Eliminate Pesky Plaque

Do our staff at Miami Dental a favor and lick your teeth with your tongue. Do you feel something fuzzy? That fuzzy stuff is called plaque. Plaque is a sticky, colorless film of bacteria and sugars that constantly forms on our teeth. Saliva, food, and fluids are what cause these deposits to collect on our teeth where they meet the gum line. Fighting plaque is a long-term commitment to practicing proper oral hygiene. This is why it’s important to control the situation before it turns into tartar (calculus), a crusty deposit that only our staff of hygienists is able to remove.

The buildup of plaque can trap stains on the teeth, and it also the primary factor for cavities and gum disease. It takes about four hours after we eat for plaque to accumulate and if it’s not removed promptly, these bacteria use ingredients found in our diet to grow into tartar. Tartar is a calcified or hardened plaque that attaches to the enamel on your teeth and below the gum line. We can guarantee that this is something to avoid. To prevent plaque buildup, schedule regular dental exams twice a year on top of brushing your teeth at least twice a day, and flossing at least once a day.

If you have plaque buildup on your teeth and are due for a dental checkup, please give us a call. To learn more about dental hygiene as well as services we provide at the practice, visit www.miami-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors or hygienists, give us a call at our Miami Beach office: 305-532-1444 or our North Miami Beach office: 305-949-2630.

What is Scaling and Root Planing Used For?

If you dread the dental drill but have been told that you have gingivitis, it’s important that you take gingivitis seriously and treat it promptly. Root planing and scaling is one of the most effective ways to treat gum disease before it becomes severe. It is done when gums have either started to pull away from the teeth or the roots of the teeth have tartar on them. Depending on the condition of the patient’s gums, the amount of tartar present, the depth of the pockets, and the progression of periodontitis, Dr. Ressler, Dr. Hirschl, or Dr. Lelchuk, may recommend scaling and root planing.

Scaling and root planing can be used as a stand-alone treatment, or a preventative measure and are commonly performed on cases of gingivitis and moderate to severe periodontal disease. The objective of this non-surgical procedure is to remove dental plaque and tartar, which causes gum inflammation. When scaling is performed, calculus and plaque that attaches to the tooth surfaces are removed. The process especially targets the area below the gum line, along the root. Root planing is when the root of the tooth is literally smoothed, which promotes healing and also helps prevent bacteria from forming in the future. If treatment is successful, you’ll protect your teeth, reduce bad breath and have a more aesthetically pleasing smile.

To learn more about scaling and root planing as well as the services we provide at the practice, visit www.miami-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors, give us a call at our Miami Beach office: 305-532-1444 or North Miami Beach office: 305-949-2630. 

Special Needs Dentistry

Patients with special needs are those who due to physical, medical, developmental or cognitive conditions require special consideration when receiving dental treatment. If you have a loved one who suffers from a disability, it’s understandable why you may be concerned about their dental health. Fortunately, for those who cannot maintain or receive traditional dental care, Drs. Ressler, Hirschl and Lelchuk offer a compassionate, efficient environment for the patient.

Caring for a special needs patient takes empathy, patience, and understanding. Here at Miami Dental, our doctors can accommodate for these types of patients and focus on meeting their needs and working with their limitations. Patients who have trouble practicing oral hygiene may need to visit us more often to check for signs of dental problems while others require more attention during the appointment. Our goal is to treat our patients as if they are family. Therefore, we promise to make the dental care for your loved ones as enjoyable and comfortable as possible.

To learn more about our special needs dentistry services as well as the general services we provide at the practice, visit www.miami-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors, give us a call at our Miami Beach office: 305-532-1444 or North Miami Beach office: 305-949-2630. 

The Proper Flossing Technique

Sometimes our lives are so hectic that we forget to floss our teeth on a daily basis, however, many of us tend to use this as an excuse. Every six months you visit our doctors at Miami Dental for a cleaning and every six months you are likely to get a lecture about flossing. Here at the practice, we’ve heard all of the excuses including the ever-so-popular, “I don’t know how to floss.” Well, we hate to inform you that you won’t be able to use that one anymore, because here is the proper technique for flossing your teeth.

• Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand. This finger will take up the floss as it becomes dirty.


• Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.


• Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Never snap the floss into the gums.


• When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a “C” shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.


• Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with up-and-down motions. Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth and don’t forget the back ones!

To learn more about dental health as well as the services we provide at the practice, visit www.miami-dental.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors, give us a call at our Miami Beach office: 305-532-1444 or North Miami Beach office: 305-949-2630.