Restorative and General Dentistry - Dental Crowns, Bridges, and More in Queens

At Gentle Dental, our foremost goal is to help our patients achieve optimal oral health and the most aesthetically pleasing smiles possible while remaining entirely focused on their comfort and individual goals. We have always striven to produce exceptional results with a gentle, caring touch that distinguishes our practice. As modern dentistry continues to evolve, we are better able than ever to treat even the most challenging dental problems with an ever-widening range of safe, quick, and virtually painless solutions. Dr. Marianna Knop and Dr. Andrew Ilyabayev have restored health, function, and natural beauty to the mouths of countless patients during their careers, through such treatments as dental implants, cosmetic dentures, dental crowns, and dental bridges. Furthermore, because our Queens dentists understand that even restorative dental procedures have a cosmetic dimension to them, our patients can rest assured, knowing that the results of their dental work will be refined and natural looking.

If you would like to learn more about how we can help you achieve excellent dental health through such treatments as dental bridges and dental crowns, please contact our Queens practice, serving Bayside, Flushing, Whitestone, and surrounding communities, today.

Dental Bridges at Gentle Dental - Aesthetic and Durable

For patients with one or more missing teeth, porcelain dental bridges at our Queens practice offer a potentially ideal solution. A precision-crafted dental bridge fills the gap where teeth are missing with a natural-looking artificial tooth or teeth, depending on the patient's individual needs. Both Dr. Knop and Dr. Ilyabayev have finely honed aesthetic sensibilities that enable them to customize replacement teeth around the specific needs of individual patients, ensuring that these porcelain restorations perfectly complement the size, shape, color, and texture of surrounding natural teeth. Furthermore, because our dental bridges are composed of only the finest, most resilient materials, they are extremely durable, giving our patients the ability to eat, talk, and smile with renewed ease and confidence.

Types of Dental Bridges

There are several types of dental bridges, all of which serve the same basic purpose. Traditional, fixed dental bridges consist of an artificial tooth or teeth supported by two porcelain crowns, one for each natural tooth on either side of the gap. When these crowns are attached to these natural teeth, the artificial tooth or teeth span the space between, unobtrusively restoring the patient's smile. If natural teeth remain on only one side of a gap, our dentists may use a Cantilever bridge. With this type of bridge, the two supporting dental crowns are located on the same side of the replacement tooth. A third type of bridge, the "Maryland" composite bond bridge, is attached by means of a metal band that is discreetly bonded to the back surfaces of the surrounding natural teeth. This type of bridge is typically used to replace missing front teeth. Although the traditional fixed bridges, in particular, should last many years with proper maintenance, bridges can also be supported by dental implants to ensure the most secure, lifelike restoration possible.

Benefits of Dental Bridges

Aside from the obvious aesthetic benefits, there are numerous practical advantages to replacing missing teeth with dental bridges. By filling the gap between natural teeth, dental bridges can help prevent these teeth from drifting out of alignment. In addition, because they are fixed into place, they cannot slip or be removed by hand. As a result, they offer a stable, long-term solution to problems that might otherwise develop with chewing and speaking. Drawing upon their years of experience, Dr. Knop and Dr. Ilyabayev place these customized dental bridges so that they fit snugly yet comfortably in the mouth.

If you are missing one or more of your natural teeth and would like to learn more about the benefits of dental bridges, please contact our Queens dental practice today. We would be pleased to answer any questions you might have and help you better understand your full range of treatment options.

[ back to top ]

Dental Crowns - Restore Beauty and Strength to Damaged Teeth

Porcelain dental crowns are often the most effective way to preserve as much of the structural integrity of a damaged tooth as possible while restoring its health, shape, and overall appearance. Custom-crafted to cover the entire surface area of the tooth, dental crowns are an excellent treatment for teeth that are cracked, broken, or structurally weak. By restoring strength to these weaker teeth, Dr. Knop and Dr. Ilyabayev are able to significantly reduce and often eliminate tooth pain or sensitivity. In the process, porcelain crowns will also conceal flaws in the appearance of the teeth, resulting in a more radiant, balanced, and aesthetically pleasing smile.

Benefits of Dental Crowns

Although there are a variety of options for replacing missing teeth or teeth that are too damaged to salvage, it is always best to save at least part of the natural tooth if at all possible. Aside from the removal of decay or other areas of damage, dental crowns do require further reshaping of the natural tooth to accommodate their size; however, they also protect the basic foundation of the natural tooth, which might eventually have been lost if left untreated. As a result, dental crowns help patients to avoid more serious future dental problems associated with missing teeth, such as the degradation of the jawbone and other oral tissues and the shifting of surrounding teeth from their optimal positions.

At Gentle Dental, we use finely crafted porcelain dental crowns in a number of treatments. Our Queens dentists sometimes use them to secure larger fillings in teeth that are fragile or otherwise structurally compromised. In addition, dental crowns are used to support the replacement teeth in dental bridges, as well as to replace missing individual teeth when attached to dental implant posts. Whatever their use, Dr. Knop and Dr. Ilyabayev rely on their years of dental expertise to create dental crowns that blend beautifully with surrounding natural teeth, ensuring results that are as cosmetically impressive as they are strong and functional.

If you would like to learn more about the durable, natural-looking dental crowns available at our Queens practice, please contact Gentle Dental today.

[ back to top ]

Cosmetic Dentures - Elegant and Natural

Cosmetic Dentures Revive SmilesUsing only the finest materials and working exclusively with the premier dental laboratories in the country, Dr. Knop and Dr. Ilyabayev are able to craft dentures that perfectly complement your facial structure, restoring both function and beauty to your mouth. Because our renowned cosmetic dentists are as artistically gifted as they are technically skilled, you can be assured that your dentures will look completely natural and fit securely and comfortably in your mouth. Whether you are a first-time or a long-time denture wearer, our dentists can help to return to you the confidence and security that come with having your own strong, healthy, beautiful teeth.

At Gentle Dental, we are able to customize both partial and full dentures, depending on your needs. Likewise, we offer both traditional removable dentures and exceptional implant-supported dentures, the latter of which represent the most natural and stable replacement for missing teeth. With implant-supported overdentures, you can truly recover the freedom and confidence to speak, bite, chew, and smile as you please.

[ back to top ]

Root Canal Therapy - Preserve Your Natural Teeth without Discomfort

There is perhaps no dental procedure more widely known than the "root canal"; yet, it may well also be the most misunderstood and unfairly maligned of all dental procedures. Indeed, root canal (or endodontic) therapy is actually an extremely safe, relatively pain-free treatment that has helped millions of people preserve the health of their teeth across the country. Rather than causing discomfort, root canal therapy is often the most immediate and effective way of relieving excruciating tooth pain.

Each tooth in the human mouth contains a long, thin strand of pulp that extends down into the root of the tooth. This dental pulp contains nerves, arteries, blood vessels, and connective tissue that can be damaged by decay or injury. When the pulp becomes infected or inflamed, the result is often unbearable tooth pain and, over time, the death of the tooth. Root canal therapy involves the removal of this affected pulp through a gap that is created in the natural crown of the tooth. Once the pulp has been removed and the root canal has been cleaned and filled with a material to prevent further infection, the tooth is sealed with a porcelain crown.

One of the primary advantages of root canal therapy is that it allows for the preservation of most of the natural tooth. In addition, our Waterlase® laser dentistry system allows us to perform root canal therapy with absolute precision and without the use of a traditional drill, further taking the anxiety out of a largely pain-free procedure.

If you are experiencing tooth pain and would like to schedule an appointment to find out whether root canal therapy might help you, please feel free to contact Gentle Dental in the Bayside neighborhood of Queens at your convenience. If your pain is particularly severe, we are always pleased to do whatever we can to accommodate patients with dental emergencies.

[ back to top ]

Porcelain Fillings - Undetectable and Strong

Tooth-Colored FillingsBecause they are virtually indistinguishable from natural tooth material and provide a stronger, potentially safer alternative to traditional metal fillings, Gentle Dental is committed to using tooth-colored porcelain fillings to restore teeth damaged by cavities or trauma. There are two basic types of porcelain fillings, also known as "indirect" fillings: inlays and onlays. Both types of fillings are painstakingly crafted to fit precisely in the area from which damaged tooth structure has been removed. The primary difference between inlays and onlays is that the former is crafted to fit inside an area of decay while the latter is laid atop the tooth, covering its cusps. The porcelain used in either restoration is strong enough to preserve the health of your remaining tooth while maintaining the appearance of your smile.

[ back to top ]

Periodontal Care - Gentle, Non-Surgical Treatment

Periodontal disease, perhaps more widely known as gum disease, ranks as the single most common disease in the United States, affecting approximately 80 percent of American adults to some degree. Fortunately, regular periodontal screenings and appropriate oral hygiene regimens can help to control the disease, which is why Dr. Knop and Dr. Ilyabayev encourage their patients to schedule periodic oral examinations. Since periodontal disease often manifests no symptoms in its earliest stages, it is important that even those patients who are experiencing no mouth pain or signs of infection seek routine periodontal care.

Periodontal disease is caused by plaque and, over time, tartar. Tartar is plaque in its hardened, mineralized form and can occur both above and below the gumline. While plaque can often be removed through routine brushing and flossing, tartar can only be removed through a thorough cleaning by a dental professional. When left untreated, the buildup of tartar can result in periodontitis, a disease that adversely affects the bones, gums, and other supporting oral tissues. Furthermore, research has found that gum disease can contribute to other serious health problems including heart disease, stroke, respiratory problems, diabetes, pneumonia, and increased health risks during pregnancy. Through regular periodontal screening, patients stand an excellent chance of halting the progress of the disease and preserving their natural teeth.

Signs of Periodontal Disease:

» Bleeding gums
» Swollen, red, or tender gums
» Constant bad breath
» Pus between teeth
» Receding gums
» Loose teeth
» Pain while chewing
» A noticeable change in tooth position when biting
» A noticeable change in the fit of partial dental appliances

If you are currently experiencing gum pain or other signs of periodontal disease, our dentists can help to control the problem and restore the health of your mouth. Likewise, if your gums are in perfect health, our dentists can help to prevent the onset of periodontal disease, allowing you to maintain your good oral health for years to come. For more information or to schedule a periodontal screening, please contact Irina, our patient coordinator, at Gentle Dental in Queens today.

[ back to top ]

To learn more about dental crowns, dental bridges, or any of our other treatments, please contact our Queens practice by filling out and submitting the form below.

Gentle Dental
35-30 Francis Lewis Blvd.
Bayside, NY 11358
Ph. 718.461.0100