How to Avoid Dental Abscesses

Dental abscesses are one of the most painful conditions that can affect your teeth and gums. If you think you may have a dental abscess, it’s important to see a dentist right away so that the infection can be treated and the pain relieved. Read on to learn more about dental abscesses and what to do.

What Are Dental Abscesses?

A dental abscess is an infection that can occur around the teeth and gums. This infection is often the result of bacteria that enters the mouth through a tooth or gum injury. The bacteria then multiply and cause an abscess, which is a pus-filled pocket that forms at the site of the infection.

Dental abscesses can be extremely painful and may require treatment by a dentist or other medical professional. If left untreated, dental abscesses can lead to serious health complications such as sepsis (a potentially life-threatening condition caused by infection).

What Are the Symptoms of Dental Abscesses?

The symptoms of dental abscesses can vary depending on where the infection is located. The most common symptom of a dental abscess is severe pain. This pain is often described as throbbing or pulsating and may be worse when lying down or when pressure is applied to the affected tooth. Other symptoms of a dental abscess include:

• Swelling in the face, jaw, or neck

• Redness in the mouth or on the skin around the mouth

• Sensitivity to hot or cold temperatures

• Bad breath

• Fever

How Are Dental Abscesses Diagnosed?

If you think you might have a dental abscess, it is important to see a dentist right away. Your dentist will ask about your symptoms and medical history. They will then examine your mouth, teeth, and gums. X-rays may be taken to confirm the diagnosis.

How Are Dental Abscesses Caused?

Dental abscesses are usually caused by bacteria that enters the tooth through a crack or cavity. Once the bacteria gets inside, it can start to multiply and cause an infection.

What Are the Risks of Abscesses?

If left untreated, dental abscesses can lead to more serious health problems such as: sepsis (a blood infection), meningitis (an infection of the brain and spinal cord), and even death.

How Can I Prevent Dental Abscesses?

Dental abscesses can be painful and dangerous, so it’s important to take steps to avoid them. Park 56 Dental in New York City offers the following tips:

• Brush and floss regularly. This helps remove plaque and bacteria from your teeth and gums, which can lead to an infection.
• See your dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings. This allows your dentist to spot any problems early and take steps to prevent an infection.
• If you have a toothache, don’t wait to see a dentist. This could be a sign of an infection.
• If you have an injury to your mouth, see a dentist right away. An injury can lead to an infection if not treated properly.
• Eat a healthy diet. This helps keep your immune system strong, which can help fight off infection.

How Can Park 56 Dental in NYC Help Treat my Dental Abscess?

The treatment for a dental abscess will depend on the severity of the infection. In some cases, the abscess may need to be drained by a dentist or other medical professional. The pus that is drained from the abscess will usually contain bacteria, so it is important that the area is cleaned thoroughly to prevent the infection from spreading. In some cases, antibiotics may be prescribed to help clear the infection. In some cases, they may also need to perform a root canal procedure to remove the infected tooth. If the abscess is large or does not respond to treatment, surgery may be necessary.

If you think you may have a dental abscess, don’t wait to get it treated. Call Park 56 Dental today at (646) 679-3989 to schedule an appointment.

Dental Emergency: What to Do When a Tooth Gets Knocked Out

Did you know that more than five million teeth are knocked out every year in children and adults? If this happens to one of your loved ones, don’t worry! Quick action can improve your odds of saving the tooth.

Causes of Knocked Out Teeth

Teeth get knocked out for various reasons that all involve an impact to the face. Most often, a tooth becomes knocked out during a contact sport when the participant failed to wear a mouthguard. The most common ways that teeth get knocked out include:

• Sports injuries
• Car accidents
• A fight
• Tripping or falling

Sports-related oral trauma ranges from a chipped tooth to having a tooth completely knocked out. By taking quick action, caretakers can make a big difference on salvaging the damage.

Preserving a Knocked-Out Tooth

Many are unaware that a tooth can be saved even if it is knocked out. Learn what to do immediately after a tooth is knocked out so you can restore your prior smile’s beauty. The following steps are recommended by the American Association of Endodontists to save a tooth that has been knocked out:

1. Delicately pick up the lost tooth by the crown (also known as the chewing surface.)
2. Use water to rinse the tooth. Only water, nothing else.
3. Gently replace the tooth in the original socket at once. Keep it in place with your fingers or by biting down softly.
4. Keep the tooth moist in your mouth. If it won’t stay in the socket, place in next to your cheek in your mouth, or in a small container of milk.
5. Visit your dentist, endodontist, or emergency department within 30 minutes of the accident. (Some teeth can still be saved if it has been outside the mouth for more than hour but contact your dental provider for specific instructions.)

In the dentist’s office or emergency department, the tooth will either be re-implanted or splinted to the nearby teeth for a period of two-eight weeks. A root canal procedure will be needed for long-term survival of the tooth.

Other Reasons a Tooth May Fall Out

If you lose a tooth due to periodontal disease, the steps listed above will not save the tooth. Prevent this type of tooth loss by proactively visiting your dentist every six months and performing the proper oral care steps at home.

Park 56 Dental offers same-day emergency appointments to get you the critical care you need when a tooth is knocked out. We understand that dental injuries require immediate, personalized care to put your mind at ease and to restore your smile.

Contact us today at (646) 679-3989 if you have any questions about a dental emergency or what to do. Your safety and well-being are our first priority!

How to Find the Perfect Dentist

When you’re looking for a dentist, the number of options available can be overwhelming. Factor in anxiety about going to the dentist, and it’s easy to see how finding a dentist could seem like a daunting task. Don’t worry! We’ve got some tips to help you find the perfect dentist for you and your family.

• Ask people you trust. Word of mouth can be the most effective way to find the right dentist. Make a list of dentists recommended to you by family members, close friends, co-workers, and your primary care physician. Don’t worry too much about whether the dentists are in your network; you can often maximize your insurance benefits out of network. Armed with your list, you can begin to narrow the search.
• Find a full-service dentist. Don’t choose a dental practice with limited specializations. Rather, look for one who performs a wide range of services, all in one practice. You don’t want to have to go through the process again when you need a different kind of dental work.
• Check the dentist’s credentials. Make sure your dentist is board certified and has a current state license as well as a clean disciplinary history. Healthgrades.com and your state website will have information about your dentist’s medical school, training hospital, certifications, and malpractice and disciplinary history. Look for solid credentials and plenty of experience.
• Read online reviews but don’t put too much stock in them. Patient reviews can give some insight into how the dental practice is operated. On the other hand, online reviews can be manipulated. Read them, taking note of what patients have to say, but pay special attention to the dentist’s responses to the reviews. If the dental practice responds in a positive way to online reviews, regardless of whether the review is positive or negative, it indicates that the dentists in the practice care about their patient.
• Tour the office. While you’re there, ask questions about things like office hours, technology, the dentists’ training, continuing education, their approach to preventive dentistry, emergency appointments, and financing. Note the cleanliness of the office, friendliness of the staff, and willingness to answer questions.
• Think about your personal preferences. Do you prefer a dentist of a certain gender? Are telehealth appointments important to you? Which dental services do you believe you’ll need most often? Is flexible scheduling a priority for you? When you meet a dentist who checks all the boxes and makes you feel comfortable, that’s probably the perfect dentist for you!

If you’re looking for the perfect dentist, choose the practice that was voted best dentist in NYC! At Park 56 Dental Group, we offer pediatric, prosthodontics, endodontics, oral surgery, Invisalign®, emergency, and sedation dentistry, all at the highest level of treatment. We serve the Midtown, Central Park, Upper East Side, Park Avenue, and all surrounding Manhattan and New York areas, with a patient-centered practice that has hours to fit your schedule. Schedule your complimentary consultation today by contacting us online or calling us at (212) 826-2322.

Being Voted NYC’s Best Dentist

If you’re looking for the best dentist in NYC, look no further than Park 56 Dental Group. We’ve been voted NYC’s best dentist, and it’s no wonder. We provide personalized, quality dental care to a clientele that appreciates our comfortable, spa-like environment.

Our status as the best dentist is confirmed by our many five-star reviews. Clients say we’re “very thoughtful, caring and all around well organized”, “kind and wonderful”, “compassionate and professional”, and that our practice “makes going to the dentist a pleasure”. One customer characterized our staff by saying the “entire office was informative, compassionate and worked together like a team.” What makes us the best dentist in NYC? We think it’s a combination of several factors.

• Comprehensive Services: We provide routine dental services and so much more! Taking care of your teeth is an important part of caring for your overall health, so visiting the dentist regularly is vital. We provide oral cancer screenings for your peace of mind, and our cleanings and oral exams can save you from dental care problems and a wide range of health issues. We also offer pediatric, prosthodontics, endodontics, oral surgery, Invisalign®, emergency and sedation dentistry
• Expert Cosmetic Dentistry: Our restorative dentistry will improve your smile and boost your confidence. The services we provide include teeth whitening, contouring/tooth reshaping, bonding, bridges, veneers, dental implants, tooth colored fillings, and smile makeovers.
• Quality Care in a Comfortable Facility: We’re committed to providing your entire family with safe, gentle, high-quality dental care. We’re sensitive to your needs and want you to be comfortable while we provide you with the best care possible. Feel free to stop by our office and take a tour of our facilities.
• Patient-centered Practice: Our knowledgeable, compassionate dentists and staff excel at providing personalized care, and we’ll work together to meet your individual needs. We’ll answer any questions you may have, providing expert advice, and we’ll help if you struggle with dental anxiety. We want you to feel comfortable, safe, and relaxed at our office, and we even offer sedation dentistry for patients who request it. You can meet our team, take a walk through our office and treatment areas, and learn more about the treatments we provide.

If you want to trust your dental care to the very best dentist in NYC, call Park 56 Dental Group. We offer pediatric, prosthodontics, endodontics, oral surgery, Invisalign®, emergency, and sedation dentistry, all at the highest level of treatment. We serve the Midtown, Central Park, Upper East Side, Park Avenue, and all surrounding Manhattan and New York areas, with a patient-centered practice that has hours to fit your schedule. Schedule your complimentary consultation today by contacting us online or calling us at (212) 826-2322.

How Often Should You Be Going to the Dentist?

How often do you see your dentist? About one hundred million Americans skip out on regular dental checkups, even though seeing a dentist regularly is vital for good oral health. Your dentist probably encourages you to come twice a year, but is that really necessary?

Truthfully, there’s little research supporting the twice a year recommendation. So, how often should you be going to the dentist? It depends on a few factors. Some people need to go to the dentist more than twice a year. This high-risk group includes pregnant women, smokers, people prone to plaque build-up or cavities, those who have gum disease or diabetes, and anyone with a weak immune response. People who practice excellent oral hygiene and show no signs of gum disease or cavities may be able to get away with going to the dentist less often than twice a year, but that is something to discuss with the dentist.

Even if you’re diligent about brushing twice a day and flossing daily, seeing your dentist regularly is important. That’s because dentists and dental hygienists can spot problems you can’t see and prevent them from becoming major issues. When you go to the dentist, here’s what you can expect:

• X-rays: At the beginning of your appointment, the dental hygienist will take any x-rays you need so that the dentist can look at them while your teeth are being cleaned.
• Cleaning and Polishing: Using scalers and other dental tools, the hygienist will gently remove plaque and tartar from tooth surfaces and just below the gum line. Your teeth will then be polished with a paste, and the hygienist will floss between your teeth. During the cleaning, the hygienist will let you know if there are any areas to which you need to pay more attention when brushing and flossing, and instruct you on proper brushing and flossing techniques.
• Oral cancer screening: By examining your palate, tongue, throat, inside of cheeks, and other parts of your oral cavity and feeling the outside of your jaw and throat, your dentist will be able to spot any signs of cancer. Because oral cancer is most successfully treated when detected early, this screening is very important.
• Cavity detection: The dentist will examine your teeth for cracks, chips, decay or other damage, and the hygienist will chart any teeth that require treatment.
• Gum assessment: Your dentist will check for signs of gingivitis or periodontal disease. Gum disease is reversible when detected in the early stages.
• Dental appliance check: Because dental appliances don’t last forever, the dentist will check to see if anything needs replacing.

At Park 56 Dental Group, we offer pediatric, prosthodontics, endodontics, oral surgery, Invisalign®, emergency, and sedation dentistry, all at the highest level of treatment. We serve the Midtown, Central Park, Upper East Side, Park Avenue, and all surrounding Manhattan and New York areas, with a patient-centered practice that has hours to fit your schedule. Schedule your complimentary consultation today by contacting us online or calling us at (212) 826-2322.

Should You Visit the Dentist During the Coronavirus Pandemic?

For several weeks in early 2020, dentists in New York City and elsewhere across the globe were required to stop providing non-urgent care in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic. As we resume our “new normal,” many patients are asking—is it still too early to visit the dentist?

Rest assured that the American Dental Association (ADA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are now allowing patients to return to the dentist for routine cleanings, cosmetic dentistry, and other elective services—with a few changes in place. Here’s what you should know before visiting the dentist during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Is My Dentist’s Office Safe?

Germs are everywhere, but healthcare facilities, including dentist’s offices, have always been among the cleanest places you could go. Many safety guidelines have been the norm for years, including regularly washing your hands, sterilizing tools, and discarding certain gear and needles after a single use.

In light of the pandemic, many dentists, including Park 56 Dental in NYC, are doing even more. Here are some of the steps we’re taking to ensure patient safety and comfort:

• Conducting pre-visit health screenings and contactless temperature checks for all visitors and staff
• Making masks and hand sanitizer available upon request
• Staggering check-ins to minimize wait times and help maintain social distancing
• Holding virtual appointments to answer questions or conduct follow-ups

How “Essential” are Dentist Visits?

The fact that dentist offices were shut down for everything but emergency procedures could make some people think that routine teeth cleanings aren’t that important. However, the condition of your teeth and gums can greatly impact your overall health. In fact, putting off routine cleanings could compound dental problems and other health issues in the months and years to come.

The practical precautions that dentist offices are currently taking are effective at reducing the risk of coronavirus transmission while allowing you to care for your teeth and gums. Skipping your appointments any longer than necessary is simply not worth the risk to your oral health.

What to Consider Before Going to the Dentist

Social distancing is the best way to slow the spread of the coronavirus. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should self-isolate for 14 days. In short, cancel your dentist appointment if you’re not feeling well. You’ll be sent home if you come in with a cough, fever, or shortness of breath. You should also stay home if you think you have been around anyone who has the coronavirus, whether or not they have tested positive.

Park 56 Dental in NYC is open for business! Anything that can be done remotely, such as payments or health questionnaires, will be handled over the phone or via email. We are taking COVID-19 restrictions seriously and place your safety above all else. Please call us at (212) 826-2322 or contact us online to ask questions about our coronavirus precautions or to schedule an appointment. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

What is a Dead Tooth?

You may not think of your teeth as being alive, but they are. The outer shell, called the enamel, is the hardest substance in the human body. However, the nerves and blood vessels at the heart of your teeth are soft and vulnerable. If this inner layer (known as the pulp) becomes damaged, blood may stop flowing. A tooth with no blood flow is called a “dead” tooth. Without treatment, this tooth may become infected or abscessed and will eventually fall out.

What Causes a Dead Tooth?

Trauma or injury is a common reason for a tooth to die. Falling or being hit in the mouth can cut off the blood supply to a tooth or even cause blood vessels to burst. With no blood flow, the nerve inside the pulp dies.

Tooth decay is another possible cause. Without consistent dental hygiene habits, cavities can start to form. Left untreated, decay slowly eats through the tooth toward the sensitive pulp, eventually causing an infection. Inflammation may cut off blood flow to the pulp, causing the tooth to die.

How to Spot a Dead Tooth

It isn’t always easy to identify a dead tooth. Only a dental professional can pinpoint signs of restricted blood flow and a dying tooth in its early stages, which is why regular dentist visits are so important. Before long, though, the problem will soon become apparent.

Pain is the first symptom to watch out for. This may seem odd because the nerve inside your tooth is dead, but that’s not where the pain comes from. Bacteria and dead nerve remnants touching the extremely sensitive nerve endings around your tooth, called the periodontal membrane, are the source of your pain.

A change in color comes next. Dead teeth often darken over time as red blood cells die. This is very similar to developing a bruise. If a single tooth in your mouth gradually becomes yellow, gray, or black, visit the dentist right away.

Signs of infection could also appear if the dead tooth doesn’t receive treatment. You may notice swelling, a bad taste in your mouth, or an inflamed sore on your gums.

Treatment for a Dead Tooth

A root canal is the first option. Dentists want to avoid removing teeth whenever possible, and this procedure could save a dead or dying tooth. It involves removing all signs of decay and infection from deep within the tooth. Then, the dentist fills and seals it. In many cases, a crown is needed following a root canal.

Tooth extraction is the next choice. Even if your dentist can’t save your tooth, prompt treatment is necessary to avoid other complications. Once removed, you have several options for replacing the missing tooth, including an implant, bridge, or partial denture.

Park 56 Dental offers tooth care and smile restorations out of our spa-like, patient-centered New York dentist office. If you notice signs of a dead tooth, please contact us online or call us at (212) 826-2322 to schedule an appointment.

The Importance of Having your Cavities Filled

Even if you brush and floss religiously, doing your best to have pristine teeth and perfect oral health, you’re likely to one day have a cavity. If this happens, don’t delay treatment. It’s important to get any cavities filled as soon as possible, for many reasons.

• Tooth decay, left to its own devices, will spread. If you ignore a cavity, the decay will soon spread to the area around the cavity. Then you’ll not only have a bigger cavity than you originally had, but you may also have additional cavities as well. Getting it filled will solve the problem and keep the damage from spreading.
• Bacteria from a cavity is unlikely to stay in your mouth. An unhealthy tooth won’t just affect nearby teeth: it will spread bacteria as far as it can. Bacteria in your mouth is not ideal, but once it gets into your bloodstream and makes its way to other parts of the body, it can be extremely dangerous.
• Fillings keep your smile intact. If you don’t get a cavity filled in a timely manner, you may end up having to have the tooth removed entirely. Dental implants can solve the problem of missing teeth, but they’re much more expensive than fillings and require a much more complicated process. You’ll have a hole in your smile until you can get the implant, and this can compromise the bone in your jaw.

Those are pretty compelling reasons to get your cavities filled, but did you know there are different types of fillings? Each material used in fillings has its pros and cons, and your dentist will be able to help you determine which is right for you.

• Amalgam fillings have been around for over a century. They’re strong and ideal for cavities in the molars, because they can take the impact of chewing. Made of a combination of several metallic elements, they are sometimes visible when you laugh or smile, but they’re some of the least expensive cavity-filling materials.
• The other most common filling material is composite fillings. Sometimes called composite or filled resins, they’re made of a combination of glass or quartz filler. They can be made to match the color of your tooth, and they’re good in areas involved in moderate chewing.
• Metals, ceramic, and glass ionomer are also used as fillings. Gold and silver are often used, and these metallic fillings can last 10-15 years. Ceramic or porcelain fillings are attractive but expensive, and glass ionomer fillings can release fluoride to protect teeth but are less durable than other fillings.

At Park 56 Dental Group, we provide personalized, quality dental care, offering pediatric, prosthodontics, endodontics, oral surgery, Invisalign®, emergency, and sedation. We serve the Midtown, Central Park, Upper East Side, Park Avenue, and all surrounding Manhattan and New York areas, in a patient-centered practice with hours to fit your schedule. Schedule your complimentary consultation by contacting us online or calling (212) 826-2322.

What Do I Do If My Crown Comes Off?

Many Americans have one or more dental crowns. This restorative dentistry option gives you back your smile after a tooth has been damaged by decay or traumatic injury. While crowns are meant to be permanent additions to your mouth—either cemented on top of a natural tooth or screwed into a receiving hole on a dental implant—they do sometimes come loose. Here’s what you should do if your crown falls off.

Retrieve the Dental Crown

Once you realize your dental crown is missing, act quickly to resolve the issue. First, locate the crown. If it’s still in your mouth, take it out. If it fell on the ground, try to find it. If you swallowed the crown, don’t panic—you will simply need to be fitted with a new one.

Inspect & Clean the Crown

Assuming you have located it, rinse off the crown with warm water and examine the interior side closely. If the crown looks completely hollow or has a small metal rod emerging from it, you might be able to temporarily place it back in your mouth before visiting the dentist for a more permanent solution.

However, if you see part of your tooth stuck within the crown, this means it didn’t lose adhesion—rather, your tooth has deteriorated further and broken off. In this case, you should not attempt to place the crown back in your mouth. Instead, put it in a safe place, such as a small container or plastic bag, until you can meet with your dentist.

Protect Your Tooth

Crowns are intended to shield the underlying structures of a damaged tooth. This means nerves and other sensitive tissues may now be exposed, causing sensitivity to touch and temperature. You may be able to find dental cement at a pharmacy to temporarily replace the crown until you can visit the dentist. Even if you lost the crown or can’t reattach it, you can protect the exposed tooth by molding dental cement or wax around it.

Then, be careful about what you eat. To avoid potentially dislodging the crown again, avoid crunchy, chewy, or tough foods. Steer clear of hot and cold foods as well if they cause you pain. Limit yourself to things like applesauce, pudding, and room-temperature soup until you have a more permanent solution.

Call Your Dentist

Let your dentist know about your emergency without delay. Explain what happened, and make an appointment to repair your tooth immediately —on the same day, if possible. Trust your dentist to pursue the best course of action, which may include putting in a filling, reattaching the old crown, or making a new one.

If your crown has come off, or you have another dental emergency, please contact Park 56 Dental at (212) 826-2322 to request a same-day appointment with our NYC dentist. Rest assured that we’re following all recommended safety precautions from the CDC to keep our patients safe during the COVID-19 outbreak.

How to Reduce Dental Pain from a Broken Tooth

A broken tooth can happen in an instant. All it takes is a forceful impact to the face or biting down wrong on a cavity or filling. Whatever the cause may be, you need an emergency dentist visit to set things right. Give us a call at (212) 826-2322 immediately to schedule a same-day appointment with our NYC dentist. In the meantime, reduce the pain from your broken tooth with these tips.

• Take anti-inflammatory medicine: Controlling inflammation is critical for reducing pain from a broken tooth. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatories—such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or naproxen—provide temporary pain relief. Just remember that these medicines do nothing to address the underlying issue, so you still need to visit a dentist as soon as possible.
• Rinse with salt water: Salt is an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory, making it the perfect substance for a natural mouth rinse. Pour a cup of warm water into a glass and stir in 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Swish the rinse around in your mouth for 10 to 15 seconds, and then spit it out. Repeat this process four to five times a day until you can visit a dentist.
• Apply a cold compress: Cold temperatures make blood vessels constrict, numbing the pain and reducing the swelling from a broken tooth. Wrap a bag of ice or frozen peas with a towel and place it on your cheek for 20 minutes at a time. Repeat every few hours.
• Chew on garlic: The anti-bacterial and pain-relieving properties of garlic make it an effective remedy for toothaches. Crush a clove of garlic into a paste, add a dash of salt for good measure, and spread it on your broken tooth.
• Numb the pain with peppermint tea: Brew a cup of peppermint tea and add ice to cool it down. Then, swish the tea around in your mouth. You can also freeze the used tea bag for a few minutes and place it directly on your aching tooth.
• Apply clove oil: Clove essential oil contains eugenol, a natural antiseptic that numbs pain and reduces inflammation. Moisten a cotton swab with clove oil and then add a drop or two of olive oil to dilute it slightly. Rub the swab on the affected area a few times throughout the day. Alternatively, you can concoct an antiseptic mouthwash with 1/2 cup water and a drop of clove oil.
• Apply vanilla extract: The antioxidant properties of vanilla extract make it an effective healing agent. It also contains alcohol, which numbs the pain. Moisten a cotton swab with vanilla extract and apply it to the affected area a few times daily.

If you have a broken tooth or other dental emergency, contact Park 56 Dental at (212) 826-2322 to request a same-day appointment. Save the broken-off part of your tooth, if possible, so we can attempt to repair it. Rest assured that we’re following all recommended safety precautions from the CDC to keep our patients safe during the COVID-19 outbreak.