Oral Hygiene to Improve Overall Health

The benefits of maintaining good periodontal health extend beyond a long lasting, beautiful, and healthy smile. There are many studies that are now showing a correlation between a patient’s oral health and prevalence of heart disease. While some of the many bacteria present in our mouths are beneficial, others can cause gum disease, infections and tooth decay. When patients don’t seek treatment for these conditions, the harmful bacteria can enter the bloodstream and affect the heart. On the other hand, patients with good oral health routines, including brushing and flossing, reduce this risk. At New York Dental Studio, Dr. Brandon Huang encourages all of his patients to keep up with their oral health routines and biannual dental cleanings in order to reduce their risk of heart disease.

The same bacteria that cause disease and decay in the mouth can cause buildups in the cardiovascular system that lend to heart disease. When a patient doesn’t keep up with brushing, flossing, and their daily oral hygiene routine, the bacteria thrive. They eat away at the teeth and gums, exposing the roots and causing bleeding that serves as a way for the bacteria to enter the bloodstream. Once the bacteria enter the bloodstream, they can cause clots and inflammation in your cardiovascular system, just as they would in your mouth. Fortunately, this is easily prevented with proper periodontal care that keeps bacteria in your mouth from flourishing. With regular brushing and flossing, patients can take steps to prevent periodontal and heart disease at the same time.

Developing a good oral hygiene routine is more important than ever before. Dr. Huang encourages all of his patients to brush and floss twice a day to make sure that harmful bacteria don’t build up on the teeth and gums. He also encourages patients to visit us at New York Dental Studio twice a year to check for cavities and remove any plaque that has built up despite dental cleaning habits. Patients can find out more about how they can reduce their risk of heart disease with periodontal care by visiting us for an exam and cleaning.

Dental Crowns

In cases when a filling or bonding is not a sufficient restorative option, dental crowns are often the solution. Crowns are a great tool when a patient’s teeth become weak due to decay, cracks, discoloration and other issues. At New York Dental Studio, Dr. Brandon Huang uses dental crowns in order to create stronger teeth that function properly for his patients in New York, NY.

A crown is essentially a “cap” that covers the damaged tooth. Unlike removable devices such as dentures, a crown can be used to improve appearance, shape or alignment. Crowns are cemented onto existing teeth or implants and can only be removed by the dentist. Dental crowns are used in many applications but they are mostly used to protect a weak tooth from a fracture and to restore a fractured tooth.

Porcelain crowns can be matched to the shade of your other teeth, allowing it to blend in and appear just as your natural teeth do. The process of installing a crown usually takes 2-3 visits. Dr. Huang will start by reshaping the enamel of the broken tooth so the crown can be placed over it properly. Once the tooth has been reshaped, a mold will be created of that tooth and the surrounding teeth. A temporary crown will be set in place so the teeth do not shift while the permanent crown is being created. Once the crown is completed, it will be put in place and bonded with cement to assure it stays in place.

For more information about dental crowns, visit our website www.newyorkdentalstudio.com or call (212) 588-1809 to schedule an appointment with New York, NY dentist Dr. Brandon Huang.

Metal-free Fillings from Dr. Brandon Huang

At New York Dental Studio, Dr. Brandon Huang offers metal-free fillings to restore teeth to normal function without taking away the beauty of the patient’s smile. Unlike amalgam fillings, metal-free fillings match the color of the patient’s teeth and contain no mercury, making them a safe and attractive way to achieve optimum oral health.

The majority of patients and dentists prefer these fillings to mercury amalgam fillings, for both their look and function. Not only are metal fillings dark and noticeable, the can also contract with cold and expand with heat to cause cracks that will let bacteria into the tooth and eventually require further dental work down the line. Tooth-colored, composite fillings, on the other hand, both look natural and feel natural. You won’t even be able to tell that you have a filling!

Metal-free fillings are made of a strong resin composite material that the dentist bonds directly to the surface of the tooth, allowing Dr. Huang to increase its durability and stability. At our practice, we strive to keep as much of the natural tooth structure as possible to prevent fracture, and metal-free, composite fillings help us do that.

To achieve the healthy and natural smile you desire in New York, NY, contact our office by calling (212) 588-1809. For more information about the practice, please visit www.newyorkdentalstudio.com.  

Does Your Tooth Still Hurt After a Root Canal?

If you’re still experiencing pain after a root canal, you may be wondering why. Aren’t root canals meant to take your pain away? There are many reasons why your tooth may still be hurting. It is possible that the base of your tooth root (periapical) is still slightly tender or that your pain is caused by a temporary filling that is a bit too high. In these cases, taking OTC painkillers, preferably ibuprofen, may be all you need to alleviate your pain while your root canal heals.

However, if you’ve had a root canal at our practice in New York, NY and are still experiencing pain that is severe or persistent, you should call our office immediately. The dentist may need to prescribe you an antibiotic to make sure the infection does not remain, or she may need to perform retreatment.

At your follow-up appointment, Dr. Brandon Huang will want to know what type of pain you are experiencing. Is your tooth sensitive to hot and cold? Is it the tooth root that is sensitive or the gums that are over the tooth? Is it a constant ache, or does it only hurt when biting? Is there any swelling, drainage or pus? The answers to these questions will give Dr. Huang the information he needs to diagnose your pain.

Root canals don’t always work, and there are many reasons for this, including fractures of the root, convoluted or twisted root structures and failure to protect the root canal after the procedure. If this occurs, you may need further treatment. If the root canal was successful, it should feel normal most of the time.

To schedule an appointment at New York Dental Studio, call (212) 588-1809. For more information about the dentists, visit www.newyorkdentalstudio.com.     

A Healthy Smile is a Beautiful Smile with Dr. Eric Meyer

Regular checkups and dental cleanings are a part of any good oral hygiene routine, and at New York Dental Studio, we provide dental care services of the highest quality to ensure that our patients’ smiles stay healthy year after year.

Plaque is a soft and sticky film of bacteria that can build up on your teeth despite regular brushing and flossing. Because teeth are constantly bathed in saliva, which contains calcium and other substances to strengthen and protect teeth, tartar or calcium deposits can also build up over time. Dental cleanings work to remove both plaque and tartar from the teeth. If it is not removed and is allowed to accumulate, bacteria will be provided a perfect environment and thrive on the gums and teeth, which can cause cavities, infection and gum disease.

While good for maintaining oral health between dentist visits, at-home brushing and cleaning are not enough to make sure teeth stay clean; regular dental cleanings are required. At our office, we can clean and polish your teeth, leaving the surface clean and smooth. The smoother the teeth, the more difficult it is for bacteria to stick to them and the more effective at-home brushing will be.

We recommend checkups and dental cleanings every six months for optimum oral health. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Brandon Huang in New York, NY, call (212) 588-1809. For more information, visit www.newyorkdentalstudio.com.