When is Preventive Dentistry Month?

Up to now there hasn't been one, but I thought it was high time to have one. Accordingly, from now on, July will be Preventive Dentistry Month (at least in my N.Y.C.  Dental office) .   To celebrate, my office will offer a gift of a free electric tooth brush, to each new patient having a full set of radiographs, checkup and cleaning in the month of July.

 Most people will do a better job cleaning their teeth with a good electric toothbrush than they will with a good manual brush. The repeated reciprocating rotary movement of electric toothbrush cleans faster and more thoroughly than can be accomplished with a manual brush by most patients,
           
Now that school is out it's a great time for families to schedule their check ups and cleanings. Why not get teeth in their best shape and receive a new electric tooth brush as well? It is my hope that these brushes will help New Yorkers keep their smiles in tip top shape and avoid some of the problems associated with excess dental plaque.

Does a tooth with a horizontal root fracture always need to be removed?

I have been practicing dentistry in Manhattan for over thirty years and  I have looked at a number of radiogpraphs of anterior teeth with horizontal root fractures that are relatively asymptomatic.  This seems to be the case especially when the fracture occurs more apically and is not close to the crestal bone. Many of these teeth remain in my patients mouths for years with little or no deterioration of the bone surrounding the fractured root.

These teeth do have a guarded prognosis and may become infected. Also they can over time become increasingly mobile. If they become infected or show increased mobility, they should be removed before the surrounding bone becomes too compromised for implant placement. Also they are not good candidates to use as abutments for bridges and may be electively removed if a comprehensive restorative treatment plan for the area is contemplated.

How should I choose the best dentist if I've just moved to New York?

If you have just moved here (New York), asking your colleagues or neighbors for a recommendation is a good idea. I have noticed that a number of my new patients have chosen my New York dental practice after doing internet searches. They report that they do a number of searches and read a number of patient reviews.

This seems to be a popular way to find dentists in our internet savvy society. People read Angies list, Yelp, City Search, Metrodentist.net, Zocdoc and Google Places while looking for a new dentist. Many carefully read the dentist reviews as a means of choosing someone they feel might be the right New York Dentist for them.

Although this type of internet search is helpful, clearly finding someone who has been to a dentist and asking their opinion is helpful in order to confirm that all a dentists 'glowing' reviews are deserved. True 'word of mouth' is still the best way to choose your dentist in New York City or any other place that you may move to.

When do you recommend porcelain fused to metal crowns?

I often recommend porcelain fused to metal  crowns for restoring posterior teeth that need a cosmetic restoration that will protect compromised tooth structure. Many posterior teeth either have cracks in them or have tooth structure that might crack if restored with a simple composite filling. Although many types of tooth coloured crowns are a available (emax,Procera, Lava, Empress....) I feel that a well made porcelain fused to metal crown is still the best choice for most patients. It allows beveling a tooth which can protect teeth from flexing and can allow for a more intimate fit. I have written a short article on my New York Dentist office website that can be found at: http://www.lspindeldds.com/porcelain_fused_to_metal_crowns.

Usually for anterior teeth, with sufficient remaining tooth structure, I choose a more transulucent option, such as an all bonded porcelain restoration or a Lava crown. Both of these can appear extemely life like. Some of the newer emax restorations can look quite beautiful as well, especially when they have exterior staining applied.