Dental implants are widely considered to be the most attractive, longest-lasting, and most functional tooth replacement option available. But dental implant technology can be used for far more than single tooth replacements. At Northern Westchester Oral Surgery, we use dental implants to place fixed-bridges, anchor orthodontic work, and perform all sorts of procedures. Below we’ve provided some information on just a few of the different treatments available that utilize dental implant technology.

Single Tooth Replacements:

Dental implants can permanently replace one or more missing teeth while also promoting good oral health. The implant will, over time, integrate with your natural jaw bone. This stimulates the jaw bone, which combats bone loss and improves your overall oral health. The crown, which attaches to the dental implant, will look and function just like a natural tooth, so you can eat and smile with confidence.

Implant-Supported Bridges:

Dental implant-supported bridges permanently replace multiple teeth while preserving your overall oral health. Traditional bridges are supported by the adjacent teeth, which puts pressure on your healthy teeth and requires them to be ground down to fit the prosthetic. The dental implant-supported bridges are held firmly in place by dental implants, so no healthy teeth are damaged in the placement of the bridge. Additionally, the implants will stimulate the jaw bone and prevent bone loss.

Full-Arch Replacements:

Oral surgeons can use dental implant technology to permanently restore an entire arch of teeth in one efficient and cost-effective procedure. As few as four dental implants can be strategically placed to support a custom arch of beautiful teeth. A temporary prosthetic will be placed following the initial procedure, but once your implant sites heal you will receive your custom, permanent teeth that will allow you eat whatever you please. The stable implants will firmly fix your new teeth in your mouth, so there is no risk of losing your teeth while you eat or speak.

Orthodontic Anchorage Devices:

Oral surgeons often work hand in hand with orthodontists to use dental implants as anchorage devices to move surrounding teeth. After your oral surgeon places the dental implant, an orthodontist can attach braces or other devices to the implant and surrounding teeth. Having a stable anchor tooth allows the surrounding teeth to move into place faster.

Oral surgeons continue to find new and inventive ways to utilize dental implant technology, and we have only listed a few of the most popular uses for dental implants. With all of the treatment options available, we are confident that we can find a treatment that fits your needs, either with dental implants or other restorative solutions. Request a free consultation with our Westchester dental implant specialists for more information about our restoration options, or to schedule a consultation and learn if you are a candidate for dental implant placement.

Your teeth are crucial for smiling, chewing food, and maintaining your oral health, which is why it can be scary to break or lose one of your permanent teeth. Oral diseases, accidental falls, biting down on hard foods or objects, and other accidents can all cause damage or loss of teeth. While dentists can treat many tooth injuries, they often refer to oral surgeons for severe mouth injuries, because oral surgeons have extensive training in treating facial injuries and restoring teeth. In fact, in addition to having their own practices, many oral surgeons work at major hospitals to treat serious facial trauma injuries.

Our team at Northern Westchester Oral Surgery understands that facial and tooth injuries are traumatic, which is why we’ve listed a few steps to help you know what to do if you experience a tooth injury. If you lose or damage an adult tooth, we will do everything we can to restore your natural tooth. Once all other options are exhausted, we have many dental implant options to replace lost teeth permanently. If one of your teeth is broken or knocked out, follow these instructions to improve the chances of saving your tooth with minimal discomfort.

If You Break a Tooth: The first thing you should do is call your oral surgeon or dentist. On your way to the office, try to stop any bleeding by biting on gauze or a damp tea bag, changing the gauze every 10 minutes or when it’s saturated. You can also use an ice pack or over-the-counter pain relievers to help alleviate any swelling or pain.

Teeth generally break because of impacts or pressure, but poor oral hygiene can also be a factor. Cavities can cause breakage if left untreated. Always be sure to see a dental professional at the first sign of problems to receive proper treatment and avoid future issues.

If Your Tooth is Completely Knocked Out: Try to preserve the tooth so your oral surgeon can restore it. Make sure you don’t hold the tooth by the root or wipe off the tooth, as the tissues attached to the root are important for replacement. Do NOT try to sanitize the tooth yourself using any sort of soap, alcohol, or hydrogen peroxide. Instead, submerge the tooth in a container of whole milk or saliva to preserve it on your way to the dental office.

Oral surgeons are specifically trained to restore teeth and treat traumatic facial injuries; following these steps and seeing your oral surgeon within 30 minutes will give you the best chance of saving your natural tooth. If your trauma was severe, an oral surgeon will be able to examine and treat the surrounding facial bones and soft tissues as well.

In the case that your tooth cannot be saved, our practice offers dental implant placements and other restorative options. Dental implants are the best permanent solution to tooth loss, and they look and feel just like your natural tooth.

We hope you won’t need to use these instructions, but it’s always good to be prepared should any issues arise. If you contact our office regarding a facial trauma, we will usually see you right away. Our oral surgeon, Dr. Zachary Weber, specializes in facial trauma cases and tooth restorations of all kinds, so please feel free to contact us for your oral health needs.

If you find yourself biting your nails, chewing on your pencil while you work, or crunching ice with your teeth, you may be putting your oral health at risk. These habits may seem trivial, but they actually have the potential to harm your teeth. Here at Northern Westchester Oral Surgery, caring for your smile is our top priority, which is why we’ve listed some bad habits to leave behind for better oral health.

These common habits have the potential to harm your teeth and oral health:

Crunching on ice – You may or may not realize it, but chewing ice negatively affects your oral health. Chewing on ice can wear down tooth enamel, which increases tooth sensitivity to hot and cold, and it can even break or crack teeth. People who have fillings and like to chew on ice should be especially careful, because ice can actually make fillings contract and become more fragile and prone to breaking. If you are looking for an alternative to ice, try sugar-free gum or minted toothpicks.

Biting nails – Many people absentmindedly bite their nails throughout the day. Most nail biters perform this habit when they are anxious or bored and have been biting their nails for so long that they don’t even notice how often they do it. It may seem like a harmless habit, but regularly biting your nails can cause your teeth to break or become misaligned. You can try to make yourself more aware of your behavior by wearing hand sanitizer or scented lotion, which can help you notice when you bring your hands up to your face to bite.

Gnawing on pens or pencils – People like to chew on pens or pencils when they are working or studying, but this can actually cause great harm to your teeth. People tend to be unaware of how much pressure they are putting on their teeth when they bite down on these hard objects that typically have plastic or metal covers. Consequences of pen chewing include shifting, cracking, and breaking of the teeth, which in turn impairs your ability to chew and smile with confidence. Try adding some pencil toppers or erasers to your pencils to remind you not to bite!

Opening packaging with your teeth – Many people use their teeth to open a difficult package or loosen a plastic cap. It seems more convenient to use your teeth when scissors aren’t available, but taking some extra time to find a proper tool could save you time and money in the long run. Teeth exist to help us eat, speak, and smile. Your teeth are not meant to withstand the type of stress put on them when biting and tearing tough packaging or other hard objects. Rather than risking cracked and broken teeth, which can be painful and expensive, take an extra moment to find the tool or scissors you need.

We know that some habits can be tough to break, but putting your oral health first will benefit you in the long run. Your teeth will remain strong and healthy, and you will keep your ability to chew food and smile proudly. If you have lost or broken teeth caused by any of these habits, or for other reasons, please feel free to contact us about possible restorative solutions, such as dental implants. We look forward to answering any questions you have and scheduling your consultation appointment with our highly trained oral surgeon!

Only 1 week left to apply for Northern Westchester Oral Surgery’s “Second Chance Program”

Mt. Kisco, NY (September 14, 2015)— There is only one week left to apply for Northern Westchester Oral Surgery’s “Second Chance Program.” With time dwindling down, they urge those who could benefit from receiving a new smile to apply now.

As many Americans experience the physical and emotional distress of missing teeth, an Oral Surgeon and a Prosthodontist are looking for the opportunity to change a life by restoring their smile. Local Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon, Dr. Zachary Weber of Northern Westchester Oral Surgery, and local Prosthodontist, Dr. Jerome Loewenstein of Precision Arts Dental Associates, believe that this single opportunity has the capacity to expand beyond a brand new smile. Their program, appropriately titled “Second Chance,” is slated to deliver a new set of teeth to a deserving member of the local community.

The application period to enroll ends Monday, September 21, 2015. The practice encourages all local residents to get their information in as soon as possible.

“We want to change someone’s life,” said Dr. Weber. “We want to repair the physical health of the mouth and renew the confidence of the candidate who may have hidden their smile for years. This candidate might even be experiencing common issues associated with missing teeth, such as bone loss and premature aging. We have the opportunity to change someone’s life, and we’re going to start with a smile.”

Drs. Weber and Loewenstein have planned this team approach to create the greatest advantage for this chosen patient. Together, they will perform the extensive dental implant and restorative procedure that will restore the recipient’s smile and improve their oral health.

Looking to the future, Drs. Weber and Loewenstein also plan to involve general dentists in this process as well: “The synergistic nature of what we do has necessitated the involvement of different specialties in the dental field in order to produce the best outcome for the patient,” said Dr. Loewenstein. “Without the integration of these talented partners we could not provide this amazing opportunity.”

One deserving candidate will receive a complete smile overhaul through a revolutionary technique called the All-On-Four® procedure. This procedure provides a permanent set of fully functional teeth, which allows the patient to enjoy the foods they love while experiencing a natural look. The All-On-Four® procedure has been praised as a secure, permanent solution to restore natural look and function.

Once the procedure has been performed, Drs. Weber and Loewenstein plan to partner with local businesses to provide the candidate with other opportunities to enhance their well being, such as programs to quit smoking, a personal trainer for fitness, or a job coach to assist in employment opportunities, depending on the candidate’s personal need.

“We are looking forward to this transformative process,” Dr. Weber added, “We are excited to help a member of our community who deserves this Second Chance.”

The application period ends September 21, 2015.

For more information about Northern Westchester Oral Surgery, please visit http://northernwestchesteroms.com/secondchance/.

About Dr. Zachary Weber, DMD, MD

Dr. Zachary Weber, DMD, MD is a Dual Degree, Board Certified/Diplomate of the American Board of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and practices full scope oral & maxillofacial surgery. Currently, Dr. Weber is on staff at Columbia University Medical Center’s Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery where he has an active role in resident education. He is also an attending Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mt. Kisco, NY.

About Dr. Jerome Loewenstein, DMD

Dr. Jerome Loewenstein is a Prosthodontist and practices restorative and reconstructive prosthodontics in Westchester, NY. He is a founding member of The Academy of Osseointegration and continues to develop innovative concepts and devices as solutions to the more common restorative problems as well as complex restorative challenges. His in house dental laboratory is able to fulfill any design challenges presented to them.

If you are missing one or a few teeth, you may have been looking into replacing those missing teeth with dental implants. Dental implants are one of the most common dental restoration procedures due to their reliability, functionality, and natural appearance. Patients regularly visit an oral surgeon or another dental professional to learn more about dental implants. But that leads us to the point of this article; with so much popularity and demand for this type procedure, there are additional dental practitioners and corporate dental companies who offer dental implant placement services but are not completely qualified to do so. Unfortunately, a lot of these individuals do not have close to the same kind of experience or training that an oral surgeon has.

You need to ask very specific questions of your doctor before you move forward with your dental implant procedure. Please read through the five questions listed below. These questions will help you determine who the right doctor is to fulfill your dental implant needs.

1. How many dental implants have you placed in your career? Experience is everything. When you are trying to find the right professional to place your dental implants, you should know that dental practitioners are typically not dental implant specialists. Usually, they do not regularly perform dental implant placement. But oral surgeons do perform dental implant procedures quite often; thus the answer to this question should be high if you are speaking to trained, qualified professional.
2. How much training have you received? To be trained and qualified to place dental implants, oral surgeons must complete specific, rigorous training requirements. They also need to gain in-hospital experience during their residency program and complete the licensure to practice. Dental practitioners sometimes gain training during a weekend course. A weekend course or years of training? The choice is pretty obvious!
3. What is your success rate placing implants? For your best results, you want to go to a doctor that knows the procedure and has a high success rate. We advise that you choose someone who has at least a 95 percent success rate.
4. Why wouldn’t I be a good candidate for dental implants? The only way to know if you are (or are not) a candidate would be to schedule a consultation. When you ask about dental implants, you want someone who asks you to meet with them for a consultation. During that appointment, they should perform a thorough examination, discuss your medical history, and review any other factors that help them formulate a treatment plan that best suits you.
5. How long does a dental implant procedure take? The duration of a dental implant procedure varies, but keep in mind that it should take no more than half an hour to an hour.

You deserve to feel confident and comfortable undergoing your dental implant procedure, which is why it is so important to have all the information you need to make the best decision possible. Dentists and other institutions may claim they are trained professionals who can place dental implants; you want to make sure those statements are true and that you are receiving proper treatment. To ensure your oral health, look for someone who can prove they have extensive experience and knowledge of the placement of dental implants. Through selecting a qualified oral surgeon, you get both experience and knowledge!

If you still have questions, or you are ready to come in and meet our skilled team, please call Northern Westchester Oral Surgery and schedule a consultation appointment.