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.

 

Why Should Children Spit their Toothpaste?

When children learn to brush their teeth, it is important for them to know to spit the toothpaste out afterward. People may wonder why that is. The answer is fluorosis, the discoloration of teeth due to excessive fluoride consumption, and we at the dental offices of Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk want our patients to understand more about it.

When children’s teeth are forming, an excessive amount of fluoride can cause staining on a deep level. Fluorosis is not common and most cases are only apparent to dental professionals doing an examination. But in the worst-case scenarios, it can cause teeth to appear brown or to have white web-like patterns on them. Fluoride helps to prevent cavities and dentists commonly apply it to children’s teeth in order to protect them, but a child who swallows their toothpaste is at risk of consuming too much.

When children are learning to brush, parents should emphasize the importance of only using a pea-sized amount of toothpaste and of spitting. Parents also should not give their children fluoride supplements unless instructed to do so by one of the child’s doctors. If the teeth do get stained, the issue is only cosmetic and may be hidden with bonding or veneers.

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.

 

Missing Incisors

If you’re missing a pair of incisors, you’re not alone. In about 2% of the adult population, the upper lateral incisors (the ones on the sides of the central incisors, or front teeth) either never descend or never grow at all. At the offices of Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk, our dentists have a great deal of experience in providing prosthetic teeth and other assistance that can provide people who are missing teeth with healthy, beautiful smiles.

Although it is somewhat unusual for the lateral incisors to not descend, it is a common problem with upper canines. Dentists who perform oral surgery often cut away a bit of gum tissue, allowing orthodontists to attach brackets to the impacted teeth. They can then be guided downward with orthodontic wires while the other teeth are moved aside to make room. In cases where there simply are no lateral incisors, artificial ones may be fabricated. Single implants, fixed bridges, and removable dentures are all possible options, depending on the state of the patient’s other teeth and where they end up after orthodontic therapy has opened up enough space for new teeth. After getting their new incisors, the patient will have to be vigilant about wearing their retainer, since the denture or bridge will be designed based on the assumption that the surrounding teeth do not move again.

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, www.miami-dental.com through a contact form.

White Spot Lesions

You probably are familiar with dark-colored tooth stains, but what do you do about white spots? Although teeth can become stained through consumption of dark-colored drinks and food, white spot lesions or incipient lesions indicate a threat to your mouth’s health. Fortunately, at the offices of Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk, we can provide treatment and restore your smile’s beauty.

Tooth enamel looks unnaturally white early in the process of demineralization. This effect can be seen on the back teeth of people suffering from acid reflux. More commonly, it results from oral infections. As bacteria feed, they produce acid, which erodes the teeth. The gum line, the sides of teeth where toothbrushes can’t reach, and the areas surrounding orthodontic brackets are all common places for white spots to develop. It only takes about thirty days for bacteria to erode enough enamel to be visible.

White spot lesions indicate the presence of an infection that needs to be brought under control before anything else can be done. When the infection is no longer active, the white spot will look shinier. If necessary, it can be treated with remineralization therapy or covered with bonding or 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.