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. 

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. 

Sleep Apnea and Acid Reflux

We provide patients with treatments for a wide range of dental and oral health issues at the offices of Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk. Oftentimes, a comprehensive approach is necessary because two problems are linked. An example is acid reflux and sleep apnea.

Acid reflux and sleep apnea are both common maladies in people who are overweight, but it’s possible that one also contributes to the other. When stomach acid escapes into the esophagus and oral cavity, the burning sensation is commonly known as heartburn. Night time teeth grinding, or bruxism, can happen when the body is attempting to keep airways open, and the presence of fluid in the esophagus may trigger this. Acid reflux also causes enamel erosion and can irritate the teeth, which may result in nighttime jaw movements. All these disruptions can also interfere with sleep quality.

People are less likely to suffer from acid reflux if they avoid meals before bed and reduce their consumption of acidic food and dairy. New research has found that use of CPAP machines, a common treatment for sleep apnea, is associated with lower frequencies of acid reflux.

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.

Oral Cancer and Alcohol

When patients come to the offices of Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk, they’re getting top-quality care from dentists who have a close relationship with other hospital staff. This is especially important for patients facing oral cancer, which we provide screenings for. But while we are experienced with caring for the needs of oral cancer patients, we want the public to be better educated about how to avoid this disease, which is why we’re passing along a new study on the relationship between oral cancer and alcohol.

The study by the American Society of Clinical Oncology found that alcohol causes about 5% of cancer cases, including cases of oral cancer. This is different from past studies, which examined alcohol in combination with smoking, a more widely-known risk factor. The study found that people are generally unaware of the carcinogenic danger posed by alcohol and that the type of alcoholic drink consumed does not alter the risk (meaning beer and wine are not less dangerous than liquor). While heavy drinking is riskier, light and moderate drinking were still contributors. Why alcohol would cause oral cancer is still unclear, but the study also found that when people stop alcohol consumption, their chances of developing cancer in the oral cavity or the rest of their digestive tract fall to the levels they were at before they started drinking.

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.

Advanced Periodontitis

Drs. Ressler, Hirschl, and Lelchuk hope that patients never reach the first stage of periodontal disease let alone the final stage. If mild gingivitis is left untreated, it will advance to periodontitis. Periodontitis is typically treated first through a procedure called scaling and root planing. This involves a deep cleaning of the gums that can be avoided with proper oral hygiene habits. If you experience gum inflammation, schedule a professional cleaning to get the condition under control.

Healthy gums are firm and pink; therefore, if your gums are a dark red, or have a purple tint, you may be a victim of periodontal disease. With advanced periodontitis, the gum will pull away from the tooth, and the risk of losing permanent teeth is increased. Depending on the severity of periodontitis, scaling and root planing will be performed to remove the bacteria from below the gum line. To prevent periodontal disease in any form, you should adequately brush your teeth at least twice a day for a two-minute period. Follow this up with proper flossing and a quick mouth rinse, and your smile will benefit.  

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.