Dry Mouth

If you’ve ever been parched and in desperate need of wetting your whistle, you know how uncomfortable dry mouth can be. Dry mouth is the feeling that there is not enough saliva in the mouth. Everyone has a dry mouth once in a while, but excessive dry mouth can be due to medication, or an underlying condition such as diabetes. If dry mouth is causing you discomfort, Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk can treat the problem.

Symptoms of dry mouth include a sticky, dry feeling in the mouth that may be accompanied by a dry feeling in the throat, a dry rough tongue, mouth sores, and/or trouble chewing, swallowing, or speaking. Causes for dry mouth include certain medications that you can discuss with one of our doctors, salivary glands diseases, and smoking. Treatment for dry mouth will depend on the cause.

If you have questions or concerns regarding dry mouth, please give us a call. To learn more about dental hygiene 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 or hygienists, give us a call at our Miami Beach office: 305-532-1444 or our North Miami Beach office: 305-949-2630.

Dental Crowns

If you have a tooth that has been weakened due to decay, a desire to restore a broken tooth that has been severely worn down or simply wish to enhance the aesthetics of your smile, then you may be a candidate for a dental crown. Dental crowns are fixed prosthetic devices that Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk cement onto existing teeth or implants. There are several types of materials that can be used for dental crowns and one of our doctors will discuss them during your consultation.

On the first visit, your tooth will be reshaped by filing down the enamel so that there is room for the crown to be placed over it. Once the tooth has been reshaped, a mold will be taken of that tooth and the surrounding teeth. This mold will be sent to a dental lab so that the permanent crown can be made. Before you leave the office, you will be fitted with a temporary crown so that you have some protection on the tooth. In about two weeks you will come back for the final result.

If you have questions or concerns about dental health, 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. 

Using a Floss Threader

If you have traditional braces or a fixed retainer, flossing threaders will make this task easier and improve the health of your teeth and gums. You should never avoid flossing with these orthodontic appliances because plaque left on the teeth will turn into tartar (calculus) which only our team at the office of Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk are able to remove. Tartar buildup will cause the gums to be inflamed and this may lead to a more aggressive form of periodontal disease. If you don’t know what a floss threader is, we are here to tell you what it is and how to use one.

A floss threader is a flexible, yet rigid plastic tool used for passing floss between fixed bridgework, orthodontic wires, and beneath fixed retainers. They resemble large plastic “needles” as far as shape goes and are effective in getting floss between teeth that are close together. To use one, simply thread 18” of floss into the eye of the floss threader and use the end to push through the teeth. Once the floss has been inserted, the ends can be easily manipulated to floss around the tooth. If you need assistance, our doctors are happy to help.

If you have questions or concerns about dental health, please give us a call. To learn more about dental health as well as the services we provide at our 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. 

Retainer Options

If you’ve recently completed orthodontic treatment, you’ll need to protect your investment with a retainer. Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk offer two different kinds of retainer options to choose from and the type you decide on will depend on your needs and your preference. A removable retainer is designed for a patient who is disciplined enough to remember to wear it, while a fixed retainer is for a patient looking for a more permanent option.

• Removable Retainer – a removable retainer is the most common type, but depending on the individual, it may not always be the best choice. A removable retainer is crafted from a clear plastic that is formed by heat and a model of your teeth.  Removable retainers can be virtually invisible, and easy to wear.


• Fixed Retainer – also known as a bonded retainer, a fixed retainer consists of a wire being bonded to the back of the six bottom or top teeth. Bonded retainers tend to protect fewer teeth than removable retainers, but are ideal for the patient that may forget to wear his or her retainer at night.

If you have questions or concerns about orthodontic treatment or retainer options, 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 our North Miami Beach office: 305-949-2630. 

Celebrate World Oral Health Day Everyday

World Oral Health Day is celebrated every year on the 20^th of March. The purpose of this international holiday is to celebrate the benefits of a healthy mouth and to promote worldwide awareness of oral health issues and the importance of good oral hygiene. Though this day has passed, here at the offices of Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk we encourage patients to celebrate oral health day, every day, here’s a reminder of how you can maintain a healthy smile.

Oral health goes beyond aesthetics. Brushing and flossing the teeth doesn’t just keep pearly whites, white, it prevents oral health conditions such as periodontal disease and tooth decay. Maintaining a healthy mouth allows you to speak, smile, chew and taste, without pain or discomfort. Because numerous studies have linked oral health to overall health, it’s important to brush thoroughly for two minutes, twice a day, and floss at least once a day, in addition to visiting our office twice a year for a professional exam.

If you have questions or concerns about oral care or dental health, 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 the North Miami Beach office: 305-949-2630. 

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. 

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. 

Dental Sealants Prevent Decay

If your child is prone to cavities and you’ve never heard of dental sealants before, it may be time to inform yourself. Dental sealants are plastic coatings that are placed on the chewing surfaces of the permanent back teeth. Although brushing and flossing remove food particles, sometimes it’s hard to reach into the crevices to remove all of them. Because children and teenagers are highly prone to decay, our doctors Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk suggest dental sealants to these candidates the most.

Though adults can reap the benefits of dental sealants, they are more for children and teenagers. This is because of the likelihood of developing decay in the depressions and grooves of the molars. Dental sealants are simple and the process to apply them is painless. Sealants are painted onto tooth enamel where the material bonds directly to the tooth and hardened. Sealants can protect teeth for up to 10 years with proper oral care and reduce the risk of cavities by up to 80%.

If you have questions or concerns about pediatric 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. 

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. 

Dental Sealants

Nearly half of all children and adolescents in the United States have had cavities in their permanent teeth. To prevent these from forming, Drs. Ressler, Hirschl and Lelchuk offer dental sealants to eligible candidates. Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings that are applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to prevent decay. Most tooth decay in children and teenagers occurs on the chewing surfaces where pits and groves tend to trap food and bacteria. Sealants fill in these pits and grooves so that bacteria cannot multiply and cause decay.

Sealants are easy for your dentist to apply. The sealant is painted onto the tooth enamel, where it bonds directly to the tooth and hardens. This plastic resin bonds into the depressions and grooves (pits and fissures) of the chewing surfaces of back teeth. The sealant acts as a barrier, protecting enamel from plaques and acids. As long as the sealant remains intact, the tooth surface will be protected from decay.

To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors give us a call at our Miami Beach Office: 305-532-1444 or our North Miami Beach office: 305-949-2630 or visit www.miami-dental.com for more information.

Pediatric Dentistry

Here at the offices of  Drs. Ressler, Hirschl and Lelchuk we have the experience and qualifications to care for a child’s teeth, gums, and mouth throughout various stages of childhood.

Children are not small adults. They are not always able to be patient and cooperative during a dental exam. Drs. Ressler, Hirschl and Lelchuk know how to examine and treat children in ways that make them comfortable. During your child’s first visit, we will examine their teeth and gums, do a professional cleaning, take any necessary x-rays, if age appropriate, and teach you how to remove plaque from your child’s teeth and gums. In addition, we will also take advantage of the opportunity to discuss the best ways to help your child develop good dental habits.

If you are searching for a dentist for your child in the Miami, FL area look no further. If you have any questions give us a call at our Miami Beach Office: 305-532-1444 or our North Miami Beach office: 305-949-2630 or visit www.miami-dental.com for more information.