Bernstein Dental Care: Blog

When patients need new dental bridges, they can count on Dr. Paul Bernstein to supply them with a variety of options. Located in Brooklyn’s Bay Ridge neighborhood, Dr. Bernstein is an experienced provider of replacement teeth, and given the variety of our patients’ circumstances, we want them to know about the advantages of different bridges. A dental bridge is a series of artificial crowns linked together. The traditional bridge had one crown suspended between two others, which were placed on top of reshaped natural teeth. The benefit of this type of bridge is that it retained the natural tooth roots, which are already stabilizing the jaw bone. The downside is that it required the reshaping or removal of teeth in the row which may have been healthy in order to repair their neighbors. It was best used on people with widespread decay. Modern dental bridges come in the form of removable dentures. They can be made with gaps for healthy natural teeth, but need to be reshaped if the natural

Between five and eight percent of Americans avoid visiting the dentist because they are terrified. Another 20 percent of patients only visit the dentist because they have to. Dr. Paul Bernstein of Bernstein Dental Care has seen his fair share of anxious patients, but he assures each and every one of them that there is nothing to worry about. Don’t let dental anxiety get the best of you. Schedule a consultation to discuss your concerns. For many people, dental fear is a serious issue. The causes can vary from lack of control to a bad dental experience as a child. By avoiding the dentist, you are avoiding professional cleanings and exams where Dr. Bernstein will check for oral disease, infection, and decay. Additionally, you are less likely to maintain proper oral hygiene habits if you don’t have a dental routine down pat. If you struggle with dental anxiety but are determined to overcome your fears, our friendly staff is here to happily help and assist. If you are concerned about dental

Dr. Paul Bernstein and the staff at Bernstein Dental Care appreciate feedback from our patients because it teaches us how to improve as a team. Our staff would not only like to thank Michael I. 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 office, please let us know!   “I have been a patient of Dr. Bernstein since I was a child. Dr. Bernstein is the only dentist I trust to work on me. I am not an easy patient to have and throughout my life, I have changed doctors many, many times, but I have never changed my dentist. That is because Dr. Bernstein is my perfect doctor. He does not rush his patients out the door and you never feel like you're on an assembly line. If you ask him a question he will answer it thoroughly and go into specific details that most doctors would not. His work is absolutely meticulous. I know that if I am getting work done with Dr. Bernstein, the final product o

Which dental hygiene products are best for a patient will vary according to their needs. At Bernstein Dental Care in Bay Ridge, we are attentive to all our patients’ unique challenges, which is why we want to help people choose between electric and manual toothbrushes. An electric toothbrush makes thousands of strokes per minute. A manual toothbrush can only make dozens. This means there is a greater risk of overbrushing with electric toothbrushes, but they are much easier to use for people with compromised motor skills. Studies have shown that the two kinds of toothbrushes are equally good at preventing decay when used properly, but to use a manual toothbrush properly, patients must brush for two full minutes per session. Brushing thoroughly is of little use if the patient frequently misses spots. Some newer electric toothbrushes are also compatible with apps that inform a user of when they’re skipping over tooth surfaces. Versions of the apps for children include video games which pr

We at Dr. Paul Bernstein’s Bay Ridge dental practice take a nonjudgmental attitude toward each of our patients’ oral health needs. One condition which can cause a lot of problems, including gum inflammation, is the autoimmune disorder Sjögren’s Syndrome. Sjögren’s Syndrome is a disease in which the immune system attacks the tear and saliva glands, leading to dry eyes and dry mouth (also known as xerostomia). It is associated with lupus and also tends to occur most often in middle-aged women of color who are genetically susceptible following prolonged stress or infection. Besides being uncomfortable, xerostomia interferes with the immune system’s ability to fight infections. Lack of saliva makes it harder for the body to clean out food debris, leading to more bacterial growth. Fungal infections are also more common in Sjögren’s Syndrome patients, resulting in halitosis. People with Sjögren’s Syndrome need to be especially diligent about their oral hygiene and maintaining regular cleanin