All posts by MPDStaff

As the new school year quickly approaches and you begin to form your back to school lists, don’t forget to add a visit to your dentist’s office to your list along with supplies and book shopping. Whether it be for whitening, fitting for mouth guards, or just a regular checkup and cleaning, it is essential to make your way to the dentist after a summer of activities.

TEETH WHITENING

Everyone knows that first impressions are important! A young person who sees a bright, white smile in the mirror is also going to be more confident in the presence of their peers. Whitening can be done professionally at your dentist’s office, or you can purchase a take-home teeth whitening kit from your dentist for a more cost-effective option. Our In-Office Zoom Teeth Whitening treatment can whiten your smile up to six shades lighter, to ensure a brighter smile just in time for the new school year. Click here to learn more about our teeth whitening services.

MOUTH GUARDS & NIGHT GUARDS

Some school sports require mouth guards, which is why it is essential to go to your dentist to be fitted for one before these sports kick off. Mouth guards protect against mouth injuries in most sports, and it is important to have one to prevent any extra emergency dentist visits due to a sports related accident. Mouth guards even have a place outside of sports. People who grind their teeth due to stress or just during the night should be fitted for a special night guard to protect against chronic headaches and TMJD (temporo-mandibular joint disorder). You can purchase over-the-counter mouth guards available in some sports shops and pharmacies, but we recommend that patients visit their dental office for a professional fitting to ensure safety and overall comfort. Click here to learn more about mouthguards or TMJ therapy.

CHECK UP & CLEANING

Even if you do not need a teeth whitening or a mouth guard, it’s always good to have an end of summer checkup and professional cleaning. Some schools require medical forms from students before attending, including dental records. At your checkup and professional cleaning, your dentist may also take x-rays to make sure you do not have any cavities or infections. If you do need treatment, you can get it taken care of it before the busy school year schedule sets in.

Call our office today at (718) DR-SMILE (718-377-6453)  to schedule a back to school appointment or click here to make an appointment online! If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to call us today at (718) DR-SMILE (718-377-6453) and talk to our staff directly so we can assist you however possible. We look forward to helping you smile!

In 1987 President Ronald Reagan declared March to be Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Awareness month. Since then, many efforts have been made to dissolve stereotypes and stigmas surrounding the people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Oral care is important for everyone and there shouldn’t be any compromises made for anyone based upon a ‘disability’ of any kind. We here at Morris Park Dental Associates in the Bronx salute President Reagan in the Bronx, the caretakers and the community. (718) DR.SMILE (718-377-6453) or schedule a dental appointment online today and get the best dental care you can get in the Bronx.

Developmental Disabilities and Dental Care

Some common developmental disabilities include: cerebral palsy, autism, Down syndrome, intellectual disability, fragile X syndrome, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Sometimes these disabilities are apparent during childhood and/or adolescence. Parents or guardians may notice that their children are not progressing as the average child does, and/or is not reaching developmental milestones as they should. These milestones can include those like a baby rolling over by month 7, children talking by the age of one, and walking around that same time. These disorders affect one for a lifetime. They affect the mind, the body, and the skills people use in everyday life such as: problem solving, speech, and motor function. People afflicted with developmental disabilities will most likely need extra assistance to achieve and keep up a state of well-being and adequate health, and oral health is no exception.

A movement toward deinstitutionalization and eradication of social stigma associated with mental, intellectual and developmental disorders has merged people together regardless of age or type of disability. About 80 percent of those with developmental disabilities live in a supervised group or at home with their relatives. They now look to oral care practitioners to assist them in proper oral hygiene.

As with anything, it is best to have an oral care practitioner and a team that is well informed. People who don’t perform in ways that others would, often need a special approach to dental care. Whether the disability is mild to moderate, most all procedures can be performed with the appropriate adaptations made by the practitioner.

What can you do as a Caregiver?

As the parent or caregiver of a person with intellectual or developmental disabilities it would be wise to contact our Bronx dental office beforehand. Let us know what is going on and how we can help as well. With a well-informed dental team and staff, everything will go smoothly! Preparedness is the most important factor in the oral care of a person that requires special adaptations for their health.

In your home, however, the first thing and most basic thing you can do is help your child pick out the right toothbrush. Soft bristles are recommended, along with the appropriate size based on the child’s mouth. Brushing might be uncomfortable initially, so get the accustomed to the sensation by touching the brush to their lips and the insides of their cheeks.

Show them how you brush your teeth, take extra care, and teach them to “open wide” with demonstration. The Autism Speaks Dental Guide advises the guardian of a child with autism to stand behind their child with their [the child] head on their [the guardian” chest, apply a small amount of toothpaste to the bristles of the toothbrush, and brush as if they were brushing their own teeth. They also list these steps in brushing:

  1. Brush the outside, inside, and tops of the bottom back teeth on one side of the mouth five times.
  2. Move up and brush the inside, outside and chewing surfaces of the top teeth five times.
  3. Brush the bottom front teeth outside and inside five times.
  4. Move to the opposite side and brush the bottom teeth outside and inside five times.
  5. Brush the top front teeth inside, outside, and chewing surfaces five times.
  6. Brush the opposite top back teeth inside, outside, and chewing surfaces five times.

And remember, if your child wants to try and do it themselves, (supervise, but) let them!

Call our Morris Park Dentist office and request a dental appointment and consultation for all of your special dentistry needs. From cosmetic dentistry to dental implants and dentures, we can help you! Call (718) DR.SMILE (718-377-6453) today to find out more about Special Needs Dentistry In The Bronx.

You’ve gotten your wedding dress, but while trying it on, you notice that your teeth look yellow in comparison to your beautiful white dress! What’s a bride to do? To get your teeth their whitest on your wedding day, we offer Zoom! Professional Teeth Whitening. In as little as an hour, your teeth will look up to 6 shades whiter!

What is Teeth Whitening?

Your teeth are made up of an outer layer, called enamel, an inner layer, called dentin, and a bundle of nerves underneath that called the pulp. Across the span of your life, many things have accumulated and made stay on the surface of your teeth to form a yellow film: acidic foods, coffee, cigarette smoke, darkly colored sodas, the list goes on and on. As time goes on, these foreign materials enter the second layer of your teeth, the dentin, and causes it to become discolored.

However, the whitening agent found in a teeth whitening product basically enters the second layer of your teeth to sets off an oxidation reaction that breaks apart the staining compounds and leaves your pearly whites looking pearlier. There are two main types of teeth whitening: in-office professional teeth whitening and over the counter teeth whitening methods that you can apply at home.

Teeth Whitening at Home

In-home systems have become popular because they are inexpensive, easy to apply, and can be done in the comfort of one’s own home. There is a good selection of over-the-counter teeth whitening products that can be purchased without the consent or prescription of your oral care practitioner. They include whitening strips, whitening toothpaste, and even whitening gum. Having a mouth tray that fits properly is an important factor for comfort and health. Most over-the-counter products that have mouth trays don’t conform to the user’s mouth as well as an in-office system would. We offer custom bleaching trays made specifically for your mouth, which can be worn with whitening gel.

The problem with At-Home Teeth Whitening is that it must be done consistently every day over the course of several weeks (or even months) to get ideal results. With In-Office Teeth Whitening, you can get the same results in as little as an hour!

Professional Teeth Whitening at your Dentist’s Office

Professional teeth whitening is done in a dental office under the care of a qualified oral care practitioner. This method is the fastest way to brighten your teeth up to ten shades lighter in as little as an hour! The agents used in teeth whitening are considerably stronger than that of in-home teeth whitening strip, but with this method, your gums and the rest of your mouth are much more protected. The best systems for whitening teeth include a buffer in the gel that protects the tooth enamel from damage.

The effects of your treatment should last one or more years, it all depends on how well you take care and manage your teeth. If you follow up with an in-home teeth whitening system, and apply regularly, the effects could last even longer!

Teeth Whitening After Care Instructions

In order to maintain your new white smile, you may want to use take home teeth whitening treatments including bleaching trays, whitening toothpaste or whitening gum. It is important to avoid certain foods or drinks or behaviors which may stain your teeth, especially in the days immediately following your Professional Zoom Teeth Whitening treatment. These include:

  • Coffee
  • Dark Colored Tea
  • Sodas Especially Cola
  • Some Wines
  • Smoking
  • Staining Foods (like Red Berries)

In addition, you can protect your teeth by drinking certain beverages through a straw.

Is Teeth Whitening Right for Me?

It is important to note that teeth whitening treatment will help whiten surface stains but it may not be for everyone. For example, while it will not damage any existing dental restorations in your mouth, the treatment will not whiten any existing crowns (or caps), fillings, veneers, partials, gold, laminates, composite bonding, or other restorations.  As a result, if you whiten your teeth your other restorations will appear darker and more noticeable in comparison, especially if you have restorations on your front teeth.  Previous dental work would need to be replaced to match the newly whitened teeth, so keep this in mind. In addition, if you have decalcification, or white spots, on your teeth, it may make those white spots even whiter and more noticeable.

Finally, some people experience sensitive teeth after using at-home or in-office whitening treatment. If you already have sensitive teeth, there are some alternative teeth bleaching gels which may result in less sensitivity.  In addition, your dentist may recommend using fluoride treatment or Sensodyne toothpaste to minimize any sensitivity from the teeth whitening treatments. Be sure to let your dentist or hygienist know if you have any additional concerns, and they will be happy to answer your questions.

Call us at (718) DR.SMILE (718-377-6453)  to schedule an appointment or to have all of your questions answered by one of our professional team members, or click here to request a Zoom Teeth Consultation with us today!

 

Take a moment off this month from your March Madness Basketball fantasy to thank the Bronx women in your life; whether they are your sister, mother, wife, grandmother, daughter or aunt. Women play an important role in society, and they don’t have to be Amelia Earhart to do so. We here at Morris Park Dental Associates in the Bronx salute the women in the Bronx and the women of America! Call (718) DR.SMILE (718-377-6453) or schedule a dental appointment online today and get the smile that every woman deserves.

Women like Alice Paul, Malvina Reynolds, Rosa Parks, and Eleanor Roosevelt, all have something in common. What is it? Confidence! This month, we’re celebrating Women’s history by sharing one of the easiest ways to boost your confidence – your smile!

Your pearly-whites can be become not-so-pearly when you consume things that stain your teeth, weaken your enamel, and build up plaque.

Some of the most popular drinks consumed on a daily basis that can stain your teeth in the Bronx consist of: red wine, coffee, darkly colored juices and teas, soda and sauces.

Most of these also weaken your enamel and promote tooth decay. In addition to the aforementioned liquids, we can also add acidic foods such as blueberries, prunes, plumes, cashews, bacon, fish, and lamb. The list goes on and on.

In replacement of these delicious foods we consume so often, try veggie juices, almonds, cucumbers, pumpkin, celery, carrots, avocados, watermelon, tomatoes, peas, and kale.

Keeping healthy teeth habits will prevent plaque buildup, as well as brighten your smile and gums. Habits to hold on close to are those such as brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, and using a mouth rinse for at least 30 seconds twice a day, not to be confused with a mouthwash. The difference is that mouth rinses are an antiseptic that decrease bacteria, whereas mouthwash just freshens your breath. Mouthwash doesn’t actually protect you against plaque. Habits to stay away from can conclude with staying away from sticky foods which cling to your teeth, such as raisins, candies, and sugary and starchy foods.

Others things to stay away from, and some of the more obvious ones, include hard liquors, cigarettes, drugs, tobacco, beer, chemicals and aspirin.

If you or your child is just too stubborn, or don’t have enough time to brush twice a day, it is essential that the brushing at night is done. The level of saliva in your mouth decrease significantly at night, making plaque buildup, bad breath and cavities thrive while you’re asleep. Not to mention that there are probably still microscopic food particles left in, around and between your teeth, from eating throughout the day. This is another reason why flossing is so beneficial – it gets to the parts in between your teeth that your average toothbrush can’t get to.

In the long run, it pays to follow the recommendations of our Morris Park Bronx dentist; brushing twice a day, flossing once a day, and utilizing a mouth rinse. It saves you the pain, discomfort and cost of potential cavities, gum disease or plaque buildup.

Here are 5 tips that can make your teeth one step closer to that shine you desire:

  • Brush for at least 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Brush in front of a mirror; watch where you get and where you have yet to get to. Make sure you are getting along the gum line, this is the most commonly missed area, yet one of the most important.
  • Brush in a circular pattern. Start small and get bigger.
  • Do NOT brush too hard, you are actually doing more harm than good as this can cause damage to your tooth enamel.
  • Brush with the right toothbrush. Buy a toothbrush that is fitted correctly to the size of your mouth, with soft or ultra-soft bristles to minimize damage.

Above all, visit our dental office in the Bronx! Who knows your teeth better than your Bronx dental practitioner? Come see us on a regular basis so that an accurate, professional tab can be kept on your oral health. If anyone can identify the early signs of a gum disease or abnormality, it’s the great Bronx Dentists at Morris Park Dental Associates.

Your smile says something about you. The great women we talked about above exuded confidence and high self-esteem. One can say; “In the face of adversity I press on and keep my head held high and my smile big.”

Call our Morris Park Dentist office and request a dental appointment and consultation for all of your dentistry needs. From cosmetic dentistry to dental implants and dentures, we can help you look and feel confident! Call (718) DR.SMILE (718-377-6453) today to find out more about Dentistry In The Bronx.

Here is some history about Saint Patrick’s Day

The National Irish American Heritage Month was designated by congress in 1995 and there is a celebration of Saint Patrick, The Bishop of Ireland on March 17th. The holiday is to celebrate the Irish culture. The first Saint Patrick’s Day parades began in New York in 1762 by Irish members of the British Army. The holiday was originally started for the Irish to celebrate their past heritage and keep their traditions alive after being separated from their homeland. It is now a worldwide celebration of wearing green, getting pinched if you are not, and parades in several United States cities.

Our Commitment To An Environmentally Friendly Dental Office in the Bronx

You might be interested to know on St. Patrick’s Day, that our dental office in the Bronx is a Green Dentist’s Office! There are several ways that our Bronx dental office is environment friendly.

Non-mercury and non-amalgam fillings

When we treat cavities with a filling, we use non-mercury and non-amalgam fillings. This means that our office is keeping you, our staff, and the environment healthy by not using toxic mercury materials. When other Bronx dentists use these mercury or amalgam fillings, they normally have to remove more of the natural tooth than is necessary and the material can be toxic to your body. If mercury gets in your body, it does not just go away and it can be transmitted to your children. This is a very important fact about how green we are.

A digital dental office

Our office is also digital. Electronic dental patient reminders through email and text help our office to be greener. We also use digital x-rays which eliminate the chemicals, paper, and foil trash that are products of traditional x-rays. That means that you are not being exposed to those things either. Digital x-rays also use up to 90% less radiation than the traditional kind. There is also less waiting time for a digital x-ray. Your dentist can see your teeth immediately without developing the images.

Rechargeable batteries, water filters and recycling

There are a few more things in the office, such as using rechargeable batteries for our equipment that uses them and energy saving overhead lights. Recycling ink cartridges is another less noticeable way our Bronx dental office is green. Our water filter is much better than water bottles and coolers in the office for the environment. When an instrument or tool gets worn out, we are a part of the recycling program with Henry Schein, and they give us one new instrument for every 12 that we recycle.

A green environment

Our Morris Park Avenue dental office in the Bronx has invested in maintaining a green environment for the earth and the patients. We will continue to research and use the latest green materials and techniques for keeping our dental patients, their teeth, our staff, and the earth healthy!

Call our Morris Park Dentist office and request a dental appointment and consultation for all of your dentistry needs. From cosmetic dentistry to dental implants and dentures, we can help you look and feel great! Call (718) DR.SMILE (718-377-6453) today to find out more about Dentistry In The Bronx.

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

Dentist’s day in the Bronx is a day to wear those pearly white teeth with pride and thank your Bronx dentist for all the work that goes into keeping your beautiful smile perfect. It is also a day to remember to take good care of your teeth and improve your dental routine. Call now for a dental consultation in the Bronx. Call our Bronx Dentists in our Morris Park Avenue dental office (718) DR.SMILE (718-377-6453) or request a consultation.

There is no reason to ever be afraid of going to the dentist office for a check up. They are there to help you and to help you improve the health of your mouth and teeth. Getting regular check ups and cleanings can make sure that you have those teeth for a long time. Taking care of your mouth can mean better overall health for the rest of your body also. Your NYC dentist is there to help you.

Dreading a dentist visit can come from fear of pain or judgment. That is just silly! Our Morris Park Bronx dental office can make sure that you are comfortable during a checkup. Cleanings and x-rays should not cause any pain. Fillings that need to be done on occasion are just a part of life. Everybody will get a cavity at some point no matter how well they take care of their teeth. Your Bronx dentist is not there to judge you because of this. They are there to help treat and prevent cavities from forming into serious tooth decay and prevent the problem from getting worse.

Sitting in the dental chair can also be a fear that some people have. Your dentist will provide a blanket for you if it makes you feel more comfortable and soothing music to help you relax. If you are super anxious about visiting the dentist for your routine cleaning, checkup, or filling, your dentist can sometimes provide a light sedative or gas that can help you feel more comfortable during the checkup or fillings.

Dentist’s Day is a good day to think about improving your oral hygiene routine that you do daily. Do you floss in the evening? Do you use a good mouthwash that is recommended by your dentist? It may be time to take your dentist’s advice and brush, floss, and use a good mouthwash at least twice a day. Maybe research what type of toothpaste is best for you. Reduce your sugar intake because nothing causes teeth to get cavities faster than sugar sitting on them!

Your New York City dentist works hard to make sure that you have a lovely smile! Show them some love on Dentist’s day. Maybe you can send them a picture of your beautiful smile or send them a thank you card to let them know how much they are appreciated. Write on the Morris Park Dental  Facebook wall a note of gratitude for the good job on keeping your mouth healthy. Your dentist will appreciate the good dental reviews. Make sure to tell your dentist Happy Dentist’s Day on March 6!

Call our Morris Park Dentist office and request a dental appointment and consultation for all of your dentistry needs. From cosmetic dentistry to dental implants and dentures, we can help you look and feel great! Call (718) DR.SMILE (718-377-6453) today to find out more about Dentistry In The Bronx. Happy Dentist’s Day!

Getting dentures in the Bronx has never been so easy! Dentures are replacements for missing teeth that can be taken out, cleaned overnight, and put back in. While dentures take some getting used to, and will never feel the same as one’s natural teeth, modern day dentures are natural looking and more comfortable than ever before. If you are interested in finding out more about All-on-4 Implant Supported Dentures In The Bronx, you should call our Morris Park Dental Office for a consultation at (718) DR.SMILE (718-377-6453) or request a consultation.

There are two main types of dentures you can get in the Bronx: full, and partial. Any Bronx dentist can help choose the type of denture that’s best, based on how many teeth need to be replaced, and the cost involved. But what are implant supported dentures, and how do they work?

Unlike regular dentures, which rests on the gums, implant supported dentures are anchored to the jawbone, by way of dental implants. Most often, this type of denture is placed in the lower jaw, mostly because dentures tend to be less stable in the lower jaw, as opposed to the upper jaw. However, implant supported dentures can be placed in in the upper jaw as well. With this type of denture, an implant supported denture snaps into place on the implants, which are surgically placed into the jawbone. This prevents the denture from slipping or coming loose during activities like eating, talking, or laughing. Denture paste and adhesives are no longer required because the dentures are secured by the fittings in the jaw. The implant supported denture can be removed at night for cleaning, just like regular dentures, or, if one has a fixed implant supported denture placed, these dentures can act as permanent teeth.

So what are the basics of implant supported dentures? There are two styles of implant supported dentures, bar-retained dentures and ball-retained dentures. Both types of dentures require two or more dental implants to be placed in the lower jaw, and both will provide a beautiful, natural smile.

In the Bar-Retained type of denture, three or more implants are surgically placed into the lower jaw. Attached to these implants is a metal bar that runs slightly above the gum line, inline with the natural position of teeth. The denture then rests on the metal bar and is attached using clips or other forms of attachments. This type of implant supported denture holds the denture in place without the steel studs used in Ball-Retained Dentures.

 

Many patients prefer this type of denture to a traditional denture because it provides greater denture integrity and doesn’t cause the painful rubbing of contemporary dentures. The denture is held in place more securely and is less likely to come loose.

Unlike Bar-Retained dentures, Ball-Retained Dentures, also called Stud-Attachment Dentures, use a ball-and-socked design to attach the dentures to the implants surgically placed in the gums. Traditionally, the denture is fitted with sockets into the jawbone, and the implants have a ball on top of them so the dentures can snap onto them. The denture and implants snap together where the ball and sockets meet.

This form of denture is considered exceptionally secure. Ball-Retained Dentures are less likely to slip or move in the mouth, and will allow denture wearers to eat more foods they love and speak more clearly.

Dental implants are long-term replacements that your dentist surgically places into the jawbone. These dental implants, composed of titanium, fuse with the jawbone through a process called “osseointegration”. Implants never slip out or make embarrassing noises that expose the one’s denture, and because they are made of titanium you do not have to worry about decay. Also, given the fact that the titanium is surgically inserted into the jawbone, it will typically not develop into issue or cause bone loss.

Dental implants have been around for a long time, and their reliability has been proved well founded. Doctors have been implanting dentures this way for over 20 years and many of the implants that were placed in the late 80s and early 90s are still operating as if they were brand new, requiring little to no maintenance. If properly cared for, dental implants can easily last a lifetime.

Before any work is done, a dentist will preform an initial exam to evaluate the best type of implant supported dentures. The doctor will take x-rays, create impressions, and take one’s medical and dental history. If this information seems appealing, talk to a dentist and see if a temporary denture could be made to wear until the Implant-Supported denture is placed.

The initial surgery would place the implants in the jawbone. Three or six months will elapse before the next surgery. This is to ensure that the jawbone and implant integrate and fuse properly. The second surgery will expose the tops of the implant and a healing cap, or collar, will be placed on the head of each exposed implant. Less healing time is needed after the second surgery, so the next appointment will be within two weeks. In the third appointment, the healing caps will be replaced with regular abutments, the part of the implant the crown, metal bar, or ball-socket is attached to. The last appointment will be to try on the new dentures to ensure that it is a comfortable fit.

It is always important to remove dentures at night and to clean them thoroughly. One should also clean the attachments thoroughly to prevent gum disease, tarter buildup, or decay. Follow the dentist’s instructions carefully to keep that new smile as beautiful as possible.

Dentures are well known to be uncomfortable and inconvenient. Many patients complain of discomfort, embarrassment, and unhappiness with their smile. Dentures by themselves do not act as natural teeth would. The lower denture is not anchored in place and can slip and prevent the wearer from eating the foods they love. Worse yet, dentures can cause decay in the jawbone because they do not stimulate the bone like natural teeth do. Overtime, the gums one relies upon to keep their dentures in place dissolve and the worse the denture will fit.

Implant supported dentures provide the wearer with a life without pain, discomfort, and embarrassment. Implant supported dentures act like natural, healthy teeth; they stimulate the bone and prevent bone loss, increase bite forces up to 10x in the first year, and look and feel like natural teeth! Wearers often marvel at the ability to chew, speak, and smile with ease and comfort once had with natural teeth. Implants have truly revolutionized dentistry for the denture wearer.

Call our Morris Park Dentist office and request a dental appointment and consultation for All-on-4 implant supported dentures as soon as possible. Call (718) DR.SMILE (718-377-6453) today to find out more about Implant Supported Dentures In The Bronx.

When having to consider whether or not to get dentures or dental implants in the Bronx, the first question most people ask is, “Which one is better?” The truth is both offer great dental integrity and both have their unique benefits. Both offer excellent alternatives to having to live life without a full set of teeth, and both produce the best and most natural looking teeth. Call our Bronx dentist office today at (718) DR.SMILE (718-377-6453)  or request an appointment online.

One Day Dentures & Denture Repairs

One of the best things about dentures is that they can be completed in as little as one day! Our denture specialists in the Bronx can have a set ready within the same day. If a person shows up early in the morning to our Bronx dental office, they can have a set ready by that afternoon, all in one day! Replacement dentures and denture repairs are also easy to obtain, and can be completed in as little as one day! If one or more of the false teeth in the set of dentures falls out, all a person has to do is swing by our conveniently located Morris Park dentists office and drop them off. After a quick, easy fix, the dentures are as good as new!

Partial Dentures

Along with the convenience of getting dentures easily, there is a difference in what kind of dentures a person can get based on their need. For example, if a person only needs dentures for a few teeth, dentists can make what’s called a partial denture. A partial denture has the base, or plate, of a regular set of dentures, but only has the necessary number of teeth inserted into it. Partials can also come in several different patterns with different size teeth, in order to match the wearers teeth size and tooth organization.

Denture Epoxies and Adhesive

Dentures are also easy to keep in place or remove. In order to place the denture in the mouth, one must simply put the denture in their mouth, because it has already been sized and fitted to the wearer’s mouth, through the use of a mold. To keep the dentures in place, the wearer only needs to apply an epoxy or adhesive strip. Different denture wearers prefer different means of keeping their dentures in place, but both epoxies and adhesive strips work very effectively to keep the denture wearer comfortable throughout the day. Also, many of the epoxies and adhesive strips are designed to wear off after a certain number of hours, as to make it very easy to remove at the end of the day.

Denture Maintenance

Dentures aren’t just easy to remove, they are also easy to clean and maintain. Unlike real teeth that require brushing, flossing, and constant maintenance, dentures require very little maintenance to keep fresh and clean. One need only take their dentures off at the end of the night and place them in a cup of water with a cleaning agent in it. Not all cleaning agents work, but many companies make denture specific cleaning agent. Similar to an alka seltzer, one only needs to drop the tablet into the cup of water and it will dissolve and clean the dentures. Many dentists don’t recommend brushing the dentures, because it will wear away the material used to make the teeth, which goes to show another reason why dentures are so easy to clean and maintain.

Denture Costs

Many people who need to purchase dentures in the Bronx are on a fixed income, so buying expensive dentures is almost out of the question. Thankfully though, many sets of dentures are inexpensive. Morris Park Dental Associates offers dental payment plans and works with insurance companies to provide the best possible dental care to their patients. Also, there are many different types of dentures, all at different costs. Though in general dentures are cheap enough for people to buy, they are also of good enough quality that one pair will last for a very long time.

Dental Implants

The other alternative to getting dentures is getting surgical dental implants. Surgical dental implants involves putting studs into the jawbone that protrude out, so that either a ball or a bar can be placed on top to provide a more secure denture within the mouth. Most dentists preform this procedure on the bottom jaw; it can also be done on the upper jaw if necessary. The recovery time for these operations is not long and a temporary pair of dentures will be provided in the mean time.

The greatest thing about surgical dental implants is that they last forever. After the surgery is performed, the newly fitted teeth can be snapped into place, providing the most secure alternative to natural teeth. They will neither slide around in the mouth, nor will they come out while eating food. They will stay in place without the need for epoxy or adhesives.

Another great thing about surgical dental implants are that they are just as easy to clean as dentures. They can snap them in and out of their studs, allowing for easy access and being easily placed in and removed. Just like dentures, implants can be cleaned in the exact same fashion, but placing them in a glass of water with a cleaning agent. A person can also brush them like regular teeth, if it is uncomfortable to remove them on a regular basis. Also, anyone can sleep with them in without having to remove them to go to sleep.

Dental implants have the added bonus of promoting jawbone integrity because if a person doesn’t have something pressing on or into the jawbone, it will deteriorate over time. This is easily fixed by planting the studs into the jawbone so that they can keep the jawbone from deteriorating. The studs placed into the jawbone will give anyone the added benefit of a strong, healthy jaw.

Together, either dentures or dental implants provide the optimal solution to having a full set of teeth. Whether the comfortable fit of dentures seems like the best option, or the security of having dental implants, you really can’t lose. Dentures are easy to clean, maintain, get a hold of, and if one needs only a partial, dentures would prove the ideal fit. If a person wants the added security and stability of implants, and a permanent solution that looks and feels like real teeth, they would be an excellent candidate for dental implants. Either way, it’s a win-win!

Call our Morris Park Dentist office in the Bronx today at (718) DR.SMILE (718-377-6453) to request a consultation to see whether dental implants or dentures are the way to go. Request a Bronx dental appointment online as soon as possible.

 

Presidents Day and Presidents Week comes along but once per year in the month of February. We here at Morris Park Dental take pride in our American freedoms and the choice to choose to have a great smile! In the Bronx you always have to look your best and a winning smile gives off confidence and shows your good health. Sometimes though, problems come up and one needs to have their teeth taken care of in one way or another. If dental implants aren’t for you, then perhaps dentures might be the way to go.

One of the most famous early denture wearers was the first U.S. President, George Washington. Contrary to popular belief, Washington’s dentures were not made of wood. Washington sported some of the highest quality false teeth of the time, consisting of a denture plate made of carved hippopotamus ivory into which human teeth, along with parts of both horse and donkey teeth, were fitted. Around 1774, the French Alexis Duchâteau crafted the first porcelain dentures. But these were prone to chip and also appeared too white to be convincing. They would also stain easily due to the large tea and tobacco consumption of Europeans of the time. Human teeth, or “Waterloo teeth”, named for dead soldiers’ teeth plucked from the battlefield after the 1815 Battle of Waterloo, were in higher demand. Waterloo teeth were riveted into the base of animal ivory, similar to modern day dentures.

In 1820, a Westminster silversmith and goldsmith named Claudius Ash was asked to craft new and improved dentures. At the time, most false teeth were still made from ivory, which was prone to discoloring, or from human teeth. The real teeth were extracted from soldiers’ corpses or recently executed criminals, procured by grave robbers, or even obtained from direct sale by the desperately poor. Claudius Ash mounted porcelain on 18-karat gold plates, with gold springs and swivels. These new dentures were superior both aesthetically and functionally to the older models. From the 1850s onward, dentures continued to improve and were made of Vulcanite, a form of hardened rubber into which porcelain teeth were set. Claudius Ash’s company was the leading European manufacturer of dental Vulcanite. In the 20th century, acrylic resin and other plastics became materials of choice. These same components are used today in dentures.

Also, in honor of Presidents Day, some interesting stories of the dental histories of some famous US Presidents will be told. One might be surprised to learn what some of our presidents had done to their teeth in the dentist chair.

The legend of George Washington’s false teeth are as renowned as he was. Poor George Washington never told a lie, but tradition, as well as historians, have encouraged this story for generations. Contrary to popular belief, our First President never had dentures made of wood; they were made of ivory. This then begs the question, why did he look so stern in all his portraits, when he had the best possible teeth to show off? Well, it’s because many of his dentures were ill fitted, which distorted his lips and would have looked awkward while smiling. Washington’s dental problems could also be credited with the victory at Yorktown. The British general Sir Henry Clinton had intercepted a letter from Washington to his dentist in Philadelphia, requesting that teeth cleaning supplies be sent to his headquarters near New York because he didn’t think he would make it to Philadelphia any time soon. Upon reading this, Clinton was convinced that Washington was not going to march south to attach Lord Cornwallis, so he remained in New York. This allowed Washington and his army, along with the French reinforcements to encircle Yorktown, without having to worry about Clinton’s army in New York.

John Adams apparently neglected to do his twice-yearly dental checkups, leading to him too losing most of his teeth. He also started smoking when he was just 8 years old. Those two issues combined might have been what caused him to lose all his teeth, not to mention the lack toothbrushes or the standard hygiene techniques of today. He refused to wear fake ones, resulting in a lisp when speaking.

President Lincoln was rarely photographed smiling with his teeth. It’s rumored that Lincoln had a phobia of going to the dentist, well justified it seems given the rudimentary methods used by dentists then, which started when a dentist mistakenly broke off part of his jawbone while extracting a tooth, all without any anesthesia. After this incident, Lincoln used chloroform to self-medicate on future dental visits.

People were astonished to find out that President Woodrow Wilson had such horrible teeth after seeing his picture taken during his 1913 inauguration. Wilson didn’t obtain dentures during his presidency, but his famous bad teeth represent the dental issues many of the presidents had. Interestingly enough, poor dental hygiene has been suspected to increase the risk of strokes, which President Wilson suffered from later on in his presidency. His bad teeth and infrequent dentist trips could have contributed to his near fatal stroke, which he suffered in his second term in 1919.

Here’s just a little history of the myths and realities of many of the US president’s smile. With the advances in dentistry, hopefully current and future US presidents won’t suffer the same fate as our presidents of years gone by.

The first sets of false teeth were discovered in Japan dating back several thousand years ago, but the practice of using false teeth to improve a smile isn’t limited to Japan. They used animal, and sometimes dead human’s, teeth to solve the problem of rotted away teeth. Also, around 700BC, Etruscans in northern Italy made dentures from human and animal teeth. Although these early forms of dentures would deteriorate quickly, either because of poor maintenance by the previous owners or the weak plate dentists used to hold the teeth, dentures like these continued to be made this way because they were easy to produce and remained popular until the mid-19th century.

Dietary changes in Europe forced denture makers to rethink artificial teeth. Sugar was the main culprit in increased tooth decay during the 18th Century because of the vast amounts of it coming from the East Indies, making it cheap, where before only the wealthy could afford it. With everyone in Europe using sugar on a regular basis, coupled with the lack of real dental hygiene, most people for cavities and their teeth rotted. With the industrialization of modern Europe, between 1860 and 1890, Britain’s sugar consumption per ca-pita increased 500 percent. Ivory dentures became popular in the 1700s, made from natural materials including walrus, elephant, or hippopotamus, becoming the new replacement for teeth in dentures, rather than teeth from dead corpses or animals.

Be like a President! Call our Morris Park Dentist office and request a dental appointment and consultation for  dentures as soon as possible. Call (718) DR.SMILE (718-377-6453) today to find out more about Dentures In The Bronx.

It is getting close to Valentine’s Day in the Bronx and the candy is coming! Sweet and soft caramel, truffles, and red hots are just some of the tasty treats that are coming our way. Let’s talk about how to protect the teeth and help prevent tooth damage during Valentine’s Day in NYC. Don’t forget to call our local convenient Morris Park Dentist office and request a dental appointment as soon as possible. Call (718) DR.SMILE (718-377-6453) today! Right now you can get $50 off ZOOM Teeth Whitening as our Valentine’s Day gift to you!

 

There are the different textures that have different effects on the teeth. Hard Candies can damage the teeth by chipping them or just giving them an extra dose of sugar. Soft and chewy candies are hard to remove from the teeth and get into the gums, causing further opportunity for tooth decay. Chocolate that is not well made can contain oils as their first ingredient and then the cocoa. These oils are really bad for the tooth enamel and hard to remove. Cupcakes and cookies can also contain chewy oils and lots of sugar. Brownies are another good source for lots of sugar in a chewy form. They stick to teeth and gums long after they have been eaten. It is very important to floss and brush after a day of sweets.

Choosing sweet treats for your family can be difficult. Try finding chocolates and candies made with Xylitol, a sugar substitute that really tastes like sugar without being harmful to the tooth enamel. High-quality chocolates that are 50% or more cocoa are better for the teeth than the cheaper kinds. Buying hard candies for the kids is not good either. There are some healthy Valentine’s Day Snacks, heart shaped cheese and strawberries. There are many Bronx Valentine’s Day alternatives for health treats that still say Valentine’s Day loud and clear.

Hard candies are often made up of mostly sugars and can cause damage to their teeth from the chewing. There are so many sugar substitutes available today in the grocery store. You can use most of them with the common Bronx Valentine’s Day recipes for sweets and pastries. They have the measurements for replacing the sugar on the bags most of the time. You do have to be careful because some chocolate and cookie recipes might not turn out well with the sugar substitutes. The trick is to find the recipes online that are already changed around and adapted for the sugar free substitutes. There are plenty to choose from and most of them taste better, if not the same as, the one’s with sugar.

When it comes to staining, it is not just the candies. The cupcakes and cookies for Valentine’s Day normally contain some strong red food coloring’s or at least pink food coloring that can easily stain the teeth. It is easy to walk by a table at a party or work and grab a nice cookie with red frosting in the shape of a heart, but it could end up ruining the last teeth whitening that you had done. Be careful to clean the teeth really good at night if you end up eating a lot of sweets. Brush your teeth two times if you think they are not clean the first time. Floss really good to get all of those red hot cupcakes out from in between your teeth.

Controlling yourself around candy and cupcakes is hard enough, controlling kids is a whole other issue. If the have a lot of candy and sweets from Valentine’s Day, tell them that they can split it up over the next couple months to have a little after a healthy meal for desert over time so they are not getting hit with a big sugar rush on their teeth. It is hard not to let them go a little nuts on Valentine’s Day, but the leftover candy is what needs to be controlled. Explaining this to children can be simple. The more sweets the body gets, the more it wants, so spreading it out over time can help the body not crave so many sweets.

Splitting up the leftovers is healthy for the rest of the body too. Store their candy in the freezer and thaw out completely as needed, this can help hide it and keep it fresh. This is also something adults can do for themselves.

You can also give kids other things for Valentine’s Day that they need and to show them you care. You can give some stickers, gift cards to their favorite stores and a nice Valentine’s Day card, something they have been wanting that is not costly and wrap it up in red, and maybe a new toothbrush and toothpaste.

The time of day that we eat candy and sweets can really effect our teeth. It is a common no-no that people end up eating a few pieces of candy or a sweet cupcake before bed. This is the worst time to eat sweets. Make sure if you slip, to brush and flush to get all that sugar off the teeth before bedtime. Moderation is also a good thing when it comes to sweets.

Sweet foods that we may get for Valentine’s Day such as, strawberries or oranges, drenched in chocolate. The acidic juices can erode the enamel on the teeth. Brushing at the right times can prevent further damage. Don’t brush right after eating acidic foods and juices. Wait at least thirty minutes to make sure you are not brushing away your enamel. If you eat a whole lot of acidic foods and drink a lot of juices, try enamel strengthening toothpastes designed to help with the enamel protection, but these acidic foods should always be eaten in moderation just like sweets.

Valentine’s Day does not have to be all about the candy. You can make heart shaped healthy foods or even things like heart shapes biscuits and pizza. Here is a link to some heart shaped foods on Pinterest that can give you some ideas on what to make: https://www.pinterest.com/explore/heart-shaped-foods/ . Adults and kids will love some of these ideas. My favorites are the heart shaped pepperoni, the heart shaped eggs, and the heart sandwiches. These little shapes are great way to put some love into your food for Valentine’s Day!

And now through Valentine’s Day, show your teeth some LOVE and get $50 of ZOOM Teeth Whitening. (Offer good until midnight February 14th 2015. Call our Morris Park Dentist office and request a dental appointment as soon as possible. Call (718) DR.SMILE (718-377-6453) today! Right now you can get $50 off ZOOM Teeth Whitening as our Valentine’s Day gift to you!