Teeth Types and the Purpose They Serve

At Maiden Lane Dental, it is our job to teach you about the significance of your teeth. For example, did you know that your enamel is the strongest bone in your body? Teeth are used for cutting and chewing food. They also start the digestive process that fuels our bodies. According to the American Dental Association, each tooth is made up of several parts: pulp, cementum, dentin, and enamel. But have you ever wondered why all of your teeth are different shapes and sizes? That’s because they all do different things!

• Incisors – located at the front of the mouth, these teeth have a sharp biting surface and are used for cutting or shearing food into small chewable pieces.


• Canines – located at the ‘corners’ of the dental arches, these teeth have a sharp pointed biting surface. Their function is to grip and tear food.


• Premolars – Unlike incisors and canines, these teeth have a flat biting surface. Their function is to tear and crush food.


• Molars – The molars are the largest teeth in the mouth and they too have a large flat biting surface. The function of these is perhaps the strongest of all as they chew, crush, and grind food.

If you have further questions about your pearly whites, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, 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.

Oral Care with Arthritis

Daily activities like brushing and flossing can be difficult with conditions that affect the hands like arthritis. This may eventually affect your ability to take care of your oral health. At Maiden Lane Dental in New York, NY, we want you to know that you can still take excellent care of your oral health with arthritis.

When looking for a toothbrush, look for one that will help you. If it is difficult to grip things or it hurts to move your hand around, consider an electric toothbrush. Since you just need to hold them in the right position, they do most of the work. They also tend the have thick handles, which are easier to grip. Also, look for handles with non-slip grips and a small toothbrush head. These make it easier to maneuver the brush around your mouth. There are even toothbrushes made especially for those with arthritis.

If flossing is hurting your fingers, try tying the floss in a loop around your hands so that the floss will be held nice and tight. If this is too painful, there a floss pick may be easier.

Last, but not least, pay attention to toothpaste caps. Make sure to look for a toothpaste that has a flip cap instead of one that screws on. They are easier to open, plus they do not become stuck as easily when toothpaste gums them up.

It is still possible to keep up good oral health, even though arthritis may change the way you do it. To schedule a cleaning and examination with Maiden Lane Dental Care in New York, NY, call our office at (212) 509-4585 or visit our website, www.maidenlanedental.com. 

Brushing and Flossing with Braces

Brushing your teeth is vital to remove cavity-casing plaque and debris. When wearing braces, the brackets create even more areas that the plaque can stick to and hide, so it is extra important to do a great job brushing. At Maiden Lane Dental in New York, NY, we want our patients to have the right knowledge for taking excellent care of their oral health. Read on to learn more about brushing and flossing with braces!

Brushing with braces is pretty easy when it comes to brushing the chewing surfaces of the teeth and even above and below the brackets. There are no special instructions for those areas. Just do be sure to brush the tops and bottoms of the brackets, as that is where plaque can collect. The sides of the brackets, however, will require an interdental cleaner to reach. These brushes are little tree-like tools that help you reach underneath the wires. Use these to brush the sides of the brackets so that you can see the edges of them clearly.

Flossing is also important and should be done once per day regardless of if you are wearing braces. Superfloss or floss threaders are a big help with this part of the job. They allow you to get the floss over and under the wires easily and quickly.

In addition to excellent home care, routine visits to your dentist for examinations and cleanings are important, as well. To schedule your appointment with Maiden Lane Dental in New York, NY, call our office at (212) 509-4585 or visit our website, www.maidenlanedental.com. 

White Fillings for Natural-Looking Restorations

Cavities weaken teeth and can create a not-so-good-looking smile. It is only natural that you would want a natural-looking restoration that would both make the tooth healthy again and look good. That is why here at Maiden Lane Dental in New York, NY, we offer white fillings to our patients.

White fillings are made of a composite resin that is matched to the color of your tooth. This allows the fillings to look completely natural and blend right into your smile. The silver amalgam fillings of the past did the job of strengthening the tooth and making it healthy again, however, they tend to be unsightly. They are dark and can make the teeth look unhealthy.

White fillings are placed just as fillings have always been placed. First, the decayed tooth tissue is removed. Then, the composite resin chosen to match your teeth is placed into the cavity and smoothed over. The resin is hardened and then reshaped and smoothed over to allow a proper bite. Just like that, your smile is healthy again and still looking great!

If you suspect you have a cavity, schedule an appointment with Maiden Lane Dental for a natural-looking restoration. To schedule in our New York, NY office, call us at (212) 509-4585 or visit our website, www.maidenlanedental.com. 

Crowns: What to Expect Aftewards

Dental procedures and restorations can come with some healing time. During this time, you may feel slight irritation or you may need to get used to a new feeling. However, at Maiden Lane Dental in New York, NY, we want our patients to know that this is completely normal and is part of the healing process. Here is what to expect after a crown has been installed:

First, you are likely going to have to wear a temporary crown while your custom crown is being created. During this time, you will need to be careful while eating and cleaning your teeth. The temporary crown will not be permanently bonded like the custom crown will be. Therefore, when brushing, do not press down hard on the tooth. When flossing, do not pull the floss out hard or pull on the tooth hard. Also, beware of sticky or hard foods.

When the custom crown is permanently cemented into place, there may be some slight irritation or swelling at the site. This is the soft tissue getting used to the new structure. Ibuprofen or a warm salt water rinse can help with pain and swelling. As the tissue heals, any irritation will go away. This should take a short period of time.

Your crown may feel strange to you in your mouth at first, but you will eventually get used to the new feeling and it will feel like one of your own teeth. To learn more about crowns, contact Maiden Lane Dental of New York, NY by calling (212) 509-4585 or visit our website, www.maidenlanedental.com. 

Make Sure You Are Brushing For Two Minutes!

Brushing your teeth is a standard part of your day by now. However, could it be so mundane in your daily activities, that you aren’t really aware of what you’re doing. It’s sort of like being on auto-pilot. At Maiden Lane Dental of New York, NY we want to remind our patients that brushing should be performed for about two minutes to ensure you are brushing properly. Take these tips we have gathered for making sure you spend about two minutes brushing!

The simplest way to keep track of time, of course, is to count. This can be made easy by just counting to thirty, four times. In addition, for each thirty seconds, brush one-quarter of your mouth.

Because most music players have a timer on them, another great way to keep track of your time is to listen to your favorite song while brushing. Not only will you enjoy your time brushing, but the time will seem to go by quicker! Just be sure you are hitting all the surfaces of your mouth!

For an interesting (and decorative) way to track two minutes, purchase an hour glass! For this purpose, you would really get a minute glass and flip it over twice. It’s nifty décor at its finest!

If all else fails, just set a timer on your phone, a kitchen timer, or a stopwatch. Any way that you’re aware of how long you spend brushing is great! To schedule a cleaning and examination with Maiden Lane Dental of New York, NY, call our office at (212) 509-4585 or visit our website, www.maidenlanedental.com.

Infant Tooth Care

Your child’s gums act as placeholders for permanent teeth, which is why it’s important to take care of them during infancy. Daily dental cleaning should start as soon as your infant’s first tooth appears. To help prevent the buildup of plaque bacteria that can lead to decay, our doctors at Maiden Lane Dental highly recommend regularly cleaning your newborn’s gums with a damp washcloth following feedings.

Tooth decay is caused by bacteria in the plaque that forms on teeth. While infants may not have teeth yet, one common cause is the frequent, prolonged exposure of the baby’s teeth to drinks that contain sugar, such as formula. Bacteria can also be passed through saliva. When the mother puts the baby’s feeding spoon in her mouth or cleans a pacifier in her mouth, the bacteria can be passed to the baby. The good news is that decay is preventable.

If you have further questions about infant tooth care, please give us a call. To learn more about services we provide at our practice, 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.