Robert B. Ruyak, DMD

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Relieve Headaches with a Mouth Guard

If you grind your teeth or clench your jaws together it has been suggested that this can act as a trigger for headaches, particularly tension type headaches and even migraine. You may subconsciously clench your jaw during the day and even in your sleep. If you are experiencing these pains, Dr. Robert Ruyak, DMD can provide you with an FDA-approved NTI mouth guard device.


THE NTI device decreases the strength of tooth clenching by triggering a nerve reflex that relaxes the muscles, and at the same time prevents the molars from touching. This helps the patient by stopping unconscious forceful clenching and biting, preventing common consequences such as worn out teeth and jaw pain, as well as inflammation and tension headaches. NTI night guards are not available over the counter, and have to be custom fitted by Dr. Robert Ruyak, DMD. It is inexpensive and painless to insert and can only provide you with excellent relief.


If you have questions about our NTI night guard, give us a call to discuss the pros and cons or visit www.drrobertruyak.com for more information. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Robert Ruyak, DMD at his practice in Bethlehem, PA, call 610-861-0777. 

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Oral Health Care for Seniors

Advancing age puts many seniors at risk for a number of oral health problems. These problems include but are not limited to: darkened teeth, dry mouth, gum disease, tooth loss, root decay and gum disease. Here at his practice, Dr. Robert Ruyak, DMD provides seniors with honorable dental care by encouraging them to have healthy nutrition and proper dental cleanings.


Seniors are more likely to suffer from a host of oral health issues resulting from their inability to provide themselves with adequate dental hygiene care. Certain medical conditions, such as arthritis in the hands and fingers that may make brushing or flossing teeth difficult to perform. These factors leave many seniors at risk of ignoring tooth decay and tooth infection until there is no alternative but tooth extraction. Here at Dr. Robert Ruyak’s practice, we have procedures or products to prevent this from happening. With regular checkups, we can catch problems in the earliest stages to help prevent serious conditions from occurring.  


If you have questions about our senior dental procedures, give us a call or visit www.drrobertruyak.com for more information. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Robert Ruyak, DMD at his practice in Bethlehem, PA, call 610-861-0777. 

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Dental Implants for Permanent Replacement

When looking to replace a tooth, there are several options out there. Only one option can last a lifetime. Dr. Robert B. Ruyak, DMD chooses to utilize dental implants to replace his patients’ teeth permanently in Bethlehem, PA.


Dental implants are single tooth replacements that can replace one tooth or all of them. They have their own root, which means that they are the closest to a real tooth as possible. The titanium post acting as the tooth root bonds with the jawbone just like a normal tooth. They are able to be made of porcelain and can look just like a normal tooth. This helps complete a smile again in an aesthetically pleasing way.


The titanium post is surgically inserted into the bone socket and will take several months to heal. An abutment will attach a temporary crown during the healing process. When the healing process is complete, the permanent crown will be cemented into place. With a typical oral hygiene routine of brushing twice daily and flossing once per day, dental implants can last a lifetime. This beats out bridges which last up to fifteen years, and beats out dentures which are removable and also need to be replaced.


If you are missing one or more teeth and want a permanent tooth replacement solution, schedule a consultation with Dr. Robert B. Ruyak, DMD to find out if dental implants will work for you. To schedule, call our Bethlehem, PA dental practice at (610) 861-0777 or visit our website, www.drrobertruyak.com

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Dental Crowns to Restore Weakened Teeth

Teeth that are cracked, decayed, or otherwise weakened need to be strengthened in order to stay healthy. For patients who have a weak tooth, but still have the root intact, Dr. Robert B. Ruyak, DMD here in Bethlehem, PA places dental crowns. Dental crowns are like strengthening caps that go on a tooth.


Dental crowns can be made of gold, porcelain-covered metal, or porcelain. They are able to be made to look and feel just like a normal tooth so that they blend in with your smile. Crowns go on a tooth to restore strength and let the tooth continue its life for a long time. Crowns are durable to last up to fifteen years before needing to be replaced.


A dental crown is placed on a tooth after it has been reshaped. Dr. Ruyak takes impressions of the reshaped tooth and the area surrounding it so that a dental laboratory can create a crown that will fit in perfectly. The crown may take a couple of weeks to be created, so during this time, Dr. Ruyak will fit you with a temporary crown to wear. When the permanent crown is ready, it is cemented into place.


Cracked and weakened teeth can still live a long life in your mouth with dental crowns. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Robert B. Ruyak, DMD of Bethlehem, PA, call our office at (610) 861-0777 or visit our website, www.drrobertruyak.com

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Root Canal Therapy

When teeth are infected, they can cause major problems within the mouth and can cause major pain. It is in the event of an infected tooth that root canal therapy must be performed. Dr. Robert B. Ruyak, DMD of Bethlehem, PA performs skilled root canal therapy for his patients who are suffering with an infected tooth.


When bacteria enter the inside of a tooth, the dental pulp, through decay or a crack, this can infect the dental pulp. Infections lead to pain, irritation, and sensitivity. An infected tooth will need to be cleaned out to heal healthy again so that it does not further infect the mouth, destroy bone tissue, and cause the tooth to fall out.


Dr. Ruyak begins root canal therapy by drilling an access hole in the tooth. Through this hole, the dental pulp is reached. The infected tissue is cleaned out and the root canal is scrubbed clean. A sealant called gutta-percha is placed into the tooth to fill the open space and then the access hole is filled. This allows any damaged bone tissue to grow back healthy and allows the tooth to continue a strong and healthy life.


Signs of an infected tooth include a dark spot on the tooth, sensitivity, pain when used to chew, and irritated gums. If you are experiencing any of these signs, call Dr. Robert B. Ruyak, DMD for an examination. You can reach our Bethlehem, PA dental practice at (610) 861-0777 or by visiting our website, www.drrobertruyak.com