At Island Dental Associates, porcelain veneer procedures are just one of the cosmetic dentistry we offer, and it is one of the most popular for many reasons. Porcelain veneers can solve a multitude of problems at once, and whether you’re experiencing discoloration, broken teeth, crooked teeth, or gapped teeth, a set of porcelain veneers can leave you with the smile you’ve always wanted. However, porcelain veneers are an investment in your smile, and as with any investment, they are one you’ll want to keep sound throughout their lifetime.

A set of porcelain veneers can last quite a long time, but this will only ring true if you properly care for your teeth. One recent study showed that 94% of patients in the US who have received porcelain veneers still loved their results 12 years later, and some even stated their veneers were still going strong after hitting the 20 year mark. During the course of your lifetime with porcelain veneers, you may need to have one or multiple veneers repaired, but this can be best avoided if you make sure to take the proper care.

First and foremost, a diligent oral hygiene routine is a must with veneers. While plaque and decay can’t harm the porcelain itself, it can harm the tooth holding the veneer in place, and this occurs when decay is allowed to go on under the veneer itself. In many instances, plaque can travel into small spaces separating the veneer from the tooth at the gum line, and this will lead to decay occurring on the underlying tooth. When this decay occurs, the tooth loses its strength and structure to hold the veneer, causing a situation where the veneer may fail to last. In order to avoid this, it is best to keep a strict brushing and flossing routine to keep plaque from accumulating on the veneer and away from the gum line, as this will give you your best chance of keeping the tooth in good shape. (more…)

Periodontal disease is a form of gum disease, and we at Island Dental Associates know just how important it is to properly manage your periodontal disease in an effort to save your teeth and your health. With periodontal disease, it’s not just your teeth at risk, and the disease can contribute to diabetes, heart disease, stroke, or pregnancy complications. As the bacteria from your gums enters the bloodstream, it can create havoc for your body, and for this reason it’s important to keep your periodontal disease properly managed.

At Island Dental Associates, our dentists can help you to manage your periodontal disease in a number of ways, and these range from surgeries, to medications, to deep cleaning through root planing and scaling. Depending on the severity of your periodontal disease, multiple methods may be used, but it is always best to continue regular visits to your dentist to ensure your periodontal disease is kept in check.

Root planing and scaling is a method of deep cleaning that removes the tartar buildup from above and below the gum line. These tartar areas are harbors for bacteria, and this is the bacteria that invades the gums and creates a periodontal disease situation. By removing this tartar, your periodontal disease can be kept in better control.
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Periodontal disease is the term that describes the two diseases of the gingiva or gums namely gingivitis or periodontitis. The name of the disease is used for oral health problems associated with a change in gum-affecting bacteria or the adverse effects that are associated with an increase in those bacteria. In most cases, Island Dental Associates can treat gum or periodontal diseases. Practicing proper oral hygiene is the best way to avoid developing these different diseases.

 

What Causes The Disease?

Our mouths are like landfills in that they contain a lot of bacteria. When you combine that with the mucous and a number of other particles, plaque is continually growing on our teeth. When that plaque is left unchecked and unremoved, it becomes harder and forms tartar that regular brushing cannot eliminate. Once it progress to this stage, only a periodontist can solve the problem. There are a number of common causes which include:

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Many individuals are well aware of how the aging process affects our physical exteriors. Our abundant, shiny hair gets thinner and straw-like, our skin gets thinner and lacks the flexibility it once had, and so on. Even more important is the fact that aging affects us on the inside as well, especially where our gums and teeth are concerned. The following content lists some of the more common affects that could affect us as we grow older.

Our immune systems tend to weaken with age which makes us more susceptible to certain dental issues and problems including the following:

 

• dental decay
• dry mouth
• excessive staining
• glossitis
• gum or periodontal diseases
• irritations caused by improperly fitting dentures
• loss of taste
• missing teeth
• stomatitis
• tooth wear
• Xerostomia (chronic dry mouth)

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Cosmetic dentistry, or “aesthetic” dentistry as it is oftentimes referred to, is a segment of the dental industry that involves a wide array of different procedures that focus on improving or restoring the appearance of one’s bite, gums, and/or teeth. Although these different methods for restoring the natural beauty of a person’s teeth are the primary function, it typically does not help to improve the function of those areas mentioned above. If you have crooked, discolored, missing, or unsightly teeth, our cosmetic dental services can help restore them.

Cosmetic dentistry is one of the many dental services that we provide here at Island Dental Associates of Franklin Square. Some of the cosmetic dental services that we provide clients with include:

 

• cosmetic gum re-contouring
• inlays/onlays
• porcelain bridges, crowns, and veneers
• tooth-colored fillings to replace older mercury or silver fillings
• teeth whitening
• tooth bonding

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Recently, there was an issue online from the Neurology journal that talked about a study that suggested that there is a connection between the size of your brain and the amount of sleep that you are getting every night. This study took a look at 147 adults ranging in age from 20 up to 84 where researchers took a closer look at the actual volume of each participant’s brain matter and any issues that they had pertaining to sleep, such as sleep apnea or insomnia.

During this study, the people were asked to complete a survey that pertained to their sleep habits while a scan was taken. Then, a second scan was done around 3 1/2 years later.

Inside the survey, 35% of the people participating met the criteria for those who have sleep patterns of an unhealthy nature. These participants with known sleep issues had a quick decline in overall brain size and/or volume over a certain time period when compared to those in the study who got quality sleep on a regular basis. These results actually showed more significance in the participants who were over the age of 60.

Sleep is important and the impact that it can have on the brain has been shown in a wide variety of studies. As a matter of fact, studies show that brain disorders including dementia and Alzheimer’s are quite often attributed to poor sleep patterns. Of course, the natural conclusion is that a consistent lack of sleep can lead to memory loss and the size of the brain would also be affected.

A sleep specialist and neurologist by the name of Dr. Neal Maru working with Alexandria, VA based Integrated Sleep Services stated that lack of sleep can lead to a wide variety of problems. Though he is not associated with the study, he states that improper sleep can also bring on weight issues, poor cardiovascular health and it also impacts memories and the immune system. As studies have shown, one of the possibilities for this can be the building of proteins within the brain that can attack the brain cells.

An author from University of Oxford in the UK named Clair Sexton also added that poor sleep quality may either be a cause of the changes in brain structure or a consequence. Either way, she goes on to say that further research is necessary to determine whether improvement of sleep will slow down the rate of declining brain volume. If this is the case, working on improving sleep habits may be the best way to improve upon the overall health of the brain.

If you or someone you know is having trouble sleeping then sleep apnea may be the culprit. If so, contact our office to schedule an appointment to see if we can help you.

The dental industry has afforded us with a number of ways to improve the appearance of our teeth by either repairing them or replacing them. Although removable bridges or dentures are a common option, they lack the permanency that can only be found with dental implants. But that also presents the patient with another challenging decision, namely choosing between mini dental implants and the more traditional version.

 

How Do These Two Types Of Implants Differ?

Before making your decision, it is important to understand how these two procedures differ:

Dental implants – these are classified as prosthetics and can be either cosmetic or medical in nature. For many individuals, implants restore their ability to eat and speak properly while restoring gaps resulting from missing teeth. Traditional implants are held in place by screws (usually made from Titanium). However, for all intents and purposes, traditional implants look just like your permanent teeth.

Mini dental implants – these are suited for patients who want to lock their current dentures in place. They are also an ideal option when the patient does not have sufficient jaw bone mass and does not want to undergo a bone grafting procedure (bone grafting can be a very invasive procedure and take up to 3 months or longer to heal).
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After you’ve received a dental implant, it’s still important to practice regular oral hygiene within the area in an effort to provide longevity to your implant and keep your adjacent teeth safe from damage or decay. At Island Dental Associates, we want to keep all of our Long Island area patients informed when it comes to great oral care, and this includes caring for your new implant.

What is most important to remember is you should always treat your implant as you would your natural teeth, and this is with gentle and diligent care. When it comes to caring for your implant, the steps you should be taking are:

• Regular brushing – Make sure to brush the implant area gently and with an extra soft bristled toothbrush. When you’re brushing your natural teeth, you’ll typically remain gentle in an effort to not scratch or damage the teeth, and this same care should be taken with an implant as well. Brushing at least twice per day, or once after each meal, is ideal, and you should make sure to not skip over the implant area.

• Flossing – After brushing, the implant area should also be flossed as you would floss your natural teeth. Flossing the region can help to dislodge any stuck plaque or food particles, which in turn can save your adjacent natural teeth and gums. When flossing around the implant, make sure to take care and remain gentle so you don’t damage your crown!

• Mouthwash – If you like to use mouthwash as part of your dental routine, you can continue with your dental implant. The benefits of mouthwash won’t harm the implant, and you can swish around the area just as you would the regions with natural teeth.

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Periodontal disease is a fairly common tooth ailment, and taking charge of your periodontal disease is key to saving your teeth and maintaining good tooth and gum health. At Island Dental Associates, we provide periodontal information and services to all of our Long Island area patients facing or simply looking to learn more about the disease, and we can’t stress regular oral hygiene practices enough when it comes to staying on top of your health.

Periodontal disease is a form of gum disease that afflicts almost 80% of Americans in some shape or form, but some cases may be more severe than others. The stages of the disease can range from simple, yet uncomfortable, gum inflammation and the severity can increase all the way to tooth loss through the loss of soft tissue and bone structure.

Periodontal disease is caused by a buildup of plaque on or in between the teeth which progresses into tartar. Both plaque and tartar are made up of bacteria, and the longer that bacterium is allowed to be present on your teeth, the more harmful it becomes, and it can create a situation where gum disease has begun. This occurs when the bacteria makes its way to your gums, creating swollen and inflamed gums that bleed easily, and this stage is referred to as gingivitis. Gingivitis can be reversed rather easily with regular good oral hygiene practices, but when it is left to its own devices, it will progress into what is known as periodontal disease. (more…)

Dental implant surgery can not only provide an excellent aesthetic option when your teeth go missing, but it can help to save your other teeth as well. While the word “surgery” will often strike fear into many dental patients, it’s important to learn that dental implant surgery isn’t a scary experience, and the vast majority of patients feel no pain or discomfort throughout the entire process at all.

Dental implant surgery will begin with the placing of an artificial tooth root crafted from high quality titanium, and it is this artificial root that saves your adjacent teeth from moving to take the missing tooth’s place. This process will only take a single visit, and patients are always provided with numbing medication to ensure they feel no pain at any point throughout the process. Most times, patients are left awake and aware during this surgery, and the recovery will only require mild over the counter pain medication if any discomfort is felt.

After the placing of the implant, the rest of the process is a breeze. Most times, a small post will be added to the implant once it has healed and fused to the jawbone correctly, and this post will serve as an anchor for your new crown. Patients will again receive numbing medication during the placing of this post to avoid feeling any pain, and there is no discomfort associated with the healing after the placement is finished.

Once the post has been placed to the artificial root, it will then be time to place the crown and leave you with a natural and beautiful looking smile once again. The crown placement process is a painless one, and the final step in the dental implant surgery process, and once the crown is received it can be treated just as you would treat any of your natural teeth. (more…)