Dry Sockets

Though we at Elite Dental Arts strive to save our patients’ teeth, there are times when extractions are the best choice for ensuring overall oral health. In those cases, it is important to prevent the patient from developing a dry socket.

A dry socket occurs when there is no blood clot to protect the extraction site. The subsequent drying out is painful and puts the patient at risk of infection. A blood clot could fail to form if the patient is taking certain medication, such as birth control. It could also be knocked loose by suction, as when a patient sips through a straw, which is why we advise them not to do this.

However, dry sockets do sometimes happen. This may not even be the patient’s fault—complicated extractions requiring incisions always have a higher risk. If a patient still suffers severe pain two days after the extraction, they should seek an emergency appointment. We’ll clean the socket with a vacuum, apply medicated wound dressing, and provide the patient with painkillers and antibiotics. We’ll want to monitor the patient more closely after that, but regularly changing the wound dressing should be all that’s needed.

Nick M. Mobilia, DDS, owns and operates Elite Dental Arts, at 9 East 45^th St, 6^th Floor, New York, New York, 10017. To set up an appointment, call 212-681-0939, or visit EliteDentalArts.com.



Nick M. Mobilia, DDS
ELITE  DENTAL ARTS
9 East 45th Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10017                                                                                       (212)681-0939

How to Care for Dentures

As a clinic specializing in restorations, Elite Dental Arts provides care to many patients with dentures. To ensure that they get the best preventive care possible, we’re providing this guide to oral hygiene following a full-mouth restoration with removable prosthetics.

Regardless of whether or not a patient’s dentures are retained with implants, they’ll need to be removed every night. This provides the patient’s gums with a chance to rest and the patient with a chance for brushing. It is best to keep two soft-bristled toothbrushes, one of which can be used in the mouth, and one for use on the dentures.  Because they do not produce a protective film like natural teeth, dentures are easily scratched by gritty minerals and require specially-made toothpaste.

Keeping dentures moist is as important as keeping them clean. They may be kept overnight in cleaning solution or water, but the water should be at room-temperature. Dentures are made of flexible plastic, so they easily warp. If they break or need to be refitted, they should be brought to a dental professional.

Nick M. Mobilia, DDS, owns and operates Elite Dental Arts, at 9 East 45^th St, 6^th Floor, New York, New York, 10017. To set up an appointment, call 212-681-0939, or visit EliteDentalArts.com.



Nick M. Mobilia, DDS
ELITE  DENTAL ARTS
9 East 45th Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10017                                                                                         (212)681-0939

Types of Stains

Fixing tooth discoloration is our specialty at Elite Dental Arts in Midtown, but depending on what type of stain a tooth has, the treatment will be different. Extrinsic stains and age-discoloration are the types of cosmetic problems people probably most associate with cosmetic dentistry, but there are also intrinsic stains, which may require a different approach.

Bleaching is used on extrinsic stains. These are the kinds which affect the surface of the teeth and are due to dark liquids and smoke. Intrinsic stains are those which affect a tooth’s pulp, which can be too deep for bleaching to affect. An intrinsic stain may be concealed with veneers, and if it was caused by the tooth being exposed to tetracycline antibiotics or excessive fluoride during its formation, this may be the best solution. But it may also be caused by infection or trauma of the pulp. If that is the case, the patient will need to have the pulp removed, because a dental infection is much more dangerous than a simple cosmetic problem. After undergoing a successful root canal, the patient and Dr. Mobilia can discuss further options for concealing or replacing the tooth’s crown.

Nick M. Mobilia, DDS
ELITE DENTAL ARTS
9 East 45th Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10017                                                                                           (212)681-0939