Bernstein Dental Care: Blog

Have you recently had a cold drink ruined by a sensation of shooting pain in your teeth? It could be eroded enamel. We hope that all our patients at Bernstein Dental Care in Bay Ridge are enjoying summer treats, but if they’re suffering from tooth sensitivity, we can help. The pulp chambers inside our teeth are highly sensitive. They are surrounded by dentin, a hard substance made up of tubules that easily conduct heat. Dentin is a greyish-yellow color, and although it is normally shielded by a crown’s hard enamel, it can be visible when enamel is thin. Enamel may be worn down by mechanical processes if there is a problem with the patient’s bite or if the patient is grinding their teeth, but in most cases of sensitivity, enamel has been eroded by acid. The most common source of acid is bacteria that consume food debris, although it may also be regurgitated from the stomach. Tooth roots are surrounded by a thin substance called cementum. If the gums have receded enough for the cementum ...

Are you searching for a way to replace your teeth that won’t leave you with an extremely long recovery time or unstable denture? It sounds like you could use mini-implants. Available at the Bay Ridge office of Bernstein Dental Care, this technology allows us to secure full and partial dentures to a patient’s jaw through minimally invasive techniques. A typical implant is over three millimeters wide and supports a single tooth or part of a bridge. Those are highly effective, but they are not suitable for situations in which a patient has lost a great deal of jaw bone material or needs to replace multiple teeth that aren’t in a row. Mini-implants are less than three millimeters wide and their strength is derived from their length instead of their width. They can often be inserted without incisions and have a much faster osseointegration process, being able to bear the distributed weight of a denture immediately, whereas traditional implants needed several months to stabilize. The abutmen...

During the summer, people tend to be more active outdoors and may be at greater risk for dental injuries. While nobody ever plans to get a tooth knocked out, we at Bernstein Dental Care thought it would be a good idea to remind our patients of what steps they can take during a dental emergency to have the best chance of preserving their teeth. When a tooth is knocked out entirely, we call that a “dental avulsion.” The tooth should be lifted by its crown, never its root. There are American Dental Association-approved tooth transport containers that will hopefully be available in a nearby first aid kit, but if not, the tooth should be rinsed with a saline solution. It should then be reinserted into the empty socket, with care to ensure it is facing the right way. If this is too uncomfortable, it may be held in the cheek or in a glass of milk or saltwater, but the patient should have facial lacerations attended to first. We can determine whether a tooth is salvageable. It may not be if th...

Canker sores are small, shallow ulcers that appear in your mouth and make it difficult for you to eat and talk. The cause of canker sores isn't known although stress is thought to trigger the ulcers. Canker sores are circular and are usually white or gray with a red edge. When possible, we encourage our patients to avoid foods that have citrus and acidic. Some foods to avoid when you have an ulcer include lemons, oranges, apples, and tomatoes. When you have canker sores, it can extremely painful on the inside of your cheeks. You may feel a burning sensation that makes it difficult to eat and drink. Some symptoms that you may have a canker While there is no exact cure for canker sores, If you do get a canker sores, we encourage you to rinse your mouth out with hot salt water a couple times a couple of times a day to help with recovery. If you still have a canker sore after 1-2 weeks we advise you to make an appointment with us at Bernstein Dental Care. Dr. Paul Bernstein runs Bernst...

If you have a fear of going to the dentist or dentist working on your teeth, you likely suffer from dental phobia. Dental phobia affects a lot of people with about 9% to 15% of people avoiding the dentist because of it. Going to the dentist can be a traumatic experience if you suffer from dental phobia. Our doctors at Bernstein Dental Care, we want our patients to be comfortable when they visit us. Patients who avoid going to the dentist are at a great risk of developing tooth decay and gum disease. Some signs that you might have dental phobia include tense or nervousness, sleepless nights before the dentist, and the thought of the dentist makes you feel sick. If you experience sickness or nervousness before your appointment, please give us a call. We encourage our patients to ask us questions before your appointment so we can make you feel more comfortable. Your health is the most important thing to us. Dr. Paul Bernstein runs Bernstein Dental Care at 350 91 st  St, Suite 1C, Brooklyn...

Your wisdom teeth are the final set of molars that emerge. When they emerge, they will either come in naturally or crowd your gums. If your wisdom teeth protrude your gums, they need to be extracted at your local dentist. At Bernstein Dental Care, we can tell you if your wisdom teeth need to be removed through routine x-rays. In most cases, wisdom teeth will grow in on an angle which can cause crowding for your teeth and possible damage to your jawbone or nerves. Wisdom teeth that develop that only partially impact your gums increases the chance for bacteria to build which leads to more cavities and gum disease. If your wisdom teeth are causing you pain or there appears to be an infection, please give us a call. We can schedule your appointment for x-rays and have your wisdom teeth removed in no time. The sooner you remove your wisdom teeth, the less shifting the rest of your mouth will do. Dr. Paul Bernstein runs Bernstein Dental Care at 350 91 st  St, Suite 1C, Brooklyn, New York, 11...

At Bernstein Dental Care, we advise our patients to change their toothbrush every 3-4 months or when their bristles become worn down and split. Overtime, toothbrushes become less effective the more they are used which means your teeth aren’t being cleaned as effectively as they should be. When buying a new toothbrush, you should consider how well you brush your teeth and for how long before deciding. Traditional toothbrushes work fine as long as you brush for a full two minutes. For patients who tend to brush for less than two minutes, we encourage you to get an electric toothbrush. Electric bristle’s rotate to help you remove plaque from your teeth and gums more effectively. The most important thing to us is that you brush twice a day to keep your teeth clean. We also advise our patients who haven’t had a cleaning in the last 6 months make an appointment with us to ensure your teeth are healthy. Dr. Paul Bernstein runs Bernstein Dental Care at 350 91 st  St, Suite 1C, Brooklyn, New Yo...

At Bernstein Dental Care,  LLC we advise our patients to practice good oral hygiene for their baby’s teeth. Before your baby’s teeth come in, we encourage you to clean your baby’s gums with a warm cloth to clean off excess food and to keep their gums clean. Once your children’s teeth begin to develop, you should clean them by applying a dab of toothpaste to a soft bristled toothbrush. Preventing cavities is important because their baby teeth act as placeholders for permanent teeth. We recommend to all of our parents to install good dental hygiene habits in their teeth when they are young to install good habits. Remember to brush or wipe your baby’s teeth after every meal to prevent tooth decay. When tooth decay forms, it can lead to gum disease and then gingivitis which can cause spacing problems for their permanent teeth. The younger children learn to brush and clean their teeth, the more likely they are to have a lifetime of healthy teeth. Don’t forget to schedule your baby’s first c...

At Bernstein Dental Care, LLC we use digital radiography to take x-rays instead of traditional photographic film. Digital x-rays are more efficient by bypassing chemical processing and it allows us to transfer and view the photos of your mouth faster. Digital radiography uses 80% less radiation than traditional films. At our practice, your health is the most important thing to us. When our patients have a dental issue, digital x-rays help us to identify any dental problems you may be having. They allow us to detect bone loss, tumors, infections in the tooth nerve, tooth decay, and other abnormalities. Digital radiography is the safest and most effective way to get pictures of your teeth. With the ability to enhance image quality, we are able to fix your dental issues efficiently. If you are experiencing pain in your teeth, please give us a call. Digital X-Rays will help us diagnose the source of the issue so we can treat it. Dr. Paul Bernstein runs Bernstein Dental Care at 350 91 st  S...

Mouth guards are designed to prevent structural damage to your teeth and jaw during contact sports. Our doctors at Bernstein Dental Care, LLC encourages our patients who play contact sports to wear mouth guards. Studies have shown mouth guards to decrease the risk of concussions and increase your safety while playing sports. There are a couple of ways you can purchase mouth guards for yourself or your children. Most sporting goods stores sell mouth guards but they don’t fit custom to your mouth. These mouth guards are generally one size fits all or on a small, medium, or large scale. We advise our patients who are considering a mouth guard to make an appointment with your dentist. Custom mouth guards are the most comfortable and offer the most protection for your mouth. Custom mouth guards will allow you to breathe easy and talk with no restrictions. Don’t forget to make an appointment with your dentist for your custom mouth guard. Protecting your teeth during sports is essential to yo...

Sealants are a plastic coating on the chewing surfaces of the molar to prevent tooth decay. Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease among children. Sealants have shown to reduce the risk of tooth decay by nearly 80% in molars, making them a great investment for your children’s oral health going forward. At Bernstein Dental Care, LLC we know it can be hard to clean between every nook and cranny of your teeth which is why we advise our younger patients to get sealants. To apply the sealants to your molars, an adhesive is applied with a liquid that is painted right on your tooth. The liquid than hardens and creates barrier between your tooth and any plaque or bacteria that can be damaging to your teeth. Sealants can last for up to 10 years and are replaceable when then they need to be. Sealants aren’t a substitute for brushing and flossing but it is a great addition to keeping your molar’s healthy and clean. Dr. Paul Bernstein runs Bernstein Dental Care at 350 91 st  St, Suite 1C, ...

It can be difficult to keep your teeth white and sparkly. As you age, your teeth naturally begin to lose their lackluster. Cigarettes and coffee are also infamous for staining teeth. Foods that are high in tannic acids, like grapes and tea, are also good at staining. If you are worried that your teeth might be losing their dazzle, contact Dr. Paul Bernstein of Bernstein Dental Care LLC. We offer teeth whitening services to our patients.   If cutting back on foods and drinks that stain your teeth isn’t helping, a little extra help might be needed. At your appointment with Dr. Bernstein, you can discuss various whitening options. The most commonly used teeth whitening system is a take-home whitening system. Dr. Bernstein will take an impression of your teeth. This will be used to create your personalized teeth whitening trays. This tray is safe for the bleaching and can be used for a week. At your own home, you will insert whitening gel into the tray. Then you will place the tray onto yo...

A soft tissue graft is similar to a bone graft. The soft tissue graft restores gum recession in specific areas of the mouth. This gum recession can be caused by a variety of factors, the largest being poor oral health or gingivitis. Dr. Paul Bernstein of Bernstein Dental Care LLC, located in Brooklyn, NY., offers soft tissue grafts. If you are interested or think you might need a soft tissue graft, contact us for an appointment.   In the beginning, a slight gum recession can easily be reversed. It is caused by a lack of proper oral health. Making sure you brush twice a day and floss at least once a day can fix this. It’s also important to make sure that you are visiting the dentist twice a year for your checkups. When the gingiva continues to recede is when it becomes a problem. This recession will open up your mouth to greater risk of infection and bacterial penetration. You might notice that you are more sensitive to hot and colds foods too. If the gums recede so much that the roots ...

If you wake up with a sore jaw in the morning or feel like your jaw is lopsided when you bite down, then you might need an occlusal adjustment. An occlusal adjustment corrects the alignment of your bite and teeth. It is a relatively painless procedure. Dr. Paul Bernstein of Bernstein Dental Care LLC offers occlusal adjustments to our patients.   Your jaw can become misaligned due to loose, shifting, crowded, or missing teeth. This destroys the even distribution of pressure in your mouth. Once unbalanced, too much pressure is put on one side of the mouth and not enough on the other. This is what causes pain and discomfort. The best candidates for occlusal adjustments are those with loose or shifting teeth. Patients who clench or grind their teeth can also benefit from an occlusal adjustment. Occasionally this corrects teeth sensitivity as well.   At your appointment with Dr. Bernstein, he will use a computer scan of your mouth to identify areas that need adjustment. He does this by taki...

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...

Flossing is important when it comes to your oral health. Flossing removes about 40% of the bacteria and plaque that forms on your teeth. Each tooth you have has five surfaces, two of them are cleaned by flossing. At Bernstein Dental Care, we advise our patients to floss every day. Flossing removes the plaque that generates acid and can cause cavities that put you at a greater risk of gum disease. We encourage our patients to use floss that is 15 to 18inches long in a ‘C’ shape for the best flossing job. If you have trouble flossing we recommend you use plaque removers that allow you to floss between your teeth with one hand. While there are different types of flosses out there, the most important thing is that you are flossing. We caution our patients do not worry if there is blood when you are flossing, it just means your gums are inflamed because of plaque buildup. Don’t forget to floss every day to maintain good oral health! Dr. Paul Bernstein runs Bernstein Dental Care at 350 91 st...

At Bernstein Dental Care LLC, we advise parents to start cleaning their children’s teeth as soon as their baby teeth develop. Every February is National Children’s Dental Month which is sponsored by the American Dental Association to raise awareness for children’s oral health. The most chronic disease for children is tooth decay which is preventable through practicing good oral health care. When your children’s baby teeth develop, you should clean their teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a dab of toothpaste. We recommend soft-bristled toothbrushes for children because they are gentler on your gums and teeth. The cause of tooth decay is when plaque and bacteria form on your teeth and ultimately forms cavities. Tooth decay is preventable by taking care of your teeth and brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. When possible, we encourage all of our patients to eat a healthy diet and limiting your consumption of sugar and acidic that can damage your teeth. Don’t forget to bri...

If you break a tooth, you can count on Bernstein Dental Care in Bay Ridge for restorations. We are experienced providers of implant-supported crowns, but we work hard to save natural teeth. Although nobody plans to chip or crack a crown, there are some steps we hope our patients will remember to take in order to make a successful restoration likelier. In ordinary circumstances, it is the molars that are most vulnerable to breaking. They have a large surface to distribute bite force across, but some things are still too hard for them and break their cusps or cause them to split down the middle. Our other teeth cannot handle nearly as much force and are likely to break or tilt if they are used for chewing. When a tooth breaks, patients should rinse their mouths with salt water. They should cover the broken tooth with sugar-free chewing gum or if they have any nearby, orthodontic wax. The smallest cracks, which are called craze lines, are a cosmetic issue and may be covered with veneers. ...

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...