Miami Dental: Blog: 2019

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Diabetes and Oral Hygiene

Do you or someone you know live with diabetes? It’s a rather common disease that affects the body’s ability to process sugar normally. Food is converted to sugar which is then converted to energy to be used by the body. The disruption in this process causes problems for other areas in the body, such as blood circulation, eyes, and even oral hygiene. We at Ressler, Hirschl & Lelchuk, DDS, PA realize that our diabetic patients are at a higher risk for gum disease if blood sugar isn’t properly controlled. Your Florida dentist recommends regular checkups to make sure that your dental hygiene remains at its best!

In Type 1 diabetes, the body doesn’t make enough insulin to convert sugar to energy, while in Type 2 diabetes, the body stops responding to insulin altogether. Practicing good oral hygiene and maintaining safe blood sugar levels will help decrease the risk of gum disease and other oral issues.

In summary, you should:

- Control your blood sugar levels as best you can, which includes a healthy diet and taking the medicine prescribed by your doctor.

- Avoid smoking, since this also increases the risk of gum disease.

- Clean your dentures (if you wear them) every day.

- Brush and floss your teeth twice a day.

- See your dentist for regular appointments.

Ressler, Hirschl & Lelchuk, DDS, PA is located at two Florida locations for your convenience. You can find our North Miami Beach office in the Intracostal Mall at 3909 NE 163rd St., Suite 310. Our Mount Sinai Medical Center is located at 4300 Alton Road, Suite 1190, in Miami Beach. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit miami-dental.net or call our North Miami Beach office at 305-949-2630 or Mount Sinai Medical Center at 305-532-1444.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Gum Line Corrections

Do you feel like you have a “gummy” smile? In other words, are your teeth covered by excess gum tissue? We at Ressler, Hirschl & Lelchuk, DDS, PA are committed to helping our patients feel confident and happy with their smiles. We are excited to offer crown lengthening to bring out the fullness of your teeth!

The crown lengthening procedure involves reshaping your gum line as well as the bone around the affected tooth or teeth, creating a more balanced gum to tooth ratio. The great thing about crown lengthening is that it can be performed on as many or as little affected teeth there are in the patient’s mouth. One tooth with excess gum tissue can be reshaped or a whole gum line can be reshaped, depending on the patient.

In addition to your smile becoming more aesthetically pleasing, crown lengthening also improves the overall health of your gums. The edge of the restoration is sturdy enough to withstand brushing and flossing to prevent tooth decay and gum disease.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Myofascial Pain Syndrome

If you’ve ever had an issue inside your mouth, you’re probably aware of the varying degrees of pain that comes with it. Sometimes it can feel like your whole head is exploding just from a toothache and tenderness. Ressler, Hirschl & Lelchuk, DDS, PA is committed to helping you correct your problem and manage any pain associated as well. Your Florida dentist also takes pride in educating patients about how to prevent future oral problems.

Myofascial Pain Syndrome (MPS) commonly occurs in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The pain is caused by tension, fatigue, or spasms in the jaw muscles. MPS is usually triggered by bruxism, a condition where a person clenches or grinds their teeth during sleep. Nightguards are a great way to prevent bruxism and ultimately the jaw soreness that is felt in the morning. MPS is not limited to just the jaw muscles, it can occur anywhere in the body including the back and neck muscles.

Other treatments/preventions of MPS include:

- Splint guard, mouthguard, or nightguard

- Mild analgesics

- Physical therapy modalities

- Anxiolytic before bed

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Incipient Lesions

One of the reasons it’s so important to get regular dental check-ups is so you can be assessed for developing caries. These infections on the surfaces of teeth will result in cavities if they are not stopped in time. Fortunately, there is an easy way for us at Miami Beach and North Miami Beach offices of Doctors Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk to identify incipient caries: by the white spots they create on enamel.

Plaque traps the acid that oral bacteria excrete as part of their metabolization process. As the amount of plaque on a tooth increases, the tooth is exposed to more acid. Eventually, it will begin losing some of the minerals that make up its enamel. When this happens, the tooth takes on a chalky appearance, which is why incipient lesions are often called “white spot lesions.” The white spot can transform into a cavity in as few as thirty days.

While a lesion is still in the white spot stage, it is easy to reverse. The patient can deprive oral bacteria of sustenance by reducing their intake of simple carbohydrates and get rid of them through better brushing. Once the lesion is free of bacteria, the teeth can be remineralized with fluoride treatments. But if a cavity developed, it will have to be filled in with a prosthetic material. Sealants can help to prevent further decay, but people with fixed orthodontic brackets will simply have to get more comfortable using "Christmas tree" toothbrushes. If the white spot has left a scar, we may consider covering it with a veneer.

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.

Thursday, October 31, 2019

Options for Complex Restorations

Our experienced dentists at the Miami Beach and North Miami Beach offices of Doctors Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk have provided replacement teeth to a lot of people over the years. In that time, we’ve seen new options for complex restorations develop, allowing us to better serve each patient’s specific needs. To help our patients understand which kind of restoration will benefit them, we wanted to talk a bit about bridges.

Traditional bridges are linked series of artificial crowns, with a middle crown suspended between two crowns that are affixed to natural teeth. The natural teeth would have to be reshaped to accommodate their new caps, which made this kind of bridge an attractive option for people who needed multiple crown replacements. It also allowed people to retain their natural tooth roots, keeping the jaw bones healthy and decreasing the risk of tooth migration. But dentists may also have felt it necessary to reshape or extract teeth that were healthy in order to make room for the bridge, which is no longer a common practice.

Modern partial dentures can be manufactured to fit a patient’s mouth much more closely than in the past. They can be made with gaps for natural teeth, eliminating the need to extract them. The adjoining natural teeth have to be reshaped slightly, but not to the same extent as with fixed bridges. This makes partial dentures a good option for people whose decayed or broken teeth are not all in a row. If the patient has sufficient jaw tissue, it may also be possible to support the partial denture with implants. The denture would still be removable, making it easy to clean.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Dental Avulsions

With the fall sports season in full swing, we at the Miami Beach and North Miami Beach dental offices of Doctors Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk wanted to remind our patients of fundamental dental safety protocols. A dental avulsion, the loss of an entire tooth, is an emergency, but when a patient acts quickly enough, they may be able to save the tooth.

A tooth should only be held by its crown, never its root. Ideally, it should be rinsed with a saline solution and then reinserted into the empty socket (while facing the right way). If this is too difficult, it may be held in the cheek. The American Dental Association approves of tooth saving containers which can hopefully be found in a nearby first aid kit, but if not, the tooth may also be transported in a cup filled with milk or saltwater.

Teeth that are cracked at the root may not be salvageable, and a successfully reinserted tooth will need a root canal. We also won’t reinsert baby teeth that have been lost prematurely, as this may damage the permanent tooth that is forming inside the jaw. A patient should prioritize facial lacerations over a dental avulsion. But when a tooth is saved, a patient will be spared the risk of jawbone deterioration and from either having to get an implant or wear a partial denture, so it’s worth trying.

Saturday, October 19, 2019

Denture Stomatitis

Patients who get dentures at the Miami Beach and North Miami Beach offices of Doctors Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk may expect that their new teeth will be beautiful and long-lasting. The science of prosthodontics is constantly improving, and people with dentures today have a much higher quality of life than just a few years ago. But getting dentures also requires people to make some changes in their oral hygiene, which is why today’s blog post is dedicated to the dangers of denture stomatitis.

Normally, our immune systems regulate the growth of the Candida species of fungus, which are a kind of yeast. Saliva contains antimicrobial enzymes and cleanses the mouth of particles fungus could feed on. But when a person’s dentures are poorly fitted or not cleaned often enough, Candida can easily grow on them or the area they cover. People are especially prone to developing fungus growths on the roof of their mouth where the upper denture’s prosthetic palate adheres to, or at the corners of their mouth if their lips are chapping.

Stomatitis manifests as redness and swelling, but it may have to develop for a while before patients will feel pain. Some medications, including the use of inhalers, put people at greater risk of developing it. However, it can usually be mitigated by regular brushing of both the denture and the mouth. Patients should brush their gums each morning before putting their denture in and should brush their entire denture, not just the part that looks like teeth.

Wednesday, September 11, 2019

Periodontal Sectioning

Ever heard of the common saying “as fun as pulling teeth?” That’s why Drs. Lelchuk, Ressler, and Hirschl provide Periodontal Sectioning services for our clients in the Miami area. It is a quicker and easier extraction process. The tooth is broken into multiple pieces then removed from your mouth. It creates a minimally painful and shorter recovery time. Learn more at our offices in North Miami Beach and Miami Beach.

Three situations require sectioning: wisdom teeth, multi-faceted or unique teeth, and pediatric extraction. Each of these procedures provides a better experience for both the patient and your Miami dentist. Wisdom teeth extraction is the most common sectioning procedure. They are the last set of molars to come in and are also the biggest. This naturally makes it harder to remove. Sectioning them is the only way. Uniquely rooted teeth are much sturdier than others. Their roots are deeper or more intricate. Sectioning addresses these problems. Lastly, a child is much more apprehensive of a tooth removal than an adult. Sectioning requires a lot less force. It also leaves a much smaller wound. This greatly reduces the recovery time and risk of infection. These benefits are great for everyone, especially children.

The procedure starts with a local or general anesthetic being applied. This minimizes your pain and discomfort. Once the area is numb, your Miami dentist begins the procedure. The pulp is cut and the tooth sectioned into pieces. Throughout the procedure, water flushes out any debris or tooth fragments.

Follow your provided post-operative instructions afterward. Doing so keeps any stitches from loosening. Eat softer foods at first. Avoid hot foods for as long as necessary. Do not engage in any physical activity. Contact your dentist with any questions.

Drs. Lelchuk, Ressler, and Hirschl are located in both North Miami Beach and Miami Beach. You can schedule an appointment through our website or by calling. To reach the Intracoastal Mall office, call 305-949-2630. For the Mount Sinai Medical Center, contact 305-532-1444.

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Flossing with Braces

Flossing is another task made difficult by braces. As if having braces wasn’t hard enough already! The truth is that flossing with braces doesn’t have to be challenging. There are a handful of techniques and applicators that make it easier. Drs. Lelchuk, Hirschl, and Ressler recommend these to all our orthodontic patients. Learn more by contacting our offices in North Miami Beach and Miami Beach.

Daily flossing is essential when you have braces. Your braces create a variety of spaces for bacteria to develop. Food is constantly getting wedged and trapped. This attracts even more bacteria in certain areas. Only floss can fully clean these areas.

Flossing is just as important as brushing twice daily. To get under the wires, you’ll need a floss threader. This is a necessary dental appliance. It loops your floss through it and then under the wire. You can then floss normally. Make sure to do this for all of your teeth. Debris and bacteria can grow anywhere.

Another option is floss picks. These look like a small two-pronged tool with floss between them. Floss picks are small enough to also move under the wires. Lastly, consider investing in a Waterpik. These spray a steady stream of water at your teeth. The pressure removes all the trapped food. Most even come with special tools for orthodontic cleanings.

Overlooking flossing in your daily dental routine is a critical mistake. Your mouth can’t be completely clean without it. If you have braces and are struggling with dental maintenance, contact us today. Drs. Lelchuk, Ressler, and Hirschl are available by appointment. You can visit our website to learn more. To reach the Intracoastal Mall (North Miami Beach) office, call 305-949-2630. For the Mount Sinai Medical Center (Miami Beach), call 305-532-1444.

Saturday, August 24, 2019

Tooth Sensitivity to Cold

During the hot summer months, many people discover they have become more sensitive to cold foods. Biting into an ice cream bar or sipping a chilled coffee causes a sharp pain to shoot through their teeth. One of our goals at the Miami Beach dental offices of Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk is to ensure that our patients feel comfortable and confident in all things tooth-related. Sensitivity is common, but it isn’t something people should have to endure.

Each natural tooth contains a nerve in its pulp. Pulp is surrounded by dentin, which is a yellow-gray colored material made up of miniature tubules that easily conduct heat. The outer layer of the crown is made up of enamel, a mineral substance that provides insulation but cannot regrow after being lost. The outer layer of the tooth root is made up of a sticky substance called cementum, which is much thinner than enamel. When enamel is eroded or gum tissue has receded from around the tooth root, dental pulp can lose heat rapidly.

Usually, enamel erosion and gum recession is due to acid. In most cases, the acid comes directly from drinks such as soda or citrus juice or is produced by oral bacteria as a by-product of consuming sugar. People may also experience tooth sensitivity if they frequently suffer from acid reflux. Oral hygiene upkeep is essential to combatting bacteria and extra-fluoridated toothpaste can help restore the minerals that make up enamel. We can also help patients by providing them with sealants, which will give their teeth extra protection. A deep cleaning will remove infectious material in the gum pockets, preventing gum tissue from receding.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Alzheimer's Disease and Gum Disease Research

Good oral hygiene is essential for a lifetime of good health. That’s what we’ve been telling our patients for years at the Miami offices of Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk. Recently, new evidence has emerged of a connection between gum disease and another dangerous ailment: Alzheimer’s disease. It seems that preventing one may be the best way to prevent the other.

Porphyromonas gingivalis is one of the bacteria species that causes tooth decay. As a defense against white blood cells, it secretes cell-killing toxins called gingipains. Scientists studying the brain and spinal fluid of people with Alzheimer’s disease found that their tissue samples included unusually large amounts of gingipains, and that the number was larger the more severe the Alzheimer’s symptoms had been. They also found that gingipains trigger the formation of neural plaque in animal test subjects.

This past May, another study was published that establishes that P. gingivaliscan move from the mouth to the brain in living people. Scientists believe that there are other factors that contribute to a person’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, but that gum disease now appears to be a major one. We can help people suffering from periodontitis by providing them with deep cleanings and using specialized tools to measure gum disease’s progression. We also use powerful localized antibiotics to defeat P. gingivalis and its relatives.

Friday, August 9, 2019

Sealants

Are you looking for a way to protect your children and yourself from tooth decay? You might want to try dental sealants. These treatments are long-lasting and easy on the patient. At the Miami Beach and North Miami Beach offices of Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk, we provide this service.

A sealant is a small coating that covers the crevices in a molar or premolar. Our chewing teeth have deep indentations between their raised bits (called cusps). Those indentations can easily become covered in food debris that many patients, particularly younger ones, have difficulty brushing away. If bacteria take hold in an indentation, they may cause decay that will have to be drilled away and replaced with a partial crown.

Sealants can be placed in just a few minutes. After the teeth have been cleaned, they will be etched with mild acid to increase their surface area. The wet sealant will be painted on and hardened with a blue light. The patient should be able to eat normally within a few hours. Sealants smooth out crevices, but they still leave the tooth textured enough to chew normally. They also provide a tooth with extra protection against direct acidic erosion and can last for over a decade before needing to be redone.

Friday, August 2, 2019

Pregnancy Gingivitis

When you’re pregnant, some gum irritation is expected. We at the Miami Beach and North Miami Beach dental offices of Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk understand that this is upsetting for many patients and want to help them keep their gums as healthy as possible. We thought we would explain a little about why gingivitis during pregnancy is so common and how we can help patients to manage it.

Inflammation is a part of the immune system’s response to pathogens or injuries. It isolates the pathogens and makes the cell membranes more permeable to antibodies. But it also makes tissue sore and more prone to bleeding. During pregnancy, as well as during menarche and menopause, women’s bodies produce a large amount of the hormone progesterone. This hormone increases blood flow to the gums, making them more reactive to decay-causing bacteria and other irritants.

Pregnant women need to be especially attentive to their oral hygiene to prevent gingivitis from developing. But as long as they are brushing and flossing properly, pregnancy gingivitis will not usually progress into periodontitis. We can provide pregnant women with deep cleanings, removing plaque build-up from their gum pockets and reducing their risk of developing inflammation. We can also demonstrate proper flossing technique and recommend non-alcoholic mouthwash.

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Canker Sores

Canker sores are small, shallow ulcers that appear in your mouth and make it difficult for you to eat and talk. The exact cause of canker sores isn’t known but stress and foods that are high in citrus and are acidic are known triggers of canker sores.

Some symptoms that you may have a canker sore include pain on your tongue or the inside of your cheeks and if you feel a burning sensation. Canker sores are circular and are usually white or gray with a red edge.

Foods that are known to cause canker sores include lemons, oranges, apples, and tomatoes. At Miami Dental we encourage our patients with canker sores to avoid these foods.

If you do get a canker sore, the best way to treat them is to rinse your mouth out with hot salt water a couple times a couple of times a day to help with recovery. If you still have a canker sore after 1-2 weeks we advise you to make an appointment with us.

Dr. Allen Ressler, Dr. Andrew Hirschl, and Dr. Ira Lelchuk operate 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 Intracostal Mall, 3909 NE 163^rd St, 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.

Thursday, July 11, 2019

Crooked Teeth and Crowding

Many people have crooked teeth, at Miami Dental, we want you to understand how crooked teeth causes crowding and how you can fix crowding of your teeth. As your permanent teeth begin to develop, they can start to become crooked and overlap.

When there isn’t enough room in your mouth to fit, crowding can occur and lead to shifting. In some cases, overbites can form when your upper and lower jaws aren’t the same size, which extends your bottom teeth and jaw outward.

If you have difficulty chewing while eating, you may need a tooth extraction or braces. Crooked teeth can make it difficult to clean your teeth that can lead to cavities and gum disease. For most of our patients, braces are required to fix crowding and crooked teeth.

We encourage our patients with crooked teeth to get braces at a younger age when their mouth is still developing. Tis makes it easier for your teeth to grow in straight and naturally as your mouth is still expanding.

Friday, July 5, 2019

Dental Phobia

If you have a fear of going to the dentist or people working in your mouth, you likely suffer from dental phobia. Dental phobia is a serious condition that leaves patients with a fear of the dentist panic-stricken and terrified in the days leading up to their appointment. Our staff at Miami Dental advises patients with dental phobia to let us know prior to their visit with us about their fears.

Studies have shown that about 9% to 15% of people avoid going to the dentist every year due to dental phobia. We don’t want your fear of the dentist to deter you for getting your teeth cleaned and getting a checkup twice a year. People who suffer from dental phobia are more likely to develop cavities and gum disease.

Please give us a call a couple of days before your appointment with us so can accommodate you the best we can and make you feel comfortable.

Saturday, June 29, 2019

Flossing to Prevent Cavities

At Miami Dental, we advise our patients to floss daily for good oral hygiene. Flossing removes all of the food and bacteria stuck in-between your teeth that your toothbrush can’t reach.

Many people don’t floss because they think it is too time-consuming but the truth is flossing gets rid of 40% of the debris in your teeth. When food gets stuck in between your teeth, it allows plaque to build up if you don't floss.

Flossing is easy, simply wrap the floss around each tooth while rubbing it up and down to scrape away any plaque. Don’t be concerned if your gums bleed when you start flossing, if they are not used to flossing they will likely be sensitive in the beginning.

We want all of our patients to floss daily to prevent cavities and have healthier teeth.

Thursday, June 6, 2019

Porcelain Dental Veneers

Drs. Allen Ressler, Andrew Hirschl, and Ira Lelchuk of Miami Dental offer Porcelain Dental Veneers to our patients. Dental veneers are thin durable porcelain shells that are placed over your natural teeth. This gives you the chance to have the smile that you’ve always dreamed of. Dental veneers can correct issues such as stained, cracked, broken, and gapped teeth. They look completely natural, impossible to differentiate from natural teeth.

It takes 2-3 appointments for the veneer process to be complete. At your first appointment, you will meet with one of our dentists for a consultation. There are many different options that come with dental veneers. They are as versatile as you are, so it is recommended that you do some individual research beforehand. This will help you get a better idea of how you want your new smile to look. The major two aesthetic choices are the shape and color of the veneers. For shape, the two options come down to rounded and square. It is a common misbelief that rounded veneers are more feminine, while square veneers are more masculine. This is not true. We offer the best shape for your particular mouth regardless of gender. In terms of color, the shading of the veneers goes from natural all the way to Hollywood levels of brightness. Once all the decisions have been made, the next part of the process can begin.

Your teeth will be prepared for the laminates. During this process, the dentist will take an impression of your teeth. This impression is what will be used to create your custom veneers. It is sent to a dental laboratory to be made. It will take about 10-14 days. We will provide you with temporary veneers during this time. At your final appointment, your permanent veneers will be bonded to your teeth.

Miami Dental has offices in two locations. For our office located in North Miami Beach, call 305-949-2630. To reach our Miami Beach office, call 305-532-1444. Drs. Allen Ressler, Andrew Hirschl, and Ira Lelchuk are available for appointment over the phone or by visiting our website.

Thursday, May 30, 2019

The Benefits of Chewing Sugarless Gum

Depending on the type of gum you’re chewing, it can have a positive or negative effect on your oral health. Chewing sugarless gum after meals has been proven to help rinse acids that attract bacteria, which destroy tooth enamel. Food particles can easily get stuck or lodged against your teeth. Chewing gum increases saliva, neutralizing acids and helping to wash away remaining food particles and debris. Miami Dental recommends patients chew gum, but only if they make sure it is sugar-free.

Gum filled with sugar may taste better but it is really harmful to your teeth. Sugars attract bacteria and cause tooth decay, which ultimately leads to cavities. This is why it’s extremely harmful to allow sugar to rest on the teeth. Sugary gum is inside your mouth and against your teeth for longer because of its function as a chewable apparatus. Instead of relieving breath odor, producing saliva, and dislodging food particles, sugary chewing gum is causing more harm than good by lacing your teeth with even more bacteria-attracting sugar.

Chewing sugarless gum also should not be a substitute for proper oral hygiene as patients should still brush and floss daily. They should also visit us twice a year for professional cleanings.

Dr. Allen Ressler, Dr. Andrew Hirshl, and Dr. Ira Lelchuk operate 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^rd St, Suite 310, North Miami, Florida, 33160, call 305-949-2630. Visit our website at www.miami-dental.net or stop in and fill out a contact form.

Thursday, May 23, 2019

Asthma and Oral Health

The dentists of Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk’s Miami practice are a vital part of each patient’s medical care team. People with asthma face some particular oral health challenges, and to help them practice preventive care, we want them to understand why they may be especially at risk for developing cavities.

Dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, is a major contributor to enamel imperfections. We depend on saliva to wash away food debris and to keep our mouths at a pH level that allows enamel to remineralize. But people with asthma easily develop dry mouth because they are likelier to breathe through their mouths and it is also a common side-effect of some asthma medications. Patients should consult with their asthma specialist before changing medications, but they can counter dry mouth by drinking more water, using throat moisturizers, chewing sugar-free gum, and by using humidifiers.

Other factors specifically impacting asthma patients are acid reflux and the sugar content of medications. Because asthma causes restrictions in the throat, some patients are prescribed muscles relaxants. These relaxants risk opening the sphincter that separates the stomach from the esophagus, allowing stomach acid into the mouth, where it erodes enamel. Some oral medications may also contain lactose. Patients who are conscious of this may use fluoridated mouth rinse after taking medications and avoid foods that exacerbate acid reflux, such as onions, red meat, and caffeine. Chewing sugar-free gum to increase saliva flow can also help neutralize acid.

Thursday, May 16, 2019

Treatments for Cracked Teeth

Nobody expects to crack a tooth, but if they do, we at the Miami Beach and North Miami Beach dental offices of Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk hope our patients will have some idea of what to expect. We can repair most tooth damage, but patients are often calmer and provide better assistance with their own care when they understand what they’re up against.

Two basic elements of dental safety are to always wear a mouthguard when playing sports and to only use the back teeth for chewing. The molars have wide surfaces for distributing bite force and are held in place by multiple roots and thick ligaments. Other teeth are much likelier to break or tilt if they are subjected to bite force, but the molars can still chip, and they may crack if used to chew ice. If a tooth does break, a patient should rinse their mouth with warm water to make sure it is clean.

If a tooth is only chipped, we may be able to fix it quickly by using bonding. A minor crack, called a craze line, may be possible to cover with a veneer. However, if a tooth is deeply cracked, there is a possibility that the inner pulp will become infected. We may feel the need to perform root canal therapy to prevent this, after which we may reshape the natural dental crown as preparation for covering it with an artificial one. Teeth with cracks that go to the root may not be salvageable, but they can be replaced with partial dentures or crowns supported by implants.

Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Should you use an Electric Toothbrush?

There are a lot of options to choose from when deciding what toothbrush to buy. At Miami Dental, we encourage our patients to change toothbrushes every 3-4 months or after their bristles are worn down. If the bristles begin to get splayed and distorted, it means you are no longer brushing your teeth effectively.

With so many toothbrushes to choose from, your biggest decision is deciding between an electric or traditional toothbrush. We want our patients to feel comfortable with the brush they use so they can brush for a full two minutes effectively. If you are able to clean your teeth and gums thoroughly for a full two minutes, a traditional toothbrush works perfectly fine. Electric toothbrushes have bristles that rotate and help you to clean more areas on your teeth effectively by removing plaque

The most important thing to us is that you are brushing and flossing consistently. We advise our patients to visit us twice a year for cleaning to make sure your teeth are healthy.

Wednesday, February 27, 2019

Causes of Bad Breath

If you frequently have bad breath, there may be a bigger issue at play than smelly food. We at the Miami Beach dental offices of Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk are attentive to our patients’ oral pathologies and contributing conditions. Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is often related to dry mouth and gum disease.

As oral bacteria produce acid, they give off a bad smell. Brushing and flossing teeth is essential to depriving bacteria of food, but they may still find a home in the papillae of the tongue. There, they consume food particles as well as nasal drip that can land on the tongue when the patient has a cold or nasal blockage. As part of their daily hygiene routine, we recommend that patients brush their tongue, clean it with a scraper, and use antibacterial mouthwash.

Adequate saliva is necessary for clearing the mouth of food debris and preventing the spread of bacteria and fungus. A lack of saliva can result in bacterial growth and bad breath. Patients should inquire with their doctors about changing medications that can cause dry mouth or getting tested for related rheumatic diseases. Halitosis is also associated with diabetes due to chemicals diabetic people’s bodies produce as they break down fat and diabetes’s suppression of the immune system. Acid reflux can also cause halitosis due to stomach acid burning the esophagus and entering the oral cavity. Bad breath can be combatted by drinking lots of water, but patients with chronic health conditions should make sure they’re aware of whether halitosis means they need to consult their physician.

Thursday, February 21, 2019

Bite Checks

The bite check is one of the most important parts of a biannual dental check-up. We provide thorough cleanings at the dental offices of Doctors Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk and do examinations for oral cancer, but the bite check allows us to identify issues with a patient’s teeth and jaw alignments that could have implications for their head, neck, and shoulders.

Bruxism (night time teeth grinding) wears down enamel and can push teeth out of place. In the most extreme cases, it can even cause teeth to crack. Although people are often unaware of whether they are grinding their teeth in their sleep, our hygienists can identify unusual wear patterns in a patient’s enamel. If they see something, they can perform a tactile inspection of the temporomandibular joints, which connect the mandible to the rest of the head and which can radiate soreness to the neck and shoulders when jaws are misaligned. We also ask patients to demonstrate closing their teeth together and will ask them about any feelings of discomfort they’ve had while chewing or after getting up in the morning.

Bite checks are particularly important for pediatric patients. The eruption of wisdom teeth may cause overcrowding and cause soreness. Children often begin orthodontic therapy when they are around eleven years old, but it is possible for adults to undergo some orthodontic procedures, as well. We’ll also want to ensure that an adult’s implant-supported prosthetic teeth are still stable and ascertain whether dentures need to be refitted.

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Children's Dental Health Month

At Miami Dental, we advise our patients to practice good oral hygiene starting at a young age. Children's baby teeth act as placeholders for their permanent teeth as the jaws develop, which is why it is important to encourage good cleaning habits. Every February the American Dental Association promotes National Children’s Dental Health Month to raise awareness for children.

Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among children. To prevent tooth decay, we encourage parents to brush their babies' teeth. With just a dab of toothpaste, gently brush the surfaces of your children’s teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush. When your children are old enough, teach them how to brush and floss (and spit toothpaste) on their own, and ask us if you are unsure of the proper technique. Inspect your children's mouths for signs of gingivitis, such as red gum tissue.

Don’t forget, good hygiene starts at a young age and lasts for a lifetime. Remember to schedule a cleaning with us twice a year to maintain healthy teeth.

Friday, February 1, 2019

Infections around Crowns

When a tooth is unable to fully push through the gum line, it isn’t just uncomfortable or awkward-looking. It also creates a trap for decay-causing bacteria. We provide thorough cleanings at the Miami Beach dental offices of Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk, but an impacted tooth can result in a kind of infection called pericoronitis (inflammation around a crown) which requires special attention.

The lower wisdom teeth are the ones which most often get trapped while emerging. They usually erupt in late adolescence, after all the other teeth are in place and there isn’t enough room in the jaw for them. The emerging teeth are often partially trapped under a flap of gum tissue called an operculum. The space between the operculum and the tooth may be too small to be brushed, but acid and food debris can accumulate there, allowing decay to set in and spread to the surrounding gum tissue.

We can clean an operculum and may recommend that a patient use oral antibiotics and wash their mouth with salt water. But a long-term solution will likely require us to cut away the operculum, remove the tooth, or both. When adolescent patients maintain regular check-ups, we can monitor the progression of their teeth with x-rays and anticipate whether a tooth is likely to be impacted.

Thursday, January 24, 2019

How to Clean a Night Guard

A night guard can be a blessing for a person’s oral health. These custom-fitted appliances prevent a wearer’s teeth from grinding against each other while they’re asleep and can reposition the jaw to reduce obstructive sleep apnea. But a night guard that isn’t properly cared for could become an infection nightmare, which is why we at the dental offices of Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk want our patients to know how to keep them clean.

When a wearer removes a night guard in the morning, they should brush it with a soft-bristled toothbrush. The guard may also be soaked in a purpose-designed solution or cleaned with soap and water, but manufacturers still generally recommend brushing them to remove bacterial build-up. It may be a good idea to use a secondary toothbrush just for the night guard because the fluoride minerals in toothpaste could scratch plastic. It’s also important to use cool or room-temperature water to avoid warping the night guard, and to store it somewhere it won’t get too hot.

Maintenance for night guards is similar to that for dentures with one major difference: the night guard should be kept dry. Wearers should also clean the guard’s ventilated case each day and pat it and the night guard dry. Some migration in a patient’s teeth is natural, so wearers should expect to sometimes need the night guard to be professionally refitted.

Friday, January 18, 2019

Teeth Whitening

At Miami Dental we offer GLO chairside teeth whitening for patients who want teeth that are spotless and bright. It is recommended that patients come and see one of our dentists to learn which kind of whitening suits them best, since high-powered whitening works better for patients who don't suffer from sensitivity.

For patients for whom chairside whitening is not suggested, there are more natural ways to your teeth as white as possible. Brushing twice a day for two minutes with extra-fluoridated toothpaste, along with flossing, builds a good foundation for brighter teeth. It is important to avoid foods that stain such as red wine, coffee, and tea as well as to avoid tobacco use of any kind.

For patients that have an interest in teeth whitening, Miami Dental can assist you with any questions or concerns. But remember, whitening has to be maintained with at home care and a couple visits a year to Miami Dental.

Dr. Allen Ressler, Dr. Andrew Hirshl, and Dr. Ira Lelchuk operate 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^rd St, Suite 310, North Miami, Florida, 33160, call 305-949-2630. They can also be reached on their website at miami-dental.com, Miami Dental through a contact form.

Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Swelling after Tooth Extractions

Our concern for our patients doesn’t end when they walk out the door. We often perform tooth extractions at the dental offices of Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk and when we do, we want to ensure that our patients remain safe and comfortable during their recoveries. Swelling is an expected part of the healing process, so we want our patients to feel informed about how to manage it.

Swelling is usually proportionate to the complexity of an extraction. Inflammation is part of the immune system’s response to the loss of a tooth. It concentrates white blood cells at entry points for harmful bacteria and prevents them from spreading. But it may be uncomfortable, which is why we advise patients to limit it by applying cold packs during the first day or two after the extraction. Cold packs should be applied for fifteen minutes at a time with fifteen minutes between applications.

Swelling should peak forty-eight to seventy-two hours after the extraction. The patient should contact us if it continues after that point, but otherwise, they may try to reduce it by the applications of heat packs. The same fifteen-on/fifteen-off rule applies. A patient should seek emergency care if the area turns black or white, but redness is expected. Swelling after simple extractions is usually gone within a week.