585 Main St.
Chatham, NJ 07928
Phone: (973) 701-7777
Keeping Our Patients Safe

Keeping Our Patients Safe

Dear Friends:
I am excited to announce that we are being allowed to see patients again. We will be opening on Weds. June 3rd. We have made improvements to keep you and the staff safe. We would like to ease your concerns about coming to the office.

Click here for our  new office safety protocol

© All photographs on this site are of Dr. Allyson K. hurley's patients and represent her work and her photography.

Archives for February 2015

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How do you know if porcelain crowns or porcelain veneers will be recommended to restore your teeth? The answer depends on the condition of your teeth, the goals for your smile, your individual case, and the cosmetic dentist you choose.

  • Condition of your teeth – Are your teeth healthy, free from decay, and not worn down? Porcelain veneers cover only the front of your teeth and are bonded to healthy teeth. Teeth that are cracked, decayed, or badly down need to be protected with porcelain crowns.
  • Goals for your smile – Do you want a smile makeover, or to change the shape, size, alignment, or color of your teeth? These are things that porcelain veneers can accomplish for healthy teeth. They cover only the front of your teeth and require minimal tooth preparation. To accomplish these goals with porcelain crowns requires significant tooth reduction, because a crown covers the entire tooth from the gumline to the biting surface.
  • Your cosmetic dentist – After examining and taking diagnostic studies of your teeth, your cosmetic dentist may decide that a particular treatment will work best to restore your smile. The final decision is yours, though.
  • Your case – Every patient case is different. Porcelain veneers may work well for you, but porcelain crowns may be the preferred treatment for someone else. Budget may be a concern for some patients, and porcelain crowns are less expensive than porcelain veneers.

Be certain to find an experienced cosmetic dentist who takes the time to evaluate your case and anticipate the results you will get—in both function and beauty—depending on which treatment is used. You may consider getting more than one opinion. Be prepared to ask questions, take notes, and compare your options before deciding on a provider for your treatment.

Find an accredited cosmetic dentist. He or she has a proven history of creating beautiful smiles, even for difficult cases.

This post is sponsored by award-winning NJ cosmetic dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.

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It’s your teeth, for goodness sake, why does a dentist need to know what medications you take? Why is he or she asking about antiplatelet or anticoagulant medication? Is your dentist crossing the line in asking about the prescriptions received from your medical doctor? The short answer: “No.”

The blood clotting process has two phases:

  • Platelet bonding – These small red blood cells stick together and adhere to blood vessels to slow down the flow of blood.
  • Coagulation – Protein chemicals in the blood interact, fill in the gaps between the clumps of platelets, and form a strong clot to help the bleeding process stop.

The purpose of antiplatelet and anticoagulant medication

  • Antiplatelet agents – These agents prevent the first phase—platelet bonding.
  • Anticoagulant agents – These agents prevent the second phase—the formation of protein chemicals that give the clumps of platelets a stronger bond.

How can these medications affect dental procedures?

Many dental procedures can cause bleeding. In the vast majority of cases, bleeding is minimal, even when patients are taking antiplatelet or anticoagulant medication. Your dentist or oral surgeon will take into consideration the risks of performing a particular procedure while the medication is in your bloodstream versus performing the procedure when you have not taken the medication.

Some dental procedures that can cause bleeding are:

  • Regular and deep dental cleaning
  • Tooth extraction
  • Dental implant placement
  • Biopsies
  • Periodontal (gum surgery)

This must be handled on a case-by-case basis. In some cases, discontinuing the medication is very dangerous. You should not automatically stop taking your medication before a dental procedure without the advice or your medical doctor or dentist. Always keep your dentist informed of your list of medications and herbal supplements.

Precautions

Your dentist will take precautions to minimize bleeding and give you instructions for aftercare that will help prevent excessive bleeding. Follow the instructions closely. For example, after surgical treatment, you will be advised to avoid smoking, drinking from a straw, spitting, and rinsing your mouth for at least the first 24 hours. Sharp, sticky, and hard foods should be avoided because they can aggravate an oral surgical site and dislodge blood clots.

Ensure that your medical doctor and dentist are aware of medical prescriptions and herbal supplements that you take. Some herbal-based products can interfere with—or enhance—the effects of antiplatelet or anticoagulant medication.

If you are prescribed any new medication, ensure that the provider of the new medication and the provider of the antiplatelet or anticoagulant medication are both aware of all the medications prescribed to you.

Keep your dentist informed of any changes in your medication and herbal supplements.

This post is sponsored by Bedminster, NJ dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.