Answer to Your Common Dental Questions

I often get asked questions about the best course of treatment to fix a broken or missing tooth. Dental terms can be confusing, so I've explained a few of them and offered the pros and cons of each item.

1. Implants- Made of the same titanium that are in joint replacements.  Can be used to retain dentures (instead of glue) or to replace 1 or all the teeth in the mouth.  Implants last the longest and should be used where indicated, as they are the preferred method to replace missing teeth.

2a. Bridge- Cuts down teeth adjacent to replace missing teeth and glues into the mouth.  A bridge stays in the mouth and can replace 1 or all missing teeth, but that depends on how many healthy teeth are present. A bridge consists of at least 3 crowns.

2b. Crown (aka a "cap")-  Restores broken down, decayed or fractured teeth in order for them to function properly. Can also be used for aesthetic reasons.

3. Denture (aka a "plate")- Replaces all teeth. It can be aesthetic but the jawbone underneath the denture remodels, affecting the fit and comfort of the denture. Implants should be used as indicated to preserve bone and provide a more comfortable, tighter fit.

4. Partial (aka a "plate")- Replaces some missing teeth. Partials should be only be used when implants or  bridges are not possible.  The only benefit is cost.

I hope this has helped you understand some dental terms and highlight the benefits of each procedure. The above post reflects my personal opinion, and it is always best to consult your dentist when deciding which course of dental treatment is best for you.

Top 10 Reasons Why a Patient Should Choose Roselle Park Dental

We asked our patients and our staff for the top 10 reasons why a patient should choose Roselle Park Dental. Here's what you've said:

1. Quality, comprehensive care
2. Limited need for referrals (in-house specialists)
3. Latest technology (same day crowns, CT scan machine)
4. Friendly staff :-)
5. Comfort amenities (coffee and tea in the waiting area and comfort items available while in the dental chair)
6. Convenient hours (open 8am-8pm)
7. Flexible payment options (no interest monthly payments and extended monthly payments)
8. No judgmental feeling from staff members
9. Compassionate
10. Dedication to excellence

Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to delivering on our top 10 reasons for you and your family each time you visit us!

What is The Best Way To Whiten My Teeth?

With wedding season here already this question seems to be the hottest dental topic today.  There are so many different options and products out there to whiten your teeth it may be a bit confusing as to what's  best, even for the trained dental professional.

Every bleaching product, whether it's over the counter or from a dental professional, contain either carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide.  Carbamide peroxide products need to be placed on the teeth at about 1 hour intervals, while hydrogen peroxide products should only be applied to the teeth for under an hour. Therefore, results from hydrogen peroxide products may take longer to see.

What separates one bleaching product from the next is the percentages of carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide in the bleach, the application method, and the time it takes to see results. The strength of bleaching percentages vary from 10%-36%. In my opinion, products above 15% should only be used under a dental professional's supervision.

The application methods range as well. There is, what I call the scotch tape method, where a small piece of plastic containing a small amount of bleach is applied to the teeth. One can also use a customized bleaching tray, where the bleaching is placed into the tray and then the tray is worn for a specific amount of time. There is also a very controlled bleaching experience, where the bleach is applied in a careful manner so that it does not touch any part of the mouth other than teeth and a customized bleaching tray is used as well.

All products take at least one week to see adequate results, although some may take longer.

In summary, here are your whitening options:
1. Over-the-counter products contain about 10-24% peroxide
Pros-  Relatively inexpensive
Cons- Poor application method. The scotch tape method is not as effective and people run the risk of unnecessarily ingesting bleach or having sensitivity. Furthermore, you can only use how ever many strips are in the package.

OTC products are for people with yellowish or coffee stains who value saving a buck over the possibility of exposing themselves to too much caustic bleaching peroxide.

2.  The quick fix/One Hour Bleaching contains 36% peroxide
Pros- Whiter teeth potentially in an hour.
Cons- Relatively more expensive. A person's teeth will most likely relapse, risk of increased sensitivity, there needs to be adequate isolation of gums and lips so that bleach does not touch those areas (don't even think about doing this in the mall).

3. Custom bleaching trays (made by your dentist) contain up to 20% peroxide
Pros- Very effective for day-to-day staining. The custom trays can be used for fluoride, to help with sensitivity, and are cost effective because the trays can be reused.
Cons- Not as effective on grayish/blueish staining, and it could take up to 2 weeks to see results.

4. Bleaching tray and 1 hour bleaching combo aka Deep Bleaching
Pros- BEST bleaching on market! You can use the trays forever. My office offers bleaching for life program, which allows you to get free touch ups for life. The bleach works on tetracycline staining. Results will show in about 2 weeks.
Cons- Relatively more expensive. People need to follow a regimen to get the best results.

This is my professional opinion after exploring many bleaching methods in my practice.  Good luck in your quest for a whiter smile.

All About Baby's Teeth

Do you know the age in which your child should first visit the dentist? Most people think they have to wait until most of their child's teeth are erupted, or when they actually start getting their adult teeth. However, Dr. Geoffrey Gonzales, our pediatric dentist, recommends seeing his patients as early as the age of one. And, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry agrees. According to an article on CNN "...The eruption of that first tooth, between the ages of 3 and 9 months, should be a signal to parents to schedule a child's first dental appointment -- and one should be scheduled no later than age 1." 

The reason why pediatric dentists, like Dr. Gonzales, recommend seeing children early on is to educate parents, evaluate the teeth that are under the gums, establish a good daily hygiene routine and help the child feel comfortable at the dentist.

Tooth decay can happen when a child drinks a bottle of milk or juice and does not rinse out his/her mouth or brush his/her teeth. Don't be fooled that baby teeth don't need to be taken care of because they eventually fall out. Some of the baby teeth may still in place when children enter middle school, so it is just as important to take care of those teeth as it is to take care of adult teeth. If any tooth, baby or adult, is left untreated with tooth decay, infection, pain, or abscesses may happen. 

Be sure to schedule an appointment for your children by the age of one, and keep their regular hygiene appointments every six months. For more information about pediatric dentistry, please visit our Website or call us at (908) 634-4018.

Fluoride Benefits People of All Ages, Not Just Kids!

As a dentist, we were taught and have seen first-hand about the benefits of fluoride. Fluoride helps to harden the tooth's enamel and protect teeth from decay. Most pediatric dentists, like Dr. Geoffrey Gonzales, in our sister office, Little Smiles of Roselle Park, recommend that pediatric patients receive fluoride treatment at each of their bi-annual hygiene check ups.

Now, there is further evidence of the benefits of fluoride. According to Medical News Today, fluoride actually reduces the ability of decay-causing bacteria to stick to teeth!

So why is it that most dental offices only offer fluoride to its pediatric patients when the benefits of fluoride can be enjoyed by patients of all ages?! Here at Roselle Park Dental, we believe in prevention. We suggest fluoride treatment to all of our patients, regardless of age. Most insurance plans only cover fluoride treatment to those under a certain age, like 15, but who would you rather guide your oral health, your insurance company or your doctor?

Be sure to schedule and keep your bi-annual hygiene appointments to keep your teeth healthy and catch problems early. At these appointments, ask for fluoride treatment and keep those teeth strong! To schedule an appointment at our office, please visit our Website or call (908) 245-1745.

New, Improved Website

Hi everyone! Just wanted to let you know that we revamped much of the content on our Website, www.roselleparkdental.com. You can learn more about who I really am by visiting our Meet the Team Page. This isn't just a laundry list of my accomplishments, but rather a glimpse of how I approach my job and my life.

We also have implemented new payment plans at Roselle Park Dental. You are now able to get started on your dental treatment and pay later! In other words, you can make monthly payments without interest toward dental work you've already started or even completed. If you need more than just a few months to pay for your dental treatment, we offer extended payment plans for up to 36 months! We understand dental work is expensive, and we want to give our patients as many options as we can for them to get the dental treatment they need. To learn more about our new monthly, no interest payment plans, please visit our Financial Page.

If you don't have dental insurance, don't worry! We have an in-office discount dental plan that helps you and your family receive the treatment you need. The plan pays for itself with just a teeth cleaning appointment or one tooth-colored filling. You can learn more about Roselle Park Dental's discount savings plan by visiting our Financial Page.

We look forward to helping you and your family.

What's New at Roselle Park Dental

If you've been to Roselle Park Dental recently, you may have noticed a few changes. We've implemented our newest technology, E4D, which allows us to provide dental restorations the same day. No more temporary crowns that may fall off or waiting three weeks for your permanent crown to come back from the lab-- if you're a candidate, you can get your permanent restoration the same day!

We also have a state-of-the-art CT scan and panoramic x-ray machine that allows our doctors to see one's entire jaw structure and bone density. This helps our team create a personalized plan for implants, extractions and orthodontics, all here in our office.

Your comfort is one of our highest priorities. Ask us for our new comfort menu and choose from items such as a neck pillow, noise-cancelling headphones, stress ball or warm towelette. Also, you can now enjoy coffee, tea and other beverages in our waiting area. 

Lastly, we'd like to congratulate John Bancey, from Garwood, who won our new patient referral TV giveaway. Thank you to all those who participated and for referring your friends and family to us; it is the biggest compliment we can get! Be on the look-out for the next new patient referral giveaway in the spring.