Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Great question, and certainly potentially confusing based on what you may read or hear from other people. The best age to take your child to the dentist is the age when your child will benefit the most. Advising and educating parents and their children is appropriate at all ages, including during pregnancy. The mothers’ periodontal health is often dictated by other changes going on in her body. Recognition and early treatment yields health benefits to both mother and child.

After many years of providing dental care to children and adolescents, Northport Family Dental would suggest the first checkup and cleaning for your child around age 4. It’s a reasonable developmental marker to enable your child to fully benefit.

Making Your Child's First Appointment Easier

It can be helpful to have your younger child accompany you or an older sibling to their check-up visit. They can watch a fun instructional video and become familiar with our office environment. The appropriate behavioral cues are learned simply by observation, setting the stage for their “Big Day” when they’re ready to participate fully. Remembering where the Prize Box never seems to be an issue.

Northport Family Dental has been caring for families for over 30 years.

Call Northport Family Dental To Learn More

If you have any concerns or believe you need treatment, call our office to speak with either Dr. Rubin or Dr. Quinn. It's important to remember that different issues can arise at any age, and there are no stupid questions. If you're searching for a dentist near me 11768, we are here to help.

Some of us have busy schedules and finding the available time to take care of ourselves can be difficult. Often, our schedules are not our own and are subject to last minute changes. Northport Family Dental is open two nights during the week and Saturdays. These appointments and our early mornings are quite popular. We always recommend booking your time ahead in order to reserve the time that works best for you.

Some of our patients’ schedules change often and unpredictably. Keeping a record of your preferences on file allows us to contact you as our schedule changes. A simple phone call, email, or text can be sent detailing current appointment availability. Feedback from our patients has been very positive for this service.

New Patients Welcome

If you are a new patient, we want to welcome you to Northport Family Dental. Our goal is to make your initial experience positive and encouraging. Subsequent visits should only reinforce your choice. Our goal for you is to be confident in your decision to be cared for in our office by our knowledgeable and caring staff and doctors. The referral of family and friends is a high compliment that is appreciated greatly by all of us at Northport Family Dental.

The obvious answer is, “As often as it is necessary for you to maintain a stable oral environment, free of disease and inflammation.” Of course, whatever that answer might be today will change over time depending upon many variables. Age, medications taken, prior dental history and restoration, stress levels, diet, and changes in host resistance all interact clinically.

The time and effort you expend at home also varies over time and is often dictated by external events. Since we are trying to control an opportunistic disease process, it is not uncommon to see flare-ups when our home care drops below optimum levels.

The team at Northport Family Dental spends a lot of time monitoring the results of your efforts and how effective they are. Based on what we see, we’ll make our recommendations as to how often you should be seen, re-evaluate the effectiveness of your home care, and help you refine your technique for maximum effectiveness. A little encouragement can go a long way toward achieving a healthy mouth.

Results From Regular Cleanings at Northport Family Dental

As an example, a patient previously seen every three months due to an underlying periodontal condition may see improvements due to lifestyle changes. Visits every four months or even twice a year may now be adequate to maintain health.

On the other hand, systemic illness, life stresses, and medication may change the oral environment such that someone who had no issues previously suddenly develops problems. More frequent visits may be necessary in order to maintain health and avoid larger and deeper problems. Recognition is key.

Many of our patients do not have dental insurance. A few have flex plans through their employer, but most pay out-of-pocket for our services that keep them healthy and smiling.

At Northport Family Dental, if you're uninsured, you don't have to worry about compromising your oral health due to budgetary limitations. We will work with you to develop a plan that meets your needs and satisfies your goals as well as prioritizing treatment into a logical sequence that fits your needs. Depending on your priorities, we may choose to complete your treatment in a short period of time or extend it out over a longer period so we stay in line with your budget.

Dental Financing Plans

We're also pleased to offer our patients the convenience of in-house financing plans as well as interest-free CareCredit financing. We can discuss all your options during your preliminary consultation. Our team will work with you in every way possible to see that you get the important dental treatments you need without having to worry about finding ways to pay for it.

Knowing the cost of treatment beforehand is important. Knowing that you are having that treatment provided in the right office and by the right doctors and supporting team members: priceless.

Invisalign is a very popular way to correct the alignment of crooked or crowded teeth. Our patients like Invisalign because the aligner trays are removable, so their oral hygiene isn’t hampered by having to work around unattractive brackets and wires. Invisalign treatment is referred to as a cosmetic orthodontic treatment because when worn, it is nearly invisible. The clear aligner trays must be worn consistently in order to work, upwards of 22 hours each day. The aligners are taken out when eating or drinking anything but clear liquids.

The great majority of patients are candidates for Invisalign. The important thing to consider is what your expectations are for your treatment. As dentists, we care about the proper alignment of teeth so that the supporting bone and surrounding soft tissues are healthy. We want the teeth to work together without causing excessive and premature wear. Properly aligned teeth exist in a healthier environment.

Scheduling Your Invisalign Consultation at Northport Family Dental

Northport Family Dental is pleased to offer complimentary Invisalign consultations. This is a great opportunity to meet our knowledgeable staff and doctors. During the consultation, we will provide information about orthodontic solutions and alternative treatments. With this understanding, you can make an informed decision about whether Invisalign is the right choice for you.

If you're looking for a dentist near me 11768, we invite you to schedule your consultation today.

The biggest problem with teeth whitening tends to be tooth sensitivity. This is especially true if you attempt to whiten yourself using store-bought products.

If you want to avoid sensitivity, your best bet is to rely on the professionals to get the job done safely. While it might seem like too big of an investment, consider the fact that you can spend a lot of money on whitening products at your drug store. And even if you follow the instructions to the letter, you still won't get the bright, dramatic results you're looking for.

Take-Home Teeth Whitening

At Northport Family Dental, we have found our patients get the best results with take-home whitening. Customized trays are designed to cover all surfaces of your teeth for consistent results. Your hygienist will show you how to place the whitening gel in the trays in a way that helps prevent it from seeping out and irritating tender gum tissue.

For your peace of mind, it's also comforting to know that you have an experienced professional to turn to if a problem develops. If you are thinking about whitening your teeth, please call our office. We'll help you decide if whitening is right for you or if there's another cosmetic dentistry service at our Northport, NY dental office that would better suit your needs.

Same-Day crowns in Northport, NY, are like regular tooth crowns but without the back and forth dental office travel and waiting!

If you've ever needed a dental crown, you know how long it can take from the initial appointment to final placement. First, your dentist takes goopy impressions. Then you wait while a distant lab fabricates your crown. Finally, the dental office offers you a temporary cap to see you through if you're lucky.

Not only is this approach time-consuming—and the impression material is very choky—but it means multiple trips to the dental office.

We want to make dentistry convenient for our patients, which is why we're thrilled to offer CEREC technology in our dental clinic.

How CEREC Same-Day Crowns in Northport, NY Are Different 

CEREC crowns are made while you wait! Imagine waking up in the morning in need of a dental crown and going to bed that night with a fully restored tooth. In most cases, it really is that easy.

The first step is the digital impression—no gunky impression pastes. Next, we send the digital impression to our on-site computer, where your crown is virtually crafted. From there, the impression results are off to our 3-D milling machine for fabrication and printing.

Your dentist then makes necessary adjustments before cementing your crown to the treated tooth. That's it. You are free to smile and enjoy your meals from then on without a second thought.

Are Same-Day Crowns Durable?

CEREC crowns are made from quality porcelain, a desirable material in dental restorations. It is strong and holds up well to normal chewing. And studies have found that they are just as durable as laboratory crowns.

However, crowns are like teeth in that they need care. In the case of your CEREC crown: brush it and floss it as you do your untreated teeth. And don't use either—tooth or crown—to twist off bottle caps or for similar unintended undertakings.

How Much Do Same-Day Tooth Crowns Cost?

Your dentist can only answer this question after your consultation. There are a few reasons why.

• Insurance benefits may cover dental crowns, partially or in full, so you'll be reimbursed.
• The complexity of tooth preparation for dental crown placement varies by patient.

However, your dentist or a member of our team will let you know how much your crown costs before we start treatment. We can also talk about financing through services like CareCredit.

Reasons You Might Need a Tooth Crown

Your Northport, NY dentist recommends dental crowns often because they treat several issues. For example, a dental crown strengthens a tooth weakened by infection, trauma, or root canal treatment.

A dental crown can also work in cosmetic dentistry to hide an unappealing or misshapen tooth.

If you need tooth replacement, a dental crown caps your dental implant behaving like a new tooth. It also anchors an artificial tooth to healthy teeth via a dental bridge.

Contact us for Dental Crowns in Northport, NY

Dental crowns are tooth caps that look like your natural teeth. They are always customized to fit in the shade and shape. 

If conditions are not favorable, we recommend not placing a temporary in areas that are not esthetically critical. Where aesthetics are a concern, we can discuss the best option that applies to your individual situation.  We want to ensure clinical success in the long term as well as make the transitional period of healing as uneventful as possible.

Local factors usually determine whether or not this is feasible and/or recommended. If there is adequate bone volume and initial stabilization of the implant can be achieved, “immediate” placement can be an advantage. Not only does it eliminate a separate procedure but it advances the timeline, allowing the tooth replacement to be placed that much sooner.

Reasons We Can't Place It at the Same Appointment

If infection is present at the time of extraction, "immediate" implant placement is not recommended. Factors like smoking, alcohol use, underlying medical conditions, and medications also play a role in the decision-making process.

After the extraction, the condition of the bone socket must be evaluated. If the bone is insufficient, implant placement will be delayed, and the site may need to be grafted to ensure the bone volume is adequate for the implant's long-term success and "health".

For more information on oral surgery in Northport, contact our office.

Dental implants in Northport are a very predictable and successful procedure. However, a small percentage experience problems. Most are associated with the implant to bone interface and can occur at different stages over the life of the implant. Fortunately, in most cases, either a replacement implant can be placed or remediation of the existing implant can resolve a developing problem.

 Our experience has been very positive when faced with this challenge. All of our cases where we experienced an initial problem have been successful when a second implant needed to be placed. The additional time to achieve a successful finish to these cases becomes a reality but in retrospect, our patients appreciate our determination to achieve their treatment goals.

Early Failures  

This usually involves a failure to achieve osseointegration; the migration of bone that forms an attachment to the surface of the implant that results in structural rigidity. Some of the factors involved are:

• Pre-Surgical Site Infection
• Inadequate quantity and quality of supportive bone at the surgical site
• Underlying medical conditions that effect the healing response, such as diabetes
• Smoking and/or Alcohol Consumption
• History of Biphosphonate Use (for Osteoporosis)
• Excessive chewing forces

Intermediate Failures

These are usually seen soon after the implant has been exposed or placed into function. Although seemingly normal on xray examination and routine evaluation for stability, the quality of the implant to bone attachment is inadequate. Once recognized, the implant may be allowed to heal for an additional time or removed entirely if circumstances suggest

Long Term Failure

Most of the issues seen over the course of time are related to either excessive or misdirected forces on the implant restoration. These forces are transmitted through the restoration to the supporting implant fixture and can initiate deterioration of the attachment to the bone and/or damage to the restoration.

Many of our patients have clenching/grinding habits, which may have been the underlying cause of the tooth needing to be extracted and the necessity of the implant being placed. Implants have less of a protective mechanism than teeth and the need to control those underlying forces remains. How your teeth function changes over time due to shifting and this means that periodic routine assessment of how the implant restoration is functioning in this ever changing environment is crucial to long term success. As necessary, adjustments to the biting surfaces of the teeth may be necessary to have the teeth continue to function smoothly.

Dental implants are essential for securely holding dental prosthetics like bridges and dentures. At Northport Family Dental, we use advanced implant techniques to ensure that these prosthetics are stable and work well for our patients.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are metal posts inserted into your jawbone to replace missing teeth. They provide a strong base for attaching dental prosthetics.

Supporting Bridges

• Stability — Dental implants keep bridges steady because they’re anchored in the jawbone and don’t need adjacent teeth for support.
• Longevity — Dental implants help maintain jawbone health, which makes dental bridges last longer.

Supporting Dentures

• Secure Fit — Implant-supported dentures attach firmly to implants, which prevents them from slipping and makes them more comfortable.
• Improved Function — These dentures work more like natural teeth, making eating and speaking easier.

Advantages of Implant-Supported Prosthetics

• Comfort — Dental implants reduce the discomfort often caused by traditional dentures.
• Natural Look — Implant-supported prosthetics look and feel more like real teeth.
• Bone Health — Implants keep the jawbone healthy and preserve facial structure.

Call Us for Dental Implants in Northport, NY 

 If you are considering oral surgery in Northport for dental implants, our skilled team is here to help you achieve a confident and functional smile.

Call us today at (631) 754-1107 to learn more about how dental implants can enhance oral health and quality of life!

The process of osteointegration, the attachment of bone to the implant surface, takes about 3 months. Once the implant is exposed, an impression can be taken. Your new tooth may be ready in as little as a few hours or a few days, often depending on personal preference.

Sites which have been grafted at the time of implant placement are ready usually in 4-6 months. Simultaneous implant placement with a sinus lift requires a minimum of six months healing.

Factors That Impact Dental Implant Placement

Bone density varies widely in different areas of the mouth. Implants which are placed into dense bone tend to be more stable initially and our expectation is that they can be restored sooner than an implant placed in less dense bone.

Local factors play an important modifying role in the healing response and need to be considered.

Factors That Slow Healing Time of Dental Implants

Factors such as smoking, underlying medical conditions (such as diabetes), and the amount and quality of bone available at the time of placement all effect surgical outcomes. The better the local surgical environment and associated favorable history, the sooner we expect to see a favorable healing response.

Great question, and certainly potentially confusing based on what you may read or hear from other people. The best age to take your child to the dentist is the age when your child will benefit the most. Advising and educating parents and their children is appropriate at all ages, including during pregnancy. The mothers’ periodontal health is often dictated by other changes going on in her body. Recognition and early treatment yields health benefits to both mother and child.

After many years of providing dental care to children and adolescents, Northport Family Dental would suggest the first checkup and cleaning for your child around age 4. It’s a reasonable developmental marker to enable your child to fully benefit.

Making Your Child's First Appointment Easier

It can be helpful to have your younger child accompany you or an older sibling to their check-up visit. They can watch a fun instructional video and become familiar with our office environment. The appropriate behavioral cues are learned simply by observation, setting the stage for their “Big Day” when they’re ready to participate fully. Remembering where the Prize Box never seems to be an issue.

Northport Family Dental has been caring for families for over 30 years.

Call Northport Family Dental To Learn More

If you have any concerns or believe you need treatment, call our office to speak with either Dr. Rubin or Dr. Quinn. It's important to remember that different issues can arise at any age, and there are no stupid questions. If you're searching for a dentist near me 11768, we are here to help.

About half of our patients have some form of dental insurance. Most people have a basic understanding that they have some form of coverage but don’t really understand the role their insurance plays in their ongoing dental health needs. At Northport Family Dental, we're here to interpret your insurance plan design, and acting as your advocate, enabling you to obtain maximum allowable benefits for services rendered.

On your behalf, we’ll be happy to obtain the coverage details of your plan before we start. Knowing benefits available relative to proposed treatment allows us to accurately estimate any costs that would be your responsibility. Any and all associated paperwork necessary to file claims is generated and sent.

Making Your Procedure Affordable

Although Northport Family Dental is not an insurance-driven practice we recognize that affordability is often an important factor in your decision making. Our treatment recommendations are based on what we feel best meets your needs and the goals you set for yourself. We can interpret your plan and make you aware of its limitations. A better understanding of what your insurance benefits are may impact the sequencing of your treatment,often resulting in a higher overall insurance reimbursement. It should not, however, alter your treatment goals.

If you have questions about our policy regarding insurance, please give our Northport dental office a call. Understanding the ins and outs of insurance can be complicated in any case, and we’re here to make sure all your questions are answered fully.

Invisalign is a very popular way to correct the alignment of crooked or crowded teeth. Our patients like Invisalign because the aligner trays are removable, so their oral hygiene isn’t hampered by having to work around unattractive brackets and wires. Invisalign treatment is referred to as a cosmetic orthodontic treatment because when worn, it is nearly invisible. The clear aligner trays must be worn consistently in order to work, upwards of 22 hours each day. The aligners are taken out when eating or drinking anything but clear liquids.

The great majority of patients are candidates for Invisalign. The important thing to consider is what your expectations are for your treatment. As dentists, we care about the proper alignment of teeth so that the supporting bone and surrounding soft tissues are healthy. We want the teeth to work together without causing excessive and premature wear. Properly aligned teeth exist in a healthier environment.

Scheduling Your Invisalign Consultation at Northport Family Dental

Northport Family Dental is pleased to offer complimentary Invisalign consultations. This is a great opportunity to meet our knowledgeable staff and doctors. During the consultation, we will provide information about orthodontic solutions and alternative treatments. With this understanding, you can make an informed decision about whether Invisalign is the right choice for you.

If you're looking for a dentist near me 11768, we invite you to schedule your consultation today.

Invisalign is the premier orthodontic option for patients who want straight teeth without metal and bracket braces. And we are happy to offer Invisalign in Northport, NY.

Invisalign is a succession of clear aligners customized to fit over your teeth. You wear the first aligner for about two weeks before moving on to the next. And over the months, you’ll notice your teeth lining up and moving into more desirable positions.

As far as your orthodontic timeline, this is different for everyone, but your dentist will let you know how long you’ll be in treatment during your initial Invisalign consultation—typical timeframes for Invisalign range from several months and up to two years. If you’re like most people, you’ll fall somewhere in the middle.

Invisalign can correct overlapping, twisted, and crooked teeth. But it also takes care of:

• Bite alignment issues
• Unusual spacing between teeth
• Midline issues

And you can remove your aligners to eat and tend to your oral hygiene. However, we recommend wearing them as often as possible—at least 22 hours every day—for best results. When you wear them, they are discreet and never draw attention to treatment.

For Invisalign Near Me, Contact Your Northport, NY Dentist

Straight teeth contribute to life quality by boosting confidence and improving oral health. To learn more or arrange a consultation in a dentist near me 11768, reach out to a helpful team member today.

Committing to fixing misaligned teeth is an important step towards your overall health. Invisalign gives adults and older teens the ability to improve teeth alignment and bite issues with clear aligner trays that are removable. It’s no wonder Invisalign in Northport, NY is so popular!

Invisalign treatment usually takes from 12 to 18 months. If you and your dentist have determined that you’re a good candidate, here’s what you can expect:

• After an in-depth evaluation, your dentist will take impressions of your teeth. Your dentist will send these impressions to Invisalign to create a 3-D model of your mouth. Invisalign sends an individualized digital treatment to your dentist showing how your teeth will be moved. Your dentist will work with Invisalign to produce the optimal plan for you.
• When your Invisalign trays are finalized, you’ll wear them at home for a predetermined number of hours per day (typically about 22 hours).
• You’ll change your trays once every two weeks, which will continue to move your teeth in the right direction.
• You’ll remove the trays to eat, brush, and floss.
• When you’ve gone through all your Invisalign trays, we may need to tweak your results with additional aligners. Once your smile is complete, you will wear a retainer for a few months to ensure your teeth don’t move back to their old positions.

Scheduling Your Invisalign Consultation

If you would like to learn more about Invisalign or to schedule your appointment, call our office and our team will be happy to help you.

You should not wait two months for a root canal. A root canal infection with pain and swelling is a dental emergency that requires immediate intervention from your Northport dentist. Without treatment, your tooth can crumble, and infection can spread to surrounding teeth and tissues.

Root canals in Northport, NY, are straightforward and do not take much time to complete. First, you come into the dental office, and we administer anesthesia. Then, when the tooth is numb, your dentist extracts the infection before sealing the tooth temporarily. At a future visit, we provide a tooth-colored filling or a dental crown—a filling if the infection was small but a crown if it compromised your tooth’s structure.

If you notice tooth pain and gum swelling, we urge you to seek treatment before the infection spreads. Root canal pain can be severe, so we work to see you as soon as possible.

To lower infection risks, brush and floss twice daily or after each meal, and see your dentist on time for checkups and teeth cleanings.

Contact Your Northport Dentist

We provide emergency dentistry and prompt root canal treatment. Contact our dental office today to arrange an appointment or to speak with a team member.

If you have an emerging root canal infection, antibiotics may delay infection spread. Antibiotics can also reduce some of the pain and swelling. However, antibiotics are not a substitute for root canal treatment in Northport, NY.

Without root canal treatment, the infection will always resurface and spread. And if the condition damages the tooth’s nerves, you may not feel significant pain even as the problem worsens. Failure to properly treat the infection can mean tooth loss.

What Is a Root Canal?

Root infection occurs in the canal of your tooth. Your dentist removes it by numbing the treatment site and removing the infected material. We also rinse the canal and fill it temporarily to foster healing. Later, we cap the tooth with a dental crown. This is the only way to treat this type of infection successfully.

Regular dental care and excellent oral hygiene significantly lower your cavities, gum disease, and oral infection risks.

Contact Your Northport, NY, Emergency Dentist Today

Remember, antibiotics and pain relievers are no substitute for root canal treatment. On the contrary, medications only prolong the problem.

If you have a toothache or gum swelling, we encourage you to contact our dental team to schedule a visit with our emergency dentist. Please reach out if you have any questions. If you’re looking for a dentist near me 11768, we are here to assist you.

Tooth root infections can disrupt your life. They are painful and can cause unsightly swelling. Fortunately, root canal treatment in Northport, NY, gets rid of the pain and eliminates the swelling. Root canal treatment is also painless.

The alternative to not getting a root canal treatment is losing your tooth and spreading infection, so getting the therapy is worth it.

If you choose extraction over treatment, it’s important to consider tooth replacement to keep your smile healthy. A missing tooth can lead to tooth shifting, bite misalignment, and enamel wear and tear. We offer various tooth replacement options, including dental implants.

About Root Canal Therapy in Northport, NY

Root canal therapy involves extracting the infected material from your tooth root canal, flushing to disinfect, and a temporary filling. This is later replaced with a dental crown or a tooth-colored filling. We perform the procedure under anesthesia. Patients report feeling better immediately following their treatment.

Book an Emergency Dental Visit in Northport, NY

Root infection is a dental emergency. If you have pain and swelling around a tooth, it’s essential to contact our dental office. A team member can book you an emergency visit with the dentist as soon as possible.

Tooth grinding, also known as bruxism, can have a significant impact on your overall oral health if left untreated. Chronic grinding can wear down your teeth, leading to enamel loss, increased tooth sensitivity, and even fractures. Over time, this constant pressure and friction can cause teeth to become loose or misaligned, necessitating more extensive dental work to restore function and appearance. The wear and tear from grinding can result in flattened or chipped teeth, which not only affect your smile but also your bite alignment, potentially leading to other oral health issues.

Bruxism doesn't just affect your teeth. It can also lead to jaw problems, such as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, which can cause pain and discomfort in the jaw, face, and even neck. The muscles used during grinding can become sore and overworked, leading to tension headaches and muscle fatigue. This condition can severely impact your quality of life, making daily activities like eating and speaking uncomfortable.

If you suspect that you are grinding your teeth, it is essential to seek professional help. At Northport Family Dental,  in diagnosing and treating tooth grinding and offer custom-fitted nightguards to protect your teeth. Our nightguards are designed to reduce the impact of grinding and prevent further damage.

Visit us at 265 Main Street, Northport, NY, or call us at (631) 754-1107 to schedule an appointment. Our experienced team is dedicated to helping you maintain optimal oral health and alleviate the effects of bruxism. Trust your smile to a skilled dentist in Northport, NY, and take the first step towards relief and protection.

Nightguards are custom-made dental appliances designed to be worn over your teeth while you sleep to prevent the damage caused by tooth grinding. These guards act as a barrier between your upper and lower teeth, absorbing the pressure and reducing the friction caused by grinding. Made from durable materials, nightguards are crafted to fit comfortably and securely, ensuring that they stay in place throughout the night without causing discomfort or disruption to your sleep.

Using a nightguard can significantly alleviate the symptoms associated with bruxism. By preventing direct tooth-to-tooth contact, nightguards help reduce the wear and tear on your teeth, preserving the enamel and preventing further damage.

If you're experiencing tooth grinding and want to protect your teeth, visit Northport Family Dental for a consultation. We offer high-quality nightguards in Northport, NY, tailored to fit your unique dental structure. Our team will take precise impressions of your teeth to ensure a perfect fit and maximum protection. Visit us at 265 Main Street, Northport, NY, or call (631) 754-1107 to schedule your appointment. Our experienced dentist in Northport, NY, is dedicated to providing you with effective solutions to maintain your oral health and improve your quality of life. Let us help you achieve a healthier, more comfortable smile with our specialized teeth grinding and nightguards services in Northport, NY.

Invisalign is a very popular way to correct the alignment of crooked or crowded teeth. Our patients like Invisalign because the aligner trays are removable, so their oral hygiene isn’t hampered by having to work around unattractive brackets and wires. Invisalign treatment is referred to as a cosmetic orthodontic treatment because when worn, it is nearly invisible. The clear aligner trays must be worn consistently in order to work, upwards of 22 hours each day. The aligners are taken out when eating or drinking anything but clear liquids.

The great majority of patients are candidates for Invisalign. The important thing to consider is what your expectations are for your treatment. As dentists, we care about the proper alignment of teeth so that the supporting bone and surrounding soft tissues are healthy. We want the teeth to work together without causing excessive and premature wear. Properly aligned teeth exist in a healthier environment.

Scheduling Your Invisalign Consultation at Northport Family Dental

Northport Family Dental is pleased to offer complimentary Invisalign consultations. This is a great opportunity to meet our knowledgeable staff and doctors. During the consultation, we will provide information about orthodontic solutions and alternative treatments. With this understanding, you can make an informed decision about whether Invisalign is the right choice for you.

If you're looking for a dentist near me 11768, we invite you to schedule your consultation today.

The obvious answer is, “As often as it is necessary for you to maintain a stable oral environment, free of disease and inflammation.” Of course, whatever that answer might be today will change over time depending upon many variables. Age, medications taken, prior dental history and restoration, stress levels, diet, and changes in host resistance all interact clinically.

The time and effort you expend at home also varies over time and is often dictated by external events. Since we are trying to control an opportunistic disease process, it is not uncommon to see flare-ups when our home care drops below optimum levels.

The team at Northport Family Dental spends a lot of time monitoring the results of your efforts and how effective they are. Based on what we see, we’ll make our recommendations as to how often you should be seen, re-evaluate the effectiveness of your home care, and help you refine your technique for maximum effectiveness. A little encouragement can go a long way toward achieving a healthy mouth.

Results From Regular Cleanings at Northport Family Dental

As an example, a patient previously seen every three months due to an underlying periodontal condition may see improvements due to lifestyle changes. Visits every four months or even twice a year may now be adequate to maintain health.

On the other hand, systemic illness, life stresses, and medication may change the oral environment such that someone who had no issues previously suddenly develops problems. More frequent visits may be necessary in order to maintain health and avoid larger and deeper problems. Recognition is key.

The obvious answer is, “As often as it is necessary for you to maintain a stable oral environment, free of disease and inflammation.” Of course, whatever that answer might be today will change over time depending upon many variables. Age, medications taken, prior dental history and restoration, stress levels, diet, and changes in host resistance all interact clinically.

The time and effort you expend at home also varies over time and is often dictated by external events. Since we are trying to control an opportunistic disease process, it is not uncommon to see flare-ups when our home care drops below optimum levels.

The team at Northport Family Dental spends a lot of time monitoring the results of your efforts and how effective they are. Based on what we see, we’ll make our recommendations as to how often you should be seen, re-evaluate the effectiveness of your home care, and help you refine your technique for maximum effectiveness. A little encouragement can go a long way toward achieving a healthy mouth.

Results From Regular Cleanings at Northport Family Dental

As an example, a patient previously seen every three months due to an underlying periodontal condition may see improvements due to lifestyle changes. Visits every four months or even twice a year may now be adequate to maintain health.

On the other hand, systemic illness, life stresses, and medication may change the oral environment such that someone who had no issues previously suddenly develops problems. More frequent visits may be necessary in order to maintain health and avoid larger and deeper problems. Recognition is key.

If conditions are not favorable, we recommend not placing a temporary in areas that are not esthetically critical. Where aesthetics are a concern, we can discuss the best option that applies to your individual situation.  We want to ensure clinical success in the long term as well as make the transitional period of healing as uneventful as possible.

Local factors usually determine whether or not this is feasible and/or recommended. If there is adequate bone volume and initial stabilization of the implant can be achieved, “immediate” placement can be an advantage. Not only does it eliminate a separate procedure but it advances the timeline, allowing the tooth replacement to be placed that much sooner.

Reasons We Can't Place It at the Same Appointment

If infection is present at the time of extraction, "immediate" implant placement is not recommended. Factors like smoking, alcohol use, underlying medical conditions, and medications also play a role in the decision-making process.

After the extraction, the condition of the bone socket must be evaluated. If the bone is insufficient, implant placement will be delayed, and the site may need to be grafted to ensure the bone volume is adequate for the implant's long-term success and "health".

For more information on oral surgery in Northport, contact our office.

The most common oral surgeries our dentists perform in our Northport office are:

• Wisdom teeth extractions
• Tooth extractions
• Dental implants
• TMJ treatment
• Dental Implants

Dental implants are an extremely effective procedure for replacing missing teeth. The implant itself is a small metal post that our dentists surgically implant into the jawbone. Once the implant has healed, a crown (artificial tooth) is attached to the dental implant post. Dental implants are incredibly durable, and the implant itself can last a lifetime with proper care. Additionally, because they are anchored in the jawbone, dental implants feel and function just like natural teeth. For these reasons, dental implants are an excellent option for people who are missing one or more teeth.

Tooth Extractions

A tooth extraction is a procedure that we perform to remove a tooth that is damaged, decayed, or overcrowded. First, the dentist will numb the area around the tooth with a local anesthetic. This process will help to ensure that you don't feel any pain during the procedure. Next, the dentist will make a small incision in your gums to access the damaged, decayed, or overcrowded tooth. Once the tooth is exposed, the dentist will use special instruments to loosen it from the bone and remove it. Finally, the dentist will close the incision and provide instructions on how to care for the extraction site.

Wisdom Teeth Removal

Most people have four wisdom teeth, which are the backmost molars on each side of the mouth. They usually appear during the late teenage years or early twenties. While some people's wisdom teeth come in without any problems, others find that their wisdom teeth become impacted, which means they get stuck under the gum line and can't erupt fully into the mouth. When this happens, wisdom teeth removal may be necessary to prevent pain, infection, and other dental problems. 

Having a wisdom tooth removed can be a scary experience, but it doesn't have to be. The dentist will numb the area around your tooth and then use special tools to remove it. So please don't worry if you need to have your wisdom teeth removed. You're in good hands with us!

TMJ Treatment

TMJ, or temporomandibular joint disorder, is a painful condition that affects the jaw joint. This pain and stiffness can be caused by a number of reasons, including teeth misalignment, clenching or grinding of the teeth, injury to the jaw, or arthritis. There are treatment options available for TMJ, and the best course of action will depend on the individual case. In some cases, simple lifestyle changes, such as avoiding hard foods and chewing gum, may be enough to alleviate symptoms. In other cases, additional treatment may be necessary, such as physical therapy, mouthguards, or surgery. Regardless of the course of treatment, jaw pain is not normal, and it is important to contact us if you are experiencing persistent jaw pain.

Oral Surgery Northport

Are you tired of tooth, mouth, or jaw pain? There is nothing normal about this pain, and you shouldn't have to deal with it a minute longer than you have to! Call us today at (631) 754-1107 to schedule an oral surgery Northport NY.

We look forward to meeting you!