Genetics and Cavities

Sometimes life can be unfair.  Even if you brush and floss your teeth twice per day every day cavities can still happen.  Don’t be too hard on yourself.  There’s mounting evidence that your genetic makeup may have predisposed you to cavities.  Yes your ancestors are still alive and well and in your neighborhood.

The postulation that your genes are related to your oral health is still a novel concept and more research is needed but commonly cited finding states that genetics may increase your chances of having cavities by 64%.

Of course not brushing and flossing your teeth and eating and drinking foods with high sugar content over time will eventually lead to cavities.  Genes can influence the strength of the enamel of your teeth which is the outer protective coating on your teeth.  For some the enamel is hard and strong but others it is softer and more easily damaged by cavity causing bacteria.

Genes can also affect how your body responds to the bacteria within your saliva which cause cavities.  Not to worry we are cavity finders and fighters.  We are always looking for new people to enter our practice.  We will examine your mouth and tell you what we see.  For many a regular exam will lead to a standard six month dental cleaning and you’ll be good to go.

So if you live in Yorkville and are in need of a dentist, give us a call at 212 517 9000.  We are located at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th streets.  After meeting with us we believe you and your teeth will be glad you did.

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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 Case Against Silver- Change Amalgam Fillings for Looks Not Safety

If you have some Silver Dollars in your pocket you are not going to throw them away.  If you were given a sterling silver set for your wedding you’re probably going to keep them.  But, for some if you have silver in your mouth you might be inclined to have them nuggets removed.

The Amalgam Silver controversy is still alive today.  If you are of a certain age you probably have some silver fillings in your mouth.  These restorations can last for decades, some more than fifty years.  Think of something else that a human can create that can last for more than a half century with only little maintenance efforts on your part.  Quite impressive!

Back in the day the choice was gold or silver since white fillings did not exist.  If you were in the limo you were probably getting gold while in the bus or subway silver was for you.  The concern with silver is the filling is an amalgam or a combination of things.  The thing most patients are concerned about is the mercury in the filling.

Mercury is produced by the burning of coal and is a heavy element.  When coal is burned mercury is placed into the atmosphere and since it is a heavy element it falls back down to the surface of the earth.  Most of the planet is water so the mercury enters the oceans where the oysters, lobsters and clams consume it.  The large ocean fish such as tuna, shark and tile concentrate the mercury within them when feeding on the other inhabitants of the seas.  When you eat them you concentrate their mercury content in your body.  With silver filling the mercury is a bound salt so if you swallow your filling the mercury will just pass straight through you instead of accumulating within your body.

Silver fillings are strong but not aesthetic.  Today with the development of white fillings, silver ones are entering the dustbin of history.  With a white filling you can’t see it so it’s like you never had it and you’re even more beautiful.   It took a while for dentist’s to figure out how to successfully place white fillings but today the process is very straightforward.

So do you remove any silver fillings you have?  In my opinion no unless you are not happy with the way they look or if your tooth is becoming grey in color due to leakage of the silver ion into your tooth.  You must realize that every time you perform surgery on your tooth there is a chance of the tooth’s nerve checking out as if saying I’ve had enough.  If this happens root canal therapy can be in your future.

Besides aesthetics one advantage of white fillings is that when they finally fail the filling breaks and generally not the tooth.  When a properly placed silver filling fails decades later generally the filling is still intact but it is the tooth that breaks because ultimately a silver filling is a wedge within the tooth.

At the dental practice of Dr Glenn Reit we believe in informing you what is happening in your mouth and if there is a concern giving you the options and price points to correct the situation.  We always like meeting new people even if you’re only looking to have your teeth cleaned.

So if you need a new dentist or a second opinion call today at 212 517 9000 and we will be happy to see you.

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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!

Do You Have Any Cavities In Your Mouth?

Being a New Yorker and probably driving around you have encountered numerous potholes in our streets.  Your car falls in, your tires and shocks take a beating and you proceed on.  Sometimes a pothole can become a sink hole by that’s a whole nother matter.

Your teeth can get their own potholes.  We call them cavities.  An opening appears on the surface of your tooth and once there food can get in.  As the food breaks down it releases acids that eat your teeth.  Actually bacteria colonies form which like warm, dark places without oxygen – sort of akin to your mouth.

Like a pothole if not fixed they will just get bigger until one day a car just falls in and disappears.  In your tooth’s case if the hole gets too big you get a surprise as in a toothache and nobody wants a toothache.

The key is to catch them holes when they are small and here’s where you need the skill of a dentist.

I’m a dentist and on a mission to search for dental potholes and repair them before they bite, YOU.

At my dental practice we like people and we like to fix teeth.  What a deal!  So if you have not been to the dentist for awhile something which many people like to avoid – give us a call?  Your teeth and subsequently you will be glad you did.

We are conveniently located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan on Third Avenue between 84th and 85th streets in the 10028 zip code.   The Q, 4, 5, and 6 subway lines have stations one block away and there is plenty of bus service available.

So let’s get rid of those potholes and if you’re pothole free you and your teeth might like a cleaning

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

To Fill or Not to Fill and With What Material

One of the sad parts of life is that your teeth can decay.  Tooth decay occurs when a person does not clean their teeth on a regular basis.  The tooth decay happens when a small hole occurs on any surface of a tooth.  The outside of your teeth are made of enamel which is a very hard substance.  The inside of your teeth are composed of dentin which is not as hard.  On the surface of your teeth there are grooves which if not kept clean can develop into a hole or cavity which leads to tooth decay.

All the bacteria in your mouth are anaerobic meaning they live without oxygen.  For decay to occur when you eat you leave residue of food on your teeth.  If not removed the remaining food breaks down and becomes acidic which attacks the surface of your teeth.  The bacteria in the decomposing food prefer warm, dark places without oxygen.  Your mouth is warm at 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit and dark when you close your mouth and when the decay gets into your tooth there is no oxygen present.   

Once the decay is within your tooth even with brushing and flossing you cannot remove it.  The decay continues to expand and if left alone will eventually lead to a root canal of the tooth where the nerve of the tooth needs to be removed for you to retain your tooth.

Before that occurs, regular visits to the dentist can confirm visually or through x rays if any of your teeth is developing a cavity.  Once a cavity due to decay is observed it needs to be repaired with a filling.  Today there are several types of fillings we can place into your tooth to restore it to function.

The best material is gold.  However, gold is yellow in color so in today’s cosmetic culture for most individuals this is not an option.  Why is gold the best?   It wears the same amount as enamel which covers the surface of your teeth.  It also expands and contracts the same as enamel to hot and cold.

Gold can also form a very tight seal to your tooth and is strong since it is a metal.

A metal alternative to gold is silver.  Silver is strong and over time chemically bonds to your tooth; meaning an old silver filling is actually better than a new silver filling.  Once again the drawback to silver is that you can see it.  Gold fillings can last a life time while silver fillings can last decades.

We now have the ability to place a tooth colored or white filling into your tooth.  A white filling is made of composite.  Its advantage is you will not see it.  Its disadvantage is that it is not as strong as a metal filling but for most patients metal is no longer acceptable.

If a filling grows in size by not being addressed in a reasonable time a lab processed filling can be made.

These types of fillings are available in gold and tooth colored materials.

At the dental practice of Glenn Reit DDS located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in the area of Yorkville we like meeting new people and to help them have a healthy, happy mouth.  We can tell you if you have any developing problems with your teeth and give options to restore these areas to health.

We have Saturday and evening appointments available to fit your busy schedule.  We participate with the major dental insurance companies.  Before any treatment we will tell you your options and the costs involved.

We are conveniently located at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th streets and within reach of the Q, 4, 5 and 6 subway lines and the third avenue bus.   Even if you know it’s only time for a cleaning, give us a call today.  You’ll 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.

What Are Cavities

Sometimes even with the best intentions cavities still occur. You can brush and floss till the cows come home and yet a cavity still occurs.  Cavities or tooth decay happens when bacteria get into the inside of your teeth.  One way to cosmetically restore your tooth to health is with a white filling consisting of a plastic glass mixture of material which replaces lost tooth structure caused by the decay.  We can also use this material for cosmetic improvements of your smile such as fixing chips or gaps in your teeth.

Need Cavity Treatment in the Upper East Side?

Call us today (212) 517-9000 to schedule your next dental appointment where we can help you to achieve a healthier and brighter smile.