A toothache is a sign that something is wrong and usually requires urgent attention.

For anyone who has experienced a toothache, we know just how painful it can be. A toothache is one of the reasons many people make an emergency trip to visit our Niskayuna, NY, family dentists Dr. Kent Molino and Dr. Todd Vaccaro. While you won’t be able to actually diagnose your toothache online, here are some things that could be causing your aching tooth,

Teeth Grinding

Let’s start with a more minor reason why you could be dealing with a toothache. If you are someone who grinds their teeth (a habit known as bruxism) this can cause teeth to flatten or can even increase their risk for chips, cracks and fractures. Over time, teeth grinding can wear away enamel which can cause tooth sensitivity and even pain. If your symptoms are accompanied by tired, aching jaws then you may be grinding your teeth at night and not even realize it.

Decay

Most people will have some degree of decay in their teeth as they get older. Decay will continue to travel deeper within the enamel and dentin layers of the tooth, which is usually when pain sets in. Anything that exposes the nerves of the tooth can lead to pain, and cavities are usually the most common cause of tooth pain that our Niskayuna, NY, dentists sees and treats on a regular basis.

Broken Tooth

If your tooth hurts after crunching down on something hard (like the pit of a date or a popcorn kernel) then you may have cracked or broken your teeth. While you may be able to notice a visible crack or chip in the tooth, this isn’t always the case. However, if your pain is made worse by biting or chewing, or your tooth is suddenly sensitive to hot or cold temperatures then you could have a dental injury.

Impacted Teeth

An impacted tooth is a tooth that doesn’t fully erupt through the gums. This most commonly occurs in wisdom teeth, the third and final set of molars. These teeth usually make their appearance during a person’s late teens or early twenties and can lead to pain, damage to surrounding teeth, infection and cavities. It’s important to consult with our family dentist to find out whether it’s time to have your wisdom teeth removed.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, our office is taking the necessary precautions to keep all patients living in and around Niskayuna, NY, safe. While we are temporarily closed for routine care, our dentists are still providing emergency dental treatment. For all dental emergencies please call Drs. Kent Molino and Todd Vaccaro at (518) 377-3628.

Visiting a family dentist offers several important advantages for everyone in your household. Niskayuna, NY, family dentists Dr. Kent Molino and Dr. Todd Vaccaro provide a variety of dental services that help your entire family maintain their healthy smiles.

More time together

Why visit multiple dentists when family dentists offer all of the oral health services your family needs? Forget about scheduling several checkup appointments and driving to dental offices all over the Niskayuna area. When your entire household visits the same dentist, you can schedule back-to-back appointments for the whole group.

Thanks to convenient group appointments, you'll have more time to do the things you like to do as a family. If you're the one who usually accompanies your kids or elderly relatives to appointments, you'll be able to save more of your paid time off rather than using it for dental appointments.

Excellent care for the whole family

Family dentists don't impose any age restrictions on their patients. Your toddler is just as welcome as your great aunt. The dentists are specially trained to treat dental issues that occur at any point during your life. They offer sealants to keep your child from developing cavities in newly erupted molars and pre-molars, fill cavities with tooth-colored fillings and help you strengthen fragile teeth with crowns.

Other services include:

• Regular exams and cleanings
• Whitening to remove stains that dull teeth
• Dental veneers to cover imperfections
• Bonding to repair damage or correct flaws
• Root canal therapy to save inflamed or infected teeth
• Invisalign therapy for orthodontic issues
• Bridges, dentures and dental implants to replace missing teeth

A positive experience for your children

Family dentists understand that visits can be a little overwhelming for the youngest dental patients. They make visits pleasant and positive and take the time to explain every step in a language your child can understand. Visiting the dentist for group check-ups can also help your child feel more comfortable at the dentist's office. When your son or daughter sees how comfortable you are in the dental chair, they may be less likely to feel apprehensive.

Protect your family's oral health with a visit to your family dentist. Call Drs. Kent Molino and Todd Vaccaro at (518) 377-3628 to schedule an appointment.

When your smile isn't quite perfect, Invisalign offers a subtle tooth straightening option. Your Niskayuna, NY, dentists, Drs. Todd Vaccaro and Kent Molino can help you improve the alignment of your smile with this innovative orthodontic treatment.

Invisalign can change the way you think about orthodontic treatment

Metal-free Invisalign straightens your teeth using a series of clear, removable aligner trays that fit snugly over your teeth. They work by exerting constant and gentle pressure. Before your treatment begins, you'll visit the Niskayuna, NY, dental office where digital impressions, images, and X-rays of your mouth are made. The images combine to form a virtual 3D representation of your teeth that is used to create your aligner trays and plot your treatment.

Every aligner tray carries out a specific straightening goal and is worn for about two weeks. At the end of the two weeks, you'll begin wearing the next aligner tray in the series.

When you choose Invisalign, you'll enjoy these advantages:

• No noticeable changes to your smile during treatment: Your clear aligner trays are practically invisible and won't call attention to the fact that you've begun orthodontic treatment.
• Flexibility: Although your trays are designed for wearing 22 hours per day, you can take them out occasionally. They can be removed when you play sports, eat, brush your teeth, or attend any special events like prom or a wedding. Talk to your Niskayuna dentist about when it's okay to do so.
• Easy oral hygiene routine: Your usual oral hygiene routine won't change just because you're straightening your teeth. You'll remove the trays before brushing and flossing, then rinse them and put them back in your mouth when you finish.
• No food restrictions: You won't have to alter your diet just because you're improving your smile. You can eat hard and crunchy foods and even enjoy sticky foods and popcorn. Before you eat or drink, you'll take out your trays and replace them after you've completed your meal. (Since some beverages may stain the trays, it's best to take them out when you drink anything other than water.)
• An effective option for many orthodontic issues: Invisalign treatment can straighten crooked teeth, address crowding and spacing issues, and correct mild to moderate bite problems.

Transform your smile with Invisalign! Call your dentists in Niskayuna, NY, Drs. Todd Vaccaro and Kent Molino, at (518) 377-3628 to schedule an appointment.

Here’s why it’s so important to treat your tooth loss as soon as possible.

From gum disease to sports injuries, there are many reasons adults end up losing one or more permanent teeth. When emergency dental issues like this arise it’s important that you have dentists in Niskayuna, NY, like our own Dr. Kent Molino and Dr. Todd Vacaro, that you trust to provide you with the restorative dentistry you need. So what happens if you decide not to replace your missing teeth? Here are some of the consequences of untreated tooth loss,

Bone Loss

This is one of the biggest problems that people with tooth loss face. Jawbone atrophy is inevitable, no matter whether you are missing one, several or all of your teeth. This is because the tooth roots are responsible for stimulating the jawbone, which helps to keep it strong. When you lose a tooth, the bone doesn’t receive the full amount of stimulation necessary. Over time this leads to significant changes in bone density.

Misaligned Teeth

Along with unsightly gaps in your smile, the rest of your teeth will gradually begin to drift into these spaces between your teeth. This can lead to larger gaps between teeth, crowding, crookedness, twisting and other issues. Getting braces on top of replacing missing teeth is probably the last thing you want to deal with. By filling those gaps as soon as possible after tooth loss our Niskayuna, NY, restorative dentists can prevent the need for braces or other restorative procedures to correct your smile.

What is the solution?

We know that there are many people living in and around Niskayuna, NY, with tooth loss. So what can be done to prevent these issues above? A dental implant is the next best thing to maintaining your real teeth. Implants function just like real teeth, replacing your missing tooth roots and providing your jawbone with the stimulation it needs. Most healthy adults dealing with tooth loss can benefit from getting dental implants.

Don’t let tooth loss leave you dealing with more serious health problems. Call our Niskayuna, NY, dental office today at (518) 377-3628 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Kent Molino or Dr. Todd Vaccaro.

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.