Listen Up Men of New York: Visit Your Dentist to Climb the Corporate Ladder!

This article explains the importance of a beautiful smile in the professional workplace and how it can create valuable first impressions that will see you climbing the corporate ladder.

Did you know that women are far more likely to visit their dentist on a regular basis and, because of this and other factors; they tend to maintain a better standard of oral health and hygiene? It’s true. According to a massive online poll in which both patients and New York dentists were questioned, the stereotype that men leave a lot to be desired in terms of looking after their teeth was pretty much confirmed! This notion is supported by the AGD: the Academy of General Dentistry.

And yet, a good smile and the kind of confidence it comes hand-in-hand with play an enormous role in social and professional business success. Smiles create favorable first impressions and favorable first impressions in places such as the boardroom and in job interviews are crucial!

Why then are men especially naughty about seeing the dentist regularly?

Photo Credit: Free Digital Photos

The Results of the Online Survey

According to the male New York residents who participated in the online pole:

• 5% said they didn’t “have a dentist”
• 18% said they didn’t have the time to go for a check-up
• 30% said they were too nervous or even embarrassed to see a dentist
• 45% said that they didn’t need to see the dentist.

These excuses and unfounded reasons for a lack of routine professional healthcare would seem to explain the prevalence of gum disease and tooth loss amongst New York males. But where they are most feeling the effects of poor oral health and a lack of social confidence is in the professional working environment: it’s literally killing their drive to climb the corporate ladder!

Because of this, however, the trends are retrograding and more and more male New Yorkers are visiting the dentist for cosmetic dentistry to improve their confidence in the workplace and therefore, their chances of receiving promotions.

New Smile, New Confidence, New Promotion

One New York dentist says: “I am seeing more and more male patients with requests for cosmetic procedures, such as teeth whitening and porcelain veneers. They want whiter, more symmetrical teeth and a dazzling smile.”

There would seem to have been a recent and widespread realization that, in the world of business, a good smile is a real asset. This is especially true since the modern male New Yorker will have several jobs throughout his lifetime, rather than only one or two, as was the case with the older generations.

Our fathers and grandfathers often didn’t give much of a hoot about what their teeth looked like because they had already landed the job they would keep until retirement. They didn’t plan on sitting for multiple interviews in which they would be partially judged upon their presentation and willingness to flash a dazzling smile.

Today, however, your average New York male will hold many job positions and titles throughout his lifetime. He may also have to deal with retrenchment and company closings with the result that – at middle age and with an army of younger, better looking guys competing for the same jobs – presentation and confidence become really important.

Smile Appearance and Oral Health

Photo Credit: Free Digital Photos

What all New York City dentists want their male patients to realize is that it doesn’t necessarily take thousands of dollars in cosmetic dentistry to support a beautiful smile. All it takes is good oral health and hygiene, which includes regular scheduled visits to the dentist and oral hygienist.

“You shouldn’t only see your dentist when you have a problem or when you want cosmetic improvement,” says one dentist in New York. “You should come for check-ups twice per year to keep your teeth in beautiful condition. This will actually end up saving you money on the costly procedures it would otherwise require to repair the damage done by neglect.”

Eight Problems New York Denture Wearers Can Kiss Goodbye with Dental Implants, PART 4

This four-part article series describes the many problems, challenges and complaints that denture wearers can look forward to living without by choosing dental implants instead.

Welcome to the final installment of this four-part article series on the many challenges, problems and discomforts denture wearers can kiss goodbye. Thanks to the work of the qualified New York cosmetic dentists who offer dental implant treatment. Let’s briefly recap the first six benefits before presenting our final two: 

1. You’ll never have to remove your teeth again.
2. Eat most of your favorite foods again.
3. Forget messy adhesives.
4. Save thousands of dollars on expensive denture products.
5. Dental implants help to preserve good jawbone health.
6. Stop hiding your smile in family photos!

And now for the final two benefits of choosing dental implants as your teeth replacement technology:

7. Too sore to eat? Not with dental implants.

Removable dentures are made to sit over the gums, which means that every ounce of pressure exerted on them is transferred to the soft tissue underneath them. In addition to this pressure, they also tend to rub back-and-forth over the gums and the combination of the two stresses can lead to the development of painful oral sores and tender, inflamed gums. This makes it very difficult and painful for New York residents who wear dentures to eat and it can even result in malnutrition.

The difference with dental implants is that they provide a foundation for a non-removable set of replacement teeth and gums, which come in the form of a dental prosthesis. All the forces associated with eating are therefore transmitted directly from the prosthetic bridge into the dental implants and then into the jawbone, as is the case with natural teeth and tooth roots. They also don’t shift around or rub against the gums and so; implant-supported bridges don’t typically cause patients’ gums to become sore during eating, which is a major benefit!

8. Goodbye “denture breath”!

Bad breath or halitosis is a terrible social impairment and one that is frequently experienced by New York residents who wear traditional removable dentures. Why is this the case?

“Dentures are very bulky and because they are hollow underneath, they provide large spaces in which food can become trapped. This is why it’s so important for patients to clean their dentures after every meal and even after snacking,” say New York dental implant surgeons. “Yet in spite of these efforts, food still becomes readily trapped in dentures and oral bacteria are encouraged to multiply, therefore leaving denture-wearers at a much greater risk of suffering from halitosis. It’s a terrible problem that can be remedied with an anti-bacterial mouthwash or the frequent removal of one’s teeth for brushing and rinsing, but it is a perpetual battle.

“Dental implants, on the other hand, support a custom prosthetic dental bridge, which is fabricated to fit along the gum line and therefore provide little opportunity for food and bacteria to become trapped. They are also quite a bit easier to keep clean, since they are cleaned similarly to natural teeth and so don’t tend to cause halitosis as easily as dentures.”

In Conclusion

The benefits of dental implant in terms of self-esteem, social confidence, oral comfort, quality of life, facial appearance and costs are enormous and it’s for all the reasons discussed in this four-part article series that dental implant dentists in New York, the rest of the country and indeed the world recommend these teeth replacement devices to those in need of new teeth.

9 Problems New York Denture Wearers Can Kiss Goodbye with “All On 4” Implants, PART 3

This four-part article series describes the many problems, challenges and complaints that denture wearers can look forward to living without by choosing dental implants instead.

Welcome to the third installment of this four-part article series on the many challenges, problems and discomforts New York denture wearers can kiss goodbye thanks to the work of the dental healthcare professionals who offer teeth replacement using implants. In our previous article installment – Part 2 – we examined another two fantastic benefits afforded by dental implants and they are:

(3) Forget messy adhesives and the acute physical and social discomfort caused by dentures that visible slip around in your mouth while eating and speaking.

(4) Save thousands of dollars every year on repeat expenses associated with dentures, such as adhesive strips, overnight soaking solutions and numbing gels and creams.

Let’s now take a look at one of the most important benefits of dental implants and that’s their ability to prevent premature aging…

5. Dental implants help to preserve good jawbone health.

According to New York dentists, removable dentures only replace the visible parts of your teeth; the crowns. All-on-Four implants replace the entire tooth structure, including the roots, which is why they help to maintain excellent jawbone health. The roots (or implants) transmit the eating forces into the jawbone, keeping it stimulated and preventing it from atrophying. What we therefore notice quite frequently in denture-wearers is that their jawbones waste away over time because the hard tissue in the jaw is not being “exercised” or stimulated the way it needs to be to remain healthy

The loss of bone volume in the jaw causes it to wither away and this expresses itself in the contours of the face, which become more pinched and sunken in. Basically, imagine a very old man or woman with a sunken in mouth and sagging skin around the mouth: those are the kind of facial aesthetics elderly denture-wearers get over time and they are typically a result of jawbone atrophy. All-on-4 dental implants in New York can help to prevent this kind of premature aging by keeping the jawbone stimulated and healthy, which is why they are the top recommendation of most dental healthcare professionals in New York and around the world.

6. Stop hiding your smile in family photos!

In keeping with the above-mentioned point, All-on-4 dental implants can be great for one’s self-esteem and social confidence. They help to prevent the early onset of that aged facial appearance we typically associated with elderly people and they also support teeth replacement appliances that don’t move around visibly when talking. But, New York dentists have more to say on this issue:>

“Dentures rely on their bulkiness to prevent them from moving around too much and this can cause them to push against the lips from inside the mouth. The result is a somewhat unnatural, thin-lipped and even toothy appearance that can really make denture-wearers feel uncomfortable and too shy to smile. Implants, on the other hand, provide sturdy support for a new set of teeth, which therefore can’t move around and don’t need to be bulky.>

“All-on-4 dental implants support bridges that are often far slimmer in construction, thus giving New York residents far more natural and comfortable smile aesthetics, which means greater confidence and no more tight-lipped expressions in family photos!”>

Stay Tuned for Part 4

Stay tuned for the final installment of this four-part article series to learn more about the various benefits residents can enjoy from choosing New York dental implants instead of traditional removable dentures.

New Teeth for New York Residents: Eight Problems Denture Wearers Can Kiss Goodbye, PART 2

This four-part article series describes the many problems, challenges and complaints that denture wearers can look forward to living without by choosing dental implants instead.

Welcome to the second installment of this four-part article series on the many challenges, problems and discomforts denture wearers can kiss goodbye with the more sophisticated teeth replacement solutions offered by dental implants and the dedicated New York dentists who offer them. In our previous article installment – Part 1 – we examined the first two benefits afforded by dental implants and they are:

1. Being non-removable, you’ll never need to remove your teeth again after meals for cleaning or at nighttime.
2. You can enjoy a much greater variety of foods, because dental implants provide patients with a stronger and healthier bite.

We’ve still got another six points to discuss, so let’s get cracking!

3. Forget messy adhesives.

Having teeth that can’t be removed doesn’t only save New York residents from a much hated clean up operation after every meal, it also saves them from the actual difficulties and challenges associated with wearing teeth that have no form of real anchorage in the mouth! Being loose fitting, dentures are free to slip and move around during eating and even during conversation: quite visibly too, which can cause much insecurity and poor self-esteem.

“Denture adhesive strips have been designed to provide greater traction for dentures in the mouth, but it doesn’t stop them from moving around altogether. Additionally, these cost money and patients can find themselves spending a fair amount on this repeat expense,” says a dental implant surgeon. “Implants, on the other hand, provide fixed support for a new set of teeth, which come in the form of a custom-designed prosthetic dental bridge. They are non-removable and this eliminates many of the challenges associated with clumsy, loose dentures.”

4. Save thousands of dollars on expensive denture products.

Many New York residents who opt to have removable dentures fitted will find that there are a number of products they require to maintain their false teeth and keep their mouths comfortable. So, it’s far from a one-time expense.

As it was previously explained, adhesive strips are just one repeat expense New York residents who need new teeth may have to buy. Anesthetic creams and ointments are another and they become necessary when the gums become so sore and inflamed from the constant rubbing of the dentures against them that patients can’t eat or talk comfortably. Then there is the soaking solutions that keeps dentures hygienic overnight, cleaning implements and even the need to have dentures refitted every few years or so. “All of the associated costs add up over time and those in need of new teeth can find themselves spending thousands of dollars a year on a technology that is far inferior to dental implant supported bridges,” say dental implant dentists. “Implants support teeth replacement appliances that don’t rest or rub against the gums and so don’t typically cause discomfort. They also don’t require periodic refitting the way dentures do and are cleaned and maintained very similarly to natural teeth. As a result, patients usually find dental implants far less expensive to maintain and much more of a pleasure!”

Stay Tuned for Part 3

Stay tuned for the third installment of this four-part article series to learn more about the various benefits residents can enjoy from choosing New York dental implants instead of traditional removable dentures.

New Teeth for New York City Residents: Eight Problems Denture Wearers Can Kiss Goodbye, PART 1

This four-part article series describes the many problems, challenges and complaints that denture wearers can look forward to living without by choosing dental implants instead.

If you’re a denture wearer, chances are you don’t need a dental implant surgeon to tell you about the various daily challenges you have to live with. You more than likely already have a good long list of all the gripes and discomforts you’d love to give the boot to, given the choice. The good news is, you do have a choice: dental implants offer New York City residents a far more sophisticated teeth replacement solution, whether you need one tooth replaced, or absolutely all of them!

In this four-part article series, we spoke to some healthcare professionals who routinely provide New York City residents with new non-removable teeth just what wearers of removable false teeth can look forward to in a denture-free future!

1.    You’ll never have to remove your teeth again.

There is nothing pleasant about removing your teeth after eating. It’s a messy affair that borders on nauseating for the more delicate of constitutions. Unfortunately, a life with removable dentures involves removing your teeth after every meal and giving them a good clean before sticking them back in your mouth again. They also need to be removed at nighttime to allow your gums a chance to breathe, which can be a terrible embarrassment for married or even dating couples. Thankfully, dental implants offer New York City residents a much better solution!

Dental implants are fixed dental appliances and cannot be removed. They can provide sturdy support for a customized dental prosthesis (fixed bridge), which looks like a complete set of healthy teeth and gums. While this can be removed by your dentist (if necessary), you don’t need to take it out after meals for cleaning or at nighttime. This saves you much trouble and inconvenience. It’s also a lot nicer for your partner who no longer has to see you without your teeth!

2.    Eat most of your favorite foods again.

Some elderly NYC residents have been wearing removable dentures for so many years that they’ve lost almost all of the strength in their jaws. Atrophication of the bone tissue has almost totally withered away the mandible, resulting in a drastic reduction in bite strength. As a result, these people can barely manage anything tougher than a ripe peach and their diets have suffered terribly as a consequence.

It may sound pretty shocking to learn that dentures can compromise your ability to eat to such an extent, but it is a reality that countless NYC residents contend with everyday. Dental implants can change all of this. Many patients who formerly wore dentures have received new teeth with dental implants and have been able to eat foods they have avoided for more than a decade!

“Patients frequently exclaim just how amazing it is to be able to eat corn off the cob, a steak or even just an apple again… to experience flavors and textures they’ve had to avoid for many, many years,” says a New York dental implant surgeon. “It’s like being rescued from a dessert island where all there is to eat is overcooked vegetables, soup and custard. Most importantly, however, dental implants can save patients from the brink of malnourishment, because having fixed teeth enable them to comfortably eat a much greater and healthier variety and quantity of food.”

Stay Tuned for Part 2

Stay tuned for the second installment of this four-part article series to learn more about the various benefits residents can enjoy from choosing New York City dental implants instead of traditional removable dentures.

Dentists Discuss the Scourge of Stressful Modern Living in New York City: Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, PART 2

This two-part article series provides an in-depth discussion of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) and its various causes, symptoms and treatment options.

Welcome to the second half of this two-part article series on the causes and symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), as well as the various treatment options available for this painful condition. Previously, in Part 1, we spoke to an experienced dentist in New York City who explained what TMD was and that the most common causes for it are stress-induced jaw clenching and teeth grinding. Since it’s not always possible to tell if you do these things yourself – because they’re often done subconsciously or while you’re asleep – it’s advisable that you seek professional attention from a dentist for a diagnosis. This is especially the case if you ‘ve been experienced TMD-like symptoms.

Speaking of which, what ARE the symptoms of TMD? Let’s take a look at them before moving on to explaining the various treatment options available to sufferers…

The Symptoms of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD)

• A dull ache in the joint that connects your lower jaw to your skull, as well as the neighboring areas.
• Pain in the jaw muscles, head, neck and even shoulders.
• Stiffness of the jaw muscles and difficulty opening and closing your mouth.
• A limited ability to open your mouth or even a total locking of the jaw.
• A bite that doesn’t feel quite right: as though your jaws aren’t aligned properly.
• Difficulty seeing properly. TMD can actually cause vision problems and dizziness.
• An audible popping, clicking or grating sound when you open and/or close your mouth.
• Earache or a feeling of pressure in your ears. TMD has also been linked with tinnitus: a persistent ringing sound.
• Chronic headaches that can make you feel quite nauseous.

“TMD can present with only one or even multiple symptoms,” explains the New York dentist. “If, however, the symptoms you experience are persistent or recurring and are becoming taxing upon your quality of life, it’s important that you seek medical attention right away. While TMD can sometimes go away on its own, there’s no point living with chronic headaches and pain when treatment is readily available.”

What Are The Treatment Options Available for TMD?

“In most cases, the best and most effective, if not the only treatment option available to New Yorkers with mild and sporadic TMD symptoms is therapeutic in nature. By keeping your jaw as still as possible and by applying cold and heat packs to the side of the face, you can give the jaw the rest it needs for the inflammation to die down,” advises the dentist. “Stick to soft foods, don’t chew gum and avoid opening your mouth very wide just for one or two weeks or until the symptoms ebb.

“It is also advisable that you have a mouth guard custom made for you so that you prevent the (common) cause of TMD and that’s teeth grinding. For more advanced and severe cases of TMD, surgery may be required, although this really is a last resort. Only a qualified dental professional will be able to advise you accordingly.”

“Mouth guards or retainers prevent the upper and lower teeth actually coming together, which saves you from the kind of wear-and-tear that could eventually land you up needing new teeth,” says a dentist in New York City.

Life in the Big Apple can be stressful, but a smile goes a long way to lighting up your day, so do what you can to prevent the extreme discomfort and damage associated with teeth grinding and jaw clenching. Wearing a mouth guard at night is hardly any trouble at all when you consider the alternative!

Dentists Discuss the Scourge of Stressful Modern Living in New York: Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, PART 1

This two-part article series provides an in-depth discussion of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) and its various causes, symptoms and treatment options.

New York City is a throbbing, fast-paced American metropolis, as well as the nation’s economic, cultural and financial capital. Here, if you’re not moving at a hundred miles per hour, you’re not keeping up with competition. The result is that many New York residents suffer, in some way or form, from a high degree of stress and the physical ramifications of this are many. One of the most common physical symptoms of stressful living is temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), of which dentists in New York report an increasing incidence.

This painful condition centers on the joint between the jaw and the temple region of the head and can cause a great spectrum of troubles, from a stiff jaw that audibly clicks when opening and closing the mouth to crippling chronic headaches. To get a better understanding of TMD, its symptoms, what causes it and what can be done to prevent it, we’ve spoken to an experienced New York dentist and in this two-part article series, we shall be presenting what she had to say.

What is TMD and What Causes It?

“The smooth functioning of our jaws is absolutely vital,” begins the dentist. “Opening and closing your jaw is something you take for granted until the very day you develop a condition like TMD, which impairs this ability by making the joint stiff and/or very painful. Temporomandibular Joint Disorder – TMD for short - essentially refers to a malfunction or the impaired function of the joint that controls the articulation of the lower jaw.”

What causes TMD?

What has happened to you when you are diagnosed with TMD is that the muscles and tendons surrounding the temporomandibular joint or the joint itself has become irritated and inflamed. In some cases, the “ball point” of the mandible can actually slip out of the socket very slightly and in doing so, it rubs against the soft pad that cushions the joint. In certain extreme cases of TMD, the jaw can actually become locked and refuse to open or close!

“What causes any of these conditions to happen is not precisely known,” says the dentist. “At our New York practice, we see many patients with TMD and there doesn’t seem to be a clear common cause with the exception of one: stress. Jaw clenching and teeth grinding – something people often do sub-consciously or while they’re asleep during the night – tends to cause the kind of joint inflammation and pain we typically see with TMD patients. And of course these two bad habits are linked with stress.”

Am I a Tooth-Grinder / Jaw Clencher?

Determining whether you do grind your teeth or clench your jaw is a good start to diagnosing TMD, however it’s not always possible to know the answer to this question. Oftentimes, New Yorkers grind their teeth at night or they clench their jaws subconsciously. You might be doing terrible damage to your teeth and be completely unaware of it! A good dentist in New York will be able to tell from the general condition of and wear patterns on your teeth whether you do clench your jaw and grind your teeth, so if you do experience the symptoms of TMD, you should book yourself a dental appointment.

“Ask your bedfellow if they’ve heard you grinding in your sleep… it’s a fairly loud and disruptive sound like nails on a chalkboard,” advises the NYC dentist. “If they say they’ve heard you, you will need to do something about it or risk permanent damage to your teeth.”

Stay Tuned for Part 2

To find out more about temporomandibular joint disorder and what you can do to minimize or even eliminate the symptoms of this painful condition, stay tuned for the second half of this two-part article series.