Dental Implants Succasunna, NJ

What is the Cost of Dental Implants?

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Many of the things we spend money on are perceived as investments; something that offers us a reward of some sort. A house is a safe and inviting space that is expected to hold monetary value over many years of time. Even the vehicles that we drive are a type of investment that provide rewards like getting us where we need to go and, if we’re lucky, getting us there in style. Dental costs fit in here somewhere, too; they just aren’t as fun and exciting for most people as getting that shiny new car or the big house.

When your dentist suggests dental implants to replace a tooth or teeth that are failing, the investment that has to be made may not feel great at first. Here, we want to point out how dental implants can be the best value for long-term health and vitality.

The Big Picture

Tooth replacement has historically focused on the necessity of structure and function. Therefore, the approach may have looked something like “just get teeth back into the mouth.” Old-school methods of tooth replacement, including bridges and dentures, may reinstate a beautiful appearance and chewing function by putting teeth back, but the degree to which they do that is limited.

Restorative fixtures like dentures and bridges are typically expected to last about 15 years. The average lifespan may be closer to five or eight years in many situations. Dental implants, on the other hand, are expected to last for life. The first surgical-grade titanium implants were used more than fifty years ago, and many of them were entirely intact for the remainder of the patient’s life.

Comparing Cost Against Longevity

Calculating cost is quite different than calculating value. Looking at the up-front costs of treatment alone, a patient may shy away from dental implants. According to research, this choice may ultimately prove costlier due to the shorter lifespan of non-implanted restorations.

What are You Really Paying For?

When you pay for dental treatment, you’re investing in something more. When dental care revolves around prevention, the investment is in the avoidance of uncomfortable dental problems. Dental care that is performed to restore something that has been lost can ultimately improve your quality of life, and that is the actual investment.

Research has demonstrated the success that can be attained with dental implants. If you are considering which tooth replacement protocol is right for you, now is a great time to see firsthand what research has suggested. Learn more about dental implant treatment at our Succasunna office. Call 973-328-1225.

Family Dentist Succasunna NJ

Preserving Happy Smiles with Dental Sealants

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Many children imagine that they have a secret power. Superheroes may be able to fly or run about under a cloak of invisibility, but children, their unique ability is their smile. Did you know that most children smile about 400 times a day? Think about how many times you smile. According to studies, we adults do so only about 40 times a day. Not just because they smile more, but because their smiles are precious, children deserve care that preserves their smiles. Dental sealants are one way we can do this.

What Are Dental Sealants?

There are several ways that we use sealants today. We seal pipes and plumbing with caulking and special tape. Granite is sealed with special liquids. We could even describe car wax as a type of sealant to prevent water from beading and creating spots on the paint. Dental sealants are intended for a similar purpose: to protect a surface. Where dental sealants are concerned, though, we’re talking about preventing cavities, not spots.

Dental sealants are an excellent way to protect premolars and molars from tooth decay. These teeth are particularly susceptible to damage because they have deep grooves on chewing surfaces. Studies indicate that, when these grooves are sealed with appropriate material, there is an 80 percent less chance for tooth decay on treated teeth.

Painless Treatment, Big Rewards

Parents are willing to go the extra mile for their children to keep them healthy, happy, and comfortable. Dental sealant treatment is a painless process that provides up to five years of protection against tooth decay on treated surfaces. The steps to this procedure include:

  • Standard dental cleaning and polishing in the dental office
  • Isolating and drying each tooth
  • Minor, painless etching to ensure complete attachment of sealant to enamel
  • Application of liquid sealant material
  • Curing liquid by directing light on the treated tooth surface
  • Evaluation of the tooth to confirm a proper “seal.”

Protect Your Child’s Smile with Dental Sealants

In our New Jersey office, we see children as quickly as possible to reduce any stress related to seeing the dentist. Our methods of care are gentle and friendly, so children learn that their dentist is an ally, not someone to fear. We focus on prevention and conservative treatment as much as we can so children can enjoy optimal oral health with less intervention.

Learn more about dental sealants, contact Morris County Dental Associates at 973-328-1225.

Dental Bridges Randolph, NJ

Dental Bridges Provide Restorative Benefits

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Outside of early childhood, there is pretty much zero excitement associated with tooth loss. Adults expect to keep their teeth for their lifetime. The loss of one or more teeth can feel devastating. It doesn’t have to. Modern dentistry provides outstanding solutions for tooth loss. Dr. Goldberg has achieved Diplomat status with the American Board of Oral Implantology / Implant Dentistry. Still, he recognizes the value of longstanding restorative solutions like the dental bridge.

What is a dental bridge?

A dental bridge is an oral prosthesis that replaces missing teeth by affixing a new structure atop what remains. A bridge looks like natural teeth and feels like them, too, because the entire fixture that includes two crowns and one or more artificial teeth fits over existing anatomy. With crowns affixed to natural teeth, false teeth in the bridge can sit securely over the gums. Bonding a bridge over natural teeth supports long-term stability and chewing function, not to mention personal confidence.

Why People Still Get Dental Bridges

In the past twenty years, we have seen a sharp turn toward dental implants as a successful method of tooth replacement. There are significant benefits to that particular process because dental implants reinstate the root structure that is necessary for lifelong bone regeneration in the jaw. However, people are still getting dental bridges. Here’s why:

Dental bridge treatment is an affordable method of replacing one or more teeth in a short period. The entire process is usually complete within two office visits, and patients can resume normal activities right away. With a bridge in place:

  • The bite is aligned
  • Teeth do not shift into empty space
  • There is no significant gap in the smile
  • The smile looks natural
  • You can chew a variety of foods
  • You feel good about your smile

A dental bridge can last 7 to 15 years or more with proper care. Your New Jersey dentist can provide you with the details you need to determine if a dental bridge will meet your long-term needs for function and natural appearance. Call Morris County Dental Associates at 973-328-1225 to learn more.

Family Dentist Succasunna NJ

You Have a Great Smile, but That Breath!

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Many people express a desire to improve the appearance of their smile with cosmetic dental treatment. In our Succasunna office, we’ve got several techniques that can achieve the ideal shade, proportions, and condition of teeth. However, it must be said that bad breath can instantly downgrade a great smile. Discussion of bad breath is not ordinary dinner conversation, nor is it something most people like to talk about at all. In some cases, bad breath may occur without one’s awareness. Here, we want to point out a few of the reasons why bad breath may develop and what can be done to address this problem so your smile can sit center-stage.

Bad Breath May Come From

  • Foods and beverages. We don’t just mean onions and garlic; what we eat affects our body, including the condition of the mouth. For instance, foods and drinks that are acidic can promote bacterial activity, ultimately leading to bad breath. Acidity may also increase as a result of processed foods and the sugar residue they leave behind.
  • Poor hygiene. Brushing and flossing are the two best things you can do for your teeth and your breath. They should not be skipped. Brushing and flossing daily can promote fresh breath by removing the plaque and bacteria that deposit odorous sulfur-compounds. For additional effectiveness, add gentle tongue-scraping with an appropriate tool to your daily practice.
  • Dry mouth. Saliva flow is necessary to break apart foods, dilute sugar residue, and prevent excessive oral acidity. Dry mouth is a chronic condition that may stem from a health problem, medication, smoking, and even from snoring. The effects of dry mouth can be offset by sipping water frequently and chewing xylitol gum.

Fixing Bad Breath

Bad breath is not something you can cover up with mouthwash. In fact, if your mouthwash contains alcohol, which many do, the drying effects of that ingredient could be making the problem worse. To remedy bad breath, it is necessary to eliminate as much plaque and bacteria as possible. A great starting point to achieve this is in our office. A thorough dental cleaning removes buildup from around teeth and under the gums, eliminating the sulfuric waste deposited by bacteria.

We can help you create the healthy, attractive smile you deserve. Call 973-328-1225 to schedule your visit.

Dental Implants Succasunna NJ

What Modern Dentistry Has to Offer

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Dentistry is such a common aspect of healthcare today that most people never stop to consider the humble beginnings of this practice. The earliest evidence of dental knowledge dates back to about 5000 BC when tooth decay was described as having “worms” in teeth. In ancient Greece, great minds like Hippocrates contemplated the inner workings of the mouth. Still, it wasn’t until the 1700s when knowledge regarding dental problems and their causes reached a stage at which we had any power against them. Formal dentistry didn’t emerge until the middle of the 19th Century. Boy, have we come a long way since then!

We are proud (and relieved!) to live in a time at which dentistry is not a challenge. Innovation has led to solutions that were once unimaginable. Examples include:

Dental Implants

The ancient Egyptians actually had their own version of dental implants: shells. We shudder to think about that procedure but have to applaud their courage and wisdom. The use of shells as replacement teeth indicated that humans recognized the need for stability. Today, we have a much more refined approach to tooth replacement. Dental implants, tiny posts made of surgical grade titanium, are commonly used to reinstate a functional root after tooth loss. This innovative technique has made it possible for patients to regain full chewing function and also to preserve facial structure through supported bone regeneration.

Sedation

Sedation techniques have also been tested throughout the ages. In most instances, sedation was considered a valuable aspect of surgical medicine. Today, we see the benefits that effective and mild sedation techniques provide to dental patients. In our office, patients can remedy dental anxiety with the use of nitrous oxide, oral conscious sedation, or with IV sedation for more complicated procedures.

Porcelain Veneers

Cosmetic dentistry as a whole is a relatively new area of dental care. However, veneer treatment was first performed more than 80 years ago. The first veneers, used by Hollywood dentist Dr. Charles Pincus, provided temporary improvement for actors during filming but didn’t last much longer than that. Today, we have durable dental porcelain and a proven bonding technique that allows patients to enjoy veneers for upwards of 15 years.

Obtain the care you need to love the smile you’re in. Call 973-328-1225 to schedule a consultation with us.

Dental Implants Succasunna, NJ

How Dental Implants Compare to Natural Teeth

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Having a full set of healthy, natural teeth is an expectation that most adults have. We don’t often look into the future and see ourselves needing tooth replacement. This is interesting, considering the evidence that suggests most people will need one or more teeth replaced at some point. In fact, the Academy of General Dentistry has stated that over 50% of men aged 74 and older have lost approximately 12 teeth.

As much as we’d love for all of our patients to keep all of their natural teeth for life, we know there are no guarantees. Because tooth loss may happen, we believe in being prepared with optimal treatment. Dental implants enable us to replace missing teeth in a way that nearly gives natural teeth a run for their money. Here, we discuss how the structure of titanium implant posts and ceramic teeth compares to natural roots and teeth.

Bye-bye Cavities

Natural teeth are susceptible to decay; there’s no way around that fact. As an implant dentist with years of clinical practice performing dental implant treatment, Dr. Goldberg has seen the correlation between widespread decay and the need for tooth replacement. Often, by the time patients visit the dentist to receive dental implants, they have suffered chronic oral pain for years. Understandably, then, their transition into full-arch tooth replacement with dental implants and lifelike crowns or bridges is a life-changing event.

The surgical-grade titanium from which implant posts are made is resistant to all types of corrosion, including cavities. Ceramic crowns and bridges look just like natural teeth, but they won’t get cavities either.  Implant patients do still need to take good care of their oral health, though; the risk of gum disease never goes away completely.

Implants can Last a Lifetime

Dental implants have been used for more than half a century now. As this technique has become more familiar, more dentists are performing the procedure. This has allowed scientists to study the long-term value of dental implants as a form of tooth replacement. At this point, we can see that dental implants can last 30+ years when oral care is sustained.

Nothing beats natural, unless natural is not functioning as it should. To restore comfort and confidence, contact our Succasunna office at (973) 328-1225 for your dental implant consultation.

Family Dentistry Morris County, NJ

Teens are Not in the Clear When it comes to Oral Development

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The early years of parenting are spent busily teaching this and that. Children are learning to walk and feed themselves. They rely on parents to show them boundaries and compassionate behavior like sharing. As they grow, children transition from needing Mom or Dad to brush their teeth form them to learning how to protect their own teeth from damage. Gradually, the reigns of self-care are handed over. Usually, by the time children become teenagers, the practical teachings of early childhood come to an end. According to studies, we may want to rethink this when it comes to certain aspects of health and wellness.

Teenagers today are far busier than the generations before them. They’ve got the rigors of school as well as jobs and other extracurricular activities. It isn’t hard to see why many teens reach for fast and convenient foods. One of the staples in many teens’ diets is soda. Where there’s not soda, there may be sports drinks or even the occasional energy drink. A report from the Academy of General Dentistry points to the standard teenage diet as a risk not only to oral health but also to bone health.

A Matter of Cause and Effect

We have discussed the dangers of soft drinks before. Here, we want to go beyond the fact that the average soda has at least a teaspoon of sugar combined with acidic ingredients. The combination can very quickly soften enamel to the point of erosion. But there’s more. When soda is consumed on a regular basis, the body is less capable of absorbing the calcium it needs to build healthy bones and teeth.

There is a perception that calcium is vital to young children and also to older women, but not necessarily for teens. In fact, research has stated that it is between the ages of 9 and 18 when the body is doing its most active bone development. So, when the body really needs calcium, it may actually be robbed of it due to the habit of drinking soda.

Should teens be prohibited from consuming soft drinks and sports drinks? Perhaps not. They can be supported by taking calcium on a daily basis and eating calcium-enriched foods. In our office, we assist patients of all ages by performing comprehensive dental checkups that assess the strength of enamel.

Is it time for your family’s checkups? Contact our office at 973-328-1225 to schedule a convenient appointment time.

Dental Veneers Morris County NJ

Maintaining Veneers for Extended Results

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We love helping patients make improvements to the appearance of their smile. There are several ways we can do this, from whitening teeth to covering one or more teeth with porcelain veneers. These two treatments represent the immense value that there is to be found in cosmetic dentistry. When we perform veneer treatment, it is important to us that the value of results be extended as long as possible.

If you are considering porcelain veneer treatment, one of your biggest questions may be how long veneers will last. The basic answer is that veneers can last from 7 to 15 years. That’s the basics, though. The more direct answer is that what you do to maintain your veneers will also impact longevity.

Benefits of Porcelain Veneers

The veneering process does not have to be as involved as porcelain veneers are. Dr. Goldberg also has vast experience using composite resin and the direct veneer technique. One of the reasons that patients may choose the indirect veneer technique and porcelain material is because porcelain is so lifelike. The veneer made of porcelain can be customized to an exact replica of a natural tooth, only perfected to the ideal shape and size. Porcelain is translucent, to the edges of veneered teeth remain authentic in their appearance. Finally, porcelain is highly refractive so teeth that are veneered shine as one would expect.

Getting porcelain veneers takes time; at least two office visits. There is a need to have temporary veneers affixed for the interim between preparation and seating of final veneers. There is also a need for ongoing maintenance because, if a veneer chips or breaks, replacement is necessary. With that in mind, most patients immediately wonder what they have to do to keep their veneers in the best condition.

Caring for Porcelain Veneers

One of the important aspects of porcelain veneers that needs to be understood is that porcelain is no different than enamel when it comes to wear and tear. The fact is, porcelain can wear down over time. The degree of deterioration depends on how you use your teeth. If you bite on hard objects (including certain foods), your veneers will be more susceptible to damage.

The long-term success of porcelain veneers is also at the mercy of your general oral health. We encourage patients who are interested in veneers to develop mindful oral care practices that include consistency in brushing and flossing. Veneers have margins where their edges meet enamel. If flossing is not a consistent habit, debris and bacteria can collect along the margin line, increasing the risk of decay.

Porcelain veneers are resilient and can benefit your smile in many ways. For more information on our veneer treatment options, call our office at 973-328-1225.

Smile Makeover Succasunna, NJ

Does Your Smile Need a Makeover?

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You brush your teeth every day, and that means there is a prime opportunity to take a peek at your smile. As you go about your day, you also have the chance to share your smile with those you work with, those you live with, those whom you encounter as you run errands. Do you do these things? Many people don’t. The reason isn’t that there is no cause to smile, but that smiling doesn’t feel good. If you aren’t happy with the appearance of your teeth, you know what we’re talking about.

The thing is, you don’t have to avoid looking at your smile. You don’t have to try and hide your teeth in moments you can’t help but laugh or smile. Cosmetic dentistry in our Succasunna office can be tailored just so to give you the smile makeover you deserve. We know what you may be thinking. First, you may imagine how great it would be to have teeth that you love to look at. Then, pretty quickly, the concept that cosmetic dentistry is expensive may stop you from fantasizing about a Hollywood smile. This is about as far as many people go. We hope to help you take the next step.

Is your Perception of a Smile Makeover Accurate?

Assuming that a smile makeover is a long, drawn-out process that will drain your bank account could be a huge mistake. The only way to know the overall cost of transforming your smile is to consult with your trusted dentist. Many people are surprised to discover that their smile needs very little to improve dramatically. Maybe your whole appearance would benefit from one or two porcelain veneers. Maybe teeth whitening would prove a sufficient treatment to make serious headway on your sense of confidence in your smile. The bottom line is this: a smile makeover is tailored to your needs, including your budget. With financing and proper planning, it is possible to bring out more beauty in your face.

About that Beauty

The ultimate purpose of a smile makeover isn’t to straighten teeth or cover gaps or remove stains. In the end, what a smile makeover does is reveal the true you. And when we do that, you go through life with a much greater sense of confidence.

Learn more about the cosmetic dentistry services at Morris County Dental Associates. Call our Succasunna office at (973) 328-1225.

Dental Technology Succasunna NJ

Has Dental Care Fallen by the Wayside? Let’s Talk about What You’ve Missed!

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You may remember having to visit the dentist as a child. Many adults refer back to those early years of childhood when discussing the very reason why they tend to stop short of making routine dental appointments today. Obvious anxiety related to dental care is a common reason cited for avoiding services altogether. Another reason that is often given for missing dental appointments is that life is busy. Both reasons, and the many others we have heard, have merit. However, the benefits of routine dental care surpass any reasons to postpone it any longer.

At the bottom of most reasoning for missing dental care, we see some aversion to the processes of the dental office. We’d like to invite you to visit our Succasunna, NJ to see how dentistry has changed over the years, and how your visits can be more pleasant than you have ever imagined. Understanding that sitting in the dental chair is an unpleasant task for many people, Dr. Goldberg has established our practice to meet patient’s needs. His DOCS training in different forms of sedation make Dr. Goldberg a wonderful resource for patients with dental anxiety, as well as those who would simply like to sit back and relax during treatments.

Gaining from dentistry isn’t all about avoiding dental problems, either. This is the benefit that we most often hear, though. Because we assume you know that seeing the dentist every six months will improve your oral health, we’d like to discuss a few other things you miss out on when you don’t see the dentist.

Peace of Mind

If you look back to your early dental visits as a child, one of the most troubling aspects of seeing the dentist was probably fear of the unknown. This fear doesn’t go away, especially if dental visits are few and far between. We propose another idea: that when you see your dentist twice a year, there is very little left to the imagination. A six-month window is barely enough time for a cavity to form. So, once you see Dr. Goldberg, fear of the unknown can disappear. Along with it, stress related to dental visits also diminishes.

The Value of Modern Technology

Advances in dental technology have also made dentistry much more streamlined, pleasant, and efficient. Digital x-rays are one example of modern technology used in our practice. Digital x-rays are captured with much more ease than film imaging. Additionally, we can observe real-time views of teeth using intra-oral imaging that uses a small camera. Finally, cavity detection has also gone high-tech, enabling us to detect decay much more quickly than we would if we used manual cavity examination.

There is a lot to gain from routine dental care. To experience the lifelong benefits of a healthy mouth, schedule your consultation and exam at 973-328-1225.