The Importance of Replacing Missing Teeth

Replacing missing teeth has a very important purpose. It may seem like an obvious answer, but it does more than help you chew again. At Maiden Lane Dental of New York, NY, we want our patients to know why it is so important to replace missing teeth.

When a tooth falls out or is extracted, over time, the jawbone that used to hold the tooth will start to deteriorate. This, along with the open space can cause the other teeth to shift toward that opening. It creates movement in the mouth along with more gaps as teeth tend to space out. This can change your bite, your chewing ability, and can create hard-to-reach areas for your toothbrush.

When multiple teeth are missing, a large part of the jaw can deteriorate and begin to change the shape of your jaw and your facial structure. This can make someone appear older than they are.

Replacing teeth as soon as possible makes sure that the jaw does not deteriorate. However, there are still great options available for those who have been missing one or more teeth for a longer time. At our New York, NY dental practice, we have available dental implants, dental bridges, and dentures.

If you are ready to enjoy eating again, regain your ability to speak clearly, and have confidence in your smile, schedule an appointment with us for a consultation. To schedule with Maiden Lane Dental in New York, NY, call our office at (212) 509-4585 or visit our website, www.maidenlanedental.com. 

Digital X-Rays

We believe that early detection is the best way to treat our patients. With that being said, we have recently adopted digital X-ray technology into our practice. Digital radiography will better allow us to diagnose and treat patients the right way before it becomes a more serious issue.

 

Digital X-ray technology offers many benefits over traditional X-rays. The biggest difference is the amount of radiation it emits, about 90 percent less than traditional machines. While the radiation in traditional X-rays is not necessarily harmful, it’s never a good idea to expose someone to any type of radiation.

 

Another great benefit of digital radiography is the immediacy of it. You don’t have to wait for the image to develop anymore. Right after the image is taken it is immediately displayed on a bedside monitor. This greatly cuts down on patient chair-time. The instant imaging software is a great way for us to “Go Green” because there’s no harmful chemicals used to develop the images and the image itself is not printed so there is no waster there. The image is displayed on an environmentally friendly monitor that files it away with your personal records for future use without printing.

 

In many cases, digital X-rays are able to detect early stages of tooth decay where traditional X-rays would not. The image we get is far more detailed than other imaging software. Catching decay early can prevent cavities, gum disease and other periodontal issues. By getting to these symptoms earlier, our staff is better equipped to stop it now and even prevent it in the future. 

Veneers

If you think movie star smiles come from teeth whitening or straightening alone, you’d be wrong.  The real secret to a white, bright, flawless smile is porcelain veneers. At our Lower Manhattan dental practice, we utilize dental veneers to completely change your smile.  The results have added up to some dramatically beautified smiles.  Many of us would love a close-up-ready, celebrity smile, but how can you be sure if porcelain veneers are the right option for you?

 

Determining whether or not veneers are a sensible cosmetic option for you begins with understanding just what they are, which Dr. Lloyd Becker details during your first appointment.  Veneers are a thin ceramic shell that fits over the tooth and creates a new, customized smile surface. Each veneer is custom crafted according to an overall desired smile appearance.  We will take a mold of your teeth and have the veneers created at a third-party dental lab. Dr. Garrison uses this restorative treatment for patients who have significant tooth staining, cracked, gapped, misaligned or chipped teeth.

 

New York residents who visit the cosmetic and restorative dentistry practice are given comprehensive, one-on-one attention in determining which options are best for restoring and improving their smiles-- whether they’re seeking porcelain veneers or another one of Dr. Becker’s services.

Dental Implants

There are many options to fill the space left behind from a missing tooth. Dental implants are the only permanent solution available for replacing missing teeth. Implants are widely considered the modern-day solution to missing teeth as they provide an aesthetically pleasing, permanent answer to a serious problem. We provide dental implant procedures to help our patients restore their smile and fix their bite after implant surgery.

 

When you lose a tooth, it is important to act quickly to fill the space. Apart from the cosmetic issues, patients who have missing teeth will often suffer from compromised chewing efficiency and tooth drifting. The space left behind from a missing tooth causes the other teeth to drift into that space which can lead to misaligned teeth. When teeth become misaligned, they become more difficult to clean, leaving unreachable pockets in the teeth that will collect bacteria. This will almost certainly lead to periodontal issues that will eventually lead to additional tooth loss if left untreated.

 

Receiving a dental implant is a surgical procedure and patients are put under a general anesthetic. A dental surgeon will make an incision into the patients gum line where they will insert the implant. The implant will be secured into the jawbone where it will need to sit for three to six months so the bone can grow around it, this process is called osseointegration. After the surgery, patients will visit us to receive a crown over the implant. This is done so the patient’s teeth do not drift and they can eat normally. Once the implant is secured, Dr. Lloyd Becker will place an abutment on top of the exposed implant that will support a permanent crown.  Dental implants are the only completely permanent solution to missing teeth.

NYC Dentist for Cosmetic Dentistry

It's no surprise that the number one feature people notice most it your smile.  It says a lot about who you are, the level to which you care for yourself, and above all else, the amount of confidence you have.   Our smile is key to expressing our feelings to those around us.  If we walk into a room with a big grin on our face, others are immediately relaxed and happy to hear what’s on our mind.  Alternatively, if we walk into a room keeping our pearly whites hidden, then we become either a source of negative interest or are unnoticed altogether.  So, how do you enter a room?

If you shy away from showing your smile, then you may consider cosmetic dentistry with your NYC dentist.  Cosmetic Dentistry has come a long way in the last twenty years, and is more affordable than you think.  Whether you are interested in teeth whitening, vaneers, natural tooth colored filling, or dental implants, your Financial District dentist, Dr. Lloyd Becker can give you the smile you have always dreamed of at Maiden Lane Dental.