Take Care of All Your Dental Needs at Emerson Dental Associates in New Jersey

Occasionally during an annual dental cleaning or check-up at your local Emerson NJ dentist office, your dentist will find and fill a cavity. But what exactly is a cavity? A cavity is a hole in the tooth that is caused by decay. Tooth decay is the destruction of tooth structure, affecting both the enamel (the outer coating of the tooth) and the dentin (the inner layer of the tooth). Tooth decay occurs when foods containing carbohydrates (sugars and starches) are left on the teeth. Bacteria that live in the mouth digest these foods, turning them into acids. The bacteria, acid, food debris, and saliva combine to form plaque, which clings to the teeth. The acids in plaque dissolve the enamel surface of the teeth, creating holes in the teeth called cavities, or caries.

Who Gets Cavities?

Bergen County Emerson Dentist

Many people think cavities only affect children,  but as your Emerson NJ dentist will tell you, it doesn’t matter how old you may be, you are still susceptible to cavities. Recession of the gums, a common incident in adults, often associated with an increased incidence of gingivitis or gum disease, can expose tooth roots to plaque. Also, sugary food cravings in pregnant women can make them more vulnerable to developing cavities.

Decay around the edges of old cavity fillings is also common in older adults. With the new advances in modern preventive dental care, many older adults lacked the benefits of fluoride and stronger dental fillings. Over the years, these fillings may weaken and can fracture, allowing bacteria to accumulate in the tiny crevices causing tooth decay.

Dental Check-ups Emerson NJ

Your Bergen County dentist can discover cavities during your regular dental check-up. The tooth surface feels soft when probed by your dentist with a dental instrument. X-rays can also show cavities before they become visible to the eye.

In advanced stages of tooth decay, you might experience a toothache, especially after consuming sweet, hot, or cold foods or drinks. Other signs of tooth decay are visible pits or holes in the teeth.

Treating a Cavity with Emerson Dentist Dr. Martini

There are a number of different treatments for cavities depending on the extent of tooth decay. If decay is not extensive, the decayed portion of the tooth is removed by drilling and replaced with a filling made of silver alloy, gold, porcelain, or a composite resin.

If the tooth decay is extensive and there is limited tooth structure remaining,crowns will be used. If a crown is needed, the decayed or weakened area of the tooth is removed and repaired and a crown is fitted over the remainder of the tooth. Crowns are made from gold, porcelain, or porcelain fused to metal.

Prevent Cavities at Our Bergen County Dentist Office

The best defense against cavities is good oral hygiene, including brushing with a fluoride toothpaste, flossing and rinsing. Your body’s own saliva is also an excellent cavity fighter, because it contains special chemicals that rinse away many harmful materials. Chewing a good sugarless gum will stimulate saliva production between brushing. Special sealants and varnishes can also be applied to stave off cavities from forming.

Lastly, be sure to stay up to date with your appointments with the best dentists in Emerson New Jersey, Dr. Robert Martini and Dr. James Ruggerio. If you suspect you may have a cavity or have any general dentistry question, please visit Emerson Dental Associates!

Serving Bergen County with Exceptional Dentistry
110 Kinderkamack Road, Suite 2A
Emerson, NJ 07630
201-693-4830

Years and years ago, if you had a tooth with a diseased nerve, you’d probably lose that tooth. However, with Endodontic treatment performed at our Emerson, NJ office you can save that tooth. Endodontics is a specialist sub-field of dentistry that focuses on the pulp of the tooth and the tissue around it. This field focuses on the inside of the teeth, which is where the tooth is actually living and must be treated accordingly. Endodontists are familiar with how to stabilize and protect the sensitive and important innards of your teeth. Through root canals and other procedures, Endodontists at Emerson Dental Associates can extend the life of or heal hurt or decaying teeth, thus giving you a healthier mouth.

When you look at your teeth in the mirror, you see the crown. The remainder of your tooth, the portion beneath the gum line, is the root. The outer portion of the root is a hard tissue called dentin and the inside channel, or “root canal” is a pulp of soft tissue, blood vessels and nerves. The “root canal” is responsible for forming the surrounding dentin and enamel during tooth development.

Endodontic treatment is necessary when the pulp becomes inflamed or infected. This results most commonly from deep cavities called caries, repeated dental procedures, cracks or chips. If pulp inflammation or infection goes untreated, it can cause pain or lead to an abscess.

You may need Endodontic treatment if you experience:

• Prolonged sensitivity to heat or cold
• Discoloration of the tooth
• Swelling or tenderness of the tooth
• Swelling or tenderness of adjacent gums

Endodontic treatment helps save your tooth by removing the diseased portion of the tooth, in this case, the pulp. Additionally, it prevents further infection because an Endodontist will carefully clean and shape the canal system and then permanently sealing the prepared space. The outer surface is then sealed with a temporary restoration, however, a permanent restoration must be placed to protect your tooth against fracture and recontamination.

An Endodontist is a dentist that has undergone a minimum of two years of additional postgraduate training, which allows them to deal with diseases of the dental pulp and supporting structures, as well as diagnose facial pain and related problems. The Endodontic specialists at Emerson Dental Associates aim to save the patient’s natural teeth by restoring dental health and function.

Visit Emerson Dental Associates
110 Kinderkamack Road, Suite 2A
Emerson, NJ 07630
(201) 693-4830

Emerson Dentist | Family Dentist Emerson NJ

At our Emerson, NJ practice, we have been dedicated to caring for the beautiful smiles of our patients for many years.  Our full spectrum of dental services include cosmetic, periodontal, oral surgery, pediatric, endodontic and restorative dentistry.  Our skilled and attentive staff welcomes patients of all ages and guarantees the comfort of every member of your family.  From the moment you walk through our doors, you can be sure that we will cater to all of your dental needs and give you the attention that you deserve.

Whether your dental needs include a complete exam and cleaning, a full-mouth restoration, or anything in between, we promise to provide you with exceptional and compassionate care every step of the way. Our comprehensive approach to dentistry and our level of personalized treatment is unsurpassed. We offer revolutionary treatment alternatives that can change your smile quickly, easily and permanently. Our goal is to make your visit with us an extremely pleasant one and to help you achieve and maintain optimal oral health.

At Emerson Dental Associates, we provide the following services:

• Exams and Cleanings
• Immediate Dental Implants
• Cosmetic Fillings
• Crowns and Bridges
• Veneers
• Teeth Whitening
• Extractions
• Periodontal Treatment
• Removable Dental Prostheses (Dentures)
• Endodontics
• Pediatric Dental Care

We hope that you will find this website to be a useful and interesting resource for all of your dental concerns.  If you would like more information about any of the procedures that we offer or to request an appointment, please call our office at the number listed above.  We will do everything possible to ensure that your visit is pleasant and comfortable.