Details on Dental Bridges

If you are missing teeth, Dr. Jason Pellegrino at Pellegrino Cosmetic and Family Dentistry offers a variety of tooth replacement options. In this post, however, we are going to explain why dental bridges may be the right choice for you. Dental bridges literally bridge the gap created by one or more missing teeth. They can be supported in any of three ways: by natural teeth, by dental implants, and by a combination of teeth and implants.

There are three different types of dental bridges: traditional, cantilever and Maryland bonded bridges. The materials that make up the dental bridges vary from gold, metal, alloys, or porcelain to ensure that they are strong and durable. Getting a bridge requires, at least, two visits, but often more. After Dr. Pellegrino prepares your teeth and covers them with temporary crowns during the first visit, your bridge will be constructed and placed during later visits. The bridge itself might take some getting used to, but in the end, you will have a brand new reconstructed and healthy smile.  

If you think you may benefit from a dental bridge, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.allentowndentist.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Jason Pellegrino at Pellegrino Cosmetic and Family Dentistry in Allentown, PA, call 610-530-7901.

Types of Teeth and Their Functions

While the mouth is a small part of our overall anatomy, it’s filled with many things that keep our health in tip top shape. One of these many properties includes the teeth because without teeth we wouldn’t be able to chew our food and nourish our bodies. If you’ve ever wondered why all of your teeth are different shapes and sizes, Dr. Jason Pellegrino at Pellegrino Cosmetic and Family Dentistry would like to explain further.

According to the American Dental Association, each tooth is made up of several parts: pulp, cementum, dentin, and enamel. The types of teeth and their functions are as follows:

• Incisors – located at the front of the mouth, these teeth have a sharp biting surface and are used for cutting or shearing food into small chewable pieces.


• Canines – located at the ‘corners’ of the dental arches, these teeth have a sharp pointed biting surface. Their function is to grip and tear food.


• Premolars – Unlike incisors and canines, these teeth have a flat biting surface. Their function is to tear and crush food.


• Molars – The molars are the largest teeth in the mouth and they too have a large flat biting surface. The function of these is perhaps the strongest of all as they chew, crush, and grind food.

If you have further questions about your smile, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.allentowndentist.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Jason Pellegrino at Pellegrino Cosmetic and Family Dentistry in Allentown, PA, call 610-530-7901.

White Fillings for Natural-Looking Restorations

Cavities are pretty common, but it still can be surprising when you find out that you have one. It can also make you worry about the look of your smile. Fortunately, here at Pellegrino Cosmetic and Family Dentistry in Allentown, PA, Dr. Jason Pellegrino utilizes composite resin for white fillings.

Composite resin is able to be matched to the shade of your natural tooth. This makes it indistinguishable in your smile. When you have a cavity filled, now no one will be able to tell. This is a vast improvement from the silver amalgam fillings of the past. Amalgam fillings were dark and noticeable; often diminishing the look of your smile.

To place a white filling, we use the same process as always. First, we will remove the decayed tooth tissue. We will then place the tooth-colored composite resin in the tooth. The resin is allowed to harden and then is trimmed and shaped to maintain a proper bite. You now have a healthy and good-looking tooth!

If you are experiencing pain or sensitivity to a tooth, be sure to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jason Pellegrino. To schedule at Pellegrino Cosmetic and Family Dentistry in Allentown, PA, call our office at (610) 530-7901. For more information, visit our website, www.allentowndentist.com. 

Custom Teeth Whitening Trays

Having a white smile can unleash confidence you never knew you had! Here at Pellegrino Cosmetic and Family Dentistry, we have a couple of options for professional teeth whitening. Dr. Jason Pellegrino provides custom take-home teeth whitening trays to his patients in his Allentown, PA office who want to do their whitening at home.

For those who do not want to sit in the dental chair to wait for whitened teeth, we have this take-home option that is similar to whitening kits you’ve seen in stores. However, what makes this whitening system different is the customized trays we create to fit your unique smile. This gets the best and most even whitening possible. In addition, our whitening gel and system are professional and supervised by your dentist. If you want white teeth, you will want to go to the people who specialize in teeth; your dentist!

To create these custom trays, we will take impressions of your teeth. This way we get every curve, shape, and alignment perfect. You then put our whitening gel into the trays and wear them for a short period of time over a few days. The end result is often a smile that is four to eight shades whiter!

Whether you’ll be hitting the red carpet or smiling for family pictures, you want to put your best, brightest smile forward! Call Pellegrino Cosmetic and Family Dentistry of Allentown, PA at (610) 530-7901 to schedule with Dr. Jason Pellegrino. For more information, visit our website, www.allentowndentist.com. 

Veneers for a Perfect Smile

Veneers are a great way to get that fabulous smile you desire without major dental work like surgery or braces. Dr. Jason Pellegrino of Pellegrino Cosmetic and Family Dentistry in Allentown, PA offers veneers to his patients as an option to restore a smile to perfection.

Veneers are able to fix the look of dental imperfections like gaps, cracks, discoloration, misaligned teeth, and more. Veneers are very thin ceramic shells that are placed over your existing teeth. There is no need to spend years in braces or go through dental surgery to get a great smile.

To apply the veneers, Dr. Pellegrino will first remove a small layer of enamel from your teeth. The amount of enamel removed is about the same thickness of the veneer that will replace it. Impressions are then created of your teeth. The impressions, along with photos and additional information will help a dental laboratory create the perfect set of custom veneers for you. You will wear temporary veneers during this time. When the custom veneers are bonded into place, they can last for five to ten years with good care.

Do not hide your smile simply because you are embarrassed by an imperfection. Schedule a consultation with us to find out if veneers are right for you. To schedule with Dr. Jason Pellegrino in Allentown, PA, call our office at (610) 530-7901. For additional information about Pellegrino Cosmetic and Family Dentistry, visit our website, www.allentowndentist.com.