Josh Bernstein, DDS, Cosmetic Dentist
San Francisco's Cosmetic Dentistry
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Janet had veneers placed on her front teeth many years ago, along with a crown over a root canal on her right lateral incisor. She didn't like the position or the look of the crown and she felt like her veneers weren't white enough or shaped the way she wanted them. It was important to Janet that her teeth look very natural so that no one really noticed a major change in her appearance. In 2 visits, we replaced the crown and the veneers, giving her the all new, very natural smile she has been wanting. Josh Bernstein, DDS Founder and President, Dental Comfort Academy http://www.allnewsmiles.com http://www.sanfranciscosedationdentist.com http://www.comfortacademy.org http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1eTrwCfu5Y
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Patients who have difficulty breathing through their nose are often very uncomfortable at the dentist. Because they are forced to breathe through their mouth, they have problems with gagging, choking, claustrophobia, impressions, cotton rolls, rubber dams, water spray, retraction etc. For many reasons beyond the scope of this post, it is important to be able to breathe through the nose, and an ENT referral is a good idea to help these patients. However, a simple solution at every dental visit for a mouth breather is Breathe Right Strips. Breathe Right Strips are like spring loaded Band Aids that are applied across the bridge of the nose. Once they are stuck on, they hold the nostrils open wider, allowing air to flow more freely through the nose. Professional athletes are often seen on the playing field wearing Breathe Right Strips to help them with maximum air exchange. Others with allergies, deviated septums, sinus problems or snorers use Breathe Right Strips every night for sleep. Try Breathe Right Strips for your next dental appointment if you are a mouth breather. You may even want to wear them every night for a better night's sleep.
Josh Bernstein, DDS Founder and President, Dental Comfort Academy http://www.allnewsmiles.com http://www.sanfranciscosedationdentist.com http://www.comfortacademy.org http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1eTrwCfu5Y
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
See what happens when Super Bowl Champion, Tracy Porter, lends out his Pure Power Mouthguard! If you want to improve your game the way Tracy Porter did, give us a call today!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
As one of the few dentists in the San Francisco Bay Area that treats TMJ/TMD, I have learned something that is apparent in nearly every case. TMJ is a symptom of an underlying problem. That problem is almost always some form of airway obstruction. There are exceptions to every rule and the case of trauma is the exception here. But airway obstruction is a major underlying cause of TMJ problems. Airway obstruction affects oral development, and when the mouth doesn't form ideally, bite problems and TMJ are often the results. As I have come to recognize this, I have discovered an extraordinarily large number of patients who are at high risk for Obstructive Sleep Apnea or who already have it. OSA is a serious condition that can be life threatening because patients stop breathing in their sleep. OSA patients are also at higher risk for heart attacks and stroke--and they have a 20% shorter average life span.
Until recently, the treatments for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) have been:
1. UPPP surgery, where the back of the throat is treated to create more airway. 2. The Pillar Procedure, where tiny implants are used to support the soft palate to keep it from collapsing into the airway. 3. Jaw Advancement Surgery (MMA) where the upper and lower jaws are moved forward to create more room. 4. Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy to remove tonsils and adenoids to create more airway. 5. Sinus/nasal surgery to allow easier breathing through the nose. 6. C.P.A.P. machines to force air into the lungs during sleep. (Like life support.)
Some of these surgeries have high success rates. Some do not. And surgery always carries risk. Then again, so does OSA. CPAP machines are an effective non surgical option, but many patients don't like sleeping with a mask on, so they don't use their CPAP machine. So what is a nice non-surgical option that has a high success rate?
There is a dental appliance called the Somnodent, made by Somnomed that is very effective and is as easy to wear as a dental bite guard. Somnodent is a Mandibular Advancement Splint (M.A.S.). As you may have learned if you have taken C.P.R., one of the ways to open the airway is to jut the jaw forward. Somnodent opens the jaw slightly and brings the lower jaw forward, effectively opening the airway.
Somnodent is an excellent option for patients who snore or who have Obstructive Sleep Apnea. It is easy for the patient to have a Somnodent made here in our office. All it takes is simple dental impressions and bite records. For more information on Somnodent. Or just call our office.
Josh Bernstein, DDS Founder and President, Dental Comfort Academy
Monday, February 15, 2010
I love older dental patients. Now that I have a few clicks on my own odometer, I have a far greater appreciation for seniors than I did when I was a kid. In general, they are nice and polite. They have vast life experience, which they are only too happy to share with someone who is smart enough to listen. And they have a genuine appreciation for their teeth.
Today, I saw one of my senior dental patients, who I have been seeing for nearly 25 years. She has had quite a few health problems lately, including cancer and heart disease, not to mention a broken hip. I remember the jokes in dental school--and later--about similar patients who seemed to be in "God's waiting room." We were only supposed to "patch them up." (!) My patient today has some serious dental problems now as a result of her cancer treatment. She is a tough little thing and seems to be surviving against the odds.
Contrary to what some dentists might think, this patients does not want extractions and dentures. Nor does she want "patchwork" dentistry. The chemotherapy took it's toll and she has lost a few teeth. She may lose a few more. But she wants to save what she can and replace the missing ones with dental implants. In short, she wants the best. As we get older, and our recreation and entertainment options become more limited, eating what we like remains one of life's great pleasures. Being able to eat with your own teeth adds immeasurably to the enjoyment of our senior patients.
Lucky, the patient I saw today has the moral support of her family in taking care of her teeth. Josh Bernstein, DDS Founder and President, Dental Comfort Academy http://www.allnewsmiles.com http://www.sanfranciscosedationdentist.com http://www.comfortacademy.org http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1eTrwCfu5Y
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
While many dentists are reporting that the economy is inhibiting patients from seeking out the Cosmetic Dentistry they want, we have noticed that the patients who really want to improve their smiles are doing it. From aging baby boomers to brides-to-be to job seekers, patients are getting the smile they've always wanted. "In this economy? What about affordability?" you might wonder. Even before The Great Recession, many of our patients chose to make low monthly payments for dentistry of all varieties, from crowns to fix broken teeth, to complete smile makeovers with porcelain veneers. Using Springstone and Care Credit, patients are able to get their dental care with no down payment and low monthly payments. Today, we consulted with 3 patients who are interested in getting porcelain veneers and all of them are looking into making affordable monthly payments. To get the smile you've always wanted or the regular dentistry you've been needing, call or click today. High quality dentistry is surprisingly affordable. Josh Bernstein, DDS Founder and President, Dental Comfort Academy http://www.allnewsmiles.com http://www.sanfranciscosedationdentist.com http://www.comfortacademy.org http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1eTrwCfu5Y
Monday, February 08, 2010
Dr. Bernstein provides Makkar Pure Power Mouthguards and Neuromuscular Dentistry in Piedmont, Oakland, San Francisco, Berkeley, Alameda, Orinda, Moraga, Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Danville and throughout the entire Bay Area.
Tracy Porter's interception and touchdown were the highlight of the Super Bowl! His reaction was instantaneous, he had lightning speed, and that touchdown sealed the victory for the New Orleans Saints. Tracy Porter is an outstanding athlete along with every single player on the field. So what gave him--and the entire New Orleans Saints squad--an edge?
The New Orleans Saints wear the Makkar Pure Power Mouthguard. The PPM, as its known, is proven in a Rutgers University Study to improve strength, flexibility, and balance. The PPM places the jaw in an optimal physiological position neuromuscularly. Neuromuscular Dentistry has been used for decades to solve TMJ problems and improve the function of the jaw. Recently, it was discovered how this optimal position translated to improved performance in athletics of all varieties.
Are you interested in improving your game with a simple mouthpiece? Call us today at 510-601-7645 to see how you can benefit from the science of Neuromuscular Dentistry. And if you are suffering from jaw or bite problems, explore how Neuromuscular Dentistry can help you. Josh Bernstein, DDS Founder and President, Dental Comfort Academy http://www.allnewsmiles.com http://www.sanfranciscosedationdentist.com http://www.comfortacademy.org http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1eTrwCfu5Y
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