Flossing with Traditional Braces

Flossing with traditional braces may seem impossible, but it’s not. If you don’t floss between the brackets and wires, you will develop periodontal disease which will make your gums sensitive, red, and swollen. Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS, will guide you through the process of flossing with traditional braces, but you can start with this simple technique.

• 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 or concerns about orthodontic oral care, please give us a call. 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. 

Inlays and Onlays

When patients chip a tooth or have extensive decay, we can help them at Dr. Amit Pandya’s New Hyde Park dental office. Replacing an entire crown is not always necessary—we also offer partial crowns, known as inlays and onlays.

The chewing surfaces of the molars and premolars have raised cusps with indentations between them. These cusps can sometimes chip and food debris can get stuck in the indentations, eventually leading to decay. When that happens, we’ll drill away the decayed section and then make an impression of the patient’s mouth. The patient is provided with a temporary artificial crown while the impression is used at a dental lab to manufacture a prosthetic. An onlay is a partial crown that replaces or covers a cusp; an inlay is one that settles between them.

Once the partial crown arrives at our office, we’ll be able to cement it into the patient’s tooth. The patient should then be free to enjoy their restored bite function. A partial crown still has to be brushed regularly. Patients can also prevent decay by getting fluoride sealants to smooth out their teeth’s indentations.

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 Going Grin and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Reasons for Extractions

When we extract teeth at Dr. Amit Pandya’s New Hyde Park dental practice, we do so quickly after ensuring that our patients fully understand their post-operative instructions. But because the outcome of extractions depends so heavily on the patient’s commitment, we want to make sure they are aware of why they are undergoing extractions in the first place and why it is often the best option.

A lot of extractions in young people are done to ensure the remaining teeth will have enough room to form a healthy arch. Well-aligned teeth are easier to keep clean, won’t put as much strain on the jaw muscles during chewing, and keep the face straighter, but the mouth often doesn’t have enough room for all of them. A set of premolars are often removed prior to orthodontic work, and wisdom teeth are commonly extracted to prevent them from getting stuck while erupting. Baby teeth may also be extracted if they do not fall out naturally before their adult replacements grow in.

We always try to save teeth that have been damaged, but sometimes extractions are necessary to protect the patient’s health. A cracked crown can be repaired or replaced, but a crack that goes all the way through the crown and root cannot be and the tooth will have to be replaced with an implant.

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 Going Grin and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Teeth Grinding: Bruxism

Do you ever wake up from a night’s sleep with sore teeth and jaws? You could be grinding your teeth. The medical term for occasional teeth grinding is called bruxism and although this condition does not usually cause harm, when teeth grinding occurs on a regular basis the teeth can be damaged and other oral health complications can arise. Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS provides night guards to prevent this from happening and to provide you with relief.

Stress, anxiety, smoking, heavy alcohol, caffeine, depression and sleep disorders are all possible causes of teeth grinding. Treatment for teeth grinding depends on the cause. In some cases, chronic teeth grinding can result in fracturing, loosening or loss of teeth. The purpose of a night guard is to protect your teeth and jaws. At our practice, if you require a night guard we will custom make them just for you.

If you have questions or concerns about bruxism or teeth grinding, please give us a call. 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. 

Restorative Dental Services

The goal of restorative dental services is to preserve the natural teeth as much as possible. Dr. Amit Pandya will do this with dental implants, dentures, bridges, and/or dental crowns. Restorative dental services improve the aesthetics of your smile as well as the overall function of the teeth and gums. Restorative dental services will help you achieve optimum dental health.

Once Dr. Amit Pandya diagnoses your dental condition, he will discuss treatment options with you in detail. If you have missing teeth, dental implants and bridges work best to resemble natural teeth and restore them to their natural function. A dental crown can protect a tooth if dental bonding isn’t strong enough to withstand chewing forces. Restorative dental services as well as cosmetic, have similar properties, both aesthetically fix the problem and revive the tooth back to life.  

If you have questions or concerns about restorative dental care, please give us a call. 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.