Bernstein Dental Care: Blog

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...

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...

Diabetes doesn’t make gum disease inevitable, but it does mean that diabetic people need more dental support. At Bernstein Dental Care in Brooklyn’s Bay Ridge neighborhood, we hope that people with diabetes will feel comfortable coming to us for help with gum problems, and we wanted to explain more about why they are especially at risk. Gum disease is very common. Gingivitis, or “gum inflammation” is the body’s initial response to it and is characterized by redness and bleeding. People with diabetes have even higher rates of gingivitis than the general population. One of the consequences of uncontrolled high blood sugar is decreased efficacy of the immune system, but scientists are increasingly finding evidence that the bacteria that cause gum disease also interfere with the body’s glucose regulation, setting off a vicious circle. The more advanced form of gum disease, periodontitis, threatens the integrity of the gums, tooth roots, and surrounding jaw tissue. But periodontal intervent...

Dental implants have given a lot of people a second chance at oral health, but they don’t make people immune from gum disease. At Bernstein Dental Care in Bay Ridge, we urge patients to maintain vigilant oral hygiene practices. If they notice signs of inflammation around an implant (“peri-implantitis”), it may be time to call us for help. Inflammation is the immune system’s initial response to an infection. It isolates disease-causing agents and makes cells more permeable to resources white blood cells need for eliminating bacteria. But it also causes swelling, discoloration, and pain, and it can weaken cells permanently if it is prolonged. Not all gingivitis is caused by gum disease. There may be a foreign object, such as leaking cement from an implanted crown, irritating the gum tissue.  A patient may also have an autoimmune disorder. But gum inflammation is usually caused by infections below the gum line, which require professional attention to clean. Bleeding gums are never a good ...

Gum disease is a serious issue in its own right and it has implications for other parts of the body, as well. But there is good news. At Bernstein Dental Care in Bay Ridge, we’re happy to share with our patients recent research showing that treatment for gum infections can improve symptoms of cirrhosis. When a person has cirrhosis, their liver has scarred over as a result of chronic inflammation. This inhibits the liver’s ability to filter blood, causing inflammation throughout the body and a decline in cognitive function. It is widely known that cirrhosis and gum disease can both result from smoking and excessive alcohol, but there is also a version of cirrhosis called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease . People with this ailment also have unusually high rates of gingivitis, which prompted scientists to examine whether there was a causative link. In the study conducted at Virginia Commonwealth University, people with both cirrhosis and periodontal disease were divided into one group t...

We at Dr. Paul Bernstein’s Bay Ridge dental practice take a nonjudgmental attitude toward each of our patients’ oral health needs. One condition which can cause a lot of problems, including gum inflammation, is the autoimmune disorder Sjögren’s Syndrome. Sjögren’s Syndrome is a disease in which the immune system attacks the tear and saliva glands, leading to dry eyes and dry mouth (also known as xerostomia). It is associated with lupus and also tends to occur most often in middle-aged women of color who are genetically susceptible following prolonged stress or infection. Besides being uncomfortable, xerostomia interferes with the immune system’s ability to fight infections. Lack of saliva makes it harder for the body to clean out food debris, leading to more bacterial growth. Fungal infections are also more common in Sjögren’s Syndrome patients, resulting in halitosis. People with Sjögren’s Syndrome need to be especially diligent about their oral hygiene and maintaining regular cleanin...

A toothbrush, floss, and mouthwash are the three essentials you’ll need in your home to combat the first stage of gum disease, also known as gingivitis. Studies show that an estimated three out of four American adults suffer from this condition, though all you need to do to prevent it is practice proper oral care. Dr. Paul Bernstein would like to explain what happens to the teeth when gingivitis sets in and encourages you to brush your teeth twice a day, floss at least once a day, and use an antiseptic mouthwash to protect your teeth and gums.  You should also visit us twice a year for routine cleanings. Gingivitis develops when plaque is not removed after consuming carbohydrates. If you don’t brush your teeth properly, bacteria from plaque can cause the gums to be inflamed and bleed easily when you do decide to brush your teeth. There are a number of factors that can contribute to gingivitis, but smoking, diabetes, poor nutrition, and especially poor oral hygiene habits are the primar...

Dr. Paul Bernstein and the staff at Bernstein Dental Care see patients experiencing every stage of gum disease.  In its most advanced stages gum disease can lead to gum recession and even tooth loss, but we can help you make sure it won’t get to that point.  When sticky bacteria called plaque builds up on a tooth, the gum starts to pull away from the tooth and form a pocket around the buildup.  A scaling and root planing procedure is performed to treat this buildup and prevent the later stages of gum disease.  Scaling and root planing are two parts of a deep cleaning procedure your dentist can perform to repair your gums.  Scaling is the process of removing sticky plaque from the surface of your teeth all the way down to your gums, and root planing involves minor contouring to smooth the surface of a tooth near the root.  Once the plaque has been removed and the tooth root has been smoothed, the gums that had pulled away have a clean, smooth surface to reattach to.   To learn more abou...