Will You Lose Your Wisdom if Your Wisdom Teeth are Removed?

Biology like geology can do strange things.  If you’ve ever been out West there are rock formations in the shape of thin spires that go hundreds of feet in the air.  There are stone arches that just hang there in space.

Maybe Dad is over six feet and Mom is under four.  Mix those genes together and you can have big teeth in a small jaw or the reverse.  In evolution the purpose of wisdom teeth or third molars was they served as additional later erupting teeth for eating.  Back in the day a human’s diet was more coarse and caused the person’s teeth to wear down more quickly.  By age sixteen if you lasted that long there was more room in your mouth to allow these teeth to come in properly and function.

Today sometimes there is not enough room in your jaws to allow these teeth to erupt.  If the tooth remains totally encased within your jaw bones there generally do not cause a problem.  However, if part of the tooth is inside your mouth but not fully erupted this is where problems can occur?

Half in half out can lead to gum problems and/or tooth decay.  So the issue is should you extract them or leave them in peace.  Ideally everyone’s wisdom teeth should be extracted when you are in your teens.  For most individuals the additional teeth are not necessary.  When you are young you heal up quicker and your jaws are still growing and are more pliable.  As you age the bones become rock hard and the teeth grow legs or roots meaning there is a bigger piece to take out.

The situation is more challenging now if you are in your sixties or above and the teeth need to be removed.  Your cardiologist may have you on blood thinners.  If this medication is removed you may die but if you remain on the medication after the extraction you might not stop bleeding.  In other words a conundrum.

If you have wisdom teeth we can tell you what your situation is and predict what may be waiting for you in the future.  Proactive versus reactive is always good.

If you only need a dental cleaning and check up we are still here for you.  So give us a call at 212 517 9000. We are located at 1498 Third Avenue in Yorkville between 84th and 85thStreets.  Call today, 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!

Wearing Your Best Smile

When You’re Smiling The Whole World Smiles With You

The saying you lead with your smile is quite true.  If your teeth look healthy and are esthetically pleasing you smile more.  Smiling can become contagious.  A happy healthy look for you makes others around you also feel better.  Your smile gives you confidence to achieve.  Today in dentistry we have the ability to restore your teeth to health and if Mother Nature didn’t give you the best smile we can help to correct the situation. 

The easiest correction is if your teeth are a tad too yellow we can bleach them to something more pleasing.  If your teeth are out of alignment we can use clear tray orthodontics to bring them more into position.  If your teeth are chipped or broken we can restore them to health and beauty with crowns, veneers or onlays.

Your gums are the frame around the picture.  If your gums are inflamed and angry looking we can treat them so they return to health.  If you have a gummy smile that affects your smile we can do minor gum surgery to correct the situation.

Sometimes the first step is to just come in for a consultation and tell us what bothers you.  Not being a dentist you probably do not know what alternatives now exist to make you look even more beautiful.  If everything is fine and all you need or want is a cleaning we are also here for you.

Dental insurance actually covers a percentage for most dental treatments we provide so your expense is even reduced.  Even if going to the dentist is not on the top of your to-do list , if you find yourself raising your hand to cover your mouth whenever a photo is taken, or if your smile is always with your lips closed, maybe it’s time to come in and see what we can do for you.

A more pleasing smile could change your life for the better.

At the dental practice of Glenn Reit DDS we like meeting new people and we love taking care of their teeth.  Conveniently located at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th Streets in Yorkville we are easy to get to.  So if you are so inclined give us a call today at 212 517 9000

You and your smile 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!

Peace Begins With A Smile

Mother Teresa once said “Peace begins with a smile” So smiling is good for all especially you.  How do you feel about your smile?  Are you at peace with it?  Are proud to flash a wide happy grin?  Do you believe it is beautiful?  Does it express your real you?

There are ways to restore or correct the vagaries of nature.   If you are not content with the appearance or condition of your teeth, gums or bite give us a call at 212 517 9000. 

For the past several decades I have been providing dental services for the rejuvenation of your smile.  A great smile will also make you feel a whole lot better and be a help as you travel through life.  It can be achieved today.

We’re conveniently located at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th streets in Yorkville.

So call today – you and your smile 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!

Healthy Diet Healthy Teeth

You Are What You Eat

Eating correctly is good for your body including your teeth.  Teeth are good if you like eating and healthy teeth can only help your outlook on life when looking in the mirror.  The saying you lead with your smile is true.

To have healthy teeth you need to brush and floss daily and biyearly visits to the dentist is a great way to maintain your dental health and make sure nothing negative is happening.   Eating a healthy diet which helps your muscles and bones will also help you develop healthy gums and healthy teeth.   Foods rich in vitamin B such as breads and cereals, and vitamin C found in fruits and vegetables, and zinc and magnesium, and lean beef, fish and poultry are all good for you.

All foods increase the production of saliva which is important since it maintains the proper pH balance in your mouth which in turn keeps your teeth and gums healthy.  Foods high in fiber also encourage saliva production as does occasionally chewing sugarless gum.

The consumption of foods high In sugar content such as sugar laden sodas and coffee drinks can be detrimental to the health of your teeth.  Foods high in sugar are more likely to form acids which can attack your teeth and result in decay.  Limiting the consumption of sugars to mealtimes lessens the amount of time your healthy teeth are exposed.

Making good diet choices and limiting meal sugar consumption can improve the health of your gums and teeth.

If you would like to reassure yourself about the condition of your teeth and gums give us a call at 212 517 9000 to schedule a checkup appointment.  At the dental practice of Glenn Reit DDS we like meeting new people and taking care of their teeth.  We are conveniently located at 1498 Third Avenue between 84thand 85th streets in Yorkville.  Call today 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!

You Should Check Your Dental Bridge Before You Lose Teeth

London Bridges Falling Down

Here in New York we have the Whitestone, Verrazano Narrows, Brooklyn and on and on bridges.  What happens to those bridges is that over time they fall apart.  Some people also have bridges in their mouths.  Back in the day when someone lost a tooth and needed a replacement a dental bridge was constructed.  This entailed connecting the adjacent teeth to the missing tooth together.  Sort of like when the Beatles sang; All Together Now or maybe not?

The problem with bridges is that the adjacent teeth have to support themselves and the missing teeth.  Over time the supporting teeth can become tired, cracked or decayed.  It is more difficult for a patient to keep a bridge clean vs. cleaning individual teeth.  The patient may not even realize this is happening.  So if you have a bridge it’s a good idea to visit a dentist like us to make sure all is well.

Today, with the advent of implants dental bridges are becoming a thing of the past.  Still viable and sometimes necessary, the advantage of the implant is that the adjacent teeth next to the missing tooth are not involved.

It is also possible to convert a dental bridge into an implant situation if the supporting teeth are in trouble.  Once accomplished keeping the area clean is a whole lot easier.

Need a dentist and you’re located on the Upper East Side of New York City?  Give us a call today at 212 517 9000.  We’re conveniently located at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th streets.  The 4,5,6 and Q subway lines are one block away and there is plenty of bus service on Third Avenue.

Even if you all need a cleaning and checkup we are here for you.  We like people and the teeth connected to them.  No one likes going to the dentist but we will make it a much better experience for you.  Call today 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!

To Scale or Not

When one hears the word scale what comes to mind is scaling a mountain but in dentistry it’s cleaning a surface generally the surface of a tooth. When you eat food residue remains in your mouth.  When food is broken down it releases sugars. Bacteria need sugar to survive and especially like warm dark places without oxygen.

Guess what?  That’s exactly the situation in your mouth.  It’s dark, warm with limited oxygen.   Therefore to maintain your dental health you need to floss and brush daily.

Think of your teeth as cubes or squares.  When you brush your teeth you are cleaning the top, front and back of the tooth.  However, you are not cleaning in between your teeth.  This is where dental floss that little string comes in.  The floss can get in between your teeth to clean out whatever you have packed in.

If you’re not flossing and brushing you’re leaving food which will eventually lead to cavities and gum disease.  That’s where we come in.  We will be able to help you restore your mouth to a healthy condition painlessly and quickly.

If things are good a simple cleaning which includes scaling where we remove any hard deposits on your teeth followed by a cleaning with toothpaste.  You and your mouth will feel a whole lot better.

 If things are not so good meaning that your gums are inflamed and bleeding a more advanced cleaning will be needed.  In this situation we will get the area anesthetized and then be able to clean the inflamed areas more thoroughly with you remaining in comfort.   Once accomplished, your gums will begin to heal up and your mouth will feel a whole lot fresher.

For most individuals gum disease does not hurt and this allows it to progressively get worse without the patient realizing it.  If left untreated; it will eventually come back to bite you.

At the dental practice of Glenn Reit DDS located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in Yorkville we like people and we also like teeth.  So if you have or even if you don’t have any teeth come on by – we’d like to meet you and resolve any oral problems you may have.

We’re right across from our very own Mickey Dees on Third Avenue between 84th and 85th streets.  So give us a call today at 212 517 9000 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!

Gum Disease and Pregnancy

Congratulations; you’re pregnant and your life is going to change for the better.   When you’re pregnant you want to maintain optimum health for you and your developing baby.  One area that needs to be addressed is your oral health.  During pregnancy your hormone levels drastically shift.  This shifting can affect the health of your mouth.   During this time you are much more susceptible to gum disease even if you have never had this problem before.

Concentrated oral hygiene on a daily basis is needed to keep your gums and teeth healthy.  Daily brushing and flossing is a must.  Visiting your dentist for professional cleans will be recommended by your obstetrician to maintain your oral health.

Gingival inflammation during pregnancy has a special name:  Pregnancy Gingivitis where your gums become swollen, red and inflamed.    Bacteria formed within your mouth at this time can actually affect your baby by entering and living inside of the placenta.

We recommend additional cleanings during your pregnancy.  Some insurance plans even allow for additional cleanings during this special time in your life.

If you are pregnant extra precautions are taken. We will first contact your obstetrician for their concerns before beginning any treatment.

At the dental practice of Glenn Reit DDS we are here for you during this special time.  We can easily be reached at 212 517 9000 located at 1498 Third Avenue on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

We’re excited for you as you progress towards that special day.

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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!

Can I Ignore a Cracked Tooth?

If you see a crack you must react. There is a difference between a craze line and a crack.  Everyone has craze lines on their teeth.  If you hold a light up to your teeth you will see fine lines on the surface of the teeth.  This is caused over time due to temperature differentials when you eat.   You bite into an ice cream cone and the ice cream is below 32 degrees.  You then immediately drink some coffee which could be at 90 degrees.  The immediate difference in temperature causes these lines to occur.

A crack however is much deeper and more apparent.  If you bite down on something and your tooth starts to hurt you may have a crack.  If you’re a grinder or clench meaning you bite down hard on your teeth or move your jaw back and forth while holding your teeth together a crack can only become worse.  Clenching and grinding is due to stress and if you can’t remove the stress we can help with a night guard.   

It’s like when your car’s windshield is hit with a rock sometimes it causes a chip while at other times the chip expands into a crack which progresses.  This is the condition with your teeth.   Sometimes a chip turns into a crack and can spread.  In a minor case it is seen and repaired quickly.  Left alone it can expand into the nerve requiring root canal therapy.  In the worst case it can fracture your tooth in half requiring the removal of the entire tooth. 

So if you see a crack go on the attack and give us a call at 212 517 9000 so we can treat your situation.

At the dental practice of Glenn Reit DDS located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in Yorkville we are seeing more patients with cracked teeth.  Most of us in the Big Apple are under increased stress due to Covid, the recession or just the pace of life here in the city.

 We like people and we like repairing teeth to health.  Give us a call.  We will be happy to meet with you.  We’ll give you alternatives to resolve your situation and tell you the costs involved so you can make an educated decision.  If you only need a cleaning we still would love to meet you.

We are conveniently located at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th streets.  The  4,5,6 and Q subway lines are within one block of the practice in addition to the 1st, 2nd,3rd and Lexington Avenue bus lines. So don’t delay 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

How can an FSA or HSA help with my dental care costs?

What is an HSA or FSA?

Both are employer- sponsored savings plans that allow you to put money away for your yearly healthcare expenses.  This is pre-tax dollars meaning you don’t have to pay income tax on any funds deposited into these accounts.  As an example if you are in a 30% tax bracket and you put one thousand dollars into one of these accounts you’ll save three hundred in federal taxes.  Usually your employer will provide you with a health savings debit card with the money you place already preloaded.

What can I use my HSA of FSA funds to pay for?

These accounts are used to pay for healthcare including dental care.  They can be used to cover the actual cost of any dental procedure or any co-insurance payments you are responsible for.

What is the difference between an HSA and FSA?

An HSA is a healthcare savings account.  They are not available for all individuals.  Generally they only pertain to insurance policies that have a high deductible and there are additional restrictions to its use.

An FSA is a flexible spending plan and has fewer restrictions for eligibility.

One big difference between an HSA and FSA plan is that HSA will follow you if you change employers while an FSA does not.  In addition any leftover funds in an FSA will not move forward to the following year.  If you do not use it you lose it.  With an HSA unused funds can be forwarded to next year.

If you need additional information your human resources department at your place of work will have all the details.   Many of our patients have these types of plans and successfully use them to cover part of their costs for dental treatments at our practice.

If you are in need of a dentist and the address of 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th streets are accessible to you, give us a call at 212 517 9000 and we are happy to meet with you.  At our practice we will listen to you and then diagnose your situation.  Multiple alternatives will be given and the price of each.  An informed patient can make a more accurate assessment of what dental choices work best for them.

We hope to meet with you in the near future to remedy your dental needs even if it’s just for an exam and 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.

Sinus vs Abscessed Tooth?

What is the sign us?

No directional sign here.  But, your sinus is the area in your head above your teeth which is an air cavity.  Think of it as your own internal cave system.  One of the problems with the sinus is when you are not feeling well the area may become full of fluid which can cause you pain and pressure.  When your sinus is filled with fluid your teeth can start to hurt.   The question is whether it is sinus pain or an abscessed tooth.

If a tooth develops decay and if the decay becomes large it can cause the nerve within the tooth to die causing your tooth to start to hurt. You may feel a throbbing pain or start waking up at night.  Your ear on the same side as the involved tooth may also begin to hurt.  If you have these symptoms you probably have an abscessed tooth which will need a root canal treatment to relieve the pain.

Other times if a tooth or several teeth on one side of your head begin to hurt it is due to inflammation of your sinus.  If your sinus fills with liquid it puts pressure on your teeth, especially the posterior ones with large roots that may be within your sinus.  Your teeth are connected to your jaw by ligaments.  Think shock absorbers.  So if your sinus is full the teeth are pushed a little out of their housings and when you chew your lower teeth start banging into them.  Sometimes the roots of the teeth become exposed making your teeth more sensitive to hot and cold.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms give us a call at 212 517 9000.   At the dental practice of Dr Glenn Reit, DDS we pride ourselves in helping you resolve your dental problems.   Conveniently located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in the 10028 zip code within one block of the 4,5,6 and Q subway lines, it is easy to access us.

If you are living in the 10021, 10075, or 10128 zip codes we are still within your area.  Just come up Third Avenue  between 84th and 85th streets directly across from McDonald’s and we are located in a five story brownstone on the second floor.

So, don’t delay. 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.

When your teeth come a knocking you won’t be rock in

Nobody wants the dreaded toothache but things happen. If you find yourself with an aching tooth you need to see someone. Getting you out of pain is one of our goals.

Most time pain occurs by not visiting the dentist on a regular basis. If you go to the dentist only when you are in pain this creates a negative cycle. If you are in pain we can help to relieve the situation and then move you in the right direction.

What causes dental pain; trauma from an accident or biting on a very hard substance or dental decay that has progressed into the nerve of your tooth.   Both decay and trauma can injure your tooth’s nerve.  Once injured the body is unable to repair the damage without intervention by a dental professional.

For you the patient the details may not be important rather get me out of pain.  Once comforted we can instruct you on how to keep your mouth and teeth healthy.

If you have just moved into the area or have resided on the Upper East Side for some time and are in need of a dentist we are here for you.  We have been doing dentistry for decades and have seen it all.

Your situation may be unique but your pain is universal.

So, if you need a dentist we are here for you. Located at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th street directly across from our own Upper East Side McDonalds is where you’ll find us.  Conveniently located adjacent to the 4,5,6 and Q subway lines and the Third and Second Avenue bus lines.

So don’t delay, call today 212 517 9000 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.

Do You Have a Tooth Ache?

Eastside, Westside all around the town.  You could live anywhere in the Big Apple.  10021, 10075, 10028, 10128, 10023 and get a toothache.  And oh when your tooth aches you want relief.  What causes a tooth to ache?  It could be that you have a hole in your tooth.  You have a holey tooth but what you feel will only inspire you to seek treatment.

If you do not brush or floss your teeth the outside of your tooth made of enamel can be compromised.  As food in your mouth breaks down acids are released.  If not removed these acids can leach and obtain access to the inside of your tooth.

The inside of your tooth is made of dentin which is not as strong as the enamel covering.  Once inside decay looks for areas that are warm, dark and have a continual source of food.  Your mouth is warm, dark and food is continually being consumed.

In the initial phase of decay you may not feel anything.  Over time you may become sensitive to cold.  If left untreated the decay will finally reach the nerve and then the infamous tooth ache will arrive.

We have been treating teeth for decades and when pain comes a knock in we’re here to get you back in tip top shape.  So if you’re howling and need relief give us a call.  We’ll get you right in and take care of your situation.

Over the next couple of blogs we will discuss other dental pain situations that can occur.  We are conveniently located in Yorkville at 1498 Third Avenue between 84th and 85th streets.

The Q, 4, 5, 6 subway lines have stops one block away from the office.  The M86, M79 and M101, M102, M103 and M15 bus lines also have stops very close to the practice.  Of course Uber and Taxi service will bring you right to our door.

We always run on time and will see you at the time of your appointment.  We like doing dentistry and meeting fellow New Yorkers.  If you are in need of a check up or have a dental emergency give us a call at 212 517 9000.  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.