Dental Care for a Chipped or Broken Tooth

Even though the outer layer of your tooth, the enamel, is the hardest mineralized tissue in your body, it is not foolproof. Teeth that are weakened by decay are susceptible to breaking when biting on something hard like ice and any tooth can be damaged by oral trauma. It’s always best to call your dentist as soon as they are available, but there are some things you can do yourself until your appointment arrives.

• If your tooth is aching, take an over the counter pain reliever and rinse your mouth with salt water.
• If there is a sharp edge that bothers your tongue or cheek, you can purchase dental wax at a local pharmacy or use sugar free gum to cover the jagged edge.
• Eat soft foods and try to avoid biting and chewing on that side of the mouth.

Treatment for a broken or chipped tooth

Your dentist will evaluate the damage to the tooth with an x-ray or digital image of the tooth to determine what procedure would work best to restore its integrity. Depending on the severity of the damage, there are several procedures that will bring health and beauty back to your smile.

Tooth-colored fillings - If you have lost off a small piece of tooth enamel, your dentist will fill the void with a composite resin. This material will bond to your tooth for a seamless smile.

Inlay/Onlay - Will restore a larger area that covers more than one surface of your tooth.

Crown (cap) - If you lost a large piece of tooth, or there is decay or other fillings present, your dentist will file away a portion of the weakened tooth and place a permanent crown on top to protect the remaining tooth, restoring your bite and the aesthetic look of your smile.

Root Canal - If the entire top part of your tooth has been compromised, your dentist will perform a root canal treatment then place a pin or a post in the canal of the tooth and attach a crown to it.

When restoring teeth with a crown or root canal treatment, you can expect to have at least two dental appointments. The first involves pre-treatment with a temporary tooth in place. The second visit is a simpler process of fitting the final restoration permanently in place. Some dentists have the equipment to build a crown in the office in an hour during your initial visit.

Lublin Dental Center care for damaged teeth

When left alone, a damaged tooth will progressively get worse. Please contact our Brooklyn office to schedule an appointment right away. Our friendly staff at Lublin Dental Center will listen to your concerns and fit you in as soon as possible.  

Let’s Talk About Osseointegration

Osseointegration is what we’re talking about, but it can do more than earn you a pretty big score in Scrabble.  It can work wonders to bring your smile back!

This is a pretty simple word when it is broken down into its parts - Osseo is direct from the Greek word Osteon, meaning bone, and integration which we know means to combine with the existing structure.  

Accurately describing the process, Osseointegration is just that.  Swedish orthopedic surgeon Per-Ingvar Brånemark pioneered the field during the 1960’s when he discovered that a metal screw (also known as the implant) inserted into the jawbone was accepted by the skeletal structure, allowing a false tooth to be permanently implanted. This discovery revolutionized oral health care as people could now turn to alternate corrections for missing teeth.

Natural teeth are made of two parts - the crown and the root.  The crown refers to the part of the tooth above the gum line while root refers to the part below the gum holding it in place much like the roots of a tree.  Osseointegration is referring to the metal which is integrated into the jaw to serve as an artificial root.

Brånemark found that not just any metal would be accepted into the jaw. The body would reject certain metals and treat them as a foreign invader.  Titanium is generally used for the anchor due to its strength and bio-compatibility (a fancy term meaning your body will not find any reason to reject this new addition).

The ‘integration’ part of the word comes from the fact that the bone grows around the implant to attach itself, making it permanent!  That’s right; the body will see this metal anchor as a part of its jawbone and actually strengthens the placement of the dental implant!

The term implant ‘dental implant’ can be broken down as well.  It typically consists of three parts:

1. The implant itself, which is a titanium screw that is placed directly into the bone to anchor the tooth securely.
2. The abutment sets directly on the implant to provide the crown further support, holding the crown in place.
3. The crown that has the look, feel and function of the tooth it replaces while it is firmly mounted in place.

Osseointegration has led the way for several fields in reconstructive medicine, including facial reconstruction and internal hearing aids. The method is even used for joint and artificial limb replacement!If you would like to know more about dental implants or to find out if they will improve your oral health, please contact Lublin Dental Center and schedule a consultation with your Brooklyn dentist. 

6 Ways to Whiten Your Teeth on Your Own

Now more than ever, a white smile has become an important asset. White teeth are associated with good oral health and have been known to make better first impressions socially and professionally. If you are considering whitening your teeth, there are a few tricks you can try before scheduling an appointment with your local dentist.

Brush and floss: Neglecting to keep up with an oral hygiene routine will lead to a plaque-ridden and dull smile. Make sure to brush twice a day and floss at least once a day to keep your teeth and gums healthy and bright.

Keep your gums healthy: Although brushing your teeth will eliminate plaque from the tooth’s surface, flossing targets the spaces in between teeth and keeps your gums healthy. Pink gums make your smile appear whiter, so make sure you keep them healthy by flossing.

Stay away from staining liquids: If you are serious about whitening your smile, you should refrain from drinking beverages such as coffee, black tea, and red wine. These drinks will stain your tooth enamel, so keep your distance or drink them through a straw.

Munch on fruits and vegetables: Eating fruits and vegetables helps clean the surface of your teeth and also produces saliva, which works to eliminate additional bacteria.

Try over-the-counter whitening kits: Contrary to popular belief, over-the-counter-whitening methods do work. Although they usually only target the front-facing teeth, they can work for a quick whitening fix.

Schedule an appointment at Lublin Dental Center: The best and most efficient way to whiten your teeth is to opt for a chair-side whitening procedure with your local dentist. A professional whitening procedure targets all of the teeth and whitens better than any other method available.

At Lublin Dental Center, we provide a variety of teeth whitening methods based on your desired outcome. Professional whitening procedures such as GLO Science Teeth Whitening, Zoom! Teeth Whitening, and BriteSmile in-office whitening are proven to create bright and beautiful smiles, and are available in our office.

For more information, contact our Brooklyn, NY dental office today!

5 Thing You Didn’t Know about Cosmetic Dentistry

Many people think that receiving a cosmetic procedure is purely narcissistic, but what people don’t know is that cosmetic dentistry has many restorative oral health benefits as well. If you are considering a cosmetic procedure, you should know that you’re not only improving your appearance, but your health and quality of life as well.

Here are some facts about cosmetic dentistry you may not have heard about.

You will look better: This may seem obvious, but an improved appearance can make you feel more confident. With a cosmetic dentistry procedure, you’ll no longer have to shy away from smiling or showing off your teeth!

Your oral health will improve: Along with enhancing your appearance, certain cosmetic procedures can improve your oral health as well. Treatments such as composite fillings and dental implants will restore missing or damaged teeth while doing so with your appearance in mind.

Any dental pain is eliminated: With crooked teeth or a misaligned bite, a lot of jaw, head, and neck pain can result. Certain cosmetic procedures can help alleviate TMJ issues and leave you pain-free!

You will get a self-confidence boost: When you look better, you feel better. Cosmetic dentistry can improve the aesthetic of your smile so that you can show it off for years to come. You’ll be smiling constantly with the confidence boost you get from cosmetic dentistry

You will make a better first impression: White and straight teeth are associated with good oral hygiene and overall better oral health. With a cosmetic procedure, you can create better professional and social interactions with a healthy, beautiful smile.

Call Us Today!

Located in Brooklyn, NY, Lublin Dental Center offers a variety of cosmetic dentistry procedures for patients looking to improve their smile’s appearance and restore their oral health. For more information about the services we provide, or to schedule a consultation, contact us today!