Reasons Teeth Become Tender

If you avoid eating cold foods or drinking hot beverages because your teeth are a little sensitive, it may be time to get to the root of this problem. If you have tender teeth, our doctors at Advantage Dentistry may offer dental sealants or fluoride treatments to decrease sensitivity. Sometimes the solution can be as simple as breaking bad habits. If you catch yourself performing any of the following tasks, do your best to stop yourself in your tracks.

• You’re brushing too hard – over time, if you brush with too much force, you can wear down the protective layers of your teeth and expose the microscopic hollow tubes or canals that lead to your dental nerves. When these tubules are exposed, tooth sensitivity is a result.


• You’re eating too many acidic foods – If the pathways to your nerves are exposed, acidic foods will cause you pain.


• You have tooth decay – If you have tooth decay, it’s easy for bacteria to accumulate in these tiny crevices, which causes acid build-up and enamel breakdown.


• You’re a tooth grinder – Grinding your teeth can wear down your enamel. This exposes the dentin and causes sensitive teeth.

If you are experiencing tooth sensitivity, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.advantagedentistry.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Advantage Dentistry in Kenmore, NY, call 716-877-2275.

Why Do We Have Wisdom Teeth?

Hearing you need your wisdom teeth extracted may get you wondering about why you have those wisdom teeth anyway. With wisdom teeth extraction being as common as it is, many of our patients wonder this. At Advantage Dentistry in Kenmore, NY, we are going to answer this question, and more!

Wisdom teeth are so commonly extracted because there simply is not enough room in the mouth for them to grow in properly. They often cause problems with cleanliness, pain, and destruction of other teeth. So why do we have them, anyway?

The answer dates back about 20,000 years ago. Humans back then had tougher diets; eating foods like nuts, roots, and uncooked meat. It is thought that they needed the extra teeth to chew through those tougher foods. However, these days we really no longer need the extra help. Our jaws and facial structures have shrunken over the years, which may be a nod to evolution. This also explains why so many patients need their wisdom teeth to be extracted. A smaller jaw means less room for those far-back teeth.

Wisdom teeth can cause real pain and can lead to infection if not cared for properly. If your wisdom teeth are starting to grow in, come see us for an evaluation. Call (716) 877-2275 to schedule an appointment in our Kenmore, NY office. Visit our Advantage Dentistry website, www.advantagedentistry.com for more information about us.

Periodontal Splinting for Loose Teeth

Loose teeth need to be secured before they become too loose and fall out. There are several things that can cause teeth to loosen, which is why here at Advantage Dentistry in Kenmore, NY, we offer periodontal splinting to our patients.

Periodontal splinting involves making one unit out of stable teeth and the loose tooth or teeth. The stable teeth provide structure so that the loose teeth are no longer mobile. This procedure is performed using composite resin. The resin is applied to the backs of the teeth where it is not noticeable. The end result is strong, in-place teeth.

Teeth can become loose for many different reasons. A common reason is periodontal disease. When the gum tissue surrounding a tooth recedes, it can cause extra room between the tooth and the gums. If steps are not taken to improve the area and stop teeth from moving, they can become loose enough to fall out.

If you are experiencing loose teeth, come see us for an evaluation. Periodontal splinting may be what saves your smile. To schedule an appointment in our Kenmore, NY office, call Advantage Dentistry at (716) 877-2275. For additional information about periodontal splinting, visit our website, www.advantagedentistry.com. 

Dentures for a Smile That is You

Missing teeth can cause trouble with eating, talking, and it can even affect confidence. Why not look for a solution that so many patients have had success with? Here at Advantage Dentistry in Kenmore, NY, we offer full and partial dentures for patients who are missing some or all of their teeth.

Dentures have been around for a long time; even George Washington wore them! They are able to complete your smile again and make chewing and talking enjoyable once more. Many patients are surprised at how natural their dentures can look; they bring your true smile back!

For patients who have lost most or all of their teeth, a full set of dentures will be required. We create upper and lower dentures that look natural to you. These dentures are able to be placed immediately or conventionally.

For patients who have just lost a few teeth, we offer partial dentures. These dentures are similar to dental bridges, in that abutments attached to other teeth keep them in place. However, partial dentures are removable, unlike bridges which are permanently bonded into place.

If it is time to replace the missing teeth in your smile, dentures may be the perfect option for you. To set up a consultation with Advantage Dentistry of Kenmore, NY, call our office at (716) 877-2275. More information about our practice and dentures can be found on our website, www.advantagedentistry.com. 

Inlays and Onlays for Attractive Restorations

Having the perfect smile is a dream, but often it can be hard to maintain. When teeth have chips, cracks, or decay, they can begin to show it. Fortunately, here at Advantage Dentistry in Kenmore, NY, we offer several options for restoring teeth back to looking great. Inlays and onlays are a couple of those options.

Inlays and onlays are dental restorations that are able to be tooth-colored. The composite resin used is matched to the shade of your teeth for a seamless repair. Inlays are a restoration that covers the chewing surface of the tooth, minus any cusps. Onlays are a restoration that repairs the chewing surface of a tooth, plus one or more of the cusps. Inlays and onlays do not fully cover the tooth like a crown, so they are used for when there is less damage, but more damage than a filling could fix.

In order to get our customers the best restorations, we take impressions of your teeth so that a dental laboratory can make the inlay or onlay custom. When the restoration is ready, it will be bonded to your tooth. With great care, an inlay or onlay can last for up to thirty years.

If you hide your smile when you laugh or try not to show your teeth in pictures, a restoration that is both healthy and cosmetically- pleasing may be just what you need. To schedule an appointment with Advantage Dentistry in Kenmore, NY call our office at (716) 877-2275. To learn more about inlays and onlays, visit our website, www.advantagedentistry.com. 

Lip Tie and Tongue Tie Solution: Frenectomy

Lip tie and tongue tie can cause some major frustrations both in infancy and in the other stages of life. Luckily, there is a very safe and routine procedure to fix these conditions. Advantage Dentistry performs frenectomies right here in our Kenmore, NY dental office.

When the piece of tissue, called the frenulum, that attaches the lips to the gums is too short or too tight, this is called lip tie. It can also occur within the frenulum that attaches the tongue to the floor of the mouth. These conditions can create problems with infants feeding along with more issues in childhood and adulthood.

If an infant cannot feed properly, they will sustain a low weight and may not grow as quickly as they should. Breastfeeding mothers can also suffer from these complications as irregular feeding will affect her milk production and problems with latching can hurt the nipple. In childhood and adulthood, lip tie and tongue tie can lead to problems with oral cleanliness, talking, and eating. It can also affect activities like whistling, playing an instrument, and kissing.

In our Kenmore, NY office, we offer a solution, called a frenectomy. This is a simple, quick, and safe procedure performed right here in our office. The frenulum is simply detached so it can heal with more range of motion. A local anesthesia is used and there is minimal bleeding afterward. Frenectomy has a very high success rate.

If you believe a frenectomy could benefit you or someone you love, come see us for a consultation. To set up an appointment, call Advantage Dentistry of Kenmore, NY at (716) 877-2275. For more information about frenectomies, visit our website, www.advantagedentistry.com. 

Crown Lengthening

Tooth decay can sometimes do so much damage, that repair needs to be performed under the gum line. When this occurs, a crown lengthening is needed. Here at Advantage Dentistry in Kenmore, NY we perform this routine procedure for many of our patients. It is important to keep as many real teeth as you have, which is why crown lengthening is key.

To successfully lengthen the crown of the tooth, we actually take away some of the gum tissue. To begin, your dentist will make cuts to the gum tissue to pull it away from the teeth. Even if only one tooth needs to be worked on, the gum tissue surrounding a few teeth will be pulled back so that the gum line looks natural. If any bone tissue also needs to be removed, it will be removed at this point. Then, your dentist will stitch the gum tissue into place to heal. The teeth are now ready for any work they may need. If a crown is being placed on the tooth, your dentist will want to wait until the gums have healed for proper crown placement.

Be careful when brushing in the area until healing has progressed. Avoid the gum line and do not use floss. Instead, use a toothpick to remove any debris.

Crown lengthening can save a tooth from infection or extraction. To schedule an appointment with Advantage Dentistry here in Kenmore, NY, give our office a call at (716) 877-2275. Additional information may be found at our website, www.advantagedentistry.com.