When you have a cavity, the best course of action is to have it treated as soon as possible before it advanced to major tooth decay. Nowadays most patients want tooth-colored restorations for cavities. These may also be your preference for cosmetic reasons. Family dentists Drs. Kent Molino and Todd Vaccaro at Molino and Vaccaro Dental in Niskayuna, NY can treat your dental decay and save your tooth while helping to preserve its appearance.

Causes of Cavities
Cavities are caused by poor dental hygiene, bad bacteria, and the sugar in food that feeds the progression of tooth decay. Children are most prone to cavities because they often eat a lot of sweets and don’t brush their teeth as often as they should. Cavities are also common in patients who don’t make it a point to see their dentist for regular visits (preferably at least two times per year). But the good news is that a cavity can be treated with a tooth colored restoration.

Tooth-Colored Restorations
After a cavity is cleaned and disinfected, the next step is to fill it with a protective material. Amalgam material (also called a silver filling) was the norm in past years because of its durability, but it is very visible when you laugh or talk. The modern solution is a tooth-colored restoration, sometimes called a white filling, which is made of composite material or porcelain. The restoration fits in with the rest of your smile so that no one can tell that you’ve had a cavity filled.

Keeping Your Smile Beautiful and Healthy
Avoid the habits that caused you to have a cavity problem if you want to keep your tooth-colored restoration intact and your whole smile healthy. Here are a few simple tips:

- Brush in the morning and at night, paying close attention to the top surfaces of the teeth to remove film and particles.
- Eat less sugary foods and add more calcium-rich foods to your diet.
- Commit to biannual tooth cleanings and checkups by your Niskayuna, NY family dentist.

Have Your Smile Restored
You can save your damaged tooth while also preserving its white appearance with tooth colored restorations. Call Dr. Kent Molino or Dr. Todd Vaccaro at Molino and Vaccaro Dental in Niskayuna, NY at 518-377-3628. You can rest assured you’ll find a family dentist who is committed to professional and caring dental care.

If your smile's tooth loss makes you feel like frowning and the thought of dentures brings you down, implants can keep you feeling confident and comfortable. Designed to look, feel, and function like real teeth, implants are a great way to restore your smile to its original glory. Read on to learn how Drs. Kent Molino and Todd Vaccaro in Niskayuna can improve your smile with the help of dental implants.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are metal posts that are placed under the gums, a position that allows them to naturally fuse with the jawbone to create an artificial tooth with unmatched look and feel.

Implants come in two types: endosteal (made of titanium and placed in the jawbone) or subperiosteal (which are affixed on or above the jawbone). If your jawbone is unable to support dental implants, your Niskayuna dentist may perform a ridge expansion, sinus lift, or bone augmentation to accommodate them.

What are the benefits of dental implants?

• Unlike dentures, dental implants stay in place. That means no shifting or slipping, embarrassing/inconvenient false tooth removal, or sticky, messy adhesives.
• Dental implants are attractive, giving you an even, straight, and shiny smile.
• While dentures can cause you to mumble or slur your words, dental implants are permanent and won't impact your speech.
• Dental implants are comfortable. They stay in place and become part of your mouth, not an implement that needs to be inserted and removed.
• You can eat like normal. Whereas dentures can shift around and make chewing difficult, dental implants are securely attached.
• Implants last a long time. They are built to be durable for decades, and possibly a lifetime.
• Oral hygiene is easier. You can brush, floss, and rinse just like you would with your original teeth.

Give us a call

If you are considering dental implants, schedule a consultation with Todd Vaccaro, DDS, in Niskayuna at (518) 377-3628 today!

Invisalign is more than a discreet and practically invisible alternative to metallic braces. While the system is probably best known for the clear aligner trays that make it possible to get straighter teeth without braces, it is also a much less invasive system that allows you to maintain your normal oral hygiene and dietary routines while your teeth are gradually shifted into alignment. Dr. Kent Molino and Dr. Todd Vaccaro offer Invisalign and other general and cosmetic dentistry services for the whole family in Niskayuna, NY.

Get Straighter Teeth and a Healthier Smile with Invisalign in Niskayuna, NY

Invisalign is available for adult and teenage patients with mild to moderate bite and alignment issues like crowding, overbite, underbite, crossbite, and open bite. If your dentist determines that you should undergo orthodontic treatment, a consultation will follow to establish a custom treatment plan to help shift your teeth into the proper alignment. Like traditional braces, Invisalign gradually shifts the teeth into place over a specified treatment period.

Invisalign consists of a series of removable trays that are worn for two weeks each. The trays are custom designed for your teeth and specific alignment needs. The dentist designs a digital treatment plan (which lays out the position and degree that your teeth need to shift for the desired alignment), and the trays are then designed according to your specific needs.

Each tray is worn for two weeks and then changed for the next one in the series. They can be removed for up to two hours every day, so you can brush and floss every day as normal, and continue to eat and drink your favorite foods without restrictions. The typical treatment for Invisalign is an average of 15 months, depending on your specific alignment needs.

Find a Dentist in Niskayuna, NY

To learn more about how Invisalign works and whether it is right for you, contact our office by calling 518-377-3628 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Molino or Dr. Vaccaro today.

Discover the unique advantages of turning to a family dentist in Niskayuna, NY.

Are you wondering where to take the entire family for routine dental checkups and cleanings? Want to make getting dental care for everyone easier? If so, you’ve come to the right place. Here are some of the benefits you’ll enjoy when you turn to our Niskayuna, NY, family dentists Dr. Kent Molino and Dr. Todd Vaccaro.

Comprehensive Dental Care

A family dentist is unique because they are able to provide all patients with the dental care they need in one convenient location. So, no matter whether your children need a dental cleaning or you require more specialized treatment such as dental implants or orthodontic treatment, we can offer it all right here at our practice. Now you don’t even have to bring your children to a separate dentist in order to get the proper dental care for everyone. Your whole family can visit us.

Ease of Scheduling

We know that your family is busy. From work to after-school activities, your schedule is already jam-packed. The last thing that should be stressful or make your life more complicated is finding a time to schedule cleanings for the whole family. Luckily, a family dentist can work with your schedule to find the perfect time for the whole family to come in.

Continued, Trustworthy Care

When you turn to our dental practice in Niskayuna, NY, you’ll receive the same compassionate, dedicated and individualized care you always have. From the moment your child comes to us until they grow up into teenagers and then full-fledged adults. We love creating strong doctor-patient relationships to provide you with the respect and quality medical care you can always expect.

Is it time to schedule cleanings for the whole family? Do you have questions about the different dental services we offer here in Niskayuna, NY? If so, don’t hesitate to call our office today.

Discover the many ways in which dental veneers can give you your dream smile.

A perfect smile isn’t just something that the rich and famous can enjoy. In fact, anyone living in Niskayuna, NY, can get the perfect, symmetrical smiles they want thanks to our dentists, Dr. Kent Molino and Dr. Todd Vaccaro. While you may not be walking down the red carpet anytime soon, dental veneers can certainly give you a smile that’s worthy of a celebrity!

What are dental veneers?

Veneers are ultra-thin shells made from a tooth-colored material such as porcelain. When these thin layers of porcelain are bonded to the front of a tooth they look like a pristine layer of tooth enamel while also hiding common imperfections such as,

• Discolorations and severe stains
• Chips and cracks
• Gaps between teeth
• Minor misalignments (crowding or crookedness)
• Misshapen, worn or malformed teeth

By and large, if you are dealing with cosmetic flaws that affect the shape, length, color, or even alignment of your smile, then dental veneers may be able to help you.

What goes into getting veneers?

It’s important to understand the process so that you can decide whether this cosmetic treatment is for you. Of course, the first is that you will need to consult our Niskayuna, NY, dentists to make sure that your smile is healthy enough for treatment.

Next, since veneers are bonded to the front surface of your teeth, we will need to remove a very small amount of enamel from each tooth in order to make room for the veneers. This tooth preparation is minor and can often be done without even needing anesthesia; however, it’s important to understand that enamel doesn’t grow back. Once the teeth have been prepped for veneers, you will have veneers for the rest of your life.

Each veneer is custom-made based off specific measurements taken of your smile. In order to get the right veneers for you, we will need to take impressions of your teeth. Once your veneers are ready, we will check the look, fit, and bite before applying them permanently to your teeth. Most patients can get beautiful, brand new smiles in just 2-3 visits.

Interested? Give Us a Call!

If you are living in Niskayuna, NY, and want to give your smile a cosmetic makeover then dental veneers may be exactly what you need to turn that smile around. Call our office today at (518) 377-3628 and let us know that you are interested in getting dental veneers.