Sleep Apnea And The Heart

Sleep apnea is not only a serious medical condition, but left untreated it can lead to a plethora of other health issues and is dangerous for the heart.  A patient with sleep apnea does not breathe properly during sleep, resulting in low oxygen levels throughout the entire body. Breathing supplies lungs with oxygen but also the rest of the body.  When there is a lack of oxygen, the part of the heart responsible for moving oxygenated blood to the organs and extremities is forced to work extra hard.  This can cause an enlarged heart and eventually heart failure.

Those living with untreated sleep apnea are at a higher risk of developing irregular heartbeats, and also have a higher risk for a stroke and heart attack.  Men with untreated sleep apnea are actually living with double the risk for a stroke.  If you have yet to find a solution for sleep apnea, please visit Elite Dental Arts for a consultation.

To learn more about sleep apnea and the treatments we offer, visit www.elitedentalarts.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Nick Mobilia of Elite Dental Arts here in New York, NY, call our office at 212-681-0939.

 Nick M. Mobilia, DDS
ELITE DENTAL ARTS
9 East 45th Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10017

Foods to Eat and Avoid with Traditional Braces

Nutrition is important during orthodontic treatment because eating the wrong foods could break brackets, loosen wires, and have you spending more time in the dental chair than necessary. Additionally, if you have a diet that is high in sugar content, the sweets will create an environment in the mouth that can cause long-term damage to your teeth. If you are beginning orthodontic treatment, Dr. Nick Mobilia of Elite Dental Arts may suggest making dietary changes to protect your investment.

If you decide to straighten your teeth with traditional braces, you’ll require a little more self-discipline when it comes to your diet. It’s important to eat soft foods, especially after your orthodontic appointments when the mouth may feel a little sore. During this time, try reaching for soup, ice cream, mashed potatoes, pancakes, or any food that doesn’t require a lot of chewing. To avoid breaking your appliance(s), you should avoid crunchy, sticky, and hard foods, such as gum, caramel, nuts, or popcorn. These foods can get stuck in the wires and make them difficult to clean.

If you have questions or concerns about orthodontics, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.elitedentalarts.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Nick Mobilia of Elite Dental Arts here in New York, NY, call our office at 212-681-0939.

White Spot Lesions

If your teeth are discolored, Elite Dental Arts in Midtown is the place to go for solutions. Lots of things can cause teeth be stained a dark color, which is undesirable, but not necessarily harmful. However, white spots on the teeth are an early sign of decay and require attention for the sake of the patient’s health.

Tooth decay is the result of enamel being eroded by the acid produced by bacteria. When enamel is being affected by acid, it first takes on a glazed, white appearance. This can also be seen on the upper back molars of people who suffer from frequent acid reflux. When the demineralization of enamel is caused by an infection, it is usually seen in the places that are the hardest to brush. Those include the parts of the crowns bordering the gum line, the sides of the teeth, and the areas surrounding orthodontic brackets.

White spot lesions can form in less than a month and are a warning sign that the patient needs to brush more thoroughly. Infections will lead to worse decay with time. Once the infection has been stopped, the teeth may undergo remineralization therapy or be given new veneers. The Invisalign orthodontic devices we offer are an alternative to fixed braces that allow patients to brush normally and avoid increasing the risk of white spot development.

To learn more about Invisalign and all the services we provide at our practice, visit Elite Dental Arts for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Nick Mobilia of Elite Dental Arts here in New York, NY, call our office at 212-681-0939. 

Nick M. Mobilia, DDS
ELITE DENTAL ARTS
9 East 45th Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10017

 

Types of Teeth

Teeth serve specialized functions and are vulnerable to specific problems. In order for patients to make the best oral health decisions, they should have a sense of what kind of mouth is normal and healthy, which is why we of Elite Dental Arts are providing a guide to different kinds of teeth.

Teeth have crowns, which are the part visible above the gum line, and roots. Crowns come in different shapes and teeth have different numbers of roots based on how strong they need to be. The teeth in front of the mouth only have one root each. They include, per jaw, two pairs of incisors and one pair of canines, also known as cuspids. The incisors are flat and crucial for forming speech. The canines are pointy and used for piercing. These teeth receive the most cosmetic care.

The premolars, of which adults grow two pairs per jaw, also have one root each. They have wide crowns with multiple cusps and are used for chewing. Molars, of which there are three pairs, including the wisdom teeth, are even wider and more creviced. Lower molars have two roots to anchor them securely in the jaw. Upper molars have three roots. Without extractions, adults typically have thirty-two teeth in total.

To learn more about Invisalign and all the services we provide at our practice, visit Elite Dental Arts for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Nick Mobilia of Elite Dental Arts here in New York, NY, call our office at 212-681-0939. 

Nick M. Mobilia, DDS
ELITE DENTAL ARTS
9 East 45th Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10017