Shopping for Toothpaste

A toothbrush is your most powerful tool to fight against tooth decay and periodontal disease. A toothbrush isn’t as effective, however, without toothpaste. Brushing with toothpaste is important for several reasons. Toothpaste removes plaque, the sticky, harmful film of bacteria that grows on teeth that causes cavities and also contains fluoride which promotes re-mineralization. With so many toothpaste options to choose from, how do you decide?  Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS wants patients to know that when it comes to choosing the toothpaste that is best for you, it’s important to consider your unique oral health needs.

• Anti-cavity: This type of toothpaste contains fluoride. Fluoride plays an active role in preventing decay, and it actively strengthens tooth enamel.


• Anti-gingivitis: If you spit blood in the sink, this is an early sign of gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease. Anti-gingivitis toothpaste help reduces oral bacteria and can be very effective at stopping gingivitis in its tracks.


• Desensitizing: If you’ve ever bit into an ice cream cone and felt a sharp pain in your tooth’s nerve, this type of toothpaste will provide relief by blocking the tooth’s pain signal to the nerve.


• Tartar-control: This toothpaste does exactly what it says, however, the best way to remove tartar is by scheduling a professional dental cleaning with one of our doctors.


• Whitening: This toothpaste contains chemicals that are able to help maintain the natural color of your teeth.

If you have questions or concerns about preventive 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. 

Sectioning Teeth

At the New Hyde Park dental office of Dr. Amit Pandya, we understand the concerns people have about tooth extractions. Natural teeth are always the best and extractions should only be done when necessary. However, when impacted wisdom teeth threaten the health of the rest of the teeth, we remove them quickly and with minimal risk to the patient. This sometimes requires us to section the teeth before removal.

Wisdom teeth are the largest teeth and have multiple roots attached to strong ligaments. Trying to remove them in one piece could subject the patient to a dangerous amount of force even if the wisdom teeth were in a perfect position which, if they are being removed, they probably are not. Impacted wisdom teeth are often located close to major nerves and are too large to move without cutting away some gum tissue.

Teeth can be moved with less force and through smaller gum flaps when they have been cut apart. This is only done after the patient has been numbed and sedated. A dental drill is used to do the cutting and the surgical site is kept under a stream of water to prevent damage from heat. Sectioned teeth can be lifted out of the jaw easily and the gums can then be sutured.

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.

 

Childhood Halitosis

We help patients of all ages with all sorts of oral health needs at the New Hyde Park dental office of Dr. Amit Pandya. Adults aren’t the only people who get bad breath, and when children get it, there may be some specific issues which need to be addressed for their oral health as well as their social prospects.

Halitosis, as bad breath is scientifically called, is the result of excessive bacterial growth in the mouth and throat. There may be some condition which is allowing bacteria to grow or preventing the body from fighting infection, but in most cases, the problem is simple lack of hygiene. Children sometimes have difficulty brushing every tooth surface and on their tongues for a full two minutes. These children will require more teaching and supervision and may benefit from the use of an electric toothbrush.

The most common condition which would contribute to halitosis is dry mouth. Besides making it harder to remove food debris, dry mouth disrupts the mouth’s optimal acidity level, hampering the immune system. This could be caused by diabetes or medications, such as those commonly used for psychiatric conditions. Children are also particularly prone to nasal infections, which could result in drip accumulating in their throats and feeding bacteria. Non-alcoholic mouthwash could help with this problem.

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.

 

Bad Oral Habits

Most of us have habits that we aren’t proud of. When these habits begin to affect the teeth, Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS encourages you to break them immediately. Bad oral habits such as these can cause fractures in the teeth, may leave gums and enamel feeling sensitive and may lead to costly dental treatment in the future. If you practice any of these bad oral habits, do your best to reduce and eliminate them.

• You’re brushing too hard – over time, if you brush with too much force, you can wear down the protective layers of your teeth and expose the microscopic hollow tubes or canals that lead to your dental nerves. When these tubules are exposed, tooth sensitivity is a result.


• You’re eating too many acidic foods – If the pathways to your nerves are exposed, acidic foods will leave you in pain.


• You have tooth decay – If you have tooth decay, it’s easy for bacteria to accumulate in these tiny crevices, which causes acid build-up and enamel breakdown.


• You’re a tooth grinder – Grinding your teeth can wear down your enamel. This exposes the dentin and causes sensitive teeth.

If you have questions or concerns about preventive 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. 

Tooth Sensitivity

Sensitive teeth can be very uncomfortable. A patient who has fell victim may feel gum inflammation and possibly wince at the thought of drinking a hot or cold beverage. Possible causes of sensitive teeth include tooth decay, worn fillings, and periodontal disease. However, the most common reason for tooth sensitivity is a poor oral care routine. Fortunately, if you have sensitive teeth, Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS can treat the problem.

In healthy teeth, a layer of enamel protects the crowns of the teeth – the part above the gum line. If proper oral care isn’t practiced, gums may recede and this will cause sensitivity. Treatment options for sensitive teeth may include desensitizing toothpaste, fluoride gel, a gum graft, or a root canal depending on the severity of the sensitivity. To prevent sensitive teeth you should always brush at least twice a day for two minutes and floss at least once a day.

If you have questions or concerns about tooth sensitivity, 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. 

What is a Bone Graft?

A bone graft is the term for harvesting bone material from a healthy location and grafting it to a location that is broken or weakened.  Dr. Amit Pandya performs bone grafts on patients in need of dental implants.  Missing a tooth for an extended period of time can leave the jaw bone vulnerable and compromise its structure.  When a patient needs an implant for a permanent replacement tooth, a bone graft reinforces the jaw bone so it is strong enough to handle the placement of an implant. 

In the same procedure, bone material is harvested from a healthy location in the patient’s mouth and grafted to the compromised area of the jaw bone.  This strengthens the weakened bone, and encourages growth of new bone material as it heals.  After the procedure, the bone graft will be monitored over the course of months.  When the jaw bone has strengthened enough to handle the placement of an implant, the dentist can move forward with the patient’s plan of care.

To learn more about bone grafting and all the services provided at the practice, visit www.goinggrin.com. To set up an appointment with Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS in New Hyde Park, NY, call us at (516) 233-2135.

Cosmetic Periodontal Surgery

Dr. Amit Pandya sees many patients who are unhappy with their smile. The look of your smile includes your gums, and even patients without any damage to their teeth feel like their gums keep them from enjoying their best smile.  Some people naturally have more gum tissue than others and it results in a gummy smile, while others have less gum tissue that gives a look of elongated teeth. 

We offer cosmetic periodontal surgery so that any patient can have their perfect smile.  Cosmetic periodontal surgery is a technical way of saying sculpting the gum line, and each procedure is different depending on the patient’s goal.  Soft tissue grafts can be placed to extend the gum line, or excess gum tissue can be removed to expose more tooth.  The result is a visually pleasing ratio of tooth to gums that creates an even smile! If you think your smile would benefit from cosmetic periodontal surgery, please contact us.

To learn more about cosmetic periodontal surgery and all the services we offer, visit www.goinggrin.com. To set up an appointment with Dr. Amit Pandya, DDS in New Hyde Park, NY, call us at (516) 233-2135.