When it comes to your tooth replacement options there are many factors you want to consider.  In addition to choosing the best option for you it’s important to consider the overall health of your mouth and long term care that will follow.  Dental implants on Long Island have many benefits over dentures both short term and long term.

When you lose a tooth your jawbone will begin to shrink and deteriorate if it is left as it is. Implants help to prevent this from happening by filling the space where the tooth root used to be. The titanium replacement root serves as a natural replacement that protects your jawbone and preserves your healthy smile.

Why Choose Dental Implants

Preserving the jawbone is not the only benefit for choosing implants over dentures. One of the primary complaints from denture wearers is the inability to eat some of their favorite foods. The next common complaint is loose fitting dentures that move around when they talk or laugh, making them uneasy in social settings.

Since implants are inserted directly into the jawbone the bulkiness associated with dentures is completely eliminated. Your smile will look and feel just like your natural smile from day one! In fact implants are so close to natural teeth that no one will even notice unless you choose to tell them.

What to Expect with Implants

Implants can either be completed the same day as your tooth extractions or inserted at a later date.  If you are receiving same day implants your practitioner will insert the titanium implant right away and either stitch the gum closed for healing or place a temporary healing abutment. If implants are placed at a later date your practitioner will drill a hole where the implant needs to be placed and then follow the same steps.

Once healing of the implant has occurred you will come back in for a permanent abutment and tooth crown.  Any other recovery instructions will be discussed at this appointment as well as how to care for your implants, which by the way is the same as caring for your natural teeth!

If you would like to learn more about receiving dental implants on Long Island or have questions about your specific needs contact Dr. Scharf at (631) 661-6633 or visit him on the web at http://drscharf.com. He’s skilled in advanced methods for implant dentistry and is available to answer all your questions today.

You don’t have to spend much time convincing a person of all the benefits seeing a dentist regularly has on their teeth and gums. Everyone knows cavities are best treated early on to avoid root canals or tooth extractions. Many also know the benefits of detecting gum disease earlier too. What most people don’t know however is that visiting a Periodontist on Long Island could also help detect early signs of systemic disease.

The truth is a lot of diseases begin with symptoms so mild that they go unnoticed by the patient. For example, did you know that diabetes can be undetected by typical symptoms yet cause a “fruity odor” in your mouth? Additionally slight changes in jaw structure could indicate possible oral cancers that need to be evaluated right away.

With so many diseases showing potential warning signs in your mouth it’s important take your oral care seriously. But systemic and other diseases are not the only threat that should be identified early on. Gum disease actually goes unnoticed until it’s already done damage such as:

• Lost teeth
• Damage to the soft tissue of your mouth
• Spread of bacteria through your blood stream

Getting to Know Gum Disease

The best way to protect your health in between dental exams is through education and prevention. Learning to recognize early warning signs is important. Monitor your mouth daily for red, swollen or bleeding gums, tender spots when you brush, persistent bad breath, loose teeth, and gums that appear to have pulled away from your teeth. All of these are your early warning signs that you need to call your dental practitioner as soon as possible.

In the beginning symptoms of gum disease can be so subtle that you’ll over look them. But as the disease progresses you will begin to experience pain, lose teeth and risk more severe infections.  Don’t wait, monitor your mouth daily and keep your regular dental check-ups.

If you need a Periodontist on Long Island Dr. Scharf offers a non-invasive approach to the diagnosis and treatment of gum disease using a laser, not a scalpel. If you have any questions give him a call today at (631) 661-6633 or visit him on the web at http://drscharf.com and find out how to have your mouth evaluated the right way.

Did you know that taking care of your teeth could make your life last longer? If you are suffering from pain or swollen gums, now is the time to see your Long Island Periodontist and make your life last longer

Recent research has found that periodontal infection may contribute to the development of heart disease, diabetes, respiratory diseases and premature, underweight births.

The AAP offers 10 suggestions to help you ensure good oral health: Here are five:

• Stop using tobacco products. In addition to other serious illness linked with smoking, tobacco users are at increased risk for periodontal disease.
• Watch for signs of periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is often silent, meaning you may not have symptoms until its very advanced stages. However, people with periodontal disease may experience:

Bleeding gums during brushing

Red, swollen or tender gums

Gums that have pulled away from the teeth

Persistent bad breath

Pus between the teeth and gums

Loose or separating teeth

A change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite

A change in the fit of your dentures

• Be aware of habits such as teeth grinding, which can put excess force on the supporting tissues of the teeth and speed up the rate at which these tissues are destroyed. You may need to have a dental professional fit you with a mouth guard to wear while sleeping if you grind your teeth at night.
• Tell your dental professional about any medications you are taking, as some drugs such as oral contraceptives, antidepressants and certain heart medicines can affect oral health.

See your dentist and periodontist regularly. Regular professional cleanings will remove tartar in places that your toothbrush and floss have missed. Regular periodontal appointments are an important part of your oral hygiene program to prevent gum disease and keep your teeth for a lifetime.

Dr. Scharf treats gum disease with a laser, not a scalpel, for people who need a Long Island Periodontist and want an alternative to gum surgery call Dr. Scharf at 631-661-6633 or visit him on the web at http://drscharf.com

Periodontal disease attacks the soft tissue in your mouth affecting millions of Americans daily, often resulting in a need for a Periodontist Long Island. As patients struggle through treatment plans many find themselves thinking how much simpler things would be if they had followed a few preventative measures from the start. Now, thanks to a recent study this just got easier.

The study evaluated 1,775 patients who had 3,694 teeth extracted in an effort to determine commonalities between each patient have lost teeth. What they found was that more teeth per patient were lost as a result of gum disease than any other cause with periodontal disease accounting for the majority of extracted teeth in patients over 35.

Using data they compiled six risk factors that increase your chances for developing gum disease:

1. Age – where the majority of missing teeth in patients over 35 can be attributed to gum disease
2. Gender – with the greater proportion of patients who lost their teeth due to periodontal disease were men
3. Smoking – both current and past smokers accounted for 31 percent
4. Lack of professional maintenance – out of the total number of patients studied 39 percent of them stated that they had never had a periodontal visit
5. Inadequate oral hygiene – out of the patients evaluated only 16 percent reported brushing two or more times daily and 60 percent reported they either never brushed or used a tooth brush irregularly
6. Health factors – diabetes mellitus, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, and anterior tooth type

Regular brushing and flossing may be your most powerful tool in prevention but won’t do the job alone. Keeping your regular dental appointments and adding in a regular periodontal exam will help keep you in the lead of harmful bacteria that causes gum disease. Additionally closely observe your mouth each day for early signs of gum disease including; red or swollen gums, persistent bad breath, loose teeth, and gums pulling away from your teeth.

Prevention is always easier than treatment. Educate yourself on how to best prevent gum disease and then take action immediately. But don’t beat yourself up if you start to notice signs of gum disease. Instead remember early intervention is critical.

If you’ve received a referral for a Periodontist Long Island Dr. Scharf treats gum disease with a laser, not a scalpel, for people who want an alternative to gum surgery call Dr. Scharf at 631-661-6633 or visit him on the web at http://drscharf.com.

Links Between Gum Disease and Osteoporosis

Do you or someone you love have Osteoporosis? Did you know that gum disease has been linked to osteoporosis? Osteoporosis and gum disease attack people of the same age range and they work in tandem negatively effecting bone structure. You may think that treatment for such diseases is painful and long term but that is not necessarily true.

The fact that gum disease and osteoporosis both attack the bones works both for the diseases and for the doctors trying to treat them. Long Island periodontist Dr. Scharf is frequently referred to by dentists to treat and inform people at risk for or currently diagnosed with gum disease. He informs them of how treating the gum disease will greatly reduce the risk of increased risk or problems with osteoporosis. Treating gum disease reduces your risk for bone loss almost immediately. Most people are afraid of having gum surgery and causes them to either put off or avoid treatment all together. Long Island residents looking for an alternative to gum surgery on Long Island can take comfort in the fact that they do not have to have gum surgery but can enjoy the befits of treatment through a conservative procedure using a laser. The procedure can be done safely in the office of Long Island periodontist Dr. Scharf.

Treatments for osteoporosis are recommended to be performed in tandem with treatment for gum disease. The treatment of the osteoporosis will help along fixing damage caused by gum disease, but why let it go as far as to have to worry about fixing bone loss when there is a procedure on Long Island that does not involve surgery and will produce immediate results in terms of halting further damage.

People who have been referred to a Periodontist on Long Island looking for conservative gum treatment should consider laser periodontal therapy on Long Island by the premier periodontist on Long Island Dr. Scharf

Long Island Periodontist tells his patients Flossing can Prevent Heart Attack

Do you think that you can prevent a heart attack by something as simple as proper dental hygiene? Heart attack is the number one killer in America and everyone should do everything possible to prevent any additional risk. Long Island residents have a great source at their disposal with Long Island periodontist Dr. Scharf.

Dr. Scharf sees patients every day and discusses their risk of heart attack due to an advanced form of gum disease called periodontal disease. The reason why gum disease puts you at an increased risk for heart attack is because of a build up of bacterial plaque in the mouth that gets swallowed and passed into the blood stream. This can usually be prevented by following a proper dental regimen such as brushing twice daily, flossing once a day and following up with regular 6 month check ups. The problem is that people are afraid to go to the dentist and sometimes put it off. Bacteria in the mouth is normal and can usually be controlled, but the bacteria can build up and become plaque. Plaque cannot be brushed away. When the plaque gets built up the gums can become swollen due to gum disease. This can cause your dentist to refer you to a periodontist.

People that are scared to go see a dentist because they are afraid of pain are even more scared to visit a periodontist. Most people think that the only way to treat advanced gum disease is through surgery. This is not true. A simple way to treat gum disease on Long Island is a laser procedure offered by Dr. Scharf. This conservative procedure can be completed in as few as one or two visit. Call dr. Scharf at (631)661-6633 for an appointment today.

Steroid Use Linked to Gum Disease

No guy likes working out in the gym next to the guy that looks better than them. You might get jealous of the body that they have and want to speed up your process of looking like that. You get in the gym as often as you can and still don’t see the results that you want quickly enough. Suddenly steroids start seeming like a good idea. Athletes also fall victim to these types of comparisons by seeing the person competing against them always running faster, lifting more, or out pacing the rest of the field in some other way. I am sure that you know how bad steroids can be for you, but did you know that they can also reek havoc on your teeth?

Steroids can increase your risk of swollen gums due to gingivitis. Long Island periodontist Dr. Scharf advises patients that at the first signs of gingivitis or any form of gum disease it is important to seek treatment. The idea of any kind of treatment for gum disease can send most people running.

The biggest fear people have is that seeing the periodontist means gum surgery. On Long Island periodontist Dr. Scharf that fear has been laid to rest thanks to Dr. Scharf. He was the first periodontist on Long Island to be trained and certified in using a periodontal laser to treat gum disease. The procedure is more conservative than traditional cut and stitch surgery with less pain and a quicker recovery time. Patients can enjoy having the procedure performed in an office rather than an operating room.

If left untreated, gum disease has been linked to many serious illnesses such as heart disease and lung disease. Both of these conditions not only reduce an athlete’s ability to perform, but can also prove fatal. Early treatment is not only a good idea to relieve the pain and discomfort that gum disease can cause, but it can also save your life.

For more information about gum treatments on Long Island vsit Dr. Scharf on the web.

Do you eat healthy? Do you stay away from too much red meat, cholesterol and other risk factors for heart problems? Did you know that gum disease is something that you also need to avoid in order to not be at risk for heart problems?

A healthy circulatory system is necessary for survival. The heart is the key to making all of that work. Periodontal disease has been proven to negatively effect the functions of the heart. Periodontal disease has been shown to dump bacterial plaque into the blood stream. The plaque then builds up in blood vessels and inhibits the flow of blood through the blood vessels causing the blood stream to slow down, clog or clot. All of these can lead to a variety of problems in the circulatory system like heart attack, stroke, hardening of arteries and more.

There is no reason to be scared of having gum disease treated if you live on Long Island. Treatment by Long Island periodontist Dr. Scharf can perform a procedure using a laser rather than surgery to treat periodontal disease. It has been shown that in only six months after treatment, patients have better circulation and increased elasticity in blood vessels. Increasing the health of your circulation system not only puts you at less risk of fatal problems, but also helps to increase vigor. When your blood is able to flow through healthy vessels your body receives the oxygen it needs to work and play. You will feel energized and able to accomplish more. In other words treating Periodontal disease will greatly increase your quality of life.

If you have concerns about your risk for gum disease and are on Long Island you should visit Long Island periodontist Dr. Scharf. Information is available on the web site as well as contact information to set an appointment to see the periodontist on Long Island. A good way to make sure you will not be at risk for periodontal disease would be through regular check ups and following a proper dental care regimen. People who followed through with regular check ups, cleanings and at home dental regimen were less at risk to have periodontal disease and therefore less at risk for heart problems.

Long Island Periodontist Dr. David Scharf can treat gum disease with a laser rather than a scalpel. For people who need a periodontist on Long Island this is a real breakthrough. Here is the latest video from youtube.

Can you imagine the how stressful it must be to have a preterm baby? This could mean a lifetime of health and learning problems for the child. Can you believe that having gum disease while pregnant may cause preterm births? In fact, having gum disease while pregnant may double your risk of having a preterm low birth weight baby.

Studies from the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) have shown that having periodontal disease can increase your chances of premature birth by a significant margin. The ratio of premature births from women with periodontal disease to women without are 7.9% to 4.1% respectively. Periodontal disease seems to be as strong a risk factor for preterm birth as smoking is. It is very important to get your teeth checked when you are pregnant so that you can determine your risk. Long Island Periodontist Dr. David Scharf is frequently asked to examine women before and during pregnancy. The sooner you make an appointment, the quicker you will be on the road to a safer birth. When you see the periodontist it is important to let your periodontist know what you have observed on your own. Once the periodontist has prescribed a treatment it is important that you follow through with all recommendations so that you will enjoy the benefits of treatment. People have been known to avoid the because they are concerned that they will need surgery. These days, a laser can be used in place of gum surgery. Many people are choosing this conservative option

On a positive note all women have until their third trimester to treat the periodontal disease in order to reverse any damage already incurred. Once treated the risk of premature birth drops to 7.5% or below. This brings you down to a normal risk of premature birth like someone who never had Periodontal disease to begin with.

For more information on gum disease treatment on Long Island visit Dr. Scharf on the web.