Many people have skipped their dental visits during the pandemic and Covid-19 concerns. Why is this an issue? According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, studies suggest a relationship between periodontal disease (gum disease) and the inflammation that can proceed heart attacks and strokes. "Periodontal disease is an...
Congratulations to Dr. Katz for being voted a top dentist in Bergen County in Bergen Magazine. This is his third year in a row! "Being a top dentist is quite an honor," said Dr. Katz. The process was a peer-review survey of hundreds of practicing and active dentists across the...
We are all so hyper aware of germs and sanitizing our personal space now more than ever before. One object that we frequently touch with our hands and face, on a daily basis, is our phones. Here are 3 tips for disinfecting your phone. Turn it off- Turn your device completely...
Every day we hear about changes to policies that our government is putting into place to try and stay ahead of the COVID-19 virus. Currently, Emerson Dental Arts is closed. We are, however, allowed to make arrangements for the time being to see patients who have dental emergencies. If you...
You feel it, and you know instantly what it is. That intermittent tingling on your lip and the slight swelling. Another dreaded cold sore!! People often confuse canker sores with cold sores (also called fever blisters). Cold sores are groups of painful blisters filled with fluid that appear around the...
October is National Dental Hygiene month. It is also the month we celebrate Halloween. It’s kind of ironic, or perhaps October was chosen for NDH on purpose? Every year at Emerson Dental Arts, we support the oral health of local kids by hosting a Halloween Candy Donation. The idea is...
October is National Dental Hygiene month (founded in 2009). This month is dedicated to promoting good oral health habits and recognizing all of the hard work Hygienists do. We are honoring our Dental "Hygiene Queens," Kathy and Jenn!! They are dedicated professionals and we are so lucky to have them! ...
What Makes a Great Smile? It’s interesting to me when people come in to my office for a cosmetic consultation and they want their smiles to be better. They usually have some ideas about how to improve their smiles, but usually focus on one or two teeth that they...
Many of you may have seen or heard about the Netflix Documentary called “Root Cause.” The premise of this documentary is that root canal treatments can cause systemic chronic diseases such as MS, Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid Arthritis and even certain Cancers. As with many documentaries, this one can be alarming to...
Graduation season is upon us and many young adults will be navigating their way into the “real world.” One absolute in adulthood, is to go on the all important job interview. A recent high school or college graduate, may have already been exposed to this right of passage by...
Mike knew he needed to do something about his front teeth on the top. They were in rough shape and he had unsightly spaces. Although he was very self conscious about his smile, he didn’t really want to change it. Mike’s wife is a nurse practitioner and is very health...
The day started out like any other for Kristen C. She was a high school senior and she was waiting around with her friends for gym class to start. One friend, who was joking around, quickly picked Kristen up to throw her over his shoulder; but that didn’t end well. ...
Finally, summer weather has arrived! And with the onset of summer comes some cool drinks that are not so great for your teeth. Here are some of the frequent summer drinks that cause damage and alternatives that you can try. -Iced Coffee-as you probably know, coffee causes a lot of...
Usually, it’s a good idea to start bringing your child for his first dental visit around 3.5 to 4 years of age. A good indicator is if the child is potty trained. That usually means they have some understanding of control and can modify their behavior. A young child will...
There has been growing scientific evidence that poor oral hygiene boosts the risks of heart attacks and strokes. New studies link bacteria and bacterial infections as independent risk factors for heart disease. How does this happen? If you have gum disease (and 90% of the population has some form of...
As with a lot of things, technological advances have made huge strides in health care. This is especially true with dentistry. There are basically 2 types of lasers. One works on “soft tissue” like your gums and lips. The other works on “hard tissue”, which includes teeth and bone. Most...
As technology helps us with everyday activities, it also can improve your experience with your dentist. Here are some of the latest technological advancements in dentistry that you can benefit from: Digital X-Rays- These are x-rays taken by computer. Your benefit is drastically reduced radiation to you. It’s a great...
How do you find a good dentist? Obviously a referral from a family member or friend is probably the best way. But if that is not an option, here are some other ways:Check the internet, and check websites. Does the website look like the dental office put some thought into...
A lot of people ask me this question. They’ve seen their parents or friends with dentures and they do not want to go down that road. This is what I tell them: Many people lose some if not all of their teeth because of gum disease. Gum disease...
Teeth whitening or dental bleaching is a way for you to make your teeth whiter by chemically changing the color of your teeth. You are a candidate for this procedure if you have healthy teeth with few fillings and healthy gums. If you have existing crowns, caps or veneers on...
As a dental hygienist, I am constantly asked by my patients which toothpaste is the best. The number of choices available today certainly can be overwhelming, but my answer is always the same. It’s not the toothpaste you use, but how you brush that makes all the difference. Plaque is the...
We get this question a lot in my practice, so let’s get to it. If you have sensitivity to temperature change, for example hot and cold liquids, in one tooth, you may have a nerve that is becoming or is already non-vital. What does this mean? When a tooth gets...
When you get a sore inside your mouth…what is it? Well it could be one of a few things: Canker sores- Canker sores are small, white areas of swelling or soreness surrounded by redness. They are not contagious. The cause of canker sores is uncertain, but some research suggests that...
This is another question I get asked frequently. What is an amalgam filling? It’s basically a combination of different metals, including about 50% mercury. Studies have shown that that over time, fillings lose their mercury content. The longer the fillings are in your mouth, the higher the amount of mercury...
You’ve probably heard of someone complaining of TMJ pain, or have experienced it yourself. What is it? The TMJ is the joint where the upper and lower jaws meet. Temporomandibular disorders can represent a wide array of head pain problems such as: ringing in the ears, clicking or locking of...
I get a lot of patients who come to my office for 2nd opinions wanting to know if their previous dentist messed up, misdiagnosed, or was just plain incompetent. A lot of issues between patients and doctors are due to miscommunication. The doctor is not listening to the patient, and...
Question: I have gum recession. Am I brushing my teeth too hard? Answer: No. Gum recession is a result of several factors. One major factor is the way your teeth meet together. Certain teeth will take more of the biting load than others, and that can cause your gums around...