Diabetes and Gum Disease

At Fresh Meadows Dental Care in Oakland Gardens, we’re observing American Diabetes Month by raising awareness of the connection between diabetes and gum disease. People with diabetes are particularly susceptible to periodontitis, and the reverse appears to be true, as well.

Gum disease occurs in two phases: gingivitis (gum inflammation) and periodontitis or periodontal disease. It occurs when bacteria eat sugar stuck on the teeth and produce acid. People with uncontrolled blood sugar levels produce more food for the bacteria, and people with diabetes generally have a harder time resisting bacterial infections. As a result, diabetes patients are at a higher risk for periodontal disease’s effects, including gum recession and bleeding and disintegration of jaw bone tissue.

People with periodontal disease also tend to develop higher blood sugar levels, making it harder for them to control the symptoms of diabetes. The two can form a vicious circle if they’re not caught quickly. But at our office, patients receive through cleanings, including periodontal maintenance. As long as the patient is diligent with their oral hygiene and keeps their blood sugar under control, they can preserve a healthy, attractive smile.

Farid Hakimzadeh, DDS, operates Fresh Meadows Dental Care at 58-47 Francis Lewis Blvd., Suite 100, Oakland Gardens, New York, 11364. To schedule an appointment, call 718-224-7272 or visit FreshMeadowsDental.com and fill out a contact form.

 

Proper Flossing Technique

Fresh Meadows Dental Care wants to see our patients set up for a lifetime of good oral health.  Regular flossing is essential to maintaining oral health and you should floss once a day, either before or after brushing. Remember these tips to help you floss effectively:

• A strand of dental floss about 18 inches long allows you to wrap the ends of the floss around a finger on each hand. This gives you excellent control over the portion of floss you are using. 


• The proper technique to flossing is sliding the floss between the teeth and rubbing the floss back and forth up until you reach your gums.


• Pushing at your gums too hard with floss can damage your gum line and isn’t necessary to floss properly. Think of a small swooping motion as you rub the floss up to one gum, then down and back up towards the other.


• As you move on to the next tooth, adjust the floss to expose an unused portion. Repeat this rubbing motion between each tooth and dispose of the floss once you are finished.

To learn more about oral hygiene and the services we provide, visit www.freshmeadowsdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Farid Hakimzadeh of Fresh Meadows Dental Care in Oakland Gardens, NY, call 718-224-7272.

Invisalign

Invisalign is the invisible alternative to traditional braces for adults and teens, and is recommended to correct mild to moderate spacing or crowding of the teeth.  At Fresh Meadows Dental Care, we know more severe misalignment cannot be corrected with Invisalign, so consult your dentist to see if Invisalign can provide the results you’re looking for.

A treatment plan with Invisalign consists of a series of clear, removable plastic aligners that are custom-made for your teeth.  Impressions or scans of your teeth are used to create a full set of aligners customized to your teeth and your treatment plan.  Depending on your individual treatment plan, each set of aligners should be worn for about two weeks.  For the best results a set of aligners should be worn at least 20 hours a day, only being removed to eat and to brush and floss.  A typical treatment plan can be completed in less than a year. 

To learn more about Invisalign and all the services we provide, visit www.freshmeadowsdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Farid Hakimzadeh of Fresh Meadows Dental Care in Oakland Gardens, NY, call 718-224-7272.

ZOOM! Whitening

Dr. Farid Hakimzadeh of Fresh Meadows Dental Care sees many patients who wish they had a whiter, brighter smile.  ZOOM! Whitening has helped patients see dramatic whitening results in a short period.  To whiten your teeth with ZOOM!, you will first meet with a dentist to determine the level of staining currently on your teeth and what kind of results you can except from treatment. When stains on the surface of the teeth start to penetrate the tooth enamel they darken the color of the dentin, the hard tissue layer of your tooth under the enamel.  Once the dentin is darkened the whole tooth will appear yellow, and successful whitening systems go below the tooth enamel to reach the dentin.

ZOOM! Whitening combines whitening gel with an activator light to penetrate the enamel and break up stains at the dentin layer. Once the gel is applied to your teeth, the light activates and accelerates the whitening process.  When this chemical reaction lightens the color of the dentin, it’s possible for the whole tooth to become whiter.  An hour long treatment has been able to whiten patient’s teeth 6 to 10 shades.

To learn more about ZOOM! Whitening and all the services we provide, visit www.freshmeadowsdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Farid Hakimzadeh of Fresh Meadows Dental Care in Oakland Gardens, NY, call 718-224-7272.

Dental Anxiety

Do you suffer from a sleepless night the evening before your dental appointment? Well, at least you scheduled one. Dental phobia can leave a person out of the dental chair for years, which makes them candidates for gum disease, tooth decay, and even tooth loss. Whether you’re a victim of dental anxiety or wish to take the edge off of a dental procedure, we have sedation options that are right for you.

Dental anxiety may leave a person in fear of pain, fear of injections, or fear that the anesthesia might wear off during a dental procedure. Fortunately, we specialize in sedation dentistry to treat patients with both a dental phobia and dental anxiety. Depending on the needs of the patient, he or she may benefit from oral conscious sedation or laughing gas (nitrous oxide).

If you have questions or concerns regarding dental anxiety, please give us a call. To learn more about mouth guards and all the services we provide, visit www.freshmeadowsdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Farid Hakimzadeh of Fresh Meadows Dental Care in Oakland Gardens, NY, call 718-224-7272.

Extrinsic Stains

If you enjoy beverages such as wine and coffee on a daily basis, you might want to take a second look in the mirror. Beverages such as these can leave your smile looking lackluster, but the good news is that Dr. Farid Hakimzadeh of Fresh Meadows Dental Care can bring it back to life. Through professional whitening services, our doctor can restore your smile to its natural color or make it whiter, if you’d like.

Extrinsic tooth stains develop on the outer surface of tooth enamel. Tooth discoloration is nothing to be alarmed about, but it can diminish a person’s self-esteem and leave them feeling self-conscious about their smile. Dr. Shaw wants patients to feel confident and show off their smile in selfies and photographs. If you desire a whiter smile, call us to discuss your whitening options.

If you have questions or concerns regarding teeth whitening, please give us a call. To learn more about mouth guards and all the services we provide, visit www.freshmeadowsdental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Farid Hakimzadeh of Fresh Meadows Dental Care in Oakland Gardens, NY, call 718-224-7272.

Intrinsic Stains

We at Fresh Meadows Dental Care know how much patients value their white and shiny smiles. We’re proud to say that our whitening systems have helped many people over the years to combat the stains on their teeth. But some stains are too deep to be cleaned with bleach. These are intrinsic stains, and their causes are different from those on the outside.

Some intrinsic stains are the result of molecules from tetracycline antibiotics or too much fluoride entering the tooth while it was being formed. These stains are harmless and, while they cannot be removed, they can be covered with veneers. But most intrinsic stains are the result of trauma to the pulp of the tooth. This occurs due to infection or an injury which caused inflammation and could pose a serious threat to the patient’s well-being and comfort, as well as being a cosmetic issue. An infection could result in an abscess and spread to the rest of the bloodstream if it’s not stopped, and cause a great deal of pain on the way. The inside of the tooth must be removed with a root canal. Afterward, it may be covered with a veneer or a new crown.

Farid Hakimzadeh, DDS, operates Fresh Meadows Dental Care at 58-47 Francis Lewis Blvd., Suite 100, Oakland Gardens, New York, 11364. To schedule an appointment, call 718-224-7272 or visit FreshMeadowsDental.com and fill out a contact form.