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Fixing Your Smile vs. Keeping Your Smile Healthy | New York Dentist

We all think that if we want something fixed inside our mouth, we go to a dentist. But that isn’t always the case. The dental profession is broken up into many different segments, each having their own specialty inside your mouth. We all want a fantastic smile, but how you want your smile to look will define which dental specialty you will likely focus on – aesthetic or cosmetic.

There is a difference between cosmetic procedures and aesthetic procedures, and this is why – cosmetic dentistry will improve the look of your teeth, one of the bits that creates your smile (i.e., whitening or veneers). Aesthetic dentistry, on the other hand, deals more with your smile and the way it looks on your face. Think of cosmetic dentistry like playing college ball, aesthetic like going pro.

Another big difference between cosmetic and aesthetic dentistry is the end goal. Aesthetic dentistry uses techniques available to modern medicine to give you a more natural, healthy look. Aesthetic dentists use techniques like regular cleanings, root canal removal, and the restoration of teeth with fillings or bridges to make your teeth look normal and healthy. The goal is to give you healthy teeth that function properly so that you can look your best and eat and talk normally.

Cosmetic dentistry is a little different from aesthetic dentistry. Cosmetic dentistry uses more advanced and invasive methods to make your teeth look a little better than what is considered perfect. Cosmetic dentistry includes techniques like teeth whitening, braces, veneers and a wide variety of other techniques. The idea is to give you bright, white, straight teeth that are picture perfect.

If you have questions or concerns about improving your smile, make an appointment today with Dr. Schnall at 212-247-7059 or visit our website at www.philipschnalldmd.com.

Dr. Philip Schnall proudly serves New York and all surrounding areas.

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Getting Dental Appliances: The Aftermath | New York Dentist

When discussing your treatment options for a new smile, it is important to know that this may lead to the use of removable dental appliances, like dentures or bridges. If this is the case, you need not worry – your smile won’t look artificial like they did in the past; today’s dental advancements can now give you the most natural-looking smile possible. But once you receive this new smile, you are in charge of maintaining that it in between dental checkups. It isn’t your dentist’s job to maintain your smile – it’s yours.

After everything is done, you will receive a set of do’s and don’ts to follow – pay attention. These words of advice are not only going to ensure that your new smile is going to last as long as possible but will also prevent future issues due to the development of pathogens that can lead to oral thrush, pneumonia and other systemic diseases.

Many will soak their appliances in an over-the-counter solution dissolved in water. This is fine for aesthetic maintenance, but they do nothing for the harmful pathogens. Best solution is a nice soak in an all-purpose antimicrobial cleanser.

We know that toothpaste is necessary for proper dental hygiene, but it isn’t for removable dental appliances. Most toothpastes are too abrasive and can cause tiny scratches, and these tiny scratches are the perfect hiding place for bacteria and other fungal colonies.

In order to maintain your dental health while using dental appliances, make sure to thoroughly disinfect your appliances and clean the areas they are placed. No sense in keeping pristine dentures if you plan on placing them in an unclean mouth. Keeping both clean and disinfected will keep your renewed smile around for years to come.

If you have questions or concerns about dental appliances, make an appointment today with Dr. Schnall at 212-247-7059 or visit our website at www.philipschnalldmd.com.

Dr. Philip Schnall proudly serves New York and all surrounding areas.

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What Type of Bridge Will Bridge the Gap? | New York Dentist

There are many gorgeously constructed bridges in the world. Not only do they look beautiful, but they serve a beautiful purpose – to connect two things far apart together. When we have spaces in our teeth, it can cause us to feel self-conscious about our smiles. Luckily, there are plenty of treatment options to choose from when deciding to fix it. One of these options will be a dental bridge.

A dental bridge is a false tooth or set of false teeth held in place by abutment teeth on both sides of the gap. They come in a variety of styles, from gold to a natural-looking porcelain. But did you know there are different variations? Here is a quick rundown:

Traditional. The more traditional, this style of bridge is held in place by crowns that have been cemented to the abutment teeth on either side of the gap.

Cantilever. The teeth on a cantilever bridge are held on by a dental crown, but unlike the traditional version, only one crown as you only need one natural tooth.

Maryland. The Maryland bridge is closer to the traditional version, as it needs two natural teeth, but this particular bridge is bonded onto the natural teeth, not crowns.

Implant-supported. The strongest and most stable variation is based on dental implants. The bridge is supported by dental implants on either side. The only real downfall is that it takes multiple visits to complete.

If you have one or more missing teeth and think it’s time to get it fixed, make sure to ask about dental bridges as possible treatment options.

If you have questions or concerns about dental bridges, make an appointment today with Dr. Philip Schnall at 212-247-7059 or visit our website at www.philipschnalldmd.com.

Dr. Schnall proudly serves New York and all surrounding areas.