David Bertman DDS

Having a crown applied to a tooth can cause your bite to misalign. This is normal, but it needs to be corrected. Be sure to tell your dentist of any discomfort so that adjustments can be made.

Water offers many benefits and one of these is maintaining good dental health. It is recommended that you drink some after every meal as this helps wash away food particles. More importantly, drinking water helps neutralize the mouth's acidity as acids left by food tend to stick around.

The first priority of a dentist who's treating you for a TMJ disorder will be to give you relief from your symptoms. After you're feeling better, a long-term treatment (like orthotics, reconstruction, or orthodontics) will be planned out.

Sedation dentistry, often referred to as sleep dentistry, usually can offer a patient three sedation options. These range from general anesthesia with an IV drip to nitrous oxide or anti-anxiety medicines that can be taken orally.

So, how do teeth braces work? They work by exerting constant pressure on the wearer's teeth, thus slowly pulling them into their correct positions. Most of this pressure is exerted by the arch wire which is the metal component that runs across the individual brackets that are glued to the teeth.

Some reports have revealed that almost 65 million American adults have some form of periodontal disease. Out of these, 56.4% are men and 38.4% are women.

According to the Academy of General dentistry, the average person brushes their teeth for 45 to 70 seconds a day. Did you know that this is not enough for a thorough cleaning? You should be aiming for 2-3 minutes a day.

Are you an up-and down-brusher? Side-to-side? Back-and-forth? The best technique is to combine a circular motion with an up-and-down and back-and-forth for the cleanest teeth and gums.

If your tooth breaks in a way that very little remains above the gum line, your dentist may recommend surgery to get the root out. Leaving it in place for an extended period will not be a good idea as the tooth's nerves may cause significant or even debilitating pain.

It’s normal for babies to suck their thumbs, their fingers, or a pacifier. However, if your child doesn’t give up this habit by age 4, extended usage can cause problems with the alignment of their teeth.

If you go too long between cleanings, tartar can develop on your teeth. This is a crusty deposit that discolors and stains teeth. It can only be removed using specific tools in a dentist's office.

What are a few common habits which can cause serious dental problems over time? Chewing on pencils, ice or other hard objects, cleaning teeth with toothpicks, grinding teeth or clenching the jaw, nail biting and brushing too hard.