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...

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...

At Bernstein Dental Care, patients are assured of high-quality dental reconstructions, including white fillings. However, fillings are not meant to last forever, and while they are sometimes sensitive immediately after placement, they should not be painful for long. People experiencing problems with their fillings should come to us for help. A filling is said to be “high” if it interferes with the patient biting their teeth together comfortably. This should never happen and high fillings need to be removed and replaced. Some of the materials used for fillings also change shape after placement, leaving a gap between the filling and the sealant and allowing bacteria a place in which they can continue to cause decay. Even the best filling usually only lasts for about ten years. After that time, the seal holding it in place could crack, providing bacteria with a hiding spot. It will also become easier for the filling to be knocked loose during normal use of the jaw. By maintaining regular ...

Although kids are back in school now, don’t think it’s too late for them to have a biannual check-up. Tooth decay is a major problem in children, and it only gets worse if it’s not treated professionally. At Bernstein Dental Care, we provide the thorough treatments your family needs to avoid needing extensive work later. The Centers for Disease Control’s latest data shows that 20% of children under 12 and 13% of children between 12 and 19 had untreated tooth decay. Sadly, children are the demographic most likely to suffer from caries, and the pain of this condition interferes with their sleeping and eating habits, their speech development, their moods, and their ability to stay focused. It’s much better to remove decay and fill in caries now than to force children to endure tooth aches during the academic year until they need root canals. Biannual check-ups also have an important preventive aspect. They are a chance to provide children with sealants, which reduce decay in the future a...