Missing a Tooth? Here’s How Dental Implants Can Restore Your Smile

If you notice in the reception area of the practice we have plants. They are actually alive and growing. No plastic plants here. In addition to planting plants we also plant teeth in areas of missing teeth. The planting is called implanting as in placing a piece of titanium into your jaw in the shape of a tooth’s root to allow us to restore a missing tooth with a created one that closely matches your former tooth. Is there a tooth in your mouth that is now no longer present? Did you lose that tooth due to trauma as in biting on ice, a cherry or olive pit? Did you fall down and hit that tooth? Did you have a root canal procedure years ago which has now failed. The big question is; do you miss that tooth? If so, we have an answer for you. We can replace it without disturbing your adjacent teeth. We have been doing this in the practice for more than 10 years. In the past, the standard of care in dentistry was to do a bridge. Think George Washington which consists of two towers with a suspended roadway. A bridge in dentistry where you are missing a tooth would involve reducing the two adjacent teeth next to the missing tooth and then creating a roadway or three connected teeth or crowns together to restore the missing tooth. The problem is the adjacent teeth could be decay free and now you are grinding them down to nubs. In addition it’s hard to floss between attached teeth leading to a greater chance of gum disease. The beauty of the implant is that the adjacent teeth are not touched. You are only replacing the lost tooth and once restored you will still be able to floss normally. Esthetically your new tooth will match your other teeth and only you will know you had the procedure. Insurance generally pays for fifty percent of the procedure up to your insurance maximum. If you are missing a tooth, maybe now is the time to consider a dental implant. If you have flexible spending, October is usually the month to make your contribution for next year. If this sounds interesting to you; give us a call today and we’ll discuss your situation.

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!

EATING HEALTHY FOR YOUR HEALTH AND SMILE

Today pre diabetes is becoming rampant in the population.  You do not have full blown diabetes where you need Insulin to survive but your sugar level in your bloodstream is dangerously high.  Why is this?  Well, it’s because most of us eat way too much sugar.  There is sugar in everything but some of our eating choices cause us to ingest way too much.

A good thing is that when you go to the supermarket, food labels now tell you how many grams of sugar are in the products you are buying.  Even healthy foods such as yogurt can contain added sugar.  The worst culprits are sodas.  Looking at the label it’s like pouring a sugar bowl down your throat.  Over time these increased levels of sugar intake cause havoc in your body in addition to enlarging your waist thereby putting increased pressure on your joints and your heart.

As far as your teeth are concerned increased sugar intake can lead to dental cavities and gum disease.  So if you want to watch the amount of sugar you are ingesting and to help your teeth remain healthy here are six things you should make as habits.

When you get up in the morning and before going to bed you need to brush your teeth.  Brushing gets the top, front and back of your teeth but don’t forget in between your teeth.  These surfaces also need to be cleaned.  Here is where dental floss comes in.  This tiny waxed strand can move into the spaces between your teeth and keep these areas clean.

If you are a gum chewer make sure to avoid gums that contain sugar.  There are plenty of sugarless gums now available.  A dry mouth is conducive to dental caries so if your mouth is continually dry, chewing gum helps to produce saliva thereby keeping your mouth wet.

Be careful in consuming sticky foods like caramel and taffy.  These substances have a tendency to stick to your teeth and generally contain large amounts of sugar.  Even dried fruit which seems to be healthy can be loaded with sugar and readily stick to your teeth.

You want to consume nutritious foods such as raw fruits and vegetables which help to support your immune system.

Do you like cheese – good for you!  Cheese contains calcium that breaks down acids in your mouth which can attack your teeth.  Cheese is tasty and enlivens your meals, but don’t go overboard since cheese is high in fat.

Moderate your intake of acidic foods.  No sucking on lemons here when having an ice tea or too many carbonated drinks.  Direct and constant exposure to these substances will wear down the enamel or outer protective coating of your teeth.

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!

You’ve Lost A Tooth Now What

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!

Teeth Straightening For Most Everyone

It’s now possible with Invisalign

Everyone deserves to have a smile they love, and with today’s modern dental technology, that goal is attainable. A generation ago, straightening options were limited to old-school bracket-and wire braces. These work well, but they’re considered taboo for adults. Invisalign, which straightens your teeth using custom-made clear trays, is a great alternative for patients of all ages. The way Invisalign works is not completely different from traditional braces. In both cases, your teeth are realigned gradually. The difference comes in form. With braces, an orthodontist regularly tinkers with your wiring depending on where you are in the process. With Invisalign, on the other hand, you change aligners throughout treatment as you move from origin to destination. Depending on the results you’d like to achieve, treatment usually lasts between 8 months and 2 years. Invisalign appeals to many patients for a number of reasons. First and foremost, the aligners are essentially invisible. Nobody will even know you’re wearing them. Despite their outward invisibility, the aligners do real, demonstrable work. Most patients start to notice changes in their smile as early as six weeks into treatment. Other advantages of Invisalign include comfort and removability. The clear aligners are made of a BPA-free thermoplastic material that’s smooth to the touch and lays flat against your teeth. They are so comfortable that you may even forget you’re wearing them. You should remove your aligners for meals and can take them out for special occasions, but this flexibility can be both a blessing and a curse. If you don’t wear your aligners as often as possible, you’ll stall your progress. The results of straightening your teeth aren’t just cosmetic. Straight teeth are less likely to break or develop gum disease, which means investing in your smile now will save you from needing treatments later. Invisalign is a great option for adult and adolescent patients alike. If you’ve ever wondered how kids have straighter teeth than ever but fewer seem to be wearing braces, now you know. Call our office today to find out if Invisalign is right for you.

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!

Possible Complications After A Tooth Extraction - Dry Socket

Socket it To Me

Taking out a tooth could be considered a socket it to me.  After a tooth is removed there is a hole left where the tooth used to reside.  The hole will eventually fill in over time but right after the extraction there is a possibility that the area might not heal and this could lead to a dry socket.  It’s not dry in there but in a dry socket the blood has not clotted.

The main cause of a dry socket is spitting out after the extraction has been done.    After a tooth has been removed you cannot spit out for the next day because if you do, a dry socket could be in your future.  Although painful it can be easily corrected with a return visit to the practice but why would you want that?  In addition for the day of and day after the extraction you should avoid smoking and drinking alcohol.  Smoking will burn the area and alcohol will make it easier for the area to start bleeding.

At the dental practice of Dr Glenn Reit we like meeting new patients hopefully before they need to have a tooth removed.  If it’s been some time since you’ve been to the dentist give us a call.  Being proactive is always better and more affordable than being reactive.

We are located at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th streets in Yorkville in the 10028 zip code.  The 4,5,6 and Q subway lines are one block away. 

So don’t delay 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 Have A Dental Emergency- What To Do?

In life things happen.  Sometimes the thing is related to your teeth.  Something’s happening and you need to act.  Being prepared will at least make you feel a little better and relieve some of the stress.

As the British say Stay Calm and assess the situation.  Next contact your dentist immediately.  When speaking to the office, explain clearly the situation and listen to what you are to do.

Some general first aid measures include:

For Pain rinse your mouth with warm water and take the pain reliever which works best for you.

For a Broken tooth rinse your mouth with warm water and apply ice to the area to prevent swelling.

For Soft Tissue Injuries rinse with warm water and apply tea bag to area if bleeding is present

In all cases contact your dentist to seek definitive treatment.

If a tooth has come out of your mouth handle it by the top only avoiding contact with the root.

Place the tooth in a glass of milk and do not touch the root surface or try to clean it and immediately call your dentist.  Time is critical for the tooth to be replaced back into your jaw.

If a restoration comes out, attempt to retrieve it.  Many times it can be replaced into the tooth it has come out of. 

At the dental practice of Dr Glenn Reit in addition to patient referrals we meet new people when they are experiencing a dental emergency.  In our practice we realize when you are having a dental emergency you will be under stress so the first order of business is to get you out of pain.

Then when you are comfortable we can tell you your options and the costs involved.

Even if you do not have a dental emergency but just want a cleaning we are here for you.  We are conveniently located at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th streets in Yorkville.  The 4, 5,6 and Q subway lines are one block away.

So if you need or want to see a dentist give us a call at 212 517 9000. With decades of experience we have seen it all.  So no matter what ails you concerning your mouth and teeth we  will be able to help 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!

Looking and Feeling Good When Your Teeth and Gums Are Healthy

You lead with your smile.  People make subconscious decisions on the way you look.  May not be right but it is true especially when seeing your upper anterior teeth. 

Overtime teeth can discolor, wear down, break or move.  Dentistry today has many options to restore your teeth to a more pleasing position, color, and shape.  The least invasive is to just whiten your teeth using disposable trays that contain a bleaching gel. 

We offer trays that you wear for ten minutes per night for three to four nights and your teeth will lighten.  Not toilet bowl white but whiter than they were.   We find most patients are happy with the result and the cost at 125 dollars is not a stretch.

If your tooth has chips or missing pieces sometimes we can restore them with a simple bonding procedure.  Here composite or white filling material is applied to restore your teeth and matched to the color of your teeth.

If decay or trauma has broken your tooth we can do a porcelain crown to restore it.  With this procedure we can completely reshape your tooth and restore the color you desire.

If the tooth is healthy with no breakage and no decay but you’re just not happy with the look we can do porcelain veneers.   Here a sliver of porcelain is bonded to the front surface of your tooth giving you the shape and color you desire.

If your teeth are out of alignment we can move them into a more pleasing position through orthodontics.   Today using clear trays we can accomplish this treatment without others knowing you are actually undergoing it.  No longer do you need to show metal wires and brackets when you smile. 

Your smile is a reflection of your overall health.  At the dental practice of Dr. Glenn Reit we have been doing these procedures for decades.  In fact we have gone through all the iterations of these procedures as they have been released. 

We are conveniently located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th streets in Yorkville.  The 4,5,6 and Q subway lines are one block away.

So call today 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

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!

The daily grind- How a night guard can help you!

Living in New York City can be stressful.  Hey, I’m Walking Here has been heard.  When your body is under stress one of the ways to relieve it is by grinding and clenching your teeth.  This usually happens when you are unconscious as in sleeping.  You wake up in the morning and when you yawn your muscles in your jaws and head feel sore because they have been experiencing a workout overnight.

If you notice during the day when you’re awake that you find your teeth together or you’re moving your jaws left, right, forward and back you’re grinding and/or clenching while you’re awake meaning you did not get enough relief during the night.

Clenching brings your teeth hard together or grinding moving your jaw around and around does reduce stress but also is damaging to your teeth.  In grinding you wear down the surface of the teeth making them more flat.  This over time can allow your jaw to close further causing disorientation to your jaw joint.  In addition you wear down the enamel of your teeth which is the protective coating which now leads to a greater possibility of tooth decay.

Clenching where you are squeezing your teeth together over time can lead to gum disease due to the increased pressure placed on the ligaments of your teeth.  What to do?  The best solution is to reduce the stress in your life, something hard to do here in the Big Apple.

Or you could come in see us and we have solutions to your problem.   At the dental practice of Dr Glenn Reit located on the upper east side of Manhattan in Yorkville we like meeting new people and taking care of their dental challenges.  Conveniently located at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th streets close to the 4,5,6 and Q subway lines.

Call 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!