Post-Operative Care

Taking it easy after oral surgery is important for a smooth recovery process. Recovery should always be your number one concern after having wisdom teeth removed, dental implants placed, or a simple tooth extraction. After Dr. Farid Hakimzadeh of Fresh Meadows Dental Care performs oral surgery on you, you will receive post-operative instructions to prevent any risk of infection or trauma to the surgical site.

Once you return home after the surgery you should rest, but do not lie flat. This could prolong the bleeding. Dr. Hakimzadeh will prescribe you pain medication, as well as a cleaning solution for the extraction site, so if you become sore take as directed. It’s important to limit yourself to soft foods such as gelatin, pudding, yogurt, mashed potatoes, etc. so that the stitches are not punctured. When drinking, make sure you do not use a straw, because the sucking motion can loosen your sutures and slow the clotting process. If bleeding continues for longer than 24 hours you should call our office immediately.

If you have questions or concerns regarding post-operative care, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, 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. 

Designs of Dental Bridges

Bridges are among the many options we offer patients with broken or missing teeth at Fresh Meadows Dental Care in Flushing. These prosthetics replace the crowns of multiple teeth and can be customized to fit a variety of situations.

A traditional pontic bridge rested on two reshaped natural teeth as its bases and contained a third crown suspended between them. This shape helps to guard against the teeth shifting position and allows the patient to retain the natural roots of two of their teeth, which maintains the density of the jaw bone. Dentists usually prefer to use this type of prosthetic when the supporting teeth need to be reshaped and given new crowns, anyway. The patient will wear a temporary bridge over their reshaped teeth while the permanent bridge is made in a laboratory.

In modern times, it is possible to make bridges that skirt healthy teeth. These can be removable dentures or permanent structures supported by implants. Dentists shape the base of bridges to allow easy oral hygiene, which our hygienists will demonstrate.

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

 

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Gum Disease

If you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA), you are at increased risk for gum disease. We provide compassionate, up-to-date care at the Flushing dental office of Dr. Farid Hakimzadeh. If you suffer from frequent gingivitis, we want you to be aware of the possible causes.

While 35% of the general population has gum disease, it is twice as common in people with RA. That statistic comes from a Johns Hopkins study that found RA is common even in people who are not yet experiencing difficulty moving their hands and are still maintaining good oral hygiene. Other studies have looked for a common pathway between RA and gum disease, and have found similarities between gum tissue and synovium. RA is an autoimmune disease, meaning the body is under attack from its own immune system. Synovium is joint lining, and as the body attacks it, it swells, resulting in joint pain.

Nobody knows why RA develops, but it seems to be a combination of genetics and environmental or behavioral triggers, such as smoking. Researchers are not attempting to determine whether gum disease can trigger RA, or if improving oral hygiene can reduce RA symptoms. Regardless, it is clear that people with RA need additional oral hygiene support.

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

 

Seal Out Cavities with Dental Sealant

Plaque is constantly forming in our mouths from the food that we eat and when it lingers in the grooves of the molars it can lead to cavities. A dental sealant is a thin, plastic coating that is painted on the chewing surfaces of teeth – usually the back molars – to prevent tooth decay. At Fresh Meadows Dental Care, Dr. Farid Hakimzadeh can apply sealants in just one appointment that can last up to 10 years.

Brushing and flossing may remove plaque from the teeth, but sometimes extra measures need to be taken. Dental sealants add extra protection to vulnerable areas of the teeth that are prone to decay. When bacteria become trapped in these areas, cavities will develop. A dental sealant is a safe and effective way to stop them in their tracks. Don’t hesitate to ask about dental sealants during your child’s next checkup.  Though children are primary candidates for dental sealant, adults are able to receive them as well.

If you have questions or concerns regarding pediatric dental services, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, 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 Implant Surgery

Missing teeth can have an impact on one’s self-esteem, the way they look, the way they chew, and the way that they speak. To replace them, Dr. Farid Hakimzadeh of Fresh Meadows Dental Care offers dental implants to restore the aesthetics of one’s smile as well as improve the overall function. Dental implants are replacement tooth roots that are surgically positioned into the jawbone.

The process of getting implants requires a number of visits over several months. X-rays and impressions (molds) are taken of the jaw and teeth to determine bone, gum tissue, and spacing available for an implant. While the area is numb, the implant will be surgically placed into the bone and allowed to heal and integrate itself for up to six months. Depending on the type of implant, a second surgery may be required in order to place the “post” that will hold the artificial tooth in place.

If you have questions or concerns regarding dental implants or restorative services, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, 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. 

Sleep Apnea and Car Crashes

Sleep deprivation isn’t just a direct threat to a person’s health; it also makes normal activities riskier. At Fresh Meadows Dental Care in Flushing, we provide patients with oral appliances that can ease bruxism and obstructive sleep apnea (OAS). This is an especially important treatment option in light of new research linking OAS with car crashes.

People with OAS are not always aware that their quality of sleep is suffering. They may wake up with jaw pain as a result of their jaws moving forward in an attempt to keep their airways open, and they may snore, but they may not be taken fully out of sleep several times per night. However, the new research found that people with mild OAS are 13% likelier to cause a car accident and that people with severe OAS are 123% likelier. Worse, once people are sleep deprived, they have difficulty determining whether their impairment is mild or severe.

Custom-fitted oral appliances that ease bruxism reduce one source of a patient’s sleep disruption. People with sleep apnea can drive safely if they are undergoing treatment, which is why patients should help their dentists and sleep doctors to work together.

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

 

Osteonecrosis of the Jaw

Patients at Fresh Meadows Dental Care in Flushing benefit from Dr. Farid Hakimzadeh’s experience performing oral surgery. Dental extractions are never done lightly, but are routine and seldom cause complications. However, if patients are undergoing treatment for cancer, they should be aware of how to prevent osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ).

When teeth are extracted, a bit of bone is exposed at the bottom of the socket. Normally, the socket closes after a few days. But in people taking bisphosphonate medications, there is a chance the bone will die and decay if exposed to air. Bisphosphonates are anti-bone resorption drugs that people with osteoporosis or osteopenia take orally and that people undergoing chemotherapy take intravenously. While ONJ is very rare, when it is seen, it is almost always in people taking the stronger IV bisphosphonate doses.

ONJ can be treated with antibiotic rinses. But it is best avoided by keeping dentists and oncologists on the same page. If a person has been diagnosed with cancer or osteoporosis, it is better for them to undergo any necessary extractions before beginning bisphosphonate treatment. If they have already started, it may be better for them to get dental treatments that don’t require extractions.

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