Restorations in Brooklyn Heights, NY

WHAT ARE FILLINGS?
A dental filling is a routine dental treatment that is among the most common dental treatments given to patients every year in the United States. A filling is required when small holes are made in the tooth surface due to decay. Our team at Brooklyn Comfortable Dental Care offers cosmetic, tooth-colored fillings. To repair the cavity, the cavity and underlying damaged tooth structure are removed. Next, a natural tooth-colored filling is placed. These same tooth-colored fillings, also known as dental composites or composite resins, can be used for cosmetic bondings on front teeth.

HOW LONG DO FILLINGS LAST?
Fillings can last for a long time if properly maintained. Proper care means brushing twice a day with a fluoridated toothpaste and flossing at least once a day. However, no filling is ever as strong as the original tooth structure. Many factors will affect the lifetime of a filling, such as its location in the mouth (back vs. front), the affected surfaces of the tooth (top, in between teeth, or side of the tooth), your occlusion (how your teeth come together when you bite), teeth grinding, or your salivary response.

WHY DON’T FILLINGS LAST FOREVER?
The second a dentist does a filling or crown, saliva and bacteria immediately try to undermine our hard work. Every bite of food, every second we spend grinding our teeth puts more stress on the beautiful bonding or crown that was just completed.

WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT WILL CAUSE A FILLING TO FAIL?
The same things that cause a cavity in the first place will cause new cavities to form under an existing filling. This is called recurrent decay. Our team at Brooklyn Comfortable Dental Care will recommend tooth fillings when decay in the tooth surface is identified, typically at a routine exam and hygiene appointment. This goes to show the importance of coming in and seeing our team for routine visits and exams every six months to spot signs of decay which can typically be resolved with simple and routine dental treatments such as fillings. 

Dental Implants – A Time-Tested Solution for Missing Teeth
A dental implant is, generally speaking, the best option for replacing a lost tooth or a tooth that is no longer savable. Millions of dental patients across the United States are currently enjoying the benefits of dental implants and the strength and jawbone support that they offer, and our team at Brooklyn Comfortable Dental Care is experiencing in providing this popular tooth replacement option. There are two components of the dental implant: the dental implant itself, and the implant crown. The implant itself is a titanium fixture that goes into the jaw. Over a period of 3-6 months, the jaw bone grows into the titanium implant (known as osseointegration). Titanium is used as the material of choice for dental implants as this metal has the unique ability to fuse to the jawbone, creating an incredibly strong and permanent hold for new replacement teeth. Once the implant is osseointegrated, an implant crown is placed. The implant crown is attached to the titanium implant via a connector piece, called an abutment.

The Dental Implant Process
The dental implants process begins by consulting with our team regarding different tooth-replacement options and how strong of a candidate you might be for dental implants. Candidacy for dental implants depends on several different factors, one of the most vital being bone density – dental implant patients must have a dense enough jawbone to be able to support dental implants and hold them securely for years to come. If a patient is missing teeth and could benefit from dental implants but does not have the jawbone density required for them, a bone graft may be recommended in order to safely and securely place dental implants.

A dental implant procedure is the surgical component of dental implants where the titanium implants themselves are placed into a patients jawbone. After the implant is placed, it will take 3-6 months for the body to heal around the implant. After the healing period, the dentist takes an impression and two weeks later we will have the implant crowns back from the lab to insert. Sometimes if multiple teeth are missing, the process following the implant impression may take slightly longer. At the beginning of your case, our dentists will carefully discuss the timeframe and exactly what to expect in your specific case.

When placing implants, we use the same numbing anesthesia that we use for routine cavities or crowns. Most patients do not find implants to be a difficult procedure. They are surprised at how easy it is.

The Healing Process and Dental Implant Care
After the titanium implant is placed into the jaw, we wait for the body to form new bone around the implant. The mandible (bottom jaw) takes 3 months to grow enough new bone around the implant while the maxilla (top jaw) takes 6 months to grow enough new bone around the implant. During this time, patients may be given replacement teeth until their jawbone is completely healed, in which case the final crowns are placed on top of the implants, completing the dental implant process.

Caring for dental implants is as simple as brushing and flossing as normal. Be sure to see our team every several months so that we can monitor your dental implants.

If you have questions regarding dental implants, speak with our team at Brooklyn Comfortable Dental Care today to learn more about this reliable tooth replacement solution and if you may be a candidate. 

WHAT IS A ROOT CANAL?
Teeth have multiple components to them. There is an outer, enamel layer, an inner dentin layer and a nerve that runs through the very center of the tooth. A cavity forms when the enamel and dentin layers are weakened and bacteria in your mouth start entering the tooth. The treatment for a simple cavity is to remove the cavity and damaged tooth structure and replace it with a filling. However, if a cavity gets too big, it can travel beyond the enamel and dentin layers until it reaches the nerve. When this happens, the treatment is a root canal. A root canal is when we remove the nerve from inside the tooth.

IS THE TOOTH TAKEN OUT OF MY MOUTH?
No!! The tooth stays in the exact same place the entire time. Only the tiny nerve inside the tooth is removed.

DO ROOT CANALS HURT?
There is generally no discomfort during the root canal procedure. We use the same numbing anesthesia that we use for routine fillings. You should be numb for the entirety of treatment and won’t feel a thing.

WHY DO PEOPLE ALWAYS SAY THEY HURT?
Very often, a root canal is performed when a patient is already experiencing pain. For that reason, root canals are associated with discomfort. However, a root canal is actually the solution that will take the pain away. 

What are dental crowns and what benefits do they provide?

Dental crowns, or “caps” as they are often called, are a reliable restorative and cosmetic dentistry solution that dental patients have relied upon for years to help protect their teeth. A crown is a dental appliance that is placed on a tooth to support the tooth when it has suffered significantly from decay. Dental crowns cannot only restore the full use and function of teeth but can also serve to restore or enhance the aesthetic appearance of teeth that have decayed or that have otherwise lost volume on the top of the tooth. Dental crowns are fabricated in a specialty lab and, once placed, can help protect a tooth from future decay. 

How long does it take to place dental crowns?
Dental crowns are a convenient dental option that can be completed in two visits. During the first visit, our team will prepare your tooth to receive a crown, which typically involves removing some tooth material to make room for your crown and taking an impression. This impression is sent to a lab where the permanent crown is fabricated. During the second visit 2-3 weeks later, your final crown will be placed. Between your first visit and when your final crown is placed, a comfortable, temporary crown is placed on your tooth to keep it safe between visits. One of the best aspects of dental crowns is that they look and feel like a natural tooth. Dental crowns can also be manufactured from different materials depending on your individual needs. 

What is the difference between a crown and a filling?
A filling “fills” a small portion of the top of the tooth surface, while a crown covers the entirety of the tooth surface.

What is a dental bridge and why might I need one?
A dental bridge is an appliance that is used when a patient is missing one or more adjacent teeth and may require more than one dental crown. The dental bridge serves to connect these teeth together by resting on surrounding teeth.

For patients who prefer or require a more permanent treatment option, dental bridges may be supported by dental implants. 

Learn if dental crowns and bridges are the right dental solution for you by speaking with our team at Brooklyn Comfortable Dental Care today! 

Dental Veneers – Making for A Fuller and Bolder Smile
Veneers are a highly cosmetic procedure that we use to give our patients the ideal smile that they desire. Patients may require dental veneers if they develop spacing in between the teeth, tooth discoloration or yellowing, tooth decay, or other aesthetic imperfections that affect the visual appearance of their teeth. Placing veneers is a minimally-invasive procedure where we bond porcelain laminates to the teeth in order to improve their size, shape, color, and orientation. One of the best aspects of dental veneers, particularly when they are provided by a team that is highly skilled in veneers manufacturing and selection, is that they offer natural-looking results that look and feel just like real teeth. 

Check out our Smile Gallery for examples of veneers!

Manufacturing and Placing Dental Veneers
Our team at Brooklyn Comfortable Dental Care is highly skilled in creating and placing dental veneers that offer beautiful, natural-looking results that give patients their ideal smile. The first step in the veneers process is to take photos and discuss the aspects of your smile that you’d like to improve. For some patients this may be small chips or cracks in the teeth, discoloration, spacing, or other cosmetic concerns. Next, our team will begin to study a hand sculpted model from the dental lab that looks just like the final veneers will on your teeth. This way we make sure that you will be very happy with the final outcome.

Dental veneers are a highly convenient cosmetic dentistry solution that require just two appointments to place fully. During the first appointment, we prepare your teeth and take an impression to send to the lab. During the next appointment, about 3 weeks later, we bond the permanent veneers and you leave with the smile you’ve always wanted.

Speak with our experienced team at Brooklyn Comfortable Dental Care today to learn more about dental veneers and if they’re the best cosmetic dentistry solution for you!