Gum Disease Is Not Your Friend

/ Glenn Reit D.D.S./

Foundations

Just like a building, a tooth needs a strong foundation.  For teeth the foundation is your jaw and gums.  You can have decay free teeth but if the support is not there they can end up in your hands.  Keeping your gums healthy is not too difficult if you just make a small effort.  

How do I keep my gums healthy?  Visiting the dentist twice a year is recommended.  Here we can look into your mouth and with x rays determine any problems that might be brewing.  If you have no decay then with a dental cleaning and your efforts your gums and jaw bone will remain healthy.

Your part is simple.  Come to the dentist and then compliment your visit with your daily dental home care.  Every morning upon waking and every evening before retiring you need to brush and floss your teeth.  The brushing removes accumulations on the top, back and front of your teeth.  The flossing removes accumulation between your teeth and is more important than the brushing for gum health.

Around every tooth is a pocket or cuff.  In a healthy situation the pocket is two to three millimeters in depth.  At this level when you floss the floss will reach the base of the pocket and remove any build up of food and bacteria present.

Gum disease happens when the food between your teeth is not removed.  As the food breaks down it releases acids which attack the gums allowing the pockets to deepen.  Once the pocket gets greater than four millimeters even if you floss you will not be able to reach the base of the pocket and the gum disease continues. 

Over time if not checked the gum disease starts to attack the bone in your jaws.  When enough bone is lost the tooth starts eventually becoming loose and needs to be removed.  It takes time for this to happen and often the patient is not aware of it till the end.

Coming in for dental check-up and cleaning will catch this situation before it can become a problem.   You lead with your teeth and your teeth make up your smile.  If it’s been awhile maybe it’s time to come in for a check-up and cleaning

At the dental office of Dr. Glenn Reit we always like meeting new people and taking care of their dental needs.  We are located at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85thstreets in Yorkville.  You can reach us at 212 517 9000

Looking for a Dentist in the Upper East Side?

At the practice of Glenn Reit DDS; we provide quality care in a relaxed, comfortable, clean and safe environment. Please contact us today at 212 517 9000 for this or any other of your dental needs. We look forward to seeing and taking care of you!

Possible Complications After A Tooth Extraction - Dry Socket

/ Glenn Reit D.D.S./

Socket it To Me

Taking out a tooth could be considered a socket it to me.  After a tooth is removed there is a hole left where the tooth used to reside.  The hole will eventually fill in over time but right after the extraction there is a possibility that the area might not heal and this could lead to a dry socket.  It’s not dry in there but in a dry socket the blood has not clotted.

The main cause of a dry socket is spitting out after the extraction has been done.    After a tooth has been removed you cannot spit out for the next day because if you do, a dry socket could be in your future.  Although painful it can be easily corrected with a return visit to the practice but why would you want that?  In addition for the day of and day after the extraction you should avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.  Smoking will burn the area and alcohol will make it easier for the area to start bleeding.

At the dental practice of Dr Glenn Reit we like meeting new patients hopefully before they need to have a tooth removed.  If it’s been some time since you’ve been to the dentist give us a call.  Being proactive is always better and more affordable than being reactive.

We are located at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th streets in Yorkville in the 10028 zip code.  The 4,5,6 and Q subway lines are one block away. 

So don’t delay call today, you and your teeth will be glad you did.

Looking for a Dentist in the Upper East Side?

At the practice of Glenn Reit DDS; we provide quality care in a relaxed, comfortable, clean and safe environment. Please contact us today at 212 517 9000 for this or any other of your dental needs. We look forward to seeing and taking care of you!

You Have A Dental Emergency- What To Do?

/ Glenn Reit D.D.S./

In life things happen.  Sometimes the thing is related to your teeth.  Something’s happening and you need to act.  Being prepared will at least make you feel a little better and relieve some of the stress.

As the British say Stay Calm and assess the situation.  Next contact your dentist immediately.  When speaking to the office, explain clearly the situation and listen to what you are to do.

Some general first aid measures include:

For Pain rinse your mouth with warm water and take the pain reliever which works best for you.

For a Broken tooth rinse your mouth with warm water and apply ice to the area to prevent swelling.

For Soft Tissue Injuries rinse with warm water and apply tea bag to area if bleeding is present

In all cases contact your dentist to seek definitive treatment.

If a tooth has come out of your mouth handle it by the top only avoiding contact with the root.

Place the tooth in a glass of milk and do not touch the root surface or try to clean it and immediately call your dentist.  Time is critical for the tooth to be replaced back into your jaw.

If a restoration comes out, attempt to retrieve it.  Many times it can be replaced into the tooth it has come out of. 

At the dental practice of Dr Glenn Reit in addition to patient referrals we meet new people when they are experiencing a dental emergency.  In our practice we realize when you are having a dental emergency you will be under stress so the first order of business is to get you out of pain.

Then when you are comfortable we can tell you your options and the costs involved.

Even if you do not have a dental emergency but just want a cleaning we are here for you.  We are conveniently located at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th streets in Yorkville.  The 4, 5,6 and Q subway lines are one block away.

So if you need or want to see a dentist give us a call at 212 517 9000. With decades of experience we have seen it all.  So no matter what ails you concerning your mouth and teeth we  will be able to help you.

Looking for a Dentist in the Upper East Side?

At the practice of Glenn Reit DDS; we provide quality care in a relaxed, comfortable, clean and safe environment. Please contact us today at 212 517 9000 for this or any other of your dental needs. We look forward to seeing and taking care of you!

Looking and Feeling Good When Your Teeth and Gums Are Healthy

/ Glenn Reit D.D.S./

You lead with your smile.  People make subconscious decisions on the way you look.  May not be right but it is true especially when seeing your upper anterior teeth. 

Overtime teeth can discolor, wear down, break or move.  Dentistry today has many options to restore your teeth to a more pleasing position, color, and shape.  The least invasive is to just whiten your teeth using disposable trays that contain a bleaching gel. 

We offer trays that you wear for ten minutes per night for three to four nights and your teeth will lighten.  Not toilet bowl white but whiter than they were.   We find most patients are happy with the result and the cost at 125 dollars is not a stretch.

If your tooth has chips or missing pieces sometimes we can restore them with a simple bonding procedure.  Here composite or white filling material is applied to restore your teeth and matched to the color of your teeth.

If decay or trauma has broken your tooth we can do a porcelain crown to restore it.  With this procedure we can completely reshape your tooth and restore the color you desire.

If the tooth is healthy with no breakage and no decay but you’re just not happy with the look we can do porcelain veneers.   Here a sliver of porcelain is bonded to the front surface of your tooth giving you the shape and color you desire.

If your teeth are out of alignment we can move them into a more pleasing position through orthodontics.   Today using clear trays we can accomplish this treatment without others knowing you are actually undergoing it.  No longer do you need to show metal wires and brackets when you smile. 

Your smile is a reflection of your overall health.  At the dental practice of Dr. Glenn Reit we have been doing these procedures for decades.  In fact we have gone through all the iterations of these procedures as they have been released. 

We are conveniently located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th streets in Yorkville.  The 4,5,6 and Q subway lines are one block away.

So call today 212 517 9000

You and your teeth will be glad you did.

Looking for a Dentist in the Upper East Side?

At the practice of Glenn Reit DDS; we provide quality care in a relaxed, comfortable, clean and safe environment. Please contact us today at 212 517 9000 for this or any other of your dental needs. We look forward to seeing and taking care of you!