Wisdom Tooth Decay

As we age, we acquire wisdom, and the same goes for wisdom teeth. Wisdom teeth appear between the ages of 17-21 and are known as the third set of molars. When they erupt correctly, healthy wisdom teeth can help you chomp your food a little faster.  However, if they start to cause you pain and discomfort, you may need to schedule a consultation with one of our doctors at Advantage Dentistry to discuss extraction.

If you bite on a piece of food that is too hard or you experience a mouth injury, wisdom teeth may become troublesome. They can also become cracked, broken, and decayed. Decay can form on any tooth surface, but when the decay begins to attack the wisdom teeth, depending on the position of the tooth it becomes difficult to clean. Depending on the individual case, your dentist may be able to fill the tooth, but even in cases where a filling could be successfully placed, if the wisdom tooth cannot be adequately maintained, recurrent decay can occur. Though many patients tend to procrastinate through the process, extraction is always best to avoid infection.

If your wisdom teeth are still intact and you have questions about removal, please give us a call. To schedule your appointment with Advantage Dentistry in Kenmore, NY, call our office at 716-877-2275 or visit our website www.advantagedentistry.com for more information about the services we provide. 

Baby Tooth Care Tips

Baby teeth may be small, but they’re important. To help prevent the buildup of plaque bacteria that can lead to decay, our doctors at Advantage Dentistry recommend regularly cleaning your newborn’s gums with a damp washcloth following feedings. It’s important to start cleaning your child’s teeth before they come in to jumpstart a healthy smile.

Wipe the gums off after each feeding with a warm, wet washcloth or a dampened piece of gauze wrapped around your finger. In addition, take measures to prevent baby bottle tooth decay, a disease that causes severe, swift decay of baby teeth. To help prevent it, do not put your baby to bed with a bottle of formula or a sugary drink, such as juice. The possibility of tooth decay is directly related to the number of times that sugar comes in contact with the teeth. Your child’s baby teeth act as placeholders for adult teeth. Without a healthy set of baby teeth, your child risks having trouble chewing and speaking clearly as they get older.

If you have questions about pediatric oral care, please give us a call. To schedule your appointment with Advantage Dentistry in Kenmore, NY, call our office at 716-877-2275 or visit our website www.advantagedentistry.com for more information about the services we provide. 

Defining Sleep Apnea

Sleep Apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. There are two main types of sleep apnea: obstructive sleep apnea, the more common form that occurs when throat muscles relax, and central sleep apnea, which occurs when your brain doesn’t send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing. Here at Advantage Dentistry, we always explore non-invasive treatment options first.

When obstructive sleep apnea occurs, the muscles relax, your airway narrows or closes as you breathe in, and you can’t get an adequate breath in. Your brain senses this inability to breathe and briefly rouses you from sleep so you can reopen your airway. You may make a snorting, choking or gasping sound. When central sleep apnea occurs, you may awaken with shortness of breath or have a difficult time getting to sleep or staying asleep. Like with obstructive sleep apnea, snoring and daytime sleepiness can occur. Regardless of the type you have, it’s best to explore your treatment options.

If you sleep apnea is a concern of yours, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To schedule your appointment with Advantage Dentistry in Kenmore, NY, call our office at 716-877-2275 or visit our website www.advantagedentistry.com for more information about the services we provide. 

Digital X-Ray

If there is a way to better patient outcomes, you bet we will be on it. At Advantage Dentistry in Kenmore, NY, our number one priority is helping our patients achieve optimal oral health. One of the pieces of technology that help us achieve this goal is digital x-ray.

Digital x-ray is an x-ray system that does not need a darkroom for development of the pictures. The pictures are instantly displayed on a computer monitor. This technology saves us a lot of time, saves our patients’ time, it facilitates more accurate treatment plans, and it makes communication a breeze.

Putting the image onto the computer allows us to use tools that give us a closer look than ever before. Software also allows us to see changes in the mouth that could have previously been missed by the naked eye. This means more accurate diagnoses, treatment, and better patient outcomes.

Being digital means that we can print, save, or send the image. We can refer back to it for future visits and know exactly what kind of changes we are looking for. They can also be sent to other doctors for second opinions or to insurance companies instantly.

Along with these fantastic benefits, digital x-ray uses much less radiation, so it is safer for the patient. To learn more about the technology we use here at Advantage Dentistry in Kenmore, NY, call us at (716) 877-2275 or visit our website, www.advantagedentistry.com. 

Rotary Endodontics- New Technology for Successful Root Canals

As new technology becomes available, we like to keep up. One of the ways we do that here at Advantage Dentistry in Kenmore, NY is by utilizing rotary endodontics. In the past, manual files had to be used to perform root canals. These days, rotary endodontics allows us to perform fast and gentle root canals with better results.

Rotary endodontics consists of a more flexible file that is attached to a dental drill. In the past, a rigid, steel file was used to manually clean out root canals. The flexible files allow us to reach down deep into the root canal without stretching the canal. This avoids damage and reduces pain both during the procedure and afterward. The electric drill allows us to be quicker and quieter.

If root canal stories of the past have scared you away from getting a necessary procedure performed, do not fear any longer. With the advancement of our dental practice, root canals barely cause any discomfort. To schedule an appointment with Advantage Dentistry in Kenmore, NY, give us a call at (716) 877-2275 or visit our website, www.advantagedentistry.com. 

What Turns Teeth Yellow?

As humans, our teeth consist of four types of tissues: dentin, pulp, enamel, and cementum. The pulp is the innermost layer of the tooth followed by dentin and the outer layer which is enamel. The cementum portion of the tooth is located at the base of the tooth, which holds the tooth in place along the jawline. When these parts of your teeth become yellow in color our doctors at Advantage Dentistry can discuss treatment options with you.

Dental enamel coats each tooth and acts as a protective shield. When the enamel erodes from too much acidic exposure, it causes yellowing to occur. Dentin which is the middle layer of the tooth naturally gives teeth a yellowish color. Dentin makes up most of the tooth and is a hard, yellow substance. Environmental factors can also cause teeth to turn yellow and so can different medications, smoking, and age. Smoking not only yellows teeth but it can do the same to fingernails. Age can factor into teeth yellowing because, over time, our enamel wears off, exposing dentin. Excessive tartar buildup can lead to yellowing of the teeth.

If your teeth are yellow, give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about services we provide at the office, visit www.advantagedentistry.comfor more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our dentists at Advantage Dentistry in Kenmore, NY, call 716-877-2275.

Thank You For Your Testimonials!

Here at Advantage Dentistry, our staff appreciates feedback from our patients because it teaches us how to improve as a team. Our staff would not only like to thank Theresa Zimmerman for this five-star review, but we would like to thank her for being an excellent patient. If you recently experienced exceptional service from our office, please let us know!  

“I have neglected dental for many years, but after a few dental visits to Advantage Dentistry, I have had a lot of dental work done, and I feel better about going to the dentist. Dr. Oddo is an expert in the dental field. He gave me the opportunity to proceed at my own pace, which has helped to restore my trust in dental in general. If you are looking for dental work, this is your dentist Buffalo.” - Reviewed By: Theresa Zimmerman, Buffalo New York, December 30th, 2013.

To leave a review or to learn more about services we provide at the office, visit www.advantagedentistry.comfor more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our dentists at Advantage Dentistry in Kenmore, NY, call 716-877-2275.