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 January 2016

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I got a crown on a bottom left molar in April 2015, so soon it will be a year since I’ve had it. I didn’t have any problems with it for the first 2 months but after that it started feeling sensitive. Any time I eat or drink something hot or cold I get a tingling sensation in my mouth. If something is really cold it actually hurts. Also I have started to notice that if I have to chew something that puts a lot of pressure on it, it hurts. I have mentioned this to my dentist a couple of times and he did x-rays at first. He has adjusted it both times. It is still tingly, but it doesn’t seem that my dentist is really trying to figure out what is going on. Does anything I’ve described give clues about what might be happening with my teeth? Scott

Scott – At times, when a crown is first placed, the tooth nerve is irritated and can be sensitive for a few weeks. Longer periods of sensitivity indicate that there is another issue causing irritation. There are several possibilities.

A Sensitive Dental Crown – Possible Causes

One possibility is that you are grinding your teeth while you sleep. Your dentist can examine your teeth and look for signs of wear. A customized night guard can be made for you to wear at night. The night guard will cushion the effects of teeth grinding.

It is possible that there is a problem with your natural tooth beneath the crown. The crown can be removed to check the condition of the tooth. A root canal treatment may be needed.

Another less common factor is that some of the cement from the bonding material was left around the crown. It can cause inflammation, irritation, and sensitivity.

Schedule an appointment with your dentist for a thorough examination of your crown and tooth. If he or she is not able to find the cause of the sensitivity, consider getting a second opinion from an experienced cosmetic dentist. Properly trained cosmetic dentists are skilled in the placement of dental crowns. He or she will work to resolve the issue with the sensitivity in your crown.

This post is sponsored by a NJ Monthly Magazine Top Dentist—Dr. Allyson Hurley. She is accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

 

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Both of our twins have 8 teeth each. I haven’t taken them to a pediatric dentist yet because I thought I would wait until their 2nd birthday. Last week they had a checkup with our pediatrician. Everything went fine with their physical but then the doctor started looking at their teeth. She asked if they have seen a dentist yet, and I explained why not. So the doctor explained that since their teeth have erupted, I need to schedule an appointment for her to put fluoride varnish on the twins’ teeth. How do I know if this is a necessary thing or just an add-on from the doctor? Also, shouldn’t a pediatric dentist be doing this? Thanks. Vanessa

Vanessa – Fluoride varnish is a protective coating that is brushed on the biting surfaces and sides of teeth. The fluoride penetrates tooth enamel and hardens the tooth. It’s used to help prevent or slow down tooth decay. But it may not completely prevent decay.

The process is simple:

  • Gauze is used to clean and dry each tooth.
  • Varnish is painted on the top and sides of each tooth. This only takes a few minutes.
  • The varnish will quickly harden.
  • You may be instructed not to brush or floss your child’s teeth until the next morning.
  • The varnish will brush off.

Pediatricians are trained to apply fluoride varnish to children’s teeth. The varnish is safe and is used by dentists and doctors all over the world.

If you are wondering if the varnish should be used on your children’s teeth, speak with your family dentist. It is possible that your dentist accepts young children as patients. If so, and your dentist recommends fluoride varnish for your children, you may be more comfortable with your dentist applying it.

Although many parents wait until age 2 to take their child to a dentist, teeth can be examined when they erupt. This method ensures proper dental care and early detection of dental issues before they progress.

 

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