Michael Iott Dental Blog

Periodontal therapy is the process of treating periodontal disease, or infection of the tissues that support your teeth. Periodontal diseases attack just below the gum line between the teeth and the gums, where they cause the attachment of the tooth and its supporting tissues to break down.

Periodontal diseases are classified according to the severity of the disease. Gingivitis is a milder and reversible form of periodontal disease that only affects the gums. However, gingivitis may lead to a more serious and damaging form of periodontal disease called periodontitis.

The factors that increase the risk of developing periodontal disease are:

• Cigarette smoking or tobacco chewing
• Certain diseases such as diabetes
• Certain types of medication such as steroids, anti-epilepsy drugs, cancer therapy drugs, calcium channel blockers and oral contraceptives
• Bridges that no longer fit properly
• Crooked teeth
• Fillings that have become defective

Warnings signs that can indicate periodontal disease:

• Gums that bleed easily
• Red, swollen or tender gums
• Gums that appear to have pulled away from the teeth
• Persistent bad breath or bad taste in the mouth
• Teeth that are loose or separating
• Any change in the way your "bite"
• Any change in the fit of dentures

Because it's possible to have periodontal disease with no warning signs or symptoms, I advise all my patients on the importance of regular dental checkups and periodontal examinations. Good oral hygiene at home is also essential to help keep periodontal disease from becoming more serious or from coming back after it has been treated.

If you have any questions about detecting or treating periodontal disease, please call us for more information.

Periodontal therapy is the process of treating periodontal disease, or infection of the tissues that support your teeth. Periodontal diseases attack just below the gum line between the teeth and the gums, where they cause the attachment of the tooth and its supporting tissues to break down.

Periodontal diseases are classified according to the severity of the disease. Gingivitis is a milder and reversible form of periodontal disease that only affects the gums. However, gingivitis may lead to a more serious and damaging form of periodontal disease called periodontitis.

The factors that increase the risk of developing periodontal disease are:

• Cigarette smoking or tobacco chewing
• Certain diseases such as diabetes
• Certain types of medication such as steroids, anti-epilepsy drugs, cancer therapy drugs, calcium channel blockers and oral contraceptives
• Bridges that no longer fit properly
• Crooked teeth
• Fillings that have become defective

Warnings signs that can indicate periodontal disease:

• Gums that bleed easily
• Red, swollen or tender gums
• Gums that appear to have pulled away from the teeth
• Persistent bad breath or bad taste in the mouth
• Teeth that are loose or separating
• Any change in the way your "bite"
• Any change in the fit of dentures

Because it's possible to have periodontal disease with no warning signs or symptoms, I advise all my patients on the importance of regular dental checkups and periodontal examinations. Good oral hygiene at home is also essential to help keep periodontal disease from becoming more serious or from coming back after it has been treated.

If you have any questions about detecting or treating periodontal disease, please call us for more information.

A root canal is a treatment used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or becomes infected. During a root canal procedure, I will remove the nerve and pulp and clean and seal the inside of your tooth.

How do you know if you need a root canal? While sometimes no symptoms are present, signs to look for include:

• Severe toothache pain upon chewing
• Pain upon application of pressure
• Prolonged sensitivity or pain to hot or cold temperatures (after the hot or cold has been removed)
• Discoloration or darkening of the tooth
• Swelling and tenderness in the nearby gum areas
• A persistent or recurring pimple on the gum areas

Root canals don't have to make you nervous In fact, with today's technology and advancements in general dentistry techniques, root canals are virtually painless and simple procedures.

If you are a family member need a root canal, please don't delay and contact us today for more information.

Dental implants are one of the most rewarding dental procedures to perform because they make the most impact on a patient's life. Where before someone may hide their smile behind their hand, or just not smile at all, because they were embarrassed about their missing teeth, with dental implants all that can be fixed.

If you are missing any teeth due to trauma or decay, dental implants offer an aesthetically pleasing way to replace them. While high-tech in nature, dental implants are so successful at replicating your natural teeth in appearance and feel, you will hardly remember you lost a tooth.

In simplest terms, a dental implant is an artificial tooth root that I will place in the your jaw to anchor a replacement tooth. Implants provide a strong foundation for fixed (permanent) or removable replacement teeth and are designed to exactly match your natural teeth in color, shape and transluscence.

Dental implants are a safe and effective way to significantly improve your smile and boost your self-esteem. To learn more about dental implants, please call us today for more information.

The application of dental veneers is one of the most popular cosmetic dentistry procedures today and it’s no wonder. With porcelain veneers, your smile can be dramatically improved in as little as two office visits, leaving with you with a healthier, more aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Porcelain veneers are thin shells of ceramic bonded to your tooth. By itself, porcelain is a naturally delicate substance, but once it’s firmly attached to your tooth it becomes amazingly strong and sturdy.

Porcelain veneers are commonly used to:

• Repair minor tooth imperfections and defects
• Correct crooked or overlapping teeth
• Conceal stained or discolored fillings
• Whiten and brighten teeth with permanent stains
• Close the gaps between teeth

With porcelain veneers, your teeth imperfections can be a thing of the past and you can start enjoying your new, sparkling smile.

If you are ready to improve your smile and self-esteem, please call us today to see if porcelain veneers are right for you. With porcelain veneers, a beautiful, straight, white smile can be yours in as little as two visits.

Temporomandibular jaw disorder, or TMD, is a broad term for a collection of jaw conditions caused by problems with the temporomandibular joint. This is the ball and socket joint that allows the lower jaw to open close and move sideways while chewing or speaking. When there the chewing muscles or jaw joints do not work together correctly, you may experience problems such as:

• Unexplained pain in the face, jaw or teeth
• Limitations in jaw movement

Identifying and treating TMD is one of the most rewarding parts of our practice. Sometimes, with just a simple adjustment to a patient's bite, relief from TMD pain and discomfort can be immediate. In my practice, treatment for TMD usually involves relaxation of the jaw muscles and restoration of the jaw joint back to its unstrained position. This can involve the utilization of plastic appliances or other adjustment of the teeth to correct any misalignments of the bite.

Many people don't even know that they have TMD, but attribute their pain to other causes such as migraine or stress. Ask yourself if you suffer from any of the following:

• Dull pain in your jaw joint or surrounding areas
• Problems using your jaw or inability to open the mouth comfortably
• Clicking or grating sounds from your jaw joint
• Locking of your jaw upon opening the mouth
• A bite that feels uncomfortable or misaligned
• Headache or neck, shoulder or back pain
• Swelling of you jaw or on the side of your face
• Dizziness
• Ringing in your ears or hearing loss

If any of this sounds familiar, please contact me today to schedule a consultation.

The possible heath hazards of amalgam fillings continue to be a source of controversy throughout the dental and medical fields. Because dental amalgam is a source of low-level mercury exposure, concerns have been raised about whether amalgam increases the risk of migraines, erethism, multiple sclerosis, and other chronic health problems.

Both the American Dental Association Council on Scientific Affairs and the National Institutes of Health have stated that amalgam fillings pose no personal health risk. However, other organizations and researchers have found and continue to find evidence to the contrary.

It is widely known that mercury (current amalgams contain roughly 40% mercury) is a highly toxic metal. Even low-exposure levels can pose health hazards over time. It is our opinion that no mercury exposure is good mercury exposure. There are better technologies available that produce far better results than amalgam. Therefore, no amalgam fillings are done in our office.

Amalgam and other conventional fillings have been known to reduce the strength of a natural tooth by up to 50 percent. Our CEREC 3 technology can produce a filling that can last from 15 to 30 years and actually increase the strength of a tooth by up to 75 percent.

Amalgam fillings are old-fashioned and, we believe, not worth any of the associated risks. Please contact Dr. Michael Iott & Associates today if you’re in the NYC area and need a filling, or to learn more about our CEREC 3 technology.