Gum Disease Stages

If you want to keep your permanent teeth for a lifetime, then you need to practice a proper oral hygiene routine on a daily basis. If you don’t, you’re already headed down the road toward gum disease. Gum disease is an inflammation of the gums that can progress to affect the bone that surrounds and supports your teeth and there are three stages that you need to be aware of. You should always schedule professional cleanings and oral exams with our doctors at Maiden Lane Dental twice a year to avoid this condition.

• Gingivitis – This is the earliest stage of gum disease, an inflammation of the gums caused by plaque buildup at the gum line. If daily brushing and flossing do not remove the plaque, it produces toxins that can irritate the gum tissue, causing gingivitis. This is when you’ll notice blood in the sink after you complete your brushing routine. However, at this early stage, damage can be reversed, since the bone and connective tissue that hold the teeth in place are not yet affected.


• Periodontitis – This is the second stage of gum disease. By this point, the supporting bone and fibers that hold your teeth in place are irreversibly damaged. Your gums may even begin to form a pocket below the gum line, which traps food and plaque.


• Advanced Periodontitis – This is the final stage of gum disease, and the fibers and bone supporting your teeth is officially destroyed. In this case, your teeth may begin to shift or loosen and your bite may also be affected. If aggressive treatment can’t save them, the teeth will need to be extracted.

If you experience gum inflammation, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.maidenlanedental.comfor more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors here at Maiden Lane Dental in New York, NY, call 212-509-4585.

Brush Properly to Prevent Gum Disease

Plaque is a thin, sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on your teeth and can lead to gingivitis, a form of gum disease. Gum disease is common, and, if left untreated, may lead to bone loss around the teeth. At Maiden Lane Dental, we want our patients to prevent gingivitis before it turns into a more serious form of gum disease called periodontitis and this starts by brushing your teeth. It is easy to get your mouth clean and healthy and keep it that way. Here’s a simple brushing routine to help you prevent most dental problems:

• Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gums.


• Move the brush back and forth gently in short (tooth-wide) strokes.


• Brush the outer tooth surfaces, the inner tooth surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth.


• Use the tip of the brush to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, using a gentle up-and-down stroke.


• Brush your tongue to remove bacteria.

If you have questions about oral hygiene or the services we provide, give us a call or visit www.maidenlanedental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors here at Maiden Lane Dental in New York, NY, call 212-509-4585.

Plaque and Tartar

You know that brushing and flossing your teeth is important for removing plaque. But do you know exactly what plaque is and why it needs to be removed? Maiden Lane Dental of New York, NY wants to inform our patients about plaque and tartar so our patients understand the importance of removing it.

Plaque is a thin film of bacteria that form on your teeth and sticks there. It forms just hours after brushing and flossing, which is why it is important to brush two or three times per day, especially before bed. This is also why it is important that you floss every day.

When plaque is not removed, it can start to weaken the enamel on your teeth. Weakened enamel forms cavities. Decayed teeth can lead to gum disease and infections, which are a lot tougher to deal with. Plaque can also turn to tartar, a hardened form which can only be removed by a dentist. Plaque and tartar together irritate gums and if left untreated, can cause the gums to recede. Receded gums form deep pockets that collect bacteria; making clearing up the infection more difficult.

To keep plaque and tartar away, brush once in the morning and once at night. If you can, fit in a third time in the middle of the day. Also be sure to floss every day. To schedule a cleaning with Maiden Lane Dental in our New York, NY office, call us at (212) 509-4585 or visit our website, www.maidenlanedental.com. 

Oral Hygiene Basics

Bacteria can live in your mouth in the form of plaque, causing cavities and gingivitis, which can lead to periodontal (gum) disease. In order to keep your mouth clean, you must practice good oral hygiene every day. Dr. Lloyd Becker at Maiden Lane Dental is here to help you understand the basics of oral hygiene and establish a proper dental routine.

Good oral hygiene results in a mouth that looks and smells healthy. This means your teeth are free of debris; gums are pink and do not hurt or bleed when you floss and bad breath is not a constant problem. In between regular visits to our office, there are simple steps that each of us can take to greatly decrease the risk of developing tooth decay, gum disease and other dental problems. These include: brushing thoroughly twice a day and flossing daily, eating a balanced diet and limiting snacks between meals, using dental products that contain fluoride, rinsing with a fluoride mouthwash.                                                              

If you need assistance maintaining a proper oral hygiene routine, give us a call today! To learn about other services offered at Maiden Lane Dental, visit www.maidenlanedental.com for more information. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Lloyd Becker in New York, NY, call 212-509-4585.

A Healthy Smile is a Beautiful Smile with Dr. Lloyd Becker

Regular checkups and dental cleanings are a part of any good oral hygiene routine, and at Maiden Lane Dental, we provide dental care services of the highest quality to ensure that our patients’ smiles stay healthy year after year.

Plaque is a soft and sticky film of bacteria that can build up on your teeth despite regular brushing and flossing. Because teeth are constantly bathed in saliva, which contains calcium and other substances to strengthen and protect teeth, tartar or calcium deposits can also build up over time. Dental cleanings work to remove both plaque and tartar from the teeth. If it is not removed and is allowed to accumulate, bacteria will be provided a perfect environment and thrive on the gums and teeth, which can cause cavities, infection and gum disease.

While good for maintaining oral health between dentist visits, at-home brushing and cleaning are not enough to make sure teeth stay clean; regular dental cleanings are required. At our office, we can clean and polish your teeth, leaving the surface clean and smooth. The smoother the teeth, the more difficult it is for bacteria to stick to them and the more effective at-home brushing will be.

We recommend checkups and dental cleanings every six months for optimum oral health. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Lloyd Becker in New York, NY, call 212-509-4585. For more information, visit www.maidenlanedental.com. 

Maiden Lane Dental Performs Teeth Extractions

If decay has reached too deeply into one of your teeth or if an infection has damaged too much of the bone or tissue supporting a tooth, you will be in need of a tooth extraction. At Maiden Lane Dental, Dr. Lloyd Becker can help you restore your oral health by performing a tooth extraction.

Before the procedure is performed, a local anesthetic is used to numb the area around the extraction site. During a simple extraction, the tooth is loosened with an elevator and then extracted with forceps. Once removed, Dr. Becker may choose to smooth and contour the underlying bone. Then the gums are sutured.

After the extraction, it is critical to keep the area clean to prevent infection. A dry, sterile gauze will be placed over the gums to limit bleeding. You must make sure to keep it in place for 30 to 45 minutes while the blood clots. During the 24 hours after the procedure, you should not smoke, rinse your mouth vigorously or clean the teeth immediately adjacent to the extraction site. Strenuous activity, hot liquids and straw drinking should also be avoided. A certain amount of pain and discomfort accompanies an extraction, so a painkiller may be prescribed.

If you are suffering pain from decay, infection or impaction, Dr. Becker can determine if a tooth extraction is required to save your smile. Schedule an appointment at our practice in New York, NY by calling 212-509-4585. For more information, visit www.maidenlanedental.com.

Gum Disease

Caring for your teeth is an essential part of maintaining good oral health, but your gums also play an important role, and proper care is crucial. Gum disease can be a serious detriment to both your oral health and overall wellness, and Dr. Lloyd Becker provides the type of regular periodontal care and checkups you need to maintain peak health and prevent periodontal issues.

With periodontal disease responsible for 75 percent of all adult tooth loss cases in the United States, it is critical to check for and treat periodontal issues when they first arise. Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums that starts when a build-up of plaque on your teeth hardens, creating a suitable environment for bacteria to collect and attack the surrounding gums. In its early stages, this gum disease is gingivitis, but if it is left untreated, it becomes periodontis, which can destroy your gum tissue and lead to tooth loss. Periodontis can even result in a loss of bone mass in your jawbone. Heart disease, diabetes and stroke have also been linked to poor periodontal health.

The state of your gums affects the health of your entire body, so come to our office in New York, NY to receive periodontal cleanings and treatment. It is easier to prevent gum disease or treat it early on than to reverse the effects of periodontis. Call 212-509-4585 to schedule an appointment at our practice. For more information about the dentist or Maiden Lane Dental, visit www.maidenlanedental.com.