Bernstein Dental Care: Blog

Endodontics is the dental specialty concerning the nerves of the teeth. The most common of these procedures are root canals. These are needed when the tooth becomes infected, usually in the root of the teeth where the nerves are located. If left untreated, an infection can turn into an abscess, causing serious medical consequences. At Bernstein Dental Care LLC, located in Brooklyn, NY., Dr. Paul R. Bernstein provides root canal and endodontic services.   During the procedure, Dr. Bernstein and his staff will numb the infected tooth and area with a local anesthetic. Once the area has been sufficiently numbed, the drilling will begin. Dr. Bernstein will use a drill to go down into the tooth and create an opening into the canal. This allows him to dispose of infected tissue and clean the area. Afterward, a sealant is used to fill the hole and a crown is placed on the tooth.   Remember to listen and follow any and all instructions given to you by Dr. Bernstein and our staff. In modern soci

If a tooth starts to decay or weaken, a crown will be needed to keep the tooth healthy. As we age, our teeth begin to naturally decay, crack, and discolor. Dr. Paul R. Bernstein, D.D.S. can help. At Bernstein Dental Care LLC of Brooklyn, NY., we offer dental crowns and other dental services. If you are in need of a dental crown, don’t hesitate to contact us.   The majority of crowns are made from porcelain, due to the natural look and feel of the crown. Gold crowns and porcelain fused to metal crowns are also available. The porcelain crowns are practically unnoticeable once placed. There’s no need to feel self-conscious or worry about a dental crown negatively affecting your smile.   The crowning process takes between 2-3 visits with Dr. Bernstein. The first visit will partake of the tooth being reshaped. This is done by filing down the enamel for placement. A local anesthetic is used to prevent pain or discomfort. Upon finishing, a mold or impression will be made of the tooth and surr

A bone graft is a dental procedure that is needed when a patients jawbone isn't able to support a dental implant or restorative device. It also repairs botched implant sites, structural damage, gum disease, and injuries. The bone graft, once placed and healed, strengthens the jaw for other procedures. Dr. Paul R. Bernstein, of Bernstein Dental Care LLC in Brooklyn, offers bone grafting services.   An implant or replacement tooth can’t be placed if the jaw is not large enough or strong enough. With the majority of cases, this is caused by missing teeth. Teeth are needed to keep the bone and tissue strong. Without it, the jaw bone will disintegrate. An x-ray will allow us to see the state and size of the remaining bone. This lets Dr. Bernstein evaluate and decide if a bone graft is necessary. If so, the bone will either be taken from another area of the mouth or received from a tissue bank.   At the procedure, you will be placed under general anesthesia. A cut or incision will be mad

Dental pulp is highly sensitive and it’s no fun when it gets inflamed. An infection inside the tooth will not only be painful, it will also cause bad breath and can develop into a facial abscess. We provide root canal therapy at Bernstein Dental Care in Bay Ridge to combat pulp infections, but new research indicates that patients who smoke may be at risk for worse, recurring inflammation. Pulpitis (the medical term for pulp inflammation) occurs when a tooth gets injured or infected. It is a way for the immune system to restrict the flow of blood-borne pathogens, concentrate white blood cells, and make cellular walls more permeable to antimicrobial peptides. These molecules are among the immune system’s more important weapons. Antimicrobial peptides grab onto invading bacteria and kill them. But scientists say that in smokers’ dental pulp, antimicrobial peptides seem to be absent . During a root canal procedure, infected dental pulp is removed and replaced with a sealer. But if any bact