Obstructive Sleep Apnea

You and your partner may laugh off loud snoring, but snoring is usually the result of an underlying problem, such as sleep apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common form of sleep apnea and it is characterized by a patient taking pauses in breathing during sleep. If you or your partner find yourself waking up in the middle of the night gasping for air, or can’t seem to shake off fatigue, visit Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk to rule out sleep apnea.

Not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, which is why it’s important to receive a proper diagnosis. Adults and children may differ in symptoms, but common symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea include dry mouth or throat in the morning, chest pain upon waking up, morning headaches, or mood instability. Regardless of what is causing obstructive sleep apnea, it’s a serious matter and should be treated promptly.

If you have questions or concerns about sleep apnea, please give us a call. 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. 

Research into Causes of Filling Failures

Patients at the Miami Beach offices of Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk are assured of getting high-quality fillings to fix decayed and cracked teeth. But fillings sometimes fail early, and scientists have been trying to determine why that is. New research into filling failure published last November found some common factors.

The average lifespan of a filling is about ten years. But the study found that in men who smoke and people of both sexes who drank alcohol regularly, fillings had a higher risk of failing after just two years. This matches research showing that implant failures are more common in smokers. A more surprising result was that filling failures often run in families and may be linked to a certain genetic sequence.

When fillings are not replaced in time, they may provide bacteria with a new hiding place by making it harder for a toothbrush to reach certain areas. The new research shows why it is especially important for people who are at-risk to maintain regular check-ups, where we can assess their fillings’ vitality. The research also showed that we can rule out fillings’ construction material as a factor in early failure, meaning that the cosmetically-pleasing options don’t come at the price of worse oral health.

Dr. Allen Ressler, Dr. Andrew Hirschl, and Dr. Ira Lelchuk operate from two locations. To schedule an appointment at the location at Mount Sinai Medical Center, 4300 Alton Road, Suite 1190, Miami Beach, Florida, 33140, call 305-532-1444. To schedule an appointment at Intracoastal Mall, 3909 NE 163^rdSt, Suite 310, North Miami Beach, Florida, 33160, call 305-949-2630. They can also be reached on their website, Miami Dental through a contact form.

Fixing a Cracked Tooth

Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk understand that accidents happen. Perhaps you were crunching on a piece of popcorn, chewing hard on some ice, or were the victim of some sort of dental trauma. Regardless of how you develop a cracked tooth, our doctors can repair it and restore it back to its natural function with cosmetic services such as dental bonding.

Though enamel is the toughest mineralized tissue in the body, this doesn’t mean that it’s indestructible. If your tooth is broken, chipped, or cracked, it’s important to visit our doctors immediately to avoid losing the tooth that has been damaged. Typically, if a tooth has a minor crack, dental bonding will be applied to the tooth and molded to replicate the tooth structure that was once there. Otherwise, if a large amount of the tooth breaks off, our doctors may suggest a dental crown to look nearly identical to the original tooth.

If you have questions or concerns about cosmetic dental services, please give us a call. 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.