What is a Dental Exam?

When is an exam an exam?

When you go to the dentist you will be examined.  What types of exams are provided at a dental office?  Your exam will be based on your situation.  If you are a new patient and have no urgent problem you will receive a first time comprehensive examination.  Here we will take x rays of your teeth and supporting structures to get a baseline on where you’re at.  We will examine your teeth, gums and oral cavity.  We will palpate and examine your masticator muscles and your jaw joint.  We will then be able to give you an evaluation of where you are presently at and what types of treatment would be amenable to your state.

In a periodic evaluation you are already a patient of the practice and are on a recall care schedule.  Generally this means you are coming in twice per year to have a dental cleaning and check the condition of your teeth, gums and oral cavity.  We generally take recall x-rays once every two years.

An emergency evaluation is done on a new patient in pain or an existing patient experiencing a dental trauma.  Here we evaluate the particular situation which is bothering you and take any needed x-rays.

Evaluations are the first step before treatment.  For larger cases a game plan is created to address your needs. In all situations multiple alternatives are given and costs involved are fully discussed before the commencement of any treatments allowing you to make an informed decision on your dental care.

At the dental practice of Glenn Reit DDS located in Yorkville we are always looking to meet more new patients.  If you are in need of a dentist give us a call at 212 517 9000 today.  You and your teeth will be glad you did.

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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!

Is Sticky Candy Bad for Your Teeth?

Attack of The Gummi Bear!

Everyone likes sweet things but some sweet things have hidden dangers.  Sticky candy such as Gummi Bears, Taffy, Tootsie Rolls and Milk Duds make it difficult to open and close your mouth.  This also can happen when chewing a hard sourdough baguette.

Unlike all other joints, think knee or elbows your jaw joint or TMJ moves in three planes.  You can open, close, move side to side, forward and backwards.   Since you probably like to talk and eat you do not want to damage this joint.

If you are having pain when opening or closing, or have a clicking or popping sound give us a call so we can evaluate your condition.  There are simple changes you can make to relieve these problems if caught early.

At the dental practice of Glenn Reit DDS we like meeting new people and helping them to resolve their dental challenges.  We are conveniently located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan at 1498 Third Ave between 84th and 85th streets in Yorkville.  You can reach us at 212 517 9000.

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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!

Healthy Teeth During Pregnancy

Are You Pregnant?

Congratulations; you’re having a baby.  Now you have to consider your health and your baby’s.  The ideal situation is to come into the dentist for a checkup before you become pregnant.   In this way any dental treatments can be done now.   During your pregnancy if a dental emergency happens we can still treat you but it is much better if you only need a dental cleaning at that time.

In fact your MD doctor will recommend dental cleanings during your pregnancy since most women will experience gingival bleeding and inflammation during pregnancy due to hormonal changes.

While you are pregnant the taking of dental x-rays needs to be kept to the absolute minimum so knowing your dental condition before pregnancy and fixing any problems will generally take care of this issue.  Eating a healthy diet is good for you and your developing baby.

At the dental practice of Glenn Reit DDS we like meeting people and taking care of your dental needs.  We are conveniently located at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th streets right here in Yorktown.   So if you think you have something going on or it’s just been a while since your last cleaning give us a call at 212 571 9000 to schedule.  You and your teeth will be glad you did. 

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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!

Dental Health Tips You Might Not Know

Did You Know…

Here are some interesting tidbits concerning your teeth.

Citrus acid in fruits can lead to the erosion of tooth enamel.   Continually sucking or chewing on the lemon slices which adorn your drinks over time is not a good habit in protecting your teeth. 

Sticky candies which contain large amounts of sugar can lead to a greater chance of dental decay if not assiduously removed.  Yes, everybody likes candy but if you are consuming a lot you must make sure to thoroughly brush and floss your teeth daily.

Your gums support your teeth; so if you support your gums they will support you.   This is easily accomplished if you establish a routine of daily brushing and flossing daily.  The brushing cleans the front, back and top of your teeth while the flossing cleans in between your teeth.   

The ideal times to brush and floss are before you go to sleep and upon waking in the morning.  During the night bacteria can party in your mouth.  It is warm, dark and if you do not clean up after eating there is plenty of food remaining.  So if you brush and floss before you go to sleep you reduce the bacterial count in your mouth.  Even so the party will happen so upon waking you need to brush and floss again to restore your mouth to a cleaner environment.

You should always use a soft toothbrush to clean your teeth even if you think using a hard toothbrush will do a better job.  Hard toothbrushes destroy teeth and can irritate your gums.  You should be brushing for four minutes with a manual toothbrush to get the job done.  With a mechanical toothbrush like Sonic Care you can get the job done within two minutes.

So; here are the particulars

                Hold the brush at 45 degrees against your gums

                Rotate the brush gently in small, circular motions

                Brush the outer surfaces of each tooth on both the upper and lower arches

                Repeat on the inside and chewing surfaces of all teeth and

                FINALLY - Don’t forget to FLOSS – coming into the office we can show you how

Flossing can be confusing and time consuming but with a little practice you’ll be an expert.

As a consistent flossing person you will feel and notice the difference if you fail to floss.

Coming in for a professional cleaning and check up is a sure way to avoid problems and to review your home cleaning techniques.

In addition, some people have grooves or a rough surface on the top of their tongues; if this is you, the use of a tongue scraper will help to clean these areas.   Scrape the tongue from the back towards the front sweeping away the bad breath causing bacteria out of your mouth.  Then using a non-alcoholic mouth rinse such as BreathRx and water will wash away the bacteria you are removing.

We’re here for you right here in the Upper East Side of Manhattan at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th Streets close to all public transportation with the 4 5 6 and Q subway lines one block away and  bus lines on 2nd, 3rd, and Lexington Avenues.  Give us a call at 212 517 9000 to schedule your appointment and you and your teeth will be glad you did.

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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!

Big Mistakes People Make When Brushing Their Teeth

Routines

A routine is something you do religiously.  Routines become habits.  Some habits are healthy while others like cigarette smoking can be detrimental.  A good routine is to brush your teeth twice a day; once in the morning upon waking followed by another round at night before going to sleep.

All the bacteria in your mouth are anaerobic meaning they like places without oxygen.   The bacteria also like warm, dark places with food available.  Guess what, this is exactly the condition in your mouth.  Ever experience morning mouth?  That’s the condition where upon waking you have a funky taste and smell inside your mouth.  It seems your bacterial colonies are growing which eventually if not removed lead to cavities and gum disease.

So your mission if you decide to accept it is to remove these colonies before they can do any harm.   If you do not your gums and teeth will disavow any responsibility for the damage you've caused.  So, what’s to do?

Upon waking get out your trusty toothbrush preferably with soft bristles and get in there and start cleaning.  Electric toothbrushes are fine if that’s your preference. The goal is to scrub the top, front and backs of all your teeth.  While brushing you are bringing air into your mouth which contains twenty percent oxygen which will help to annihilate the forming bacterial colonies.  In addition you are removing any build of food you have eaten.

Unfortunately,   brushing cannot get in between your teeth.  Here you need dental floss, that fine string which can get in between the teeth.  Once again you are bringing oxygen between your teeth and cleaning the surfaces and slightly below the gum line creating a clean and healthy environment.

Twice a year you should also be coming in to see us, so we can make sure you are succeeding in your cleaning mission.  If not, we will help you get back on track or begin a dental cleaning routine.

At the dental practice of Glenn Reit DDS, located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in Yorkville we are here for you.  Conveniently located for the: 10028, 10075, or 10021 zip codes.   We’re at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th streets directly across from our very own Mickey Dee’s.

If you need a check up, cleaning or something more substantial give us a call at 212 517 9000 and we’ll be there for you.  We like people and we like teeth.  Call Today you and your teeth will be glad you did.

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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!

A New Reason to Eat More Fish for Your Dental Health

Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t. Sometimes you want to fish, sometimes you don’t. However as for your gums they like nuts and fatty fish. Research claims there is a link between diets high in polyunsaturated fatty acids and a decreased risk for periodontal disease.

Gum disease is alive and present in the population.  Many individuals have gum disease and don’t even know it.   Around all your teeth is a cuff or pocket.  In a healthy situation this pocket should be about 3 mm in depth.  When you eat food begins to break down within your mouth.  As it breaks down it releases acids which if not routinely removed can cause decay and gum disease.

You prevent this from happening by brushing and flossing hopefully twice per day.  Your toothbrush can clean the top, front and back of your teeth.  However, it cannot get in between your teeth.  This is where dental floss comes in.  Properly used floss or string can get in between your teeth and remove any accumulated food present. 

If the food is not removed it begins to break down and cause inflammation.  As the inflammation progresses it destroys the ligaments that hold your teeth in your jaws.  Not a good thing.  Enough destruction leads to tooth mobility and eventual tooth loss. 

Researchers have found that people whose diets are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids were as much as 30% less likely to have gum disease than those who ate little or none of this type of fat.  Foods that are a good source of these types of fats include salmon, tuna, trout, mackerel, sardines and herring.

Oils that also have these fats are safflower, soybean, corn, and sunflower.  Almonds, pine nuts, walnuts, pecans, brazil nuts and pumpkin, sesame, sunflower and flax seeds are also good

 The possibility of preventing gum disease is not the only reason to eat foods with polyunsaturated fats.

These foods pack a nutritional punch and have myriad health benefits.

Please understand that diet alone will not treat or prevent gum disease, however it may be an additional tool for maintaining healthy teeth and gums.

If you have not had an examination or teeth cleaning in a while I urge you to schedule an examination and cleaning today.  We are conveniently located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in Yorkville at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th street.   

The 4,5,6 and Q subway lines along with the MTA bus lines are one block away.  We participate with the major dental insurance carriers.   For most Aetna, Cigna, Delta, Guardian, MetLife and United Health Care patients you are covered at 100% for an exam, x-rays and cleaning with no patient co-payment as long as your benefits have not been used.

Call us TODAY at 212 517 9000.   As a courtesy we will do a benefits check before you come in to confirm your eligibility for a preventive care cleaning appointment at no charge to you.

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

Tea for You and Tea for Me

Most people like tea.  In the winter hot and in the summer cold, but tea has tannic acid within and this can cause your teeth to stain.  Do you drop the tea or do you accept the staining?   I like my tea so I’ll continue to imbibe but I’m also not big on yellow teeth, so what to do?

You need to clean your teeth regularly.  You take a bath/shower and go to the bathroom daily so extend that habit to your teeth.  A good start in addition to brushing and flossing regularly is to rinse your mouth with water after drinking your tannic beverage.

Not to beat up on tea alone.  Coffee and red wine will also stain your teeth over time so, if you still do not like the color of your teeth you can come in for a professional cleaning.  If you still are not happy we have whitening products which will lighten the color of your teeth.

 So call today 212 517 9000 and we’re here to help.   At the dental practice of Dr Glenn Reit DDS we like teeth and the people connected to them.  After being in Los Angeles for 20 years and now back in New York for another ten we know whitening.  In LA you can never have too white teeth, along with a nice tan and a fit healthy body.  Here in New York City everyone is on the run but most also want attractive smiles.

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

Your Little Friend – Maybe?

Everyone has to eat if you’re to survive.  For the food to be of value it must be broken down into its component parts in order for your body to inherit the nutrients within.  Digestion begins in your mouth as the food enters.  Your teeth through chewing reduce the bulk of the food into sizes that your body can more easily handle.

The food you ingest also contains bacteria and some organisms which are not conducive to your health. Bacteria thrive in areas that are dark, warm and without air.  This describes your mouth precisely.  It is warm close to 100 degrees; it is dark when you close your mouth and there are areas around the necks of your teeth if the food gets into where there is little oxygen present.

Brushing and flossing help to clear out any remaining pieces of food after eating.  If you do not clean out this detritus then bacterial colonies will form and grow eventually leading to gum disease.  So now you have an unwarranted city of little friends setting up residence within your mouth.

Not too shabby or maybe it is.  Gum disease takes a long time to hurt and that is why people can get it and live with it.  If you do not want that city developing within your mouth then you need to brush and floss your teeth twice per day.   Proper brushing and flossing will remove the remnants of your meals.

If you are experiencing bad breath, if your gums are bleeding when brushing or flossing, if the roots of your teeth are becoming sensitive and your gums look swollen and red; you may be in the process of building a bacterial colony within your mouth.

Your blood system or circulatory system carries things throughout your body.  It is your internal river system.  So, if you start to increase the supply of bacteria in your mouth some of them will soon decide to move elsewhere causing more mayhem.  Bacteria of your mouth can lead to inflammation of your circulatory system and possibly inflammation of your heart.

At the dental practice of Dr Glenn Reit located on the Upper East Side of New York City in the area of Yorkville we like to meet new people and help them in maintaining the health of their teeth and gums.

Come on in and we will look at what is or is not going on in your mouth.  We can evaluate your home hygiene routine and check to make sure all is well.

If we find anything we will help you correct the situation and give you options and the costs involved before proceeding with any treatment. We have evening and Saturday hours to fit with your busy schedule. We participate with most major dental insurance carriers and in many cases the cost for exams, x-rays and cleaning are covered at 100%.  We can check your insurance benefits before you arrive and tell you exactly what to expect.

 As it is often said Happy Mouth, Happy Life and let’s make sure that you choose who your little friends might be.

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.

A Healthy Smile Contributes to Healthy Living

You may ask; How can I start living a healthy lifestyle? Well, it all starts with your habits. By drinking more water, getting enough sleep, exercising on a regular basis, eating more fruits and vegetable and avoiding negativity will lead you to a healthy lifestyle. Everyone has their own definition of what is healthy living. Oral health should be part of your healthy lifestyle.

What can you do for your oral health that contributes to healthy living? The most important habits you should be doing is brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day; every day and going to the dentist for routine exam and cleaning every six months. By doing these habits your oral hygiene will improve. We recommend a soft bristle toothbrush to protect your gums. You want to brush your teeth in small, circular motions for 2-3 minutes to make sure you get all the surfaces of your teeth. 

Flossing is very important. You can find floss in any New York City drugstore. You might need to experiment until you find the one that works best for you. Flossing gets in between the teeth and pushes oxygen between your teeth and gums. Bacteria loves dark warm places without air so by flossing we are pushing oxygen between your teeth.

We are a dental office located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and at Glenn Reit D.D.S. we want to help you get your oral health to be the best it can be. We know how a healthy smile can contribute to healthy lifestyle. We offer dental services of white fillings, dental crowns, dental implants, inlays as well as cosmetic procedures such as porcelain veneers and whitening.

Looking for a Dentist in the Upper East Side?

Give us a call today at (212) 517-9000 or email us at info@reitdds.com to schedule your dental appointment. Your smile will thank you!