Bernstein Dental Care: Blog

Regular dental cleanings are crucial for overall health. Removing plaque can prevent periodontitis from developing later, and examinations are an opportunity to check for oral cancer. But some people’s fear of the dentist prevents them from getting the medical care they need. To make our patients more comfortable, we at Dr. Paul Bernstein’s Bay Ridge dental office thought it would be a good idea to talk about our instruments. The instruments used most frequently by hygienists are the handheld mirror, evacuator, and explorer. The evacuator is the name for the hose that suctions away saliva and debris. Explorers, also known as probes, are the hooked instruments used to break apart tartar. We also use them to inspect the health of gum pockets and to determine whether white spot lesions are still infected. There are more specialized instruments we use if we find a problem such as decay. Usually, when performing a procedure, we numb patients with a local anesthetic delivered through a syrin...

Bad habits are hard to break. When it comes to your teeth, habits such as biting your nails, using your teeth as tools, and brushing aggressively will do more harm to your teeth than good. Dr. Paul Bernstein of Bernstein Dental Care is here to encourage patients to break these bad habits. Additional tasks that harm your teeth are listed below. If one or more seems all too familiar, schedule a consultation today. You’re brushing too hard – over time, if you brush with too much force, you can wear down the protective layers of your teeth and expose the microscopic hollow tubes or canals that lead to your dental nerves. When these tubules are exposed, tooth sensitivity is a result. You’re eating too many acidic foods – If the pathways to your nerves are exposed, acidic foods will cause you pain. You have tooth decay – If you have tooth decay, it’s easy for bacteria to accumulate in these tiny crevices, which causes acid build-up and enamel breakdown...

We care dearly about all our patients’ comfort at Bernstein Dental Care in Bay Ridge.  Children often get toothaches and they should be taken seriously. What causes them may differ slightly from what causes toothaches in adults, and they may be the first sign of a larger problem. Children often have trouble brushing. They are the age-group with the highest rate of caries, but they may also brush too hard and damage their gums. Brushing should be done for two minutes per session, with a soft-bristled toothbrush, and on every tooth surface. There are grips available for people who have difficulty with dexterity that can be used to hold a toothbrush. Sometimes, teeth are sensitive when they first erupt through the gum line, but this should resolve within a few days. Another potential cause of tooth sensitivity is a sinus infection, which can cause pain that radiates into the upper teeth. Fillings that come loose or “leak” need to be replaced and often cause sensitivity or allow new infect...