Flossing with Traditional Braces

As Dr. Amit Pandya in New Hyde Park, NY, will tell you, flossing can be difficult when you have traditional metal braces, but it’s more important than ever to keep the gaps in your teeth clean when you have a mouth full of metal. Many folks who have braces don’t know how to floss with them or think that they can’t floss at all if they have braces and this is not true. Therefore, we thought we would share some tips with you for flossing effectively in addition to keeping those brackets and wires clean.

• Use waxed floss because unwaxed floss is more likely to get caught and shred in your braces.


• Use about 18 inches of floss and thread it carefully.


• Take the floss and gently thread it under the main wire of the braces before passing it between two teeth. Then remove the floss and re-thread it under the main wire to pass between the next pair of teeth.


• Be sure not to snap the floss. Simply move the floss up and down carefully against the side of each tooth.

If you have questions about orthodontic oral care, please give us a call. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Amit Pandya in New Hyde Park, NY, call our office at (516) 233-2135 or visit our website, www.goinggrin.com. 

Brushing with Braces

If you have braces, your oral hygiene routine should be accelerating into overdrive. The reason for this is that braces have tiny spaces where food particles and plaque get trapped, and inadequate cleaning while wearing these wires can cause enamel staining and tooth decay around brackets or bands. Dr. Amit Pandya can’t stand behind you to monitor how you often you brush, but he can recommend the following routine to help make daily brushing and flossing with braces both simple and effective.

• Prepare to brush – take off elastics, and any other removable parts of your orthodontic appliance.


• Clean your braces – use your brush at a 45-degree angle to clean around the wires and pins of your braces. Brush the top of each wire and then from the bottom. Take time to ensure that all plaque and debris are removed.


• Brush your teeth – clean each tooth individually. First, place your brush at a 45-degree angle to the junction between the tooth and the gum, and then apply gentle pressure as you move in a circular motion. Use the same brushing action on all outer and inner tooth surfaces, tilting the brush as needed to better reach the insides of smaller front teeth.

Last but not least, don’t forget to floss in between brackets!

If you have questions about orthodontic oral care, please give us a call. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Amit Pandya in New Hyde Park, NY, call our office at (516) 233-2135 or visit our website, www.goinggrin.com. 

Advantages of Teeth Whitening

How many of us get a confidence boost when a stranger gives us a compliment? Have you ever paid attention to how much of a positive effect this has on your self-esteem? The same applies to teeth whitening. Teeth-whitening is an excellent way to restore the natural color of your teeth or even make them whiter than your natural color if you would like. Here in New Hyde Park, NY, Dr. Amit Pandya can help you do just that.

With all of the lifestyle habits and environmental factors that have the ability to stain our teeth on a daily basis, even proper maintenance sometimes leave them a little dull. Fortunately, through our whitening system, your pearly whites can revive their shine. In addition, teeth-whitening can also take years off of your appearance. This is because as we age, over time, our teeth darken and can become yellow, brown, or even develop a green or gray tint (which may be due to heredity and/or eating habits). Your smile speaks volumes about who you are and leaves an everlasting impression, so it’s only natural that you want it to be as radiant as possible.

If you would like to discuss your teeth whitening options, please give us a call. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Amit Pandya in New Hyde Park, NY, call our office at (516) 233-2135 or visit our website, www.goinggrin.com. 

Sinus Augmentation

Many patients prefer dental implants because they are the best replacement option out there and they can last a lifetime. However, the jawbone needs to be just right in order to successfully place dental implants. In the case where patients’ sinus cavity is too close to the upper jawbone, Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS can perform a sinus augmentation.

Sometimes the jawbone right below the sinus cavity is not big enough to allow a dental implant to successfully be placed. When a tooth is missing for a while, the bone in the area where the tooth used to be can begin to deteriorate. In other cases, a patient may just be born with a smaller jawbone. A sinus augmentation adds bone to the area between the upper jaw and the sinuses. The sinuses on either side of the nose are also commonly too low for placing an implant for a molar or premolar.

The bone for the graft is usually taken from another area in the jaw or from a place like the hip bone or shin bone. This added bone will also promote growth of the jawbone already in place. The grafting process begins with cutting the tissue where the implant will be. The bone is exposed and a small opening is created. The membrane separating the sinus cavity from the jaw is pushed up and away. The bone graft material is then packed into the space. Afterwards, the area is stitched closed. The area will need several months to heal, but the end result is a large and strong jawbone that can hold a dental implant for life.

To learn more about dental implants and sinus augmentation, be sure to contact us. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS, call our New Hyde Park, NY office at (516) 233-2135 or visit our website, www.goinggrin.com. 

Canine Exposure

Canine teeth are very common teeth to become impacted. They can end up causing a lot of problems, which is why Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS performs canine exposure here at our New Hyde Park, NY office.

Impacted teeth cannot fully grow in. This often happens when there is not enough room in the mouth. Wisdom teeth and canine teeth are two sets of teeth that commonly become impacted. While wisdom teeth can be pulled out, canine teeth are very important.

Impacted teeth become trapped within the bone and gum tissue that surrounds them and it can cause major pain. When they are stuck because of other teeth, they can end up doing damage to those surrounding teeth. They can wear down on the teeth or make them more susceptible to injury due to pressure. In addition, they can create places for bacteria to hide.

Here in our New Hyde Park, NY office, we can help an impacted canine tooth emerge correctly. First, we will make an incision in the gums where the canine tooth is stuck. We will then attach a brace to the tooth to gradually guide the tooth down into the right position.

In addition to the health problems impacted canines cause, they also cause troubles biting into food and they affect the appearance of your smile. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS, call our New Hyde Park, NY office at (516) 233-2135 or visit our website, www.goinggrin.com. 

Arestin for Fighting Gum Disease

Gum disease can create a vicious circle of cleaning your teeth, feeling better, and then having the disease occur all over again. Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS knows the frustration of gum disease and utilizes Arestin in his New Hyde Park, NY dental office. Arestin is an antibiotic placed at the source of the infection for a greater chance of clearing up gum disease for good.

Gum disease can not only lead to severe oral consequences like pain, loss of teeth, and infection, but it can also harm your overall health by increasing the risks of heart attack and stroke. It is for this reason that we offer Arestin as a way to combat bacteria. Arestin is usually placed deep into the gum pockets after a scaling and planing procedure has been performed. While scaling and planing gets a lot of the plaque and bacteria away from the tooth and out of the pocket, bacteria that reaches deep into a badly recesses gum line can be difficult to reach.

Arestin is made of microspheres that are placed into the gums and dissolve over time so that the antibiotic keeps working long after the application. Using Arestin clears up gum disease better than a scaling and planing alone.

If you would like to learn more about gum disease and treatments available, do not hesitate to contact us. To set up an appointment with Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS in New Hyde Park, NY, call us at (516) 233-2135 or visit our website, www.goinggrin.com. 

Benefits of Traditional Braces

Here at his New Hyde Park, NY, practice, Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS offers a variety of orthodontic options to help straighten your smile and this includes traditional braces. Typically when we hear the word, “braces” we think of “metal mouth,” however, traditional braces offer many benefits.

Traditional braces are the least expensive type on the market, and the colored bands allow patients to express themselves, as an added bonus. Obviously, the drawback to wearing these is how visible they are, but dental braces can correct even the most complicated issues in aligning the teeth. Mainly composed either of colored metal or resin brackets, braces are attached onto the face of the teeth. Braces also come with a wire that runs through them and sets them in place. Because traditional braces are not removable, they offer a faster treatment plan than its competitors. In addition, if a patient’s bite is abnormal, the application of braces can bring out his or her best smile.

If braces are indeed the solution for you, Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS will prescribe an appliance specific for your needs. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS at his New Hyde Park, NY location, give us a call at 516-233-2135 or visit our website, www.goinggrin.com for more information. 

Gum Grafting

Gum grafting is performed when the gums have receded and are exposing the tooth’s root. Gum grafting is a surgical procedure that is required in order to keep healthy teeth and gums. Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS of New Hyde Park, NY is performing gum grafts to relieve his patients of the effects of receded gums.

There are a few different things that can cause gums to recede. Periodontal disease, genes, personal oral habits, and hormones are a few of the factors that can cause the gums to recede. In any case, receded gums need to be fixed. The exposed tooth roots not only look bad, but they are sensitive to hot and cold, and can eventually lead to tooth loss.

Gum grafts work by taking tissue from the roof or palate of the mouth and attaching it to the gum line. It is sewed into place where the gums are needed. The gums will heal and grow so they resemble the original gums in their ideal positon.

Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS has been repairing his patients’ gums that have receded at his New Hyde Park, NY dental office. If you suspect you have receded gums, schedule an appointment today. To schedule, call us at (516) 233-2135 or visit our website, www.goinggrin.com. 

Bonding

Accidents happen and it is unfortunately common to chip your tooth.  Whether you slip and fall or you chip your tooth against a coffee mug, this cosmetic damage can leave you feeling self-conscious.  Luckily, chipped teeth are simple and easy to fix.  Bonding is an affordable, beautiful solution offered at our practice for moderately damaged teeth.

Dental bonding makes it possible to correct structural issues that affect individual teeth.  This includes chips, cracks, fracture and even gaps created by teeth that are too narrow or short.  This cosmetic solution blends in naturally with your smile for a realistic look.  If you are ready to fix your damaged tooth and restore the aesthetic beauty of your smile, contact our practice and learn about how bonding services can help.

 

Root Canal Therapy

When you hear the term “root canal,” you probably associate this infamous procedure with a sense of dread.  However, this association is actually based in a number of common misconceptions.  Modern technology has made root canal procedures virtually painless!

New advancements and technologies have improved the efficiency and comfort of a procedure so that patients no longer have to be afraid of the process.  Digital x-rays, precision instruments and effective dental anesthetic have made it possible to accurately target infections.  Since the entire process is less invasive, patients have a reduced healing time and can return to their normal activities without pain.  Any discomfort that is felt during the healing period can be easily relieved with over-the-counter painkillers.

If you are still nervous or have concerns about your root canal or endodontic procedure, feel free to call our New Hyde Park, NY office at 516-233-2135.  We’re happy to answer any questions you may have!