Bernstein Dental Care: Blog

At Dr. Paul Bernstein’s Bay Ridge dental office, we assist patients suffering from jaw pain and teeth grinding as a result of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). Night guards are a simple solution to both teeth grinding and throat obstructions, but they require daily maintenance to prevent bacterial build-up. There are cleaning solutions approved for night guards by the American Dental Association, and anti-bacterial soap works well, too. But most night guard manufacturers still recommend brushing it daily after removing it in the morning. Patients should take care to avoid using a hard-bristled toothbrush (which isn’t appropriate for anything dental-related) and to not use a cleaning solution that is reinforced with minerals for teeth. Extra fluoride could scratch the night guard, creating a home for bacteria. The water should also be room-temperature to eliminate the risk of warping. The biggest difference between cleaning a night guard and a denture is that dentures should alway...

There are signs that indicate oral cancer such as swelling, lumps, trouble swallowing, thick patches, and loose teeth not due to periodontitis. Oral cancer screening is an examination performed at Bernstein Dental Care to look for signs of cancer or precancerous conditions in your mouth. The goal of oral cancer screening is to identify mouth cancer early, when there is a greater chance for successful treatment. If warning signs of oral cancer are found, the next step is to perform a biopsy. A biopsy is a process of removing tissue from the suspicious area by cutting or scraping cells from the mouth that are viewed under a microscope and diagnosed to see if oral cancer is present. A pathologist is the one who inspects the cells under a microscope to see if they are cancerous. If cancer is there, a biopsy will help to determine if cancer began at the suspicious area or if it started somewhere else in the body and spread to the suspicious area. Dr. Paul Bernstein recommends anybody who is...

At Bernstein Dental Care, Dr. Paul Bernstein, DDS performs root canals to save and repair teeth that are badly damaged or infected.  A root canal procedure involves removing any inflamed or infected tissue, and thoroughly cleaning the root canal system.  In most root canal cases, the tooth heals and doesn’t require further treatment. When an infection won’t go away or the canals become re-infected, Dr. Paul Bernstein can perform an apicoectomy. An apicoectomy removes damaged tissue and seals a tooth’s root from any further infections.  The procedure involves a small incision in the gums, followed by removal of any infected tissue and finally the end of the root tip itself.  A root-end filling is placed there to act as a seal, preventing reinfection. The gum is sutured, and most patients only feel slight discomfort or swelling during healing.  If you have a tooth infection lingering after a root canal gone wrong, please contact us to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about t...