At Mark Sommer DDS we offer the best dental care in New Hyde Park, New York call 516-303--9649 to make an appointment today.

1. Mark F. Sommer, DDS
Our dental practice, located in Lake Success, New York, is dedicated to creating beautiful, long-lasting
smiles. We deliver the highest quality general, restorative and cosmetic dental care in an atmosphere of
warmth, kindness and respect. Our mission is to achieve and maintain your good oral health while staying
within your dental budget without sacrificing exceptional dentistry. We are proud to provide gentle, family -
oriented dental care to the adults and children of this community.
Your visits with us are all about you, your happiness, your comfort and your overall satisfaction. Our
philosophy is to advise patients with a view to long-term dental health. Among our most important
functions is to educate our patients as to their treatment options. Our team takes pride in tailoring
treatment to the individual patient's needs and preferences. We invite you to contact our office to learn
more about achieving the smile of your dreams

2. Our Services
From cosmetic dentistry to full-mouth rehabilitation, our practice is equipped to handle all of your dental
needs. To help you understand more about our office, we have included brief descriptions of some of our
most common services on this page.
Initial Oral Examination
Your first visit at our office is very important in establishing your oral health baseline. We will perform a
complete oral examination which includes an oral cancer screening, periodontal evaluation, an analysis of
your occlusion (bite) and a thorough examination of your teeth, their supporting structures and of the oral
anatomy.
The Preventive Program
Both natural teeth and teeth with restorations survive best in an oral environment that is clean and where
proper oral hygiene is maintained. Our dental hygiene program is designed to help prevent new cavities,
preserve teeth that have been restored and manage periodontal disease. At the initial visit with our
doctors, oral hygiene instructions are reviewed and are reinforced at subsequent recall visits.
Dental Fillings
Traditional dental restoratives, or fillings, include gold, amalgam, porcelain, and composite. With the
advent of the newest technologies in dental science, today's state-of-the-art restorative materials include
ceramic and the latest composite materials. These materials are not only strong and durable, but restore
the look of natural teeth and are very aesthetically pleasing.
Gum Treatment
Periodontal treatment methods depend upon the type and severity of the disease. Periodontal disease
progresses as the sulcus (pocket or space) between the tooth and gums gets filled with bacteria, plaque
and tartar, causing irritation to the surrounding tissues. When these irritants remain in the pocket space,
they can cause damage to the gums and eventually, the bone that supports the teeth. If the disease is
caught in the early stages of gingivitis, and no permanent damage has been done, one to two regular
cleanings will be recommended. You will also be given instructions on improving your daily oral hygiene
habits and having regular dental cleanings. If the disease has progressed to more advanced s tages, a
special periodontal cleaning called scaling and root planing (deep cleaning) will be recommended. If the
pockets do not heal after scaling and root planing, periodontal surgery may be needed to reduce pocket
depths.
Crowns & Caps

3. The terms dental crowns and caps are synonymous. Crowns are typically used to restore a tooth's
function and appearance following a restorative procedure such as a root canal. When decay in a tooth
has become so advanced that large portions of the tooth must be removed, crowns are often used to
restore the tooth. Crowns are also used to attach bridges, cover implants, or to prevent a cracked tooth
from becoming worse. Crowns also serve an aesthetic use, and are applied when a discolored or stained
tooth needs to be restored to its natural appearance. Crowns are fabricated in a laboratory and are made
either of porcelain baked onto a metal substrate, all-porcelain, or many of the new ceramic materials that
have been developed.
Bridges & Dentures
A bridge may be used to replace missing teeth, help maintain the shape of your face, and alleviate stress
on your bite. A bridge replaces missing teeth with artificial teeth, looks great, and literally bridges the gap
where one or more teeth may have been. Your bridge can be made from gold, alloys, porcelain, or a
combination of these materials and is bonded onto surrounding teeth for support. There are two basic
types of bridges. A fixed bridge which remains in your mouth at all times and is supported by your natural
teeth. Removable bridges (partials and full dentures) are removed from the mouth several times a day for
cleaning and rest on the gum where the missing teeth are being replaced.
Dental Implants
If a tooth is extracted or missing for some other reason, it is now possible to replace it using dental
implants. An implant is like a new tooth made of metal and porcelain that looks just like your natural tooth.
It's composed of two main parts: One part is the titanium implant body that takes the place of the missing
root, and the second part is the tooth-colored crown that is cemented on top of the implant. In addition to
tooth replacement, implants may be used to anchor dentures, especially lower dentures that tend to shift
when you talk or chew. For patients with removable partial dentures, implants can replace missing teeth
so that you have a more natural-looking smile.
Pediatric Dental Care
We take pride in creating and maintaining beautiful and healthy smiles for our younger patients in an
environment that is lighthearted and fun. We focus on establishing oral health habits that last a lifetime,
with education and prevention as our primary tools.
Teeth Whitening
Our in-office state-of-the-art bleaching system will make your teeth whiter and brighter. You may also use
our take home bleaching system to achieve a brighter and whiter smile in a matter of days.
Veneers

4. Gaps, chips, stains, or misshapen teeth can now be treated with wonderful results and very
conservatively using porcelain veneers. Veneers are natural in appearance, and are a perfect alternative
for patients wanting to make minor adjustments to the look and feel of their smile. Veneers are thin,
custom-made shells made from tooth-colored materials (such as porcelain) designed to cover the front
side of your teeth.
Root Canals
Root canal therapy is needed when the nerve of a tooth is affected by decay or infection. This simple
treatment can save your natural teeth and prevent the need for dental implants or bridges. Symptoms of
the infection are generally acute dental pain or sensitivity to hot, cold or percussion. If you experience any
of these symptoms, your dentist will most likely recommend root canal therapy to eliminate the diseased
pulp. This injured pulp is removed and the root canal system is thoroughly cleaned and sealed. This
therapy usually involves local anesthesia and may be completed in one or more visits depending on the
treatment required. Success for this type of treatment occurs in about 90% of cases.