Procedure Information
Thank you for allowing us to care for you. 1st Advantage Dental of New York wants you to feel as comfortable as possible before your next appointment. Below are common dental procedures with more specific information regarding your dental hygiene.
Crowns
A cracked, broken or weak tooth may need a crown. If you have a root canal, a crown is typically placed afterward to make sure the tooth stays strong. Crowns can also be used cosmetically to change the shape or color of a tooth.
The process for getting a crown often involves two appointments: one appointment to prepare the tooth to fit the crown and make a mold of the tooth, and another appointment to place the crown. During the first appointment, the dentist will create a temporary crown to protect your tooth until the permanent crown is ready.
Between the first and second appointments, the impression is then sent to a dental lab where they will make a customized crown to fit your tooth. The crown can be all-metal (a yellow or white gold, very durable), all-porcelain (tooth-colored, very esthetic), or a combination of both metal and porcelain (esthetic and durable). Once completed, the dental lab will return the finished custom crown to your dentist.
At the second appointment, the temporary crown will be removed and the permanent will be placed on the tooth and adjusted. Once it has been determined the crown fits well, feels good and looks good, it is put into place. The final crown is permanent and is not meant to come off. Normal brushing and flossing afterwards will help make sure that the crown will last a long time.
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Gum Disease
Gingivitis is the basic form of gum disease where only the gums are inflamed. Periodontis is the advanced form of gum disease which also affects the bone and other supporting structures around the teeth.
Gingivitis is treated by routine dental cleanings (known as a dental prophylaxis). This involves removing plaque, stain and tartar from above the gumline. In gingivitis, the pockets normally found between the gum and the tooth are typically less than 3mm (about an 1/8 of an inch). At this depth, routine brushing and flossing can adequately reach the bottom of the pocket in order to keep it clean. Inflamed gums can usually get better with regular cleanings, brushing and flossing. Even for someone with healthy gums, a dental cleaning is recommended every 6 months in order to prevent the occurrence of gingivitis.
Periodontitis is a more serious condition with pockets deeper than 3mm and involvement of the supporting structures around the teeth leading to bone resorption and gum recession. When a pocket becomes deeper than 3mm, it becomes nearly impossible to remove the material that gets trapped despite even the best brushing and flossing. Periodontitis can affect all of a person’s teeth or just a few. Once periodontitis has been diagnosed, a routine cleaning is no longer capable of treating the disease. (Remember: a routine cleaning focuses from the gumline up; with periodontitis, the problem involves deep pockets under the gums).
Treatment of periodontitis typically begins with a procedure known as a scaling and root planing (also called “a deep cleaning”). The differences between a scaling and root planing and a routine cleaning are that a scaling and root planing usually takes 2 appointments to complete the entire mouth, each visit lasts longer and the procedure focuses on cleaning under the gums in order to remove all the material from the pockets. The area will be numbed so you are comfortable throughout the procedure. The dental hygienist will take detailed measurements of the depth of the pockets around each tooth so they can later re-evaluate to note any improvement. Often, a slow-releasing antibiotic can be placed directly in deeper pockets so the healing process can be more successful.
You may be given a prescription mouthwash to help with healing or a prescription fluoride to help with sensitivity. The hygienist will look forward to having you return in 30 days so to re-measure the pockets and evaluate healing. At that point, you will be placed in a maintenance program. Periodontitis is a condition that cannot be cured but hopefully can be controlled (like high blood pressure or diabetes). Every 3 to 4 months, you will come in for a periodontal maintenance cleaning where a very thorough, limited deep cleaning will occur and the pockets will be re-evaluated. Sometimes, if an area does not want to heal and becomes slowly worse, you may be referred to one of our
periodontists (a gum specialist).
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Root Canal
Root canals are typically performed on a tooth that has damage to the nerve and blood vessels found inside the tooth (area of the tooth known as the pulp). The pulp can become damaged due to a deep cavity, a cracked tooth, long-term grinding or trauma. Without treatment, the damaged nerve can become infected which may lead to swelling and pain. A root canal is a great option instead of extracting the tooth.
A root canal removes the damaged nerve and blood vessels from the inside of the tooth, the canals (where the pulp is located inside the tooth) are cleaned and shaped and the space inside the tooth is sealed. The benefit is the outer part of the tooth remains intact and, after any cracks or cavities are repaired, the tooth is still functional.
The majority of root canals can be completed by one of our general dentists. However, sometimes, if a tooth has a canal that is curved severely or is calcified or if a tooth is located too far in the back of the mouth, your general dentist may refer you to one of our
endodontists (root canal specialist).
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Braces
Typically, an initial consult appointment will be made for you or your child with one of our
orthodontists. There is normally no charge for this initial consult. On your first visit, we will evaluate your orthodontic needs, determine if treatment is needed and estimate the length and cost of the treatment. If we determine your treatment should begin at a later date, due to insufficient development, we will suggest periodic visits to our office until you are ready for treatment.
When you are ready to begin your orthodontic treatment a "Diagnostic Records" appointment will be scheduled to obtain the necessary information to formulate a precise diagnosis and treatment plan. Providing our patients with the highest quality and affordable orthodontics has been our fundamental goal for years. Which means our focus everyday is to see you receive all the special care and attention that quality orthodontic treatment demands.
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