Are You In Alignment?

/ Glenn Reit D.D.S./

You might hear this at a chiropractor’s office or at a tire repair center or looking at the soles of your shoes.   However, there is another area where you may not be in alignment.  It’s your teeth. Does it matter?  Think of the gears in a motor.  If they are not in alignment then the teeth of the gears will break more quickly and easily.

This is the same analogy as with your teeth.  If your teeth are not in alignment then over time they will have a greater chance of fracturing requiring you to undergo more advanced dental treatments.  Another consequence of misaligned teeth is it is harder to keep them clean.

Think of your teeth as cubes or squares.  You need to use dental floss to clean in between them but when they are also out of alignment it is harder to keep them clean and this can lead to gum disease.

Today we have a way to move your teeth back into alignment without the metal mouth you may remember.  We use a clear aligner system which sequentially moves your teeth into the correct position.  They call it Invisalign since to others it is invisible.  So you’re out and about and only you know you are wearing them.

Magically over a short interval of time your teeth are now in alignment.  An added benefit it will make your smile more pleasing and as you know you lead with your smile so this can only be a good thing .So, if looking at your chompers  makes you cringe or you’re smiling with your lips closed maybe you’re a candidate for Invisalign. 

At the dental practice of Dr Glenn Reit DDS we like meeting new people and solving their dental challenges.  Conveniently located at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th streets in Yorkville where you’re just a quick bus or subway ride away.  If you live in Yorkville just walk on over.

You and your teeth will 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!

So You Want Straight Teeth and Don’t Want To Wait

/ Glenn Reit D.D.S./

In an ideal situation if your teeth are out of alignment you undergo orthodontic treatment to straighten them.  Today in addition to traditional metal braces which most patients will not accept due to esthetics there is clear orthodontic tray therapy.  However, some patients will not tolerate wearing trays while others want immediate results.

For those who will not or cannot wait, teeth can be straightened with the application of porcelain veneers.  Traditionally, veneers were used to improve the color and shape of anterior teeth.  Some individuals due to the ingestion of tetracycline by the mother during pregnancy developed darkly stained teeth which will not whiten.  For those people veneers restored the desired color they want.   Some patients have anterior teeth that are not esthetically pleasing due to the shape of their teeth.  With veneers we can alter the shape and color of non esthetic teeth very quickly.

Some patients do not like the look of their smile due to the misalignment of their teeth.  For these individuals cosmetic veneers can reposition their teeth to be more in alignment.   Veneers are small pieces of porcelain that are bonded onto the front of your teeth.  Consider them somewhat like Lee Press on Nails.

There are two ways veneers are done.  In one scenario the teeth are not modified and the veneers are just bonded onto the existing teeth.  These are called no prep veneer.   The problem is the appearance of the teeth being bulky since no room was created for the veneers which is somewhat like having a thimble on your thumb.

If the teeth are prepped then the veneers appear more natural.   A combination of the two treatments may be necessary to produce a pleasing smile in a patient whose teeth are misaligned.  To help a patient decide if this type of treatment will produce the desired result we have a cosmetic wax up done for the patient by the lab before proceeding.   This allows the patient to make an intelligent decision before beginning treatment.

At the dental practice of Glenn Reit DDS located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan we like making people happy and if you are unhappy with your smile we may be able to help you.  Conveniently located at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th streets directly across from our very own Mickey Dees we are easy to get to.   The 4,5,6 and Q subway lines are a block away as are multiple bus lines

If you need a cosmetic consult or just want a dental cleaning give us a call today.

You and your teeth will 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!