Preventing and Treating Dry Sockets

Patients undergoing tooth extractions at Dr. Amit Pandya’s New Hyde Park dental office are provided with detailed post-operation instructions. However, it is possible in some cases for things to go wrong, particularly if the extraction required Dr. Pandya to cut through bone and gum tissue. Therefore, we want our patients to know how to recognize signs of a dry socket, as well as how to prevent one.

Typical instructions following a tooth extraction are to refrain from sipping through straws, using birth control, and smoking or otherwise using tobacco. These are meant to ensure that a blood clot is able to form over the extraction site and remain in place (birth control prevents clot formation; the sucking pressure from a straw tears clots loose). Without the blood clot, the socket will dry out and be at high risk of infection.

If a patient can see the exposed socket or is in severe pain, they should request an immediate emergency appointment. Dr. Pandya will clean the extraction site with a small vacuum and cover it with medicated dressings. These dressings will have to be replaced every few days until the socket is closed. The patient will also be given painkillers and antibiotics. Though a dry socket is painful and something to be avoided, it is treatable and should not prevent a full recovery.

The office of Amit Pandya, DDS, is at 1575 Hillside Ave, Suite 207, New Hyde Park, New York, 11040. To schedule an appointment, call 516-233-2135, or visit his website at GoingGrin.com and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Oral Pathology and Cancer Screening

Oral cancer screening is a service that Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS provides in the office to look for signs of cancer or precancerous conditions in your mouth. Oral cancer is a disease in which malignant cancer cells form in the lips, oral cavity or the throat. Oral pathology is the specialty that identifies and treats diseases of the mouth and maxillofacial region and Dr. Pandya would like to explain why oral cancer screening is important to the patient.

Oral cancer screenings are a very important part of the dental visit for the patient. The goal of oral cancer screening is to detect mouth cancer or precancerous lesions that may lead to mouth cancer at an early stage – when cancer or lesions are easiest to remove and most likely to be cured. The screening itself involves checking the tongue, floor of the mouth, cheeks, throat, palate and gums for any signs of pathology. The goal of oral cancer screening is to identify mouth cancer early when there is a greater chance for a cure. If this is something you are interested in, please ask us about it the next time you come in for a visit.

It is important to remember that just because the doctor may recommend an oral cancer screening does not necessarily mean you have oral cancer. 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. 

Dangers of Amateur Orthodontics

In recent years, orthodontists have seen an alarming trend of people attempting orthodontic work on themselves. While amateur dentistry has always been a problem, the internet is now helping to fuel a new wave of dangerous practices which we at Dr. Pandya’s New Hyde Park office want to make sure our patients do not engage in.

Moving teeth safely takes time. They and the bony ridge surrounding them are living tissue, and shifting teeth requires that the jaw bone dissolve and then rebuild itself around them. Much of the current DIY orthodontic craze can be traced to a story that appeared online in March of 2016 about a person who used a 3D printer to make his own aligners. He claimed that by shifting his teeth at whatever speed he pleased, he was sparing himself expense at the dentist’s office. But dentists aren’t draining our patients of money by scheduling aligner appointments every six weeks; we’re giving our patients’ jaw bones enough time to rebuild so their teeth won’t come loose or fall out.

Other amateur orthodontic correctives are older, but are regaining fame online. These include using floss or hairbands as corrective wire. There are several problems with this: elastic could strangle the teeth’s blood supply, bonds without brackets could slide underneath the gum line, and they could exert too much pressure and push teeth the wrong way. If you are suffering from misaligned teeth, we urge you to come to our office and discuss professional orthodontics. Doing it yourself is unlikely to provide satisfactory results and very likely to do you harm.

The office of Amit Pandya, DDS, is at 1575 Hillside Ave, Suite 207, New Hyde Park, New York, 11040. To schedule an appointment, call 516-233-2135, or visit his website at GoingGrin.com and fill out a contact sheet.

The Importance of Replacing Missing Teeth

When a tooth goes missing, it can be easy to make the decision to not replace it, especially if it is a back tooth that does not bother you. However, it is actually very important to replace teeth as soon as you can. Dr. Amit Pandya of New Hyde Park, NY offers several options to replace teeth. Keep reading to learn about the importance of tooth replacement.

When a tooth is lost, the bone tissue in the area of the jaw begins to deteriorate. This changes the shape of the jaw. This happens gradually for younger people but usually faster for older people. If multiple teeth are missing, this can actually end up changing the shape of the facial structure. Also, when there is a space where a tooth used to be, the other teeth begin to shift towards that opening. This can create an uneven bite. It also creates gaps between the other teeth that can become hard-to-reach places for a toothbrush. Bacteria can build up and cause decay and gum disease. In addition, the unprotected gum tissue can become harmed easier.

We have several options here for tooth replacement. 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. 

Dental Cleaning: Prophylaxis

No matter how much you diligently brush or floss your teeth at home, harmful bacteria grow in your mouth that can only be removed by a dental professional. These bacteria can cause gum disease, and significantly affect your overall health. Here at the dental practice of Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS, our hygienists will use professional tools to remove plaque, tartar and bacteria build-up that you are unable to efficiently remove yourself.

According to the Academy of General Dentistry, it is recommended that a dentist or hygienist perform a dental cleaning every six months. The professional dental cleaning reinforces the home-care oral health regimen of brushing and flossing and gives Dr. Pandya an opportunity to locate areas in the mouth that may need special attention. During the teeth cleaning, our hygienists will thoroughly clean the area above and below the gum line with scaling tools to rid them of plaque and tartar. Once the surfaces are smooth, polishing is done using a slow speed handpiece with a soft rubber cup that spins on the end. Last but not least, the dentist flosses every crevice between your teeth and may apply fluoride if needed.

If you need your teeth cleaned don’t wait any longer, call us today so we can help you maintain a healthy smile! To schedule an appointment with Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS in our New Hyde Park, NY office, call us at (516) 233-2135 or visit our website, www.goinggrin.com. 

Dental Crowns

Over time our teeth begin to weaken and become more susceptible to problems such as decay, cracks, and discoloration. Fortunately, Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS offers restorative treatment options, such as dental crowns. A dental crown is a tooth-shaped “cap” that is placed over a tooth – to cover the tooth to restore its shape and size, strength, and improve its appearance. Crowns can be made from porcelain, porcelain fused to metal, or gold. However, to maintain a natural look and feel a porcelain finished crown is highly recommended as it can be matched to the shade of your other teeth.

The procedure for installing a dental crown typically takes two separate visits. On the first visit, your tooth will be reshaped and by filing down the enamel so that the crown can be placed over it. Once the tooth has been reshaped, a mold will be taken of that tooth and the surrounding teeth. This mold will be sent to a dental lab so that the permanent crown can be made. Before you leave the office, you will be fitted for a temporary crown so that you have some protection on the tooth. In about two-three weeks you will come back for the final result.

If you think you may benefit from a dental crown, please give us a call. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS in our New Hyde Park, NY office, call us at (516) 233-2135 or visit our website, www.goinggrin.com. 

Ridge Augmentation

Dental implants usually are the most-desired form of tooth replacement. This is because they act most closely to a real tooth and they can last a lifetime. However, without a stable jaw bone, dental implants may not be an option. Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS  has found a way to correct this problem with a ridge augmentation.

A ridge augmentation replaces lost bone tissue along the ridge of a patient’s gumline. If the ridge where teeth are settled in loses width or height, implants may not be a realistic option for tooth replacement. This is because without a sturdy ridge, the implant will not last long or may not even be able to be placed at all. When a tooth goes missing, the ridge where the tooth sits can begin to deteriorate. If not replaced soon, the ridge may lose enough tissue so an implant cannot be held there anymore. When the tooth goes missing, a patient may not have the money, insurance, or time to have an implant installed. However, an implant may become possible for them in the future. This is why we offer ridge augmentation; to make implants possible again when bone has been lost.

Ridge augmentation involves taking bone graft material and placing it where the bone has been lost. The area is stitched up and allowed to heal for a few months. During this time, the bone graft material will also promote the ridge to grow even more. The area will then be ready for a dental implant to be placed.

If you have been told your ridge is too small for a dental implant, a ridge augmentation may be what you need. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS in our New Hyde Park, NY office, call us at (516) 233-2135 or visit our website, www.goinggrin.com. 

Gum Pocket Reduction

Advanced gum disease can cause gums to pull back from the teeth and form deep pockets. This is called gum recession. This can cause further infection of the gums, cause loss of teeth, and a lot of pain. Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS of New Hyde Park, NY is able to correct this problem with gum pocket reduction. This will not only improve the health of the gums physically, it will also help keep away gum disease once it is gone.

Before a gum pocket reduction is performed, the gum disease needs to be cleared up. Measures will be taken to clear the bacteria within the gums. This is typically done through a scaling and planing procedure. After this is complete, sometimes the gums do not go back to normal, keeping those deep pockets. The deep pockets make it easy for bacteria to re-infect the gums. Because of this, the gums need to be put back into their natural place.

To begin pocket reduction, your dentist will lift the gums up and away so that the deepest bacteria can be reached and removed. After the bacteria are cleared out from the gums and teeth, your dentist will replace the gum tissue so that it is tight against your teeth.

Gum disease is a serious matter as your oral health affects the rest of your overall health. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS in our New Hyde Park, NY office, call us at (516) 233-2135 or visit our website, www.goinggrin.com.