Have you thought about your New Years resolutions yet? Although most people are quick to name dieting or hitting the gym, all too many people forget about their dental health—which can have a profound effect on other areas of the body.

The mouth is sometimes referred to as the window to a person’s health because so many conditions show symptoms there. Tooth decay and gingivitis can also cause oral bacteria to leach into the bloodstream and cause widespread inflammation, contributing to health problems like heart disease, diabetes, and even some types of cancer. Fortunately, you can help your body ward off these kinds of problems by focusing on proper dental care.

Resolve to Take Care of Your Teeth in 2017

This holiday season, focus on turning over a new leaf and resolving to take better care of your teeth in 2017. Here are just a few dental care tips that could help you to have a comfortable smile that you can be proud of.

Regular Dental Appointments

The American Dental Association recommends meeting with your dentist regularly in order to spot problems and address them quickly. In addition to saving you from the pain of advanced tooth decay, keeping regular dental appointments and getting complete periodontal evaluations can help your dentist and periodontist in Pittsburgh to address problems before they become more complex, saving you time and money.

A Focus on Dental Hygiene

Think about your daily dental hygiene routine and what you can do to perfect it. Focus on brushing and flossing carefully and consistently. If you have questions about the toothbrush and floss that you are using, don’t be shy about talking with Dr. Silberg. He can recommend great tools that are well suited for your dental concerns.

Avoid Dental Dangers

In addition to polishing up your daily hygiene routine, also focus on avoiding dental dangers. Don’t try to bite through foods that are hard, rinse after eating anything extremely chewy, and never open packages with your teeth. If you play sports, invest in a protective athletic mouth guard to protect your teeth from impact.

Be Proactive About Problems

Last but not least, pay attention to preventive care and be proactive about new problems. By making appointments regularly and addressing new dental issues, you can stay on top of your dental health.

At the Silberg Center for Dental Science, we want to make you smile in 2017. Contact our office to schedule your next checkup.  

As your Pittsburgh periodontist, we at the Silberg Center for Dental Science want our services to be convenient and comfortable. We’ll always do our best to meet your needs, provide amenities, and talk to you about your procedures. But we understand that sometimes you need more than just reassurances, which is why we offer sedation dentistry.

Sedation has benefits for both you and us which help the procedure go more smoothly. First and most obviously, dental sedation can greatly reduce the discomfort that comes with some restorative procedures. It helps you to stay still and relaxed, so that the dental work is more precise and efficient. It can also soothe the anxiety some people experience in association with dental procedures, so that they feel at ease and have access to the care they need. We are happy to provide dental sedation wherever it’s called for. For your convenience, we offer both anesthesia and nitrous oxide.

Anesthesia can be either local or general. A local anesthetic causes numbness in that specific location, while you remain awake and alert. A general anesthetic puts you to sleep so you’re unaware of the procedure. Both will wear off after a few hours. When you come to our office, we’ll consult with you about your dental and medical history to make sure that you don’t have any unexpected reactions to these medications. In this way, we make sure that these options are safe for you.

Nitrous oxide, also known as “laughing gas” is a sedative that is inhaled throughout your procedure in a carefully adjusted dosage. Depending upon the person, nitrous oxide makes patients feel peaceful, giggly, or sleepy, all of which mean a relief from anxiety. The sedation wears off almost immediately after you stop receiving the gas, leaving no lasting effects, which makes it ideal for patients who will drive to and from their appointments or who don’t need general anesthesia.

If you’re concerned about your upcoming procedure, contact our office today. Your Pittsburgh periodontist, Dr. Silberg, will be happy to discuss your options with you and help you see how sedation dentistry can give you the comfortable care you deserve.

Bruxism is the clinical term for grinding your teeth while you sleep, a condition that can be as damaging to your smile as it is to your partner’s rest. Teeth grinding has a myriad of different causes, including genetics, abnormal stress levels, or sleep disorders. However, the result is the same—damaged teeth, oral lacerations, and neck and jaw fatigue that can cause pain and even dislocation or joint disorders. People who suffer from bruxism typically grind their teeth whenever they are sleeping deeply, which is one reason why tooth grinding isn’t typically diagnosed until people have suffered with it for awhile. Many aren’t aware of their teeth grinding at first; some people don’t even know that they grind their teeth until they wake up with a chipped or cracked tooth.  

Unfortunately, the damage caused by bruxism doesn’t stop with the teeth. Teeth grinding can also cause severe gum recession because of the pressure put on the gums by the motion. Tooth grinding can also make the teeth loose in their sockets, creating deep gingival pockets where bacteria can collect. These bacteria can cause the gums to pull back even farther from the teeth, exposing the delicate dental root.  

Treatment Options

Fortunately, there is a lot your Pittsburgh periodontist can do to help you with bruxism and subsequent gum recession. Here are some of the treatments periodontists in Pittsburgh might recommend:

Treatments for Bruxism

Treatment for bruxism typically includes wearing a customized mouthguard designed to keep your teeth apart as you sleep. There are a large variety of mouthguards available on today’s market, allowing our clinicians to cater your treatment specifically for your teeth, any allergies, and your personal preferences. Mouthguards can give your teeth and gums a chance to recover from previous bruxism damage, while preventing future problems.

Treatments for Gum Recession

 

• Gum Grafting: Traditional gum grafting involves harvesting tissue from elsewhere in the mouth to graft into the recessed area of the gums. Traditional gum grafting is effective and time-tested.
• The Pinhole Surgical Technique™: The Pinhole Surgical Technique™ can alleviate gum recession without the negative side effects of traditional surgery. During the Pinhole Surgical Technique™, a small incision about the size of a pinhole is made above the recessed area. Next, special tools are used to gently push the gum tissue downwards, and tiny collagen strips are used to hold the tissue in place. The treatment is effective immediately and requires a very simple recovery.

For more information about treating gum recession and bruxism, contact the Silberg Center for Dental Science.

Odontophobia, or the fear of dentists, is common in adults. Millions of Americans suffer from some form of odontophobia. While few people look forward to visiting the dentist, those who suffer from the worst anxiety would rather suffer extreme pain than go in for a visit, even if that meant taking the pain away. The fear of the dentist can have many causes, but the most common catalysts are a traumatic experience as a child, fear of loud noises, fear of pain, and the feeling of lacking control when in the dentist’s chair.

If you are one of the many who avoid the dentist out of anxiety, or if you’ve found dental visits a distressing experience until now, we can help. Pittsburgh periodontist Dr. Silberg and his staff are trained to help even the most anxious patient overcome their fear. Read on to learn a few of the things that we can do to help accommodate your particular needs.

Explaining Procedures

We try to explain everything that will happen before it does to help patients feel comfortable with their procedures. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, as knowledge truly is power. If you know what to expect, you will be less afraid of it.

Establishing a Safeword

When you first sit in the chair, we will establish a signal or a word that means “Stop.” Common signals include raising a hand, tapping the chair repeatedly, or making a certain sound–things you can do even when you can’t speak. That way, you have control over your dental visit.

Allowing Comforting Objects or People

We encourage our patients to bring something or someone that will help them remain calm during their visit. Many patients bring a friend or relative, especially to their first visit to help them until they are more comfortable with Dr. Silberg.

Seeking Distractions

A similar strategy to the previous one, this idea relies on being too busy to focus on the dental procedure. You can distract yourself by listening to music, watching a movie, or doing something else to keep yourself busy. Find something to do that will keep your mind occupied so that you don’t succumb to your anxiety. As much as possible, we’ll accommodate your need for a distraction.
Dental care can be frightening, but it will improve your life and your health. If you have any questions or concerns about your dental phobia, please contact us!

Have you ever been astonished by the smell of bad breath, only to realize in horror that the bad breath was your own? Luckily, most instances of halitosis or bad breath can be prevented quite simply. Read on for the common causes of bad breath and how to prevent them.

Causes of Halitosis

Certain Foods and Habits

Eating foods with strong odors such as onions or garlic can temporarily cause bad breath. Habits such as smoking also contribute to more lasting bad breath.

Dry Mouth

Chronic dry mouth (xerostomia) or a temporarily dry mouth can cause bad breath because there is not enough saliva in the mouth to neutralize acids and wash away dead cells.

Improper Oral Hygiene

If you do not brush and floss your teeth regularly, bacteria to build up inside your mouth, which is a leading cause of bad breath.  It can also cause gum disease, which makes the bacteria multiply even faster in the periodontal pockets, making your bad breath even worse.  If you’re suffering from gum disease in Pittsburgh, don’t hesitate to set up an appointment with our team of specialists today.

Medical Conditions

There are many different medical conditions and illnesses such as xerostomia (dry mouth), salivary gland problems, pneumonia, sinus infections, diabetes, chronic acid reflux, postnasal drip, and kidney or liver problems that can cause chronic bad breath. Unfortunately, there is not much that you can do if your bad breath is caused by an underlying health issue, until you clear up the cause.

Halitosis Prevention

Good Oral Hygiene

The best thing you can do to prevent bad breath is to practice good oral hygiene.  Brush your teeth and tongue at least twice a day and after every time you eat, and use floss to remove food and plaque stuck between the teeth at least once a day.

Visit the Dentist

Don’t skip your semiannual visit with Dr. Silberg, as we do not only give you a professional teeth cleaning, but check for diseases such as periodontal disease or dry mouth.

Drink Water

Bad breath is often caused by a dry mouth, so make sure that you drink plenty of water.  You should drink ½ oz to 1 ounce of water each day for every pound that you weigh.

Quit Smoking

Smoking causes not only bad breath, but stained teeth, irritated gums, and many health problems as well. The best thing you can do for your health is reduce or eliminate your use of tobacco.

If you have bad breath and don’t know the cause, we can help. Contact the Silberg Center for Dental Science to make an appointment, and let us help you find a solution to your problem.

Canker sores, also known as aphthous ulcers, are small ulcers in the mouth caused by various irritants. There are two main types of canker sores: simple canker sores and complex canker sores. Simple canker sores crop up a few times a year, lasting a few days to a week, while complex canker sores are rare, and crop up in people who have previously had canker sores. Complex canker sores may be accompanied by swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion and possibly fever. Canker sores are not contagious, but no one is quite sure what causes them.

Causes of Canker Sores

There is an old wive’s tale that canker sores are caused by eating too many tomatoes, but that isn’t always the case. As stated above, no one is quite sure what causes canker sores, but it is likely that there are many causes which all produce similar symptoms. Possibilities include:

• Food allergies
• Eating acidic foods such as lemons, oranges, strawberries, tomatoes, etc.  
• Irritants in the mouth such as braces, dentures, or mouth piercings
• Consistent stress
• Underlying health conditions such as improper nutrition, celiac disease, impaired immune system, iron deficiency, etc.
• Accidentally biting your cheek
• Brushing your teeth too hard
• Hormonal shifts
• Family history of canker sores
• And many more.

The Difference Between Canker Sores and Cold Sores

Although they are commonly mistaken for each other, cold sores and canker sores are very different. Cold sores are painful blisters caused by a viral infection, and they usually appear outside the mouth on the lips or under the nose  (canker sores tend to stay inside the mouth). Unlike canker sores, cold sores are very contagious, so you should avoid contact.

Healing a Canker Sore

If left alone, most canker sores heal within a few weeks, and any pain caused by a canker sore should subside within 10 days. However, if the pain is unusually strong, come in to the Silberg Center for Dental Science, your periodontist in Pittsburgh, and we can give you a prescription that may help, such as a mouth rinse, topical products (such as Benzocaine, Fluocinonide, or hydrogen peroxide), or oral medications; or we can provide cautery (burning) of the sore. Home remedies include: a baking soda or salt water rinse, avoiding spicy or acidic foods, applying ice to the wound, placing a whole clove on the infected area, or doing a hydrogen peroxide rinse.  

Preventing Canker Sores

The best way to prevent canker sores is to be careful of what you put in your mouth. Be careful not to eat foods that irritate your mouth, be gentle when brushing your teeth, eat healthy, and try to reduce your stress levels.

At the Silberg Center for Dental Science, we want to help you keep your mouth healthy and comfortable. While canker sores are not always avoidable, we’ll do whatever we can to make them bearable.

At the Silberg Center for Dental Science, we believe in holding ourselves to a higher standard. Instead of simply treating your dental concerns and sending you on your way, we strive to partner with each of our patients to provide them with the education and self-esteem that they deserve. We understand some of the inherent challenges that new patients can face, such as embarrassment about their dental condition, financial obligations, anxiety about dental work, and the longevity of repairs—which is why we make these promises to our patients.

We promise to always treat you with dignity and respect.

When you walk into our office, our goal is to make you feel like a part of the team. Our front desk staff will greet you with a smile, and we will quietly and discreetly discuss things like paperwork and insurance coverage. We know that you have other options when it comes to dental care, which is why we treat every single patient with the utmost dignity and respect, without exception.

We promise to always do and say what is right and what is best for you.

Dental concerns can be complicated and illusive, which is why some patients worry about undergoing suggested procedures. However, here at the Silberg Center for Dental Science, we promise to never put our own financial interests ahead of the importance of your care. We will always do and say what is best for you, and we understand that your dental care is up to you.

We promise to facilitate your health care decisions with education, caring and compassion.

Every patient is different, which is why we work hard to treat all of our patients with care and compassion. From the smallest children to the most experienced senior, we will treat every patient like they matter—because you do. We are also committed to helping our patients understand their oral health through providing dental education. We will take the time to explain your current condition, where your treatment might need to go, or why certain procedures were necessary in the past. We never want to leave you in the dark, so we always set aside enough time to discuss all of your dental health concerns.

We will never manipulate or pressure you to accept treatment. We will support you to achieve the highest level of health to which you aspire.

Because every person is different, the dental care that might be right for your friend or neighbor might not be something that you are interested in. Because of this, we promise to never pressure you to undergo dental procedures. We want you to feel completely in charge of your dental health, and we will help you to meet your goals—not the other way around.

We promise to keep our education and our technology up to date and will continue to be the leading implant and periodontal practice in the tri-state area

Unlike some other dental practices, we work hard to maintain our level of education through attending additional courses and investing in the best equipment. For example, the Silberg Center for Dental Science offers the innovative Pinhole Surgical Technique™, which is the least invasive gum grafting procedure available. Dr. Silberg also offers services such as laser dentistry, which reduces recovery time and increases patient comfort, and newer dental implants and abutments that are stronger and have a longer lifespan.

For more information about the promises we make to our patients, check out our website or make an appointment with the Silberg Center for Dental Science today.

If you struggle with receding gums, there are many different treatments available to you. Your Pittsburgh periodontist, Dr. Silberg, is trained in many different preventive and corrective procedures to ensure that your smile is healthy and beautiful. One of the more innovative approaches he offers is called Alloderm tissue grafts.

Traditionally, in a gum graft procedure, gum tissue is harvested from the roof of the mouth, and then grafted directly in to the problem area of recession. This can be a painful procedure, with an uncomfortable recovery. However, Dr. Silberg now offers Alloderm tissue grafts, which are a healthy, low-risk alternative to the traditional method.

What is Alloderm?

Alloderm is a regenerative dermal tissue donation which has been aseptically processed to remove cells, and freeze-dried to remove any moisture, while preserving the biological components and dermal structure. It can be grafted right in to your own tissue to create a seamless, natural solution to your receding gums. Alloderm has been used in over a million patients, over a span of more than 10 years in dental settings, with excellent results.

How does it work?

Alloderm tissue grafts are used to replace any missing gum tissue you may be experiencing. At your procedure, your gums will be gently pulled back to reveal the roots. The roots will be planed and demineralized to aid in the bonding of new tissue to the surface of the root. Small incisions are made to create a passageway between the tooth and the gum tissue. Next, the Alloderm tissue grafts are carefully placed in the space created, filling in the gaps where gum recession has occurred. Finally, the gums and grafts are sutured securely in place to allow healing to occur. An antibiotic or an anti-inflammatory medication may be prescribed to help make the healing process more comfortable and to prevent infection.

Because Alloderm tissue components are acellular, they are virtually risk-free from biological rejection, as well as transmittable disease. All tissue samples are thoroughly screened and treated with an aseptic procedure to prevent complications from arising as a result of the graft.

To learn more about this and other procedures we offer, visit our comprehensive website. Give us a call to set up a consultation and to see if Alloderm gum grafts may be the best option for you. As a qualified and experienced periodontist, Dr. Silberg and he staff are fully prepared to make your gums as strong and beautiful as they can be.

We live in an exciting time when it comes to modern dental procedures and technology. Virtually anyone today can shine a beautiful smile, thanks to technology and techniques that correct many common dental problems.

The following infographic developed by Carrington.edu illustrates some of the most interesting and surprising findings about dental health. According to the research, attractive white teeth can make a person appear at least 20 percent more attractive and can shave off as much as five years from your apparent age.

Understanding the Possibilities

Both children and adults can benefit from correcting missing, misaligned or discolored teeth. However, achieving and maintaining that brilliant smile often represents a significant investment in time and money.

The infographic points out that a whopping 164 million work hours are spent by adults receiving dental care each year, and another 51 million school hours are required for the dental needs of children.

The dollar cost also represents a significant investment. A few of the more common procedures average:

• Braces – $5,000
• Veneers – $ 10,000 to $30,000 per set
• Dental implants – $2,000 to $4,000 per tooth
• Root canal – $1,000 per tooth

Of course, those costs are a minor consideration for a lifetime of healthy teeth and beautiful smiles. In the first place, dental health plays a very big role in your overall physical health. The highly regarded Mayo Clinic has identified many ways poor dental health may affect you, including aggravating several serious medical conditions.

The cosmetic value of a great smile cannot be overstated, either. A number of different surveys continue to document that the appearance of your teeth and smile is a major factor in your success and social acceptance. With this perspective, you can see why a reasonable investment in your dental health and appearance is extremely important.

Proactive Protection Is Essential

It is equally as important to protect your investment in a great smile by ensuring proper dental hygiene. For example, you can damage your teeth from poor dental habits such as frequent teeth grinding. If you feel this is a problem, check with your dentist for solutions, or take time to explore how it may be rooted in such factors as frustration and feelings of anxiety and anger.

You could also benefit from paying attention to what you eat and drink to better avoid staining and damaging your teeth. Certain foods and beverages have chemicals and acids that can stain and etch teeth very quickly. These include:

• Coffee
• Wine
• Colas
• Berries
• Tea
• Candies

If you drink these liquids, try to use a straw and always swallow as quickly as possible. Also, rinse with water as soon afterwards as possible. A beautiful smile is something everyone can aspire to, and could be well worth the investment. Be sure to regularly schedule dental checkups and maintain good oral hygiene.