Children's Oral Health Month

At Elite Dental Arts, we advise parents to start taking care of their children’s teeth at a young age. This February is National Children’s Dental Health Month, which stresses the importance of kids developing a good relationship with oral hygiene. Tooth Decay is the leading chronic disease among children despite it being controllable.

When your children’s baby teeth first come in, you should brush their teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a dab of toothpaste. Children’s baby teeth act as placeholders for their permanent teeth so keeping them clean and cavity free is important. When your child is capable of brushing properly on their own, we encourage you to show them how to floss and get all of the access food and bacteria off.

Regardless of how well your children brush, we want all of our patients to follow a healthy diet. A diet that consists of plenty of vitamins and nutrients will help your teeth to be clean and healthy.

Don’t forget, bringing in your children for a cleaning twice a year will help ensure their teeth are clean and developing as they should. We want all of our patients to have the brightest smile! 

To learn more about children’s dental health and all the services provided at the practice, visit www.elitedentalarts.com for more information.  To schedule an appointment with Dr. Nick Mobilia at Elite Dental Arts in New York, NY, call 212-681-0939.

Avoiding Tooth Decay during the Holidays

Sugary treats, drinks, and snacks abound during the holiday season. We at Elite Dental Arts in Midtown want everyone to have a good time and would hate to see our patients develop tooth decay. We decided to provide a few tips that will keep everybody’s teeth safer while allowing them to enjoy toasts and feasts.

Tooth decay occurs when oral bacteria eat food debris and excrete acid. While highly sugary treats are not healthy, it is the length of time food remains in contact with teeth that determines how much decay could result. One of the most common sources of decay is sugary drinks, including pumpkin spice lattes, eggnog, apple cider, and wine. People typically consume them over a long time without sips of water in between, allowing sugary residue to accumulate. Hard candies are another problem, because of the amount of time they are in contact with teeth and because they cause the mouth to dry out, preventing saliva from washing sugar away. Starch can also be a food source for bacteria, so it’s important to not allow bits of food to remain stuck in the teeth while snacking over an extended period.

People produce the most saliva during meals, so it’s best to limit sticky and sugary foods to then. Even at times when you can’t brush right away, you can try chewing sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva production and pull away food particles. Xylitol-flavored hard candies are tooth-friendlier than sugary ones. As for drinks, you can eliminate residue by alternating with swigs of water. If you are going somewhere without fluoridated water, you could bring some along in bottles.

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

 

Inlays and Onlays

We’re proud to have restored hundreds of patients’ teeth at Elite Dental Arts in Midtown. Although we provide everything from implants to dentures, sometimes, all that’s needed is a partial crown. Those situations usually occur when enough of a tooth is damaged to necessitate something larger than a filling, but there’s still usable crown material.

The molars and premolars have multiple pointy bits, called cusps, separated by indentations. When the indentations are not sealed, they can easily become a trap for food, leading to decay. Once the decay has been drilled away, there may be a significant area in need of restoration. If a partial crown is called for, we’ll make an impression of the mouth that the prosthesis will be designed from. The patient will wear an artificial crown in the meantime. Once the prosthesis is complete, they will return for a follow-up appointment at which time it will be cemented in.

When a partial crown can be placed into an indentation, it is called an inlay. When it also covers at least one of the cusps, it is called an onlay. Inlays and onlays need to be brushed just like normal teeth or else decay will resume, but when properly cared for they can last for over a decade. Since our office heavily emphasizes aesthetics, the partial crowns we use will match the color of the patient’s teeth.

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

 

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

 

Caries in Seniors

One thing we want our patients at Elite Dental Arts in Midtown to know is they should never give up on their teeth. The most recent information from the Centers for Disease Control indicated that one in five people over age sixty-five has untreated tooth decay. To help fight this problem, we want to educate the public on why seniors are at risk for caries.

Regular oral hygiene is the best way to prevent tooth decay and lapses in hygiene will especially impact people whose teeth formed prior to the widespread use of fluoridated water. Many seniors with tooth decay had good hygiene earlier in life, but they’ve neglected it due to decreasing dexterity or motor function, forgetfulness, and feeling resigned to dentures. Other common factors are that they now eat things that are higher in sugar and may be taking medications which cause dry mouth, which allows faster bacteria growth.

We can help fight most of these problems. Products exist that make brushing easier and fluoridated toothpaste can help provide teeth with extra protection. While we provide high-quality restorations as needed, nobody should think they are doomed to tooth decay as they age.

To learn more about Invisalign and all 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. 

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

 

Dental Crown Procedure

If you have teeth that are worn down, excessively decayed or cracked, then you may benefit from a dental crown. The goal of a dental crown is to restore the functionality of a tooth as well as its shape, size, and appearance. Dr. Nick Mobilia of Elite Dental Arts offers dental crowns as a service to patients and would like to explain the procedure.

If you are a candidate for a dental crown, Dr. Nick Mobilia will need to prepare the tooth for the crown first. This may involve taking a few X-rays to check the roots of the tooth receiving the crown and surrounding bone. Before the crown is applied, you will be able to discuss anesthesia options with Dr. Mobilia to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible.

Once an impression of the tooth is made, a temporary crown will be placed while the final restoration is created in a dental laboratory. Once the permanent crown is ready, the patient will have their final appointment to have it placed.

If you have questions or concerns about periodontal disease, 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.



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

Cosmetic White Fillings

If you have a cavity, it is imperative to get a filling.  Fortunately, Dr. Nick Mobilia of Elite Dental Arts has plenty of materials for you to choose from.  However for smaller restorations, white fillings are highly suggested. Also known as composite resins and tooth-colored fillings, these types provide solid durability and resistance to fracture in small- to mid-size fillings that need to withstand moderate pressure from the constant stress of chewing.  They are typically placed on the front and back teeth and are a good choice for people who prefer a more natural appearance.

Resin composite fillings are made of ceramic and plastic compounds. Because resins mimic the appearance of natural teeth, these fillings have been used for years. The main advantage of composite fillings includes an approved aesthetic appearance, since Dr. Mobilia can blend shades to create a color nearly identical to that of the actual tooth. Composites bond to the tooth to support the remaining tooth structure, which helps prevent breakage and insulate the tooth from excessive temperature changes.

If you think you may benefit from white fillings, 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.

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