Category : Blog

Come meet Dr. Marcus Spera, our latest addition to the Progressive Dental team!

Progressive Dental will host three ice cream socials to introduce Dr. Marcus Spera to the community, where we’ll have an ice cream truck, a DJ, face painting and a superhero photo booth. You’ll have the chance to meet Dr. Marcus and enjoy some fun outdoor activities that are great for the whole family!

Ice Cream Social Locations and Dates:

Endwell Office: Sep 14, 4:30- 6:00 p.m.

Norwich Office : Sep 15, 3:00- 4:30 p.m.

Kirkwood Office: Sep 29, 12:00- 1:30 p.m.

Progressive Dental is committed to providing the best possible care to our patients, which means going the extra mile outside of the office, too. We hope to see you there!

Progressive Dental is proud to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Progressive Dental Community Scholarship. We established this scholarship in 1998 to reward area high school seniors interested in pursuing a college education, and we’re continually blown away by the students in our community!

Progressive Dental awarded the scholarship to graduating seniors who are passionate about their education and community, and we want to share their amazing accomplishments and aspirations.

Maya Cliffe, a Bainbridge-Guilford High School graduate, will attend Clarkson University this fall in the environmental engineering program. She attended a five-week research program this summer as a part of the Clarkson Honors Program, and is happy to have the scholarship offset some of the expensive costs of college.

Theresa Larson graduated from Binghamton High School this spring and will attend the Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts for aerospace engineering. She’s thankful to have received the scholarship because it’s helping her pay for her textbooks.

Zoe Murray graduated from Maine-Endwell High School and will attend Clarkson University this fall to pursue a degree in mechanical engineering. Zoe is grateful to have the extra financial assistance from Progressive Dental to help her pursue her dream of becoming an engineer.

Taylor Nicolich, a Seton Catholic Central graduate, will pursue her college degree this fall and use the scholarship funds to help lessen the financial burden of her education.   

We’re proud to support this next generation of leaders and professionals and we can’t wait to see what’s next for these amazing students!

Progressive Dental is proud to announce that Dr. Marcus Spera has joined our team of dentists!

Dr. Marcus Spera graduated from Maine Endwell High School in 2008. He then graduated from University of Delaware in 2012 with a major in Exercise Science and Physiology. While at the University of Delaware, he was a member of Student Council and Greek Council, and worked on a student comedy television show.

After graduating from SUNY Buffalo Dental School in 2017, Dr. Marcus Spera completed a one-year general practice residency at SUNY Upstate Medical Hospital in affiliation with the Veterans Administration. He is a member of the American Dental Association, the New York State Dental Association and the Sixth District Dental Society.

Dr. Marcus Spera is now living in Binghamton, NY. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, basketball, golf, music, movies, comedy and spending time with his family. As a Broome County native, he is honored to give back to his community and join the Progressive Dental Family.

Dr. Marcus Spera is now accepting new patients at our Endwell, Norwich and Kirkwood offices, and is interested in working with kids! With so many exciting events coming up this fall, we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to grow our practice and strengthen our community. Welcome, Dr. Marcus Spera!

Many people come to me with questions about teeth whitening. What’s safe? What works? How long does it take? I am here to answer those questions and discuss your concerns!

Why do teeth turn yellow?

The most common reason for yellow teeth is below the surface. As we age, the outer layer of our teeth gets thinner, revealing the natural yellow color of the dentin (internal layer). Other causes are external stains on the enamel surface from dark drinks like coffee, soda, tea or wine.

Methods to whiten teeth:

1) Using a product with a bleaching ingredient that penetrates through the enamel and bleaches the yellow dentin. This method is the safest, most effective and long-lasting way to whiten the teeth.

2) Using a product with abrasive ingredients that simply remove superficial stains on the enamel. The limitation with these products is that it only works on surface stains and can actually damage the enamel by causing abrasion, erosions and ultimately speeding up the yellowing of the teeth.

Can I just use whitening toothpaste to whiten my teeth?

No. Whitening ingredients need to be in contact with the teeth for a minimum of 20 minutes in order to work. Most whitening toothpastes only remove surface stains but have no real effect on bleaching the teeth.

How about whitening strips? Do they work?

Whitening strips do work but they have some drawbacks. The strips are not custom made to fit your particular teeth size and shape. Therefore, the gel may leak and touch the gums which can irritate them. Also, when using the strips, you may miss spots and cause uneven bleaching. Over-the-counter strips usually come with a standard low strength solution from 10% to 22% so it might take a longer time to achieve the desired results. Professional strength white strips are offered at the dentist office and they might be a good option to start the whitening process.

What are custom made whitening trays?

A dentist can make customized trays to fit your teeth perfectly so they all receive the treatment and you won’t miss any spots. You also won’t accidentally bleach your gums. Also, the whitening gel provided by your dentist comes in different percentages which may speed up the process in a safe way.

Are there any side effects of teeth whitening?

Bleaching products contain chemicals such as carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide. When using these chemicals, one should be prepared for side effects like tooth sensitivity, as they must go through the enamel to whiten the tooth from the inside out. These side effects are usually just temporary and fluoride gels can help minimize them.

What about natural whitening remedies?

Many of the natural remedies to whiten teeth can actually cause permanent damage on the enamel. Popular remedies like activated charcoal, lemon juice, strawberries or pure hydrogen peroxide can be very abrasive, eroding the enamel and causing tooth damage.

So what’s the safest way to whiten my teeth?

First, get an oral exam by your dentist to make sure you are a good candidate for bleaching. People with gum recession, erosions or decay might not be good candidates until these problems are solved because the bleaching gels might make these situations more detrimental. After getting the clearance from your dentist, the safest way is to do the procedure slowly with custom-made bleaching trays during a period of two weeks. By doing it slowly, sensitivity issues can be reduced and the enamel won’t be affected. Another important thing to consider is that whitening treatment only works on natural teeth and won’t bleach fillings, veneers or crowns.

If you have questions about teeth whitening, give us a call at 607-754-2273 or email office@progressivedentalNY.com.

As researchers continue to study the link between dental hygiene and cardiovascular disease, it becomes more apparent how important it is to regularly brush your teeth.

Studies show that adults who suffer from periodontal disease or gingivitis are at a higher risk of heart disease, whereas those who practice regular tooth brushing, have frequent dental visits and undergo preventive dental treatments are much less likely to encounter such health issues in life.

When you neglect your gums and teeth, the germs and bacteria that collect can spread to other parts of your body through the bloodstream and cause disease or infection. Though you may think of dental issues as problems isolated to one part of the body, current research emphasizes the connectedness of your overall health, and how one issue can affect the other.

Luckily, there are proactive measures you can take to improve both your smile and your health. Brushing, flossing and regularly seeing your dentist can give you the long-term benefits you need to reduce your risk of heart disease.

Taking care of your teeth and gums is a preventative step you can make to live a healthier life, and Progressive Dental is here to help. If you have concerns about your dental health or want to come in for a visit, email office@progressivedentalNY.com or give us a call at 607-754-2273. Read more on the link between dental hygiene and heart disease here.

It’s summer in Upstate New York, and that means it’s almost time for the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open. We’re so excited about this great, local event, and want to celebrate by giving something back to our community.

This year, Progressive Dental is giving away two VIP tickets to the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open concert! All you have to do is like, comment or share our latest Facebook video to enter your name into the contest. The winner gets to attend a meet and greet with headliner Blake Shelton and watch the show from a VIP section directly in front of the stage. They’ll also get exclusive access to the Jack Daniel’s saloon where they can enjoy a premium open bar and buffet– free of charge!

Enter your name into the contest by July 31st to take advantage of this amazing opportunity. We’ll announce the winner through social media on August 8th, so keep an eye on our Facebook and Instagram.

We take pride in connecting and building up our community, and we hope that this giveaway brings something special to your summer!

Click HERE to watch and share our video.