Pound Ridge Cosmetic Dentistry

WHAT IS A COSMETIC DENTIST? A cosmetic dentist brings an understanding of esthetics to every procedure she undertakes. Once a dentist knows and employs cosmetic principles in her practice, as Dr. Smith does, everything she does is at a higher level – even routine fillings are done to a higher standard. Dr. Smith is an experienced, gifted cosmetic dentist. THAT PERFECT SMILE Each patient’s smile is unique and to help her patients achieve a beautiful smile Dr. Smith has an expert understanding of facial anatomy and esthetics. She looks at the face, the shape of the lips, teeth, gums, and skin tone. And of course, she considers the person’s desires and goals before advising on a strategy. In addition to improving the appearance of your teeth, a smile makeover may involve other cosmetic procedures. To achieve a perfect smile that meets the criteria of proper esthetics cosmetic dentists use the golden proportion guideline, a specific geometric proportion based on nature. The idea is to try to create symmetry between each side of the face. In fact, most top paid models have almost perfect symmetry, a mirror image, between the right and left sides of their faces. UPDATED VENEERS With today’s enhanced cosmetic porcelain and ceramics Dr. Smith is able to create veneers and crowns that are biomimetic meaning they match the properties of natural teeth. They have optical properties that closely mimic porcelain to create natural looking teeth that absorb light and have translucency and warmth similar to natural teeth. And, if you had veneers done 10 or 15 years ago, we can talk about redoing them with these new improved materials.

WHAT IS RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY? Restorative dentistry is the management of oral health problems and restoring the mouth to a functional and esthetic state. The procedures used include fillings, veneers, crowns, bridges, dentures, and dental implants. RESTORING TEETH AND YOUR SMILE A cosmetic dentist like Dr. Smith works in concert with her patients and brings her skills and understanding of esthetics of dentistry to restoration procedures to guarantee beautiful outcomes. Employing advanced techniques and biocompatible materials like composite (white) fillings and porcelain veneers and crowns, Dr. Smith carefully assesses the characteristics and needs of each tooth so when the restoration is complete, your smile looks healthy again. Repairing existing teeth with fillings, veneers, or crowns and replacing missing teeth with an implant, bridge or denture helps promote dental health. Filling in empty spaces in the mouth can help prevent cavities because plaque tends to build up in the gaps. Missing teeth also put stress on your remaining natural teeth because you don’t have properly aligned surface areas on which to chew. The goal is to preserve natural teeth as much as possible! From our blog: Learn about an innovative solution for replacing full rows of teeth, Hybrid Implant Dentures

ORAL HEALTH – PREVENTION & CLEANINGS Good dental health starts at home with good oral hygiene (brushing and flossing) and a balanced diet. It is continued in the dental office through the efforts of your dentist to promote, restore, and maintain your oral health. This also includes regular dental exams, cleanings, fluoride treatments, and x-rays. COMPREHENSIVE DENTAL EXAM Dr. Smith starts every dental evaluation with a discussion about the goals and needs of her patient. Do you have specific oral health needs that need to be corrected? Do you have questions you want to discuss? As Dr. Smith examines your teeth, she will create a plan to transform them into a winning smile. She will examine you, your teeth, and your mouth to: Assess your overall medical and oral health Look for signs of tooth decay and gum disease Evaluate your existing restorations Conduct an oral cancer screening Review dental x-rays And an office visit may include preventative cleaning, application of sealants and a fluoride treatment to help you keep your mouth free of tooth decay and gum disease. HOME CARE Your personal oral care starts by eating balanced meals, reducing the number of sugary snacks you eat, and correctly using your toothbrush and floss to help control plaque and bacteria. You can help reduce plaque if you brush and floss regularly. If this sticky layer of food and bacteria is allowed to build up, it can have serious consequences for your teeth and gums. Tooth brushing – Brush your teeth at least twice a day (especially before going to bed at night). If you have trouble brushing, try an electric toothbrush. Flossing – Daily flossing is the best way to clean between the teeth. Flossing helps clean these spaces and it prevents plaque from building up, reducing the chances of damage to the gums, teeth, and bone. Rinsing – It is important to rinse your mouth with water after brushing, and also after meals if you are unable to brush.

Dr. Helaine Smith is excited to welcome more and more young families to Pound Ridge and the surrounding areas. Dr. Mensah, who is a mother of two young children, knows the struggles when it comes to at-home oral hygiene, and would like to share some of her oral care routines and tips. When should your child first visit the dentist? Ideally, a child should visit a dentist by 1 year old. This may seem very early, considering some children might not even have teeth by then! However, pediatric dentistry is not only about looking for cavities, it’s really about anticipatory guidance. What this means is giving you, as a parent, tips and tricks on when to brush, how to brush, what toothpaste to use, if vitamins with fluoride should be given, the best snacks and drinks to give your children, when to stop using pacifiers and bottles, when you intervene to stop habits, when to start flossing, to identify tongue or lip ties, to identify if they have the correct number and sequence of baby teeth, etc. It’s really about catching things early and taking care of the child’s mouth as a whole before things turn into potentially bigger issues. All recommendations are given based on child’s age, their development, and their environment. We really hope for children to simply have check ups every six months until they graduate from pediatrics and start seeing an adult dentist. The more likely they come in for preventative services, the less likely they are to need treatment. The less treatment children receive at a young age, the more likely they have a happy and healthy relationship with their dentist and their teeth. What should I expect at my child’s first dental visit? A child’s first visit often involves a lot of anticipatory guidance, which was mentioned above and is based on their age and development. It involves a multitude of questions about the child’s medical history, diet, habits, oral hygiene, developmental milestones they’ve reached, precious accidents that involved the mouth, and any concerns the parent may have coming into the visit. Subsequently, the dentist will perform a comprehensive exam, a cleaning and fluoride varnish. Often times with behavior and underlying medical conditions, some aspects of the visit may be a little different to cater to the needs of the child. For instance, a child with autism who has sensory issues may not be comfortable with a tool that make a loud noise, so other methods may be considered to have the child complete the visit but also be comfortable. Why Choose Pound Ridge Cosmetic Dentistry as your Pediatric Dentist? It’s always nice and convenient to have all members of the family be seen in one office, so it’s incredible that at Pound Ridge Cosmetic Dentistry all members of the family including children can be seen. General dentists’ training in pediatrics is limited to their dental school experiences. A pediatric dentist has at least two years of additional training in a hospital based or hospital affiliated program that is rigorous and limited to seeing children, including children with medical and special needs. It often includes various new techniques and materials for delivering the best options for your children with minimal trauma as necessary. Because pediatric dentists treat children all day every day, they are exposed to all different behaviors and conditions that general dentists often aren’t well versed in. Pediatric dentists are trained to be patient, mindful of a child’s behavior and explore options that are best for your child and your family depending on factors we discuss. General dentists often refer children to pediatric dentists if they cannot cooperate or have behavioral issues or if the child needs treatment to be rendered and are not equipped to deliver it. It would be best to bypass all this by having your child seen at a young age (1 year old) so we can monitor all their conditions and so they can build a relationship with their pediatric dentist and trust them when the time comes for treatment to be delivered. That’s what builds a healthy lifelong commitment to oral heath and positive experiences. Schedule a Consultation Brushing and Flossing Start Early Before your child has teeth, you can use a wet washcloth or silicone finger toothbrush to massage the gums. Once teeth are visible, use a rice size toothpaste on a soft bristle toothbrush. Make brushing a routine Just like everything else, children like structure. Children will want to brush and floss once it is part of the routine. Brushing tips Upper teeth Lift the upper lip gently and try to block the frenum from being brushed against. Lower teeth Retract the lip, you can use the back of the toothbrush to block the tongue.

Cold sores are annoying and unsightly and last about a week. We can help reduce the duration of the outbreak and the pain associated with a lesion by using a diode laser's energy. The process takes approximately two minutes and is painless. Outbreaks of cold sores tend to happen when the immune system is weakened: during or after an illness, during menstruation, when an individual is under stress or their lip is sunburned or injured. There are several topical treatment options available over-the-counter and prescription strength to hasten healing and lessen pain. It is also possible for a person to have the herpes virus without visible cold sores. Do lasers really work on cold sores? Yes they do! Evidence demonstrates the efficacy of laser use in the treatment of herpetic lesions. In a double-blind study, Brignardello-Peterson6 used a low level laser on 60 patients; the control group received no laser therapy. Results showed a reduction of healing time for participants receiving laser treatment for a herpes labialis lesion. Participants reported less pain and a reduction in lesion size, compared to the group that did not receive laser therapy. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 50 participants with herpes labialis lesions, De Paula Eduardo et al9 found a significant reduction in healing time and a decrease in the recurrence of herpes lesions. Namar et al8 reported a reduction in microorganisms post-laser therapy, resulting in faster healing. It remains unclear whether healing time improved due to exposure of the actual phototoxicity or the indirect thermal changes. The researchers suggest that healing time will vary depending on the use of longer or shorter settings on the laser wand. How does a diode laser treat cold sores? The heat energy from a diode laser breaks down the virus and allows for healing to occur within two days. The laser energy kills the surface virus, thus inactivating the lesion. In this process, nerve endings are cauterized, allowing the patient’s symptoms to resolve. The reduction in healing time is due to the process of photo biomodulation (PBM), a form of infrared light therapy at a specific wavelength that stimulates cells to produce natural healing and reduce pain. Wound healing is increased by the formation of fibroblasts, motility of human keratinocytes, promotion of early epithelization, and enhancement of neovascularization. Schedule your Cold Sore Treatment Consultation In Pound Ridge, NY! Be sure to give our Pound Ridge, NY office a call at 914-764-3540 to book your one-on-one cold sore treatment consultation! Or, you can fill out the form in our contact page to set up your meeting with one of our dentists. Our practice looks forward to serving you!

Periodontics is a branch of dentistry that treats conditions and diseases of the teeth's supporting structures, especially the gums. Periodontists commonly treat severe cases of oral inflammation, including gum disease. Periodontic Specialties Periodontics typically focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease, commonly known as gum disease. Gum disease is a broad term that encompasses several different conditions. Periodontists treat different phases of gum disease, including: Gingivitis Gingivitis is a mild form of periodontal disease that causes the gums to swell, redden, and bleed easily due to inflammation. Gingivitis often results from a buildup of plaque and bacteria on the teeth caused by poor hygiene. It may also be a side effect of certain drugs or infections, or poor nutrition. Patients do not usually experience pain or discomfort, but should seek prompt treatment when symptoms arise because of potential complications. Periodontitis Periodontitis often develops as a result of untreated gingivitis. If plaque spreads below the gum line, it can create toxins that may chronically inflame the gums and bone, eventually destroying them. Periodontitis can lead to the formation of pockets that are susceptible to frequent infections, and can continue to destroy the gums and bone. There are several types of periodontitis, some of which include: Aggressive periodontitis This condition occurs most often in healthy patients who have a sudden onset of the disease, and experience rapid bone destruction and pocket formation. Chronic periodontitis Chronic periodontitis is the most common form of the disease. It results in progressive detachment and bone loss, gradually causing pocket formation and gum recession. Periodontitis from systemic diseases Periodontitis sometimes develops as a side effect of other conditions such as heart disease, respiratory disease and diabetes. These cases usually begin at a young age. Necrotizing periodontal disease This condition is an infection caused by necrosis of the supporting structures within the teeth, and commonly affects people with other systemic conditions. Periodontic Treatment Periodontists perform different procedures and, at times, surgery, to treat different conditions within the mouth and gums. Procedures that a periodontist may perform include: Scaling and Root Planing This is a deep-cleaning method that removes bacteria from below the gum line and the tooth root. A local anesthetic may be used to numb the gums and the roots of the teeth. Root Surface Debridement This is a procedure to remove damaged tissue. Debridement may be performed using ultrasonic instruments or hand tools. Flap Surgery This is a procedure that lifts away gum tissue so that it can be cleaned underneath. It is often performed when gum disease cannot be cured by antibiotics, or by root planing and scaling. Gum or Bone Grafts Gum or bone grafts may be performed to help regenerate bone or gum tissue that has been damaged or lost due to periodontitis. Dental Implants When patients lose teeth as a result of periodontal disease or other reasons, they may choose dental implants to restore the missing teeth. Dental implants are a major part of periodontics because they are fused to the bone within the gums. Implants act as a natural root for replacement structures, and require the same care and prevention against periodontal disease as other teeth. Many people are affected by periodontal disease and gum-related conditions. It is important to see a periodontist promptly if experiencing signs of gum disease to prevent more serious complications from occurring.