You’ve Lost A Tooth Now What

/ Glenn Reit D.D.S./

Sometimes things just happen. You bite a cherry pit one too many times. You think you’re an ice crusher. Your tooth gets tired and breaks in half and has to be removed. The adjacent teeth are happy and do not want to get involved. So what to do? In the past your choices were to just go without the tooth which is still a possibility today. However, most people want to replace the tooth. You could involve the adjacent teeth with a bridge, which is three teeth connected together but, with this option the adjacent teeth have to be cut down in order for crowns or caps to be placed. Then the three teeth are connected making it harder to clean the area. Another option is to make some plastic teeth that you place within your mouth in the morning and remove at night. Problem here is they move around and do not feel like real teeth. They're not wooden like George Washington’s but they are not real either. Today there’s a better option called a dental implant. Here the adjacent teeth are not involved. This is not a removable device but like a tooth stays in your jaw. Just like a regular tooth, it is easy to keep clean. No matter what we do in dentistry we cannot recreate nature but this is a close second. For an implant a piece of titanium is placed in your jaw resembling the root of your original tooth. Then a crown is made which resembles what your tooth looked like in your jaw. It’s not a real tooth but it functions and feels like the one you lost. Dental insurance companies will generally cover half the cost of this procedure if your employer likes you. It takes a little while to complete and it does cost you some money but in the end everyone feels happier to have the missing tooth replaced. We have been doing these procedures in office for more than a decade. So if you are missing a tooth or you’ve been missing a tooth give a thought and maybe a new tooth will come into your life.

At the dental practice of Dr Glenn Reit DDS located at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th streets we care about you and your teeth.  With decades of experience we’ve seen it all.  Our vision is to educate you about your dental health, give you alternatives for any treatment you may need and discuss what it will cost before we begin so you may make an educated decision on how to proceed.

We want to instill confidence and create a bond with you while performing your dentistry in a stress free environment.  We realize going to the dentist is not on most people’s top ten list so our goal is to give you more in service value than what you pay for your dentistry.

Call us today at 212 517 9000.  You and your teeth will be glad you did.

Looking for a Dentist in the Upper East Side?

At the practice of Glenn Reit DDS; we provide quality care in a relaxed, comfortable, clean and safe environment. Please contact us today at 212 517 9000 for this or any other of your dental needs. We look forward to seeing and taking care of you!

Something Lost, Something Found

/ Glenn Reit D.D.S./

I’ve Lost A Tooth and I’m not Happy About It

In life things change and one alteration is you could lose a tooth.  This could be through neglect, an accident, or failure of a dental restoration. With regular dental check-ups and dental cleanings problems can be diagnosed before they become problematic saving teeth before they need to be lost.

If the situation arises that you lose a tooth, what are your alternatives?  You could just go without the tooth which probably is not acceptable if it is a front tooth but in the back maybe yes.  For most you want the tooth put back.

Today the best solution is an implant for a single tooth loss.  Here a piece of titanium shaped into the form of a root is placed within your jaw.  After a suitable period of time a crown which looks like your tooth can be then fabricated and attached to the implant.  Now you have a new tooth which looks and functions like the original.

If you do not want an implant you can have a fixed bridge.  Here the missing tooth is attached to the two adjacent teeth if present.  This was the main alternative to replacing a lost tooth before implants became available.   The downside is that the adjoining teeth have to be cut down so crowns can be placed and the missing tooth is joined to the adjacent teeth making it harder to floss and the adjacent teeth which could be healthy and non-carious are being sacrificed in a way to replace the missing tooth.

Another alternative which does not damage the adjacent teeth is to have a removable partial made.  Here a plastic tooth is fabricated that is placed in your mouth in the morning and is removed before sleeping.  The problem is the tooth moves around, food gets under it and you have to take it in and out.

At the dental practice of Dr Glenn Reit in Yorkville we like teeth and the people attached to them.  Even if all you need is a cleaning we would be happy to meet and treat you.  If it’s something more serious we will give you the alternatives and price points so you can make an informed decision.

Call us today at 212 517 9000 you and your teeth will be glad you did.

Looking for a Dentist in the Upper East Side?

At the practice of Glenn Reit DDS; we provide quality care in a relaxed, comfortable, clean and safe environment. Please contact us today at 212 517 9000 for this or any other of your dental needs. We look forward to seeing and taking care of you!

Tooth Wars- Suspect a Bite Problem?

/ Glenn Reit D.D.S./

It’s tough being a tooth.  You are always in demand especially when the body you’re in is hungry.  If your teeth are out of alignment then they are even more traumatized.  Think of the gears of an engine.  If the gears are out of alignment they will experience more pressure and tension and eventually fall apart.  If the gears of the motor are not kept lubricated more problems will also occur.

Your mouth or masticatory system consisting of your jaws, gums and teeth are your engine for the consumption of foods, necessary to keep you alive.  In addition to the forces placed on your teeth through chewing of food if you are under stress there are increased forces placed on your teeth through clenching and grinding.  If decay is present then the integrity of your tooth is compromised leading to a greater chance of decline while if your gums are infected then there is a greater chance of your teeth leaving your body.

Fortunately many of these problems can be corrected.  If your teeth are out of alignment they can be moved back into place through the use of clear aligners or metal wires.  If a tooth is malformed we can correct the malformation through selective grinding and replacement of lost tooth structure.  For destructive habits we can make tooth guards which will protect your teeth.

If you are experiencing any of these problems give us a call at 212 517 9000.  At the dental practice of Dr. Glenn Reit DDS located at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th streets here in Yorkville we have been treating patients with these maladies for decades.

Maybe all you need or want is a dental exam and cleaning.  We are still here for you.  No one really likes going to the dentist but an ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure.  Being proactive vs reactive on your dental care is always better choice.

Call Today:  You and Your Teeth Will Be Glad You Did

Looking for a Dentist in the Upper East Side?

At the practice of Glenn Reit DDS; we provide quality care in a relaxed, comfortable, clean and safe environment. Please contact us today at 212 517 9000 for this or any other of your dental needs. We look forward to seeing and taking care of you!

You Should Check Your Dental Bridge Before You Lose Teeth

/ Glenn Reit D.D.S./

London Bridges Falling Down

Here in New York we have the Whitestone, Verrazano Narrows, Brooklyn and on and on bridges.  What happens to those bridges is that over time they fall apart.  Some people also have bridges in their mouths.  Back in the day when someone lost a tooth and needed a replacement a dental bridge was constructed.  This entailed connecting the adjacent teeth to the missing tooth together.  Sort of like when the Beatles sang; All Together Now or maybe not?

The problem with bridges is that the adjacent teeth have to support themselves and the missing teeth.  Over time the supporting teeth can become tired, cracked or decayed.  It is more difficult for a patient to keep a bridge clean vs. cleaning individual teeth.  The patient may not even realize this is happening.  So if you have a bridge it’s a good idea to visit a dentist like us to make sure all is well.

Today, with the advent of implants dental bridges are becoming a thing of the past.  Still viable and sometimes necessary, the advantage of the implant is that the adjacent teeth next to the missing tooth are not involved.

It is also possible to convert a dental bridge into an implant situation if the supporting teeth are in trouble.  Once accomplished keeping the area clean is a whole lot easier.

Need a dentist and you’re located on the Upper East Side of New York City?  Give us a call today at 212 517 9000.  We’re conveniently located at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th streets.  The 4,5,6 and Q subway lines are one block away and there is plenty of bus service on Third Avenue.

Even if you all need a cleaning and checkup we are here for you.  We like people and the teeth connected to them.  No one likes going to the dentist but we will make it a much better experience for you.  Call today you and your teeth will be glad you did.

Looking for a Dentist in the Upper East Side?

At the practice of Glenn Reit DDS; we provide quality care in a relaxed, comfortable, clean and safe environment. Please contact us today at 212 517 9000 for this or any other of your dental needs. We look forward to seeing and taking care of you!