Did you grow up in the 1950’s or 1960’s?  If so, you probably have several large silver fillings in your back teeth.  Over time, these fillings begin to break down: the margins leak, bacteria invade and the teeth decay.  Your dentist replaces the fillings with still larger fillings in order to remove the new decay.  In time, these newer fillings also begin to break down.  Sometimes the fillings fracture, taking part of the tooth with them.  You might be eating a bagel or a potato chip and chomp down on a hard object.  It is filling material or tooth.

Sometimes we can replace the lost tooth substance with yet another filling - perhaps a tooth colored one.  But other times the too much tooth structure is missing and a crown must be placed in order to properly restore the tooth.   A crown surrounds the remaining tooth and holds it together.  There is still another scenario that unfortunately I see too often.  In this case the tooth is fractured. Sometimes it can be saved with root canal treatment and crown.  But other times, the fracture is vertical and involves the root of the tooth.  Then in all likelihood the tooth has to be extracted and an implant or bridge placed.

Many times I taken an emergency phone call from a person in distress from a broken front tooth.  The patient arrives at my office and I find that the tooth has broken at the gumline.  The tooth may need a crown, a root canal and crown, or if not salvageable, an implant or bridge.  To take care of the emergency, I make a temporary crown.  I use wonderful materials and I am proficient at creating lifelike temporary crowns which look incredibly natural.  The procedure doesn’t take long and is not painful.  The patient is always thrilled at how natural the temporary crown looks.  No one wants to walk around without a front tooth.

We place enormous pressure on the teeth when we chew and especially if we clench or grind our teeth.  In time, this pressure causes micro fractures in a tooth, and eventually the tooth can fracture.  If I see large fillings that are worn out, I will recommend a crown to protect the tooth before a fracture occurs.  This is prevention.  This helps save your teeth.

It’s time for summer sports - so don’t let an injury spoil your fun!  Protect yourself and your children with a mouth guard. A mouth guard acts as a cushion and will help to prevent a tooth from being knocked out or fractured and prevent trauma to the soft tissue and jaw bone. By absorbing the shock of a blow, the mouth guard may also help prevent a concussion of the brain or dislocation of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). A mouth guard is required for several sports: field hockey, football, ice hockey, lacrosse and boxing. It is also recommended for many other sports, such as baseball, basketball, racquetball and soccer.

There are several types of mouth guards. The least expensive is a Stock Mouth Guard, usually bought at a sports store. This type of pre-formed appliance is bulky and it cannot be adjusted. It fits poorly and it can easily be dislodged. Another type of appliance is the Boil and Bite appliance. It is also relatively inexpensive and fits better than the stock appliance. But it deteriorates over time and the fit is still not the best.

I recommend a Custom Fitted Appliance for my Long Island dental patients who are athletic. The custom appliance has the most accurate fit and it is the most comfortable. It also provides the best protection and is the most durable. In order to provide this appliance, I take impressions of the mouth and my laboratory fabricates a custom mouth piece.

Mouth guards should only be worn while playing sports. Check the mouth guard for damage after you wear it. If it is damaged, it should be replaced. Don’t chew on the mouth guard. Keep it clean with toothbrush and toothpaste so there is no bacteria buildup. Have a safe and happy summer!

I was at Barnes and Noble last weekend and glancing through A ticket to the Circus written by Norris Church Mailer, the wife of the late novelist Norman Mailer. Even though I have read several of Mailer’s novels, naturally my attention was drawn to his wife’s discussion of his teeth. Apparently towards the end of his life he had to undergo bypass surgery and his surgeons told him to have all of his teeth removed in order to prevent infection. (Seems extreme.) She writes that that was the beginning of his decline. “His dental implants didn’t take, and he was forced to wear false teeth that never quite fit. He began to lose weight.”

Don’t let this happen to you! Be sure to get quality dental care - take care of your teeth – and keep them for life!