You can do your best to reduce the risk of decay and infection by brushing, flossing, and attending regular dental checkups and cleanings, but your smile still remains at-risk of a number of oral health hazards. If you experience an issue that affects the function of your smile, let us know right away. The team at Dental Serenity of Manhattan offers a full list of restorative services for patients in Manhattan, NY and the Greater New York Area.
Dental Crowns & BridgesWe can restore or replace damaged or missing teeth with dental crowns and bridges, which are custom-fitted prosthetics we build to replicate your tooth structure. Dental crowns are caps that are fixed over the surface of a decayed or injured tooth. A dental bridge fills the empty space left after tooth loss, anchored in the smile using the two natural teeth surrounding the gap.
Crowns and bridges are fixed restorations that can only be removed by your dentist. They can be made from a number of materials, with natural-looking ceramic or porcelain being the preferred choice for teeth in the front of the smile.
An interesting note about dental crowns is that they’ve been used since the Etruscan civilization. Back then, they were made out of ivory, gold, and bones, a method that held on until the 20th century, when they were replaced by porcelain. Today’s dental crowns and bridges are fully customized to each patient’s dentition and are completed in two to three visits to the dentist’s office. Both restorations can last for many years with proper cleaning and routine visits to Dental Serenity of Manhattan.
Tooth-Colored FillingsWe are pleased to offer patients a superior alternative to silver, or amalgam, fillings. Tooth-colored fillings are made of biocompatible composite resin, a material that can be customized to match the exact shade of your surrounding tooth enamel. Composite resin is biocompatible, completely metal-free, and less sensitive to heat and cold, which protects your healthy tooth enamel from the expansion and contraction that occurs with silver fillings.
Tooth-colored fillings can fill new cavities, replace old failing gray fillings, or make minor cosmetic improvements to the teeth in the front of the smile. Unlike dental amalgam, which requires up to 12 hours to fully set, the tooth-colored composite resin dries within minutes under a special curing light so you can go on about your day immediately with a fully restored tooth.
Root CanalsWhen infection in a tooth reaches the root, you need something more than a filling or crown to treat and preserve your natural smile. The pulp of your tooth is the inner part, which contains nerve endings, tissues, and extends all the way down to the root. Infection here causes serious pain, swelling, and can eventually lead to the loss of the tooth if it is not treated quickly.
Many people associate root canal therapy (endodontic treatment) with pain — but thanks to local anesthetics and advancements in modern dentistry, root canals are nothing to fear. In fact, they are no more painful than a standard filling. And once it is complete, the restored tooth will blend in perfectly with the remaining teeth.
Root canal procedures are over 90% successful, with many treatments lasting for decades or even a lifetime. To perform a root canal, your dentist removes all the infected tissues and strengthens the tooth with a permanent crown or filling. Sometimes, an antibiotic helps to fully kill the bacteria and prevent reinfection of the tooth before the final restoration can be placed.
ExtractionsOne routine dental procedure to address irreparable decay, damage, or other severe problems is the tooth extraction. We work to preserve your natural teeth whenever possible, but sometimes we just can’t avoid extraction. If we have to remove a tooth that is important for the proper function of your smile, we will discuss options for quality tooth replacement to reduce the time you have to live with an incomplete smile.
Most of the time, teeth have to be removed due to severe tooth decay. For younger patients, though, the most common reason for extraction is impaction of the wisdom teeth. These are the third molars that usually erupt in the late teenage years or early adulthood. Advanced periodontal disease may also call for tooth extraction, as well as cracked teeth, or malformed or crowded teeth.
Wisdom Tooth ExtractionsNot everyone has wisdom teeth, but people who do have this third set of molars often experience impaction, when the tooth does not fully erupt from the gums. Infection is likely to occur as a result. Problematic wisdom teeth are painful and can cause real problems for an otherwise healthy smile, so schedule an appointment with your dentist as soon as you suspect you have an issue. Dr. Chang provide comfortable extractions as needed.
Nitrous Oxide SedationNitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, helps patients of all ages relax through minor dental procedures. It is a gas that is administered through a small mask that covers your nose, and you breathe it in throughout your entire treatment. The gas can help even very nervous patients feel light, happy, and worry-free in the dental chair. Once the procedure is over and the mask is removed, the effects of nitrous oxide wear off almost immediately.
