture wearer with extensive bone loss already, you will need to check with your dentist to see if this is an appropriate treatment for you or if other techniques or procedures can help you qualify for dental implants.

Ditch your dental adhesives and opt for implant dentures instead. They’ll give you a more pleasant denture experience all-around. Contact East Hills Dental Associates for more information today.

Patients who have experienced tooth loss can choose from a variety of treatment options, whether they need to replace a single tooth or all of them. You can consult with your dentist for a complete overview of all of your different choices.

The tooth implant is the most advanced technology available to remedy tooth loss. This treatment involves a small titanium rod that is surgically inserted into the jaw. The implant fuses with the jaw over time and secures a prosthetic crown.

Other options include bridges and dentures. A bridge is a device that holds a pontic (artificial crown) in place with crowns that are placed on the adjoining teeth. A denture often involves a prosthetic arch when all of the upper or lower teeth have been lost. Partial dentures can also be used to fill in for a smaller number of missing teeth.

Dental implants tend to cost more than the alternatives initially, so patients often believe that they are choosing a more budget-friendly option by going with bridges or dentures. That’s not necessarily the case.

A tooth implant is designed to be a permanent solution for tooth loss. Once it has successfully integrated with the bone, the implant can stay put for decades if you take proper care of it.

One of the main problems with the other tooth replacement methods is that none of them have a structure similar to the tooth’s root, which is an important stabilizing force for the jaw. Without the root, the jaw wears away.

Because bridges and dentures don’t have any component that is analogous to a root, the jaw does wear away. Accordingly, the bridge or denture will lose its fit over time, resulting in the need for re-fittings. Eventually, the appliance may need to be completely replaced, increasing your out-of-pocket costs.

Dental implants also have no effect on neighboring teeth. They are completely independent and able to stand alone. Devices like bridges that require support from the adjacent teeth may cause damage to those teeth, requiring additional dental treatments.

When considering your choices for tooth replacement, be sure to weigh the long-term costs of each device. You may find that dental implants are the more economical choice for the long haul.

To discuss your tooth replacement options, contact our experienced dental team at 516-484-6600 to schedule an appointment today.

If you’ve been plagued by frequent headaches but have not gotten relief from seeing your doctor, maybe you need to check in with your dentist. Your headaches may be caused by a dental problem.

Any dental condition that creates stress on the mouth can result in headaches. Bruxism (teeth grinding), temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, impacted wisdom teeth or even a severe infection of the tooth could be the culprit. Some of these problems can create excessive strain on the various structures of the face and jaw, potentially leading to headaches.

With a thorough examination, including information about the frequency and timing of your headaches, your dentist can diagnose the issue. The dentist may also use radiography to inform the diagnosis.

After you have a diagnosis; effective treatment is possible. Bruxism often responds to a mouthguard worn at night. Orthodontics to re-position the jaw can help alleviate pain associated with TMJ. If impacted wisdom teeth are the problem, extracting them should address it.

The recommended treatment plan may include interventions beyond the dental realm, too. Stress is often a factor in both TMJ and bruxism, so your dentist may also recommend stress management techniques or psychotherapy to complement your dental treatments.

Headaches are just one symptom that will improve after you get treatment for your bruxism or TMJ disorder. You may also notice that other issues, like earaches or jaw pain, are resolved as well. If you’re experiencing headaches, being aware of these other symptoms can help your dentist figure out what is going on. Keep an eye out for problems like excessive wear on the teeth, which may indicate bruxism, or bad breath, which may signal an infection.

You don’t have to suffer through frequent headaches, keep an ample supply of aspirin or ibuprofen on hand just in case. See a dentist to determine if a dental issue may be at fault. If so, you can get an effective treatment.

If you are suffering from headaches and suspect it might be a dental issue, our experienced dental staff at East Hills Dental Associates can help.  Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

Dental imperfections can alter how we present ourselves. Stained, chipped, or missing teeth are just a few of the obstacles that can be overcome with the help of your cosmetic dentist.

Teeth whitening – Stains from years of hygiene neglect, diet, medications or aging can be all but eliminated in about one hour with Zoom! Teeth Whitening.  Possibly the least invasive cosmetic procedure that offers the biggest bank for your buck, teeth whitening can take drab and dull to “Hollywood Wow” in one appointment.

Dental bonding – For intrinsic stains that do not respond to whitening, bonding offers a means to cover those stains with a composite resin material that is designed to perfectly match surrounding teeth. Bonding is appropriate for small tooth repairs as well.

Porcelain veneers – One of the minimally invasive but permanent cosmetic procedures available, porcelain veneers are wafer thin, tooth colored shells designed to conceal multiple dental inconsistencies such as:

• Dental stain – When whitening or bonding will not suffice, veneers provide a lasting option.
• Gaps between teeth – Those spaces disappear when veneers are applied to affected teeth.
• Chipped or misshapen teeth – Teeth appear whole and even.
• Uneven or worn enamel – One or several teeth can benefit from veneers providing extra strength to treated teeth.

Veneers can be made from composite resin or fabricated in porcelain by a dental lab. Porcelain veneers are stain resistant, and offer a lifelike alternative to more extensive procedures.

Surgical enhancements – Eliminate a “gummy smile” with gum line corrections.

Crown and bridge – There was a time when the only material available for dental prosthetics was metal based. With the introduction of porcelain, your cosmetic dentist is able to provide beautiful restorations with natural dental anatomy making them virtually indistinguishable from your biological teeth.

• A crown can salvage a cracked or broken tooth, or one that has undergone multiple fillings and cannot sustain further treatment.
• The loss of one or more teeth can be supplanted with either a fixed or removable bridge. Healthy abutment teeth will play a key role in available options.

If you are feeling self-conscious about your smile, a discussion with your cosmetic dentist will reveal the many options available to resolve your concerns. Dental enhancements will be presented to satisfy every budgetary and timeline constraint. Your dentist will work with you to determine the best treatment plan to restore your smile and boost your self-confidence.

Contact our experienced and caring dental team today to discuss which smile makeover options can help you. Call 516-484-6600 to schedule an appointment.

Over time even the whitest teeth can appear drab and dull. Food, beverages, daily hygiene habits, tobacco use, medications, advancing age … all of these things can impact teeth. Teeth whitening can erase years of what daily living has done. Lackluster teeth will sparkle in one brief appointment.

Your cosmetic dentist can offer a variety of options to restore a dreary smile to “wow”, but the most economical and least invasive option is teeth whitening.

Seeing a dental professional for teeth whitening offers many advantages:

• All questions and concerns are addressed by a trained and caring dental health care provider. Whitening systems available at the drug store or on the internet rely on the buyer to make uninformed decisions.
• With in-office whitening, the gums and surrounding soft tissues are protected. This is important as the whitening agents available from the dentist contain very powerful ingredients that must be applied with care to avoid potential injury.
• In-office whitening can lighten teeth up to eight shades in about one hour.
• For patients desiring to whiten teeth at home, your dentist can provide the proper instructions and the best product to achieve the desired results in the privacy of your home.

How long will that new bright smile last? The patient is in control so the longevity of teeth whitening often lies in after treatment care.
Limiting the products known to stain like coffee, tea, or red wine will help. Rinsing or brushing after consumption of these and sugary drinks will benefit treated teeth.

Being aware of what foods and beverages are more likely to stain may generate better after consumption care.
Tobacco use promotes teeth discoloration, so don’t smoke.

Some medications can impact tooth discoloration. Your dentist may be able to suggest alternatives or recommend you speak with your health care provider for advice.

There are touch-up kits available for follow-up care. Always follow the advice of your dentist to maximize the benefits obtained from teeth whitening.

It is possible to abuse teeth whitening products. Understanding the maximum shade of white you can achieve will eliminate disappointment if teeth don’t whiten to unrealistic expectations.

Daily flossing and brushing will maximize the teeth whitening experience. Twice yearly visits to the dentist for cleaning and an exam coupled with an excellent daily dental regimen will help keep your new smile bright.

Contact our skilled dental team at East Hills Dental Associates to learn which teeth whitening option is right for your smile.

We often take for granted the ability to eat all the foods we love. But after suffering a tooth loss, being able to enjoy a thick juicy steak, munching on crunchy vegetables, or enjoying our favorite chewy foods becomes a challenge. A discussion on dental implants will reveal that tooth loss does not mean you have to give up your favorite foods.

Sacrificing a tooth to decay, disease or trauma is not something to ignore. There are many reasons to research the various options to replace missing teeth:

• Aesthetics – A toothless smile may be cute on a small child, but an adult may suffer from self- esteem issues that can impact social life, professional position, or public perception in general.
• Dental health – With tooth loss, bone atrophy will follow. The bone located in gum tissue will begin to shrink when the root of the tooth is gone. Filling a gap where one or more teeth were lost can halt this process.
• Speaking – We rely on the tongue and teeth to formulate sounds. With tooth loss, forming certain sounds may be difficult.

There are several options to supplant tooth loss, but for patients seeking to restore the most natural functionality and appearance, dental implants is the optimum treatment.

A dental implant is imbedded in the gum where tooth loss has occurred. This small piece of titanium will integrate with existing bone tissue and become the basis of support for the final restoration, much like the root of a natural tooth.

Once healed, the implant will be covered with a protective restoration that so closely matches the surrounding teeth, it will be indiscernible.

Your dentist has helped to restore your self-confidence, speaking ability, and overall dental health. But best of all, you can now enjoy the foods you love. With dental implants, there are no restrictions as your new tooth will function just like a biological tooth does.

Caring for a dental implant involves the same routine as with natural teeth. Flossing daily along with brushing after eating is the best regimen for excellent oral health. The implant is now a permanent part of your dental anatomy, so enjoy the foods you love while following the rules to protect it and your remaining natural teeth which should also include seeing the dentist for a thorough cleaning and exam twice per year.

Contact the office of Dr. Richard Sousa if dental implants can help you return to your normal life, including eating the foods you love. Call 516-484-6600 to schedule an appointment today.

If your smile doesn’t exactly have the pizzazz that it once had, maybe it’s time to think about bringing it back to life. Actually, if your smile has never been as brilliant as you would have preferred, opting for cosmetic dentistry solutions such as porcelain veneers may provide you with the look that you have always desired.

With veneers, your cosmetic dentist has the ability to sculpt an attractive and natural smile just for you. Of course, your cosmetic needs are far different that those of your friend, neighbor, or a Hollywood celebrity, and that’s precisely what makes veneers so desirable.

These restorations can be customized to address your specific concerns. Perhaps your desire is to conceal stained or discolored teeth, close spaces and gaps between the teeth, or lengthen short teeth. The exact size, shape, color, and other anatomic details can be selected for each tooth and the final result will be a smile that is nothing short of customized perfection.

Made of thin, but highly durable porcelain, veneers are designed to permanently adhere to the front surface of the teeth. Since veneers can fit right on top of your natural teeth, they are considered to be the most conservative solution for a many common cosmetic challenges. Once in place, these restorations are designed to withstand the challenges of daily living. Temperature changes (such as eating hot or cold foods), normal chewing and biting forces, brushing, and flossing will not impact the integrity or the appearance of your new smile.

There is certainly an art to cosmetic dentistry. The ability to create a new smile that functions properly and looks attractive without looking false is a skill that requires communication, precision, and vision. It also demands the use of high quality dental materials and cutting edge techniques.

Fortunately, your cosmetic dentist has the expertise to design a smile that you’ll be able to enjoy for years to come.

If you are interested in learning more about enhancing and customizing your smile with porcelain veneers, contact our skilled dental team at East Hills Dental Associates to schedule a consultation.

Life with dentures is no walk in the park. Sure, you don’t have to worry about toothaches and cavities, but you are certain to encounter challenges regarding the way that your dentures fit and function. For some patients, these challenges can become so annoying and uncomfortable that it begins to affect the overall quality of their lives.

Fortunately, with Teeth in a Day, it is possible to wake up in the morning with dentures and return to bed that same night with permanent teeth. Unlike conventional dentures, these new teeth will not need to be removed. Instead, they will remain anchored in place for a smile that looks more natural and feels more comfortable, both day and night.

When the teeth are missing, and there is no stimulation to the jaw bone, bone loss is an unavoidable consequence. With this bone loss and deterioration, even a well-made denture that once fit comfortably can begin to feel loose and uncomfortable. Options such as relining the denture or purchasing denture glue at the drugstore tend to be short-term, unsatisfying solutions.

For those patients who are in search of a more secure, long-term solution, an option that includes dental implants can offer relief. Dental implants can provide the stimulation that is necessary to prevent bone loss. With Teeth in a Day, the traditional implant procedure has been modified and streamlined to support a full denture. Computer guided technology enables your dentist to plan your treatment and perform the surgical techniques without incisions or stitches.

The entire procedure can be completed in only a few hours, and the implants can immediately support a full denture. The end result, known as an immediate load implant restoration, allows patients to return home with a full set of permanent, functional teeth in just one day.

If you are living with the challenge of loose dentures, then you owe it to yourself to explore this exciting, long-term solution. Contact the office of Dr. Richard A. Sousa at 516-484-6600 for a personalized consultation today.