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.

 

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. 

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.

 

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

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.

 

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. 

Pacifiers and Teeth

Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk get a lot of questions from parents about weaning their child off a pacifier.  Infants are soothed by pacifiers and when the time comes, it is one of the hardest habits to break.  It can require a great deal of persuasion, but because of the effect they can have on the growth and development of the teeth and mouth children should stop using pacifiers by the age of two.

Prolonged pacifier use can cause changes in the shape of the roof of the mouth, prevent proper growth of the mouth, and create problems with tooth alignment.  Narrowing of the roof of the mouth and misalignment of the jaws can also occur.  Using a pacifier too long can also lead to a variety of complications including tilting in of the bottom teeth, and slanting in of the top and front teeth. Until the age of two, any alignment problem with the teeth or developing bone is usually corrected within six months after pacifier use has stopped.  We can help and support parents having any trouble weaning their child off a pacifier before that age.

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 163rd St, Suite 310, North Miami Beach, Florida, 33160, call 305-949-2630. You can also visit Miami-Dental.com and fill out a contact form.

Pediatric Dental Care

At the dental practice of Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk, we are proud to serve the families of our community, and we want them to know it’s just as important for children to have regular dental visits.  A child’s first dental visit should be scheduled when the first baby tooth appears, or around the child’s first birthday.  Baby teeth eventually come out, but their growth and development are important for overall oral health for the child and the development of their adult teeth.

Baby teeth should be brushed and cared for like adult teeth, and it’s important to monitor their growth and development.  Missing any tooth for too long can change the development of surrounding teeth and compromise the structure of the jaw bone, but regular checkups can keep a child’s tooth development right on track.  Our dentists are skilled and experienced in administering dental care to children.  If your child has seemed nervous about seeing a dentist for the first time, we recommend going through a brushing routine with them at home and talking about the dental visit before you arrive.  Once we get your child’s oral health off to a great start, we offer a full range of services for child patients including dental cleanings, fluoride treatments, and sealants.

We love to see good oral hygiene habits formed early and make lifetime patients out of kids from our community!  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 163rd St, Suite 310, North Miami Beach, Florida, 33160, call 305-949-2630. You can also visit Miami-Dental.com and fill out a contact form.

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. 

Thank You for Your Positive Reviews!

At Ressler, Hirschl & Lelchuk, DDS, PA, of Miami Beach, FL and North Miami Beach, FL, our staff appreciates feedback from our patients because it teaches us how to improve as a team. Our staff would not only like to thank Scott M. for this five-star review, but we would like to thank him for being an excellent patient. If you recently experienced exceptional service from our offices, please let us know!  

“I continue to rate my experience with the dental services provided by Ressler, Hirschl & Lelchuk as EXCELLENT. I also wish to mention the incredible professionalism, skill and courtesy of Honey, the Dental Hygienist, whose ability to communicate progress met and needing focus, is without parallel.” – Scott M.

If you would like to leave a testimonial or are interested in learning more about 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.