Comprehensive Dentistry in Green Brook Township Can Help You After an Accident

We provide comprehensive dentistry in Green Brook Township and can restore your teeth to good health after an accident.  Many of our patients never consider that their teeth could become cracked or chipped.  Most people do not plan for the eventuality of needing to address a dental problem and if you receive regular teeth cleanings and preventative care, you may never have to.  As a result, most people do not know who they will call in the event of an accident.  We encourage you to consider the possibility and add us to your emergency contact list.  

There are approximately 5.4 million car wrecks every year that result in millions of people being injured, some of which have mouth or face injuries. 

Playing sports is more dangerous than you think considering that over 5 million children are injured every year while playing.  The numbers go up exponentially when considering adults.  If you play basketball after work without a mouth guard, you could very easily damage your teeth and need a restoration. 

Seniors are at the highest risk of being injured in a slip and fall accident, with one out of every three falling annually.  There are over 9 million emergency room visits each year due to slip and fall accidents, many of which happen at the workplace, impacting people of all ages.  As a provider of comprehensive dentistry in Green Brook Township, we regularly treat people that have damaged a tooth during a fall. 

When you evaluate the statistics, it becomes highly likely that you or someone in your family will eventually be in an accident and damage a tooth. When it happens, we encourage you to visit our office instead of the emergency room.  General physicians are highly trained and will do an excellent job of treating any physical injuries that you have.  If, however, you have damaged a tooth, you must visit a dentist because we are the only ones trained in how to diagnose and treat your teeth.  When you come in for your appointment, we will examine your teeth and take x-rays to ascertain the full extent of your injuries and then make a treatment recommendation. 

As a provider of comprehensive dentistry in Green Brook Township, we can provide you with a wide variety of restorative solutions.  If you have lost a tooth in an accident, we can replace it using a dental bridge or a dental implant.  A bridge is a non-surgical solution that relies on your surrounding teeth to hold the bridge in place using dental crowns.  An implant is a surgical solution that is permanent.  In this procedure, we place a metal post under your gums and secure it to your jawbone so that a new root system can be created and a new tooth attached to it.  If, however, your tooth was only cracked or chipped, we can restore it using a dental veneer or a dental crown.  Regardless of what solutions you need, we can help.

Dental Cleaning and Examinations: What We Look For

Our Green Brook Township dental office can provide your child with a dental cleaning and examinations twice a year as a way to help them maintain good oral health. This is highly recommended no matter how old they are, their gender, or the condition their teeth are in. Some high-risk patients like diabetics and those with weak enamel may want to visit our office more often, but generally speaking, twice a year is enough to remain in good oral health. Our team is friendly and gentle, so we are certain they will have a positive experience when they come in. 

The first part of their appointment will be for the dental cleaning. We will use an abrasive paste and dental tools to remove the plaque and tartar that has built up on their teeth since their last cleaning. This will improve the appearance of their teeth and remove many of the surface stains. Health-wise, this is an important step because it allows us to reduce the risk of them developing tooth decay, infections, and gum disease. All these problems can be caused by built-up plaque, so a teeth cleaning is necessary no matter how often they brush and floss their teeth, especially considering that there is bound to be some places in their mouth too difficult to clean with brushing and flossing alone. 

The examination portion of their appointment is equally important. In dental care, it is best to identify any issues early so treatment can begin before the problem gets worse and causes discomfort. During their exam, we will look for any signs of tooth decay. If they have a small cavity forming, we can often remove the decay before it causes them any discomfort. Afterward, we can restore the tooth using a tooth-colored dental filling, crown, etc. The earlier we do this, the less likely they will be uncomfortable as they eat and go about their daily activities. A regular dental cleaning and examinations make this possible. 

Infections are also important to catch early. We typically take x-rays during an exam, and this allows us to see the inside of their teeth. If they have infected dental pulp, they could need a root canal and the faster one is performed, the better it will be for their comfort and health. 

We will also look for signs of gum disease. This is a condition that often leads to tooth loss, so it is critical that gum disease is not left untreated. If their gums appear to be red, swollen, or receding, we may suggest scheduling a deep cleaning appointment so the plaque can be removed and their gums restored to good health. This is a far more intensive treatment than a standard dental cleaning and examinations, so it will require a follow-up visit. 

The final thing our Green Brook Township dentist office will look for is signs of damage. It is important that they have their teeth restored if they are cracked or chipped. We can do so using a variety of procedures that include dental bonding, dental veneers, or dental crowns.

What to Expect From Wisdom Teeth Removal in Green Brook Township

If you are considering a wisdom teeth removal in Green Brook Township, call our office and schedule a consultation. Not everyone needs to have their wisdom teeth removed. If there is room in your mouth for this third set of molars and they grow in properly, you could continue to live with them without experiencing any irritation. However, most people do not have enough room, and they grow in impacted as a result. This can lead to discomfort while also creating space for food to become trapped.

Signs you need to have your wisdom teeth removed:

Soreness or pain.

If your wisdom teeth hurt or the area is sore, you may need to have them extracted.

Gaps.

If you have a gap in between your wisdom tooth and your back molar, this can become a space where food becomes trapped and plaque builds up. If you are constantly reaching for a toothpick to remove food from this area, you should consider an extraction.

Your teeth are moving.

If your teeth appear to be shifting out of place, it could be because your wisdom teeth are pushing them forward. If you have already had braces to straighten and align your teeth, this is a risk you may not want to take. When you visit us for a wisdom teeth removal in Green Brook Township, we can examine your teeth and determine if they are moving due to your wisdom teeth or another issue like a tongue thrust or even oral cancer.

The process of removing wisdom teeth:

When we complete a wisdom teeth removal, we have several ways of doing so. If the tooth has already started to grow in and is coming in straight, we can typically pull it out of the socket after giving you anesthesia. This is the fastest way to do so since it does not require oral surgery. If, however, your tooth is impacted or still under the surface, we will need to create a flap in the gum tissue that will be lifted up so we can access the tooth below. If there is any gum tissue or bone on top of the tooth, it will need to be cut away so we can reach the tooth and try to lift it out of the socket. There are times where this will not be enough to loosen it, and in this scenario, we will need to break the tooth into several pieces and remove them one at a time. Next, we will clean the area to ensure no debris remains and the area does not become infected. Afterward, we will lay the flap back down and suture it in place. This entire process is done using anesthesia so you do not experience any discomfort.

Afterward, we will place gauze on the area to stop the bleeding. We also recommend you use an ice pack for 15 minutes at a time and take ibuprofen to reduce the swelling. You may experience discomfort for a few days, so be careful to continue icing and stick with foods that are soft and easy to eat.

Dental Implants  >  Cosmetic Dentist

How Dental Implants Can Change Your Life

If you have lost some of your teeth, you may not realize what a big difference dental implants can make. For many people, dental implants are life changing. This compilation of three ways dental implants can change your life is just the beginning of the many benefits they can provide.

Dental Implants Help You Stay Young Looking

Dental implants not only improve the necessary function of your teeth, but they can also drastically improve your appearance, making you look years younger. Implants make your smile fuller, filling in drooping areas of your cheeks, jawline, and lips. Once you receive dental implants, you will immediately notice that your facial skin is firmer, and your wrinkles are less noticeable. No matter what your age is, when you lose teeth it tends to make you look a decade older or more because you do not have a strong structure to keep your skin taut, and you develop a sunken appearance in your face. If you go without teeth too long, you may even lose bone structure since there are not teeth in place to keep your jawbone and other teeth from shifting.

Dental Implants Improve Your Chances of Succeeding in Your Career

Your smile is the first thing the majority of people will notice about you and one of the most vivid memories they will hold of your face. If you have less than impressive teeth, it may give off a false impression of your hygiene and happiness. Make a great first impression by receiving quality dental implants that look and feel real while also greatly improving your smile.

People who smile more often give off the impression of being more confident and content in life. When you are trying to succeed in life, it is important to look and feel confident so you can surpass your expectations and other's expectations of you. Allow us to give you more confidence and success by providing you with dental implants that perfectly fill in your already beautiful smile.

Dental Implants Make it Easier to Eat a Healthy Diet

When you are missing teeth, it is often easier to opt for foods that are not challenging to chew, but these foods also tend to have less nutritional value. Not getting proper nutrients can lead to the loss of more teeth, bone loss, weight loss, blood sugar problems, and long-term health risks. When you are ready to enjoy a proper meal again, complete with all the vitamins and minerals necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle, dental implants can provide you with this power. Dental implants can also help you eat foods that you miss that you may not have been able to eat in years. Eating the foods you love makes life more enjoyable and provides you with a long life.

The procedure to receive dental implants typically only takes two to three visits, and within a few months, you will have strong, working teeth again. The artificial tooth roots that hold your replacement teeth in place are made of a titanium metal that fuses with your jawbone to create the strongest possible substitute for missing teeth. Dental implants can act on their own as replacement teeth, or they can be used to support dentures or dental bridges as needed.  The options and benefits of dental implants are numerous and can change your life for the better in a few simple visits to our Green Brook Township office.

Dental Implants  >  Cosmetic Dentist

How Wisdom Teeth Extraction Works

When patients need a wisdom teeth extraction, it can be intimidating. According to the University of Washington's Dental Fears Research Clinic, 75 percent of adults harbor some level of fear over having a dental procedure completed. Fortunately, we are very experienced at removing teeth and can make sure that the entire process goes smoothly with as little pain as possible.
All dentists can remove teeth, but only certain dentists are experienced enough to go by the title of an oral surgeon. When a wisdom tooth breaks through the surface, there is a chance that a normal dentist can pull it out. If it is impacted or still below the surface, patients need to see an oral surgeon instead of a traditional dentist.

We understand how to make the process of a wisdom teeth extraction as painless as possible. An inexperienced dentist can take longer to remove the impacted tooth and cause the patient unnecessary swelling and pain.

If your tooth is impacted, the wisdom teeth extraction will typically have the following process:

• We will thoroughly clean the teeth and gums. It is important to remove any lingering bacteria and plaque from the mouth prior to undergoing oral surgery or any cosmetic procedures. Following a cleaning, we will put the patient under sedation, so that he or she does not feel any pain.
• We then cut open the gum. The gum tissue above the wisdom tooth will be cut open and lifted so that we can access the area.
• We will remove any small parts of bone in the way. At times when the gum tissue is opened up, there will be bone above part of the tooth. We may need to remove the piece of bone in order to extract the tooth.
• We may wiggle the tooth to ease it out of the socket. Using a dental tool, we will grasp the tooth and gently move it back and forth to see if it will easily come loose from the bone and ligaments that are holding it in place.
• We may need to break up the tooth. When a tooth is not responding, it may need to be broken or cut up into smaller pieces and removed one piece at a time.
• Removal and cleaning. After completely removing the tooth, we will thoroughly clean the area and the area in order to prevent any sort of infection.
• We will replace the gum tissue. We will lay the gum tissue back down and use stitches, if necessary, to hold everything in place and promote healing.
• We will use gauze to stop the bleeding. We will hold gauze in place to help and stop the bleeding. Eventually, the body will form a blood clot so that this is no longer necessary.

Wisdom Teeth Extraction in Green Brook Township

After a wisdom teeth extraction takes place, there is a necessary  recovery process. It can take a couple of weeks to feel completely normal. During the timeframe of the recovery process, most patients experience some level of swelling. Ice packs and pain medication can assist and make patients feel more comfortable. Patients need to consume foods that are soft and cool during this time frame. Things with extreme temperatures may cause pain, so it is safe to stick with Jello, applesauce, pudding, yogurt and other soft foods. To learn more or to schedule an appointment call today.
Live in Green Brook Township, NJ and have questions about wisdom teeth extraction? Give us a call at (732) 424-8483.

Family Dentist  >  Dentist

A Dentist Answers Frequently Asked Dentistry Questions

As a dentist in Green Brook Township , there are certain questions that people ask on a regular basis. We want to inform our patients and will answer any questions that you may have so that you can make an educated decision about your oral health care. By discussing procedures in detail, we are confident that you will feel better about any upcoming procedure. Since many of our patients have similar questions and concerns, here are answers to some frequently asked questions:

Does dental work hurt?

With millions of people suffering from dental anxiety, this question is often on the top of our patient's list. The good news is that dental care does not hurt when you visit our office. We have a variety of ways to help calm your nerves. One way is to provide pain medication so that you can relax and feel comfortable, regardless of whether your teeth are being cleaned or you are having major dental work done.

How quickly will I recover?

Most dental procedures have a short recovery time. For example, after treating your cavity, you will most likely feel better later that day. If you are having something major, like oral surgery, the recovery time can be several days. We will go over specifics of the recovery process during your consultation. As a local dentist, we do remind patients that regardless of what procedure is being performed, you can speed up the recovery by not touching the site, rinsing your mouth regularly, and preventing anything from touching that area until it is fully recovered. Avoiding strenuous activity is also important.

Why do I need to have my crown replaced?

Many people are under the impression that once a crown or another restoration is placed, it will remain there forever. While this would be nice, it is simply not the case. A restoration can wear out just like anything can. It is easy for a restoration to become chipped, for example, if you grind your teeth at night. Simultaneously, if you are repeatedly getting infections, this will put your restoration at risk. The best thing, you can do, is to keep your teeth and gums in good health and have regular teeth cleanings in order to prolong the lifespan of your restoration. If it does become worn out, you need to replace it so that your damaged tooth can continue to be protected.

Dentist in Green Brook Township

Which dentist's opinion is right?

When patients visit more than one dentist it can lead to confusion. Dentistry, like many things, gives a provider several options for how to proceed. For example, if your tooth has fallen out you can replace it using dentures, a dental bridge, or a dental implant. All are correct options, and the one that you select is really up to your lifestyle and goals. Each dentist may have a preferred procedure based on their skill set but what you select is entirely up to you. As a local dentist, we believe that it is important to present the facts and let our patients evaluate which solution is right for them.
Live in Green Brook Township, NJ and have questions for a dentist? Give us a call at (732) 424-8483.

Cosmetic Dentist  >  Dental Office

Why Our Patients in Green Brook Township Love Mini-Dental Implants

Mini dental implants are an excellent way to replace missing teeth. At our Green Brook Township dentist office, we regularly provide them to patients who have lost several of their teeth or are experiencing complete tooth loss. The benefit to mini implants is that you are able to have a secure prosthetic that will remain in place and not need removal on a nightly basis, as dentures require.

Mini dental implants are an incredibly popular treatment with our patients and below are a few reasons why:

#1 Mini dental implants look natural

When you replace missing teeth with dental implants, you get the benefit of a new tooth that looks exactly like your natural tooth. Dental implants are a standalone solution that does not use your surrounding teeth for security. Dental implants do not require wires or clasps, as other products do. As a result, the tooth stands independently and looks incredibly natural.
When creating the dental crown or tooth portion of your implant, we take measurements and an impression of your mouth as well as matching the existing shade of your natural teeth. This way, once we place the implant, you will not be able to tell the difference between your natural tooth and the mini dental implant.

#2  Mini dental implants are secure

One of the biggest complaints we hear from people who have lost a tooth or several teeth is that they do not feel secure with their dental reconstruction. This may seem like a small nuance, however, it is actually an incredibly big deal because it influences what you think about when you go out to eat with your friends or exercise.
If you are thinking about your teeth all the time, then they become a hindrance. One of the biggest benefits of replacing teeth with implants is that we surgically place and secure them to your jawbone. Mini dental implants are as secure as your natural teeth. As a result, you do not have to struggle with extra worry about your teeth.

#3 Mini-dental implants are convenient

When comparing the solution to traditional and dental implants, many people prefer the mini dental implants over other options.  Mini dental implants will frequently work for patients that have lost a portion of their bone density due to tooth loss and resorption. Traditional implants are longer and thinner, so they require your jawbone to be denser.
The problem is that after tooth loss you will begin to go through resorption where the body leaches calcium away from your jawbone for use elsewhere. The result is a jawbone that is weak and in need of a bone grafting procedure prior to placing implants. Mini-dental implants are shorter and wider so they very often do not require this initial step. As a result, the process can be completed much faster.
If you would like to discuss mini-dental implants further or find out if a procedure is right for you, call and schedule a consultation with our Green Brook Township dental office today.

Cosmetic Dentist  >  Teeth Whitening Service