Our Comprehensive Range of Procedures and Expert Care Ensure Optimal Dental Health

At the office of Dr. David J. Weinstock, we offer complete dental services so that you can get the care you need to achieve a smile that is as healthy as it is beautiful. Dr. Weinstock's broad education, advanced training, and extensive experience ensure that all of our patients receive the comprehensive dental care they need. With crowns and bridges, as well as dental implants, Dr. Weinstock can replace missing teeth so that our patients regain full dental functionality and a beautiful smile. Using advanced scaling and root planning techniques, Dr. Weinstock is also able to restore the health of gums and helps patients avoid serious periodontal problems.

Dr. Weinstock's expertise in TMJ disorders means that those who suffer the debilitating symptoms of TMJ dysfunction can finally get the relief they have been seeking. Dental sealants help our younger patients avoid cavities. Dr. Weinstock's effective treatments for chronic bad breath eliminate the embarrassment of halitosis, and our ViziLite® Plus oral lesion identification and marking system can provide early warning of oral cancer. Explore the links below to learn more about the highly effective procedures that Dr. David Weinstock performs to give our patients the healthiest, most beautiful smiles possible.

Repairing Damaged Teeth

If you have missing teeth or have damaged teeth we are able to repair or restore them enhancing the natural beauty of your smile. Our practice can treat:

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Crowns

A crown ("cap") is a tooth-like covering placed over a carefully prepared pre-existing tooth. Crowns serve many functions, such as to strengthen, restore or improve the appearance and anatomy of your natural tooth. For example, a crown can help strengthen and support a tooth when there is no longer sufficient tooth structure left to hold a filling. Crowns can also be used to protect the structure of a tooth that has experienced a crack or a fracture. Crowns can be used to attach to bridges or partial dentures.

Crowns (“caps”) are made of porcelain (and sometimes a thin layer of metal for support and strength). The crown is carefully fit on the prepared tooth and will fit under the gum tissue to hide the junction between tooth and the crown. The crowns are put in place using a special dental adhesive. The objective of this procedure is for the final crown to look as natural as possible and feel like your own tooth.

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Bridges

A bridge is a custom-made device that is used to replace a missing tooth or teeth by anchoring to neighboring teeth on either side. When a lost tooth is replaced with bridgework, the teeth on either side of the missing one are commonly prepared as we would for a crown. The preparation of both teeth allows us to create sufficient space to accommodate the materials needed to serve as abutments to hold the prosthetic (replacement) tooth in place. Crowns and bridges are most often made from superior materials such as semiprecious or precious metals, porcelain, or a fused combination of the two materials and a ceramic material. The metal substructure serves to give the bridge its strength and the porcelain permits us to achieve excellent aesthetics. Beauty, function, and tissue compatibility are considered when selecting the material most suitable for you. The bridge is carefully fit on the prepared teeth. The bridge will fit under the gum tissue to hide the junction between tooth and the bridge. The bridges are put in place using a special adhesive dental cement. The objective of this procedure is for the final bridge to look as natural as possible and feel like your own teeth. All ceramic bridges are now an option for treatment. They have a substructure made of a material called Zirconia. The Zirconia has the strength of metal and can be used as a substitute for conventional porcelain fused to metal bridges.

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Scaling & Root Planing

Progression periodontal disease is the major cause of tooth loss in adults. It is an inflammatory disease that results in the destruction of tooth-supporting bone. The gum inflammation is caused mainly by the accumulation of bacterial plaque below the gum line.

Bacterial plaque is a soft, sticky, toxic mass which attaches to teeth along and underneath the gum line. If the plaque is not removed by regular brushing and flossing, it hardens and becomes tartar, or calculus. As the tartar develops, it forms a cohesive bond with the root surface of the tooth. Tartar can only be removed by the dentist or hygienist through scaling and root planing (SRP).

When not removed, bacterial irritants and toxins cause the gums to become inflamed and tender. The tooth-supporting bone responds to this inflammation by simply melting away. Left untreated, the resulting bone loss will leave behind pockets of gum around the affected teeth. These pockets will harbor still more plaque, bacteria, and tartar in an area that is inaccessible to the patient. The progress of the disease will usually accelerate. Periodontal disease is often painless in its early and moderate stages.

Scaling and root planing refers to the meticulous polishing of the tooth surface and cleaning of roots and the surrounding tissues. It establishes a healthy environment necessary for healing. In many procedure instances, SRP is the only procedure necessary. However, in more advanced cases additional treatments may be necessary to eliminate periodontal pockets through surgical intervention. For your comfort, a local anesthetic can be used during the procedure.

If you have any questions about how scaling and root planing can help you preserve your beautiful smile, please ask the doctor or hygienist.

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Dental Implants

If you have experienced tooth loss, you are not alone. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), more than 20 million people in the United States are missing all of their natural teeth, and more than 100 million are missing from 11 to 15 teeth. In 1997, dental professionals performed 500,000 dental implant procedures worldwide.

Dental implants offer a permanent solution to missing teeth. For over 40 years, dental implants have brought naturally beautiful, confident smiles to patients. A dental implant is a small titanium screw or cylinder which is surgically placed in the upper or lower jawbone. The implant replaces the root of the missing tooth, providing an anchor of your new tooth/teeth. Many patients choose dental implants over other procedures, because the result is permanent and gives you a natural appearance.

Dental implants are designed to provide a foundation for the replacement of teeth. They look, feel, and function like your natural teeth. The person who has lost teeth regains the ability to eat virtually anything and can smile with confidence, knowing that teeth appear natural and that facial contours will be preserved. Implants can help preserve facial structure, preventing the bony structure from deterioration. This commonly occurs when teeth are lost or are missing.

Dental implants are changing the way people live! With them, people are rediscovering the comfort and confidence to eat, speak, laugh and enjoy life.

If, like many others, you feel implant dentistry is the choice for you, we ask that you undergo a dental/radiographic examination and health history. During your consultation visits, your specific situation and needs can be addressed by Dr. Weinstock. Your questions and concerns are important to us, and our team will work with you very closely to help make your procedure a success.

Procedure

Dental implants are metal anchors that act as implant tooth root substitutes. They are surgically placed into the jawbone. Small posts, called abutments, are attached to the implants. These protrude through the gums, allowing a conventional crown to be attached to the implant. Dental implants provide stable anchors for artificial replacement teeth.

For most patients, the placement of dental implants involves one or two surgical procedures. First, implants are placed within your jawbone. For the first three to six months following surgery, the implants are healing beneath the surface of the gums gradually bonding with the jawbone. Patients are able to wear temporary bridges or dentures and are able to eat during this time. While your implants are healing or integrating, your restoration can be designed. Your final bridgework or denture, when completed, will ultimately improve both function and aesthetics. For most patients the entire procedure usually takes six to eight months. Most patients do not experience any disruption in their daily life.

Immediate Implant Placement

Dental implants can be placed directly into the extraction site of teeth that have fractured and we find them impossible to save. The extraction socket of a natural tooth is the ideal position for a dental implant. Placing an implant in the extraction socket gives us the greatest potential to reclaim the natural esthetics of that tooth. The placement of an implant in the exact position of the tooth makes the aesthetic replacement of that tooth a predictable possibility.

Guided Implant Surgery

This treatment option is available for patients who desire to have temporary teeth replacement on the same day your dental implants are surgically placed.

How many implants do I need?

Most frequently, one implant per missing tooth is placed. Because many of the larger teeth in the back of your jaws have two or three roots, the most common approach is to replace missing back teeth with larger implants, especially if there has been moderate bone loss or if there is evidence of excessive biting force or tooth grinding habits.

How long will the implants last?

Implants last a long time. Of patients who were missing all of their teeth, long-term studies (more than 30 years) show an 80 to 90 percent success rate. For patients missing one or several teeth, six-year studies show a success rate of greater than 90 percent, which compares favorably with other areas in the body that receive implant replacement (such as hips or knees). However, if one of your dental implants doesn't heal properly or loosens after a period of time, you may need to have it removed. After the site heals (or on occasion at the time of removal), another implant usually can be placed.

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TMJ Dysfunction Treatment

Many people grind and clench their teeth. These parafunctional habits can create headaches and tenderness of the jaw muscles and joints. Although stress is often a factor, these symptoms are usually related to problems with the jaw muscles and the jaw, or TM (Temporomandibular) Joint.

TMJ disorders are more easily diagnosed and treated than they were in the past. Since some types of TMJ problems can lead to more serious conditions, early detection and treatment are important.

No one treatment can resolve TMJ disorders completely, and treatment takes time to be effective. Dr. Weinstock can help you have a healthier and more comfortable jaw.

Trouble with your jaw?

TMJ disorders develop for many reasons. You might clench or grind your teeth, tightening your jaw muscles and stressing your TM Joint. Or, you may have a damaged jaw joint due to injury or disease.

Whatever the cause, the results may include excessive tooth wear, clicking or grinding noises in the TM Joint, as well as pain or difficulty in opening or closing one's mouth.

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Sealants

Sealants are a safe and painless way of protecting your children's teeth from dental decay. A sealant is a protective plastic coating, which is applied to the biting surfaces of the back teeth. The sealant forms a hard shield that keeps food and bacteria from getting into the tiny grooves and fissures and causing decay.

Which teeth should be sealed? - Sealants are usually applied to the back teeth — the molars and premolars — as these are the teeth that have the pits and fissures on their biting surfaces. Your dentist will advise you which teeth should be sealed after they have been examined. Some teeth naturally form with deep grooves, which will need to be sealed, others with shallow ones, which will not need sealing.

What is involved? - The process is usually quick and straightforward, taking only a few minutes per tooth. The tooth is thoroughly cleaned, prepared with a special solution, and dried. The liquid sealant is then applied and allowed to set hard by shining an activating light onto it.

Will my child feel it? - The procedure is totally pain free, and the teeth do not feel any different afterwards.

How long do they last? - Sealants last for many years, but your dentist will want to check them regularly to make sure that the seal is still intact. They can wear over time, and sometimes it is necessary to add or replace some sealant to be sure that no decay can start underneath them.

When should this be done? - Sealants are often applied as soon as the permanent teeth start to come through. This is usually between 6 and 7 years of age. The rest are usually sealed as soon as they appear which can be any time between 11 and 21 years of age.

Do my children still have to clean their teeth? - Yes. Good oral hygiene is still an absolute necessity. The smooth, sealed surface is now much easier to keep clean and healthy with normal tooth brushing. The use of fluoride toothpaste will also help to protect your children's teeth. Pit and fissure sealing reduces tooth decay and therefore the number of fillings your child might need.

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ViziLite® Plus – Oral Lesion Identification and Marking System

Fortunately, there's a simple technology to help in your fight against oral cancer. ViziLite® Plus aids in the early identification of oral abnormalities that can lead to cancer. Approved by the FDA, ViziLite® Plus allows Dr. Weinstock to offer superior care to patients. An annual ViziLite® Plus exams can be performed during your routine dental maintenance visit.

The ViziLite® Plus Oral Screening Procedure

ViziLite® Plus can be offered to all new patients and it is advisable to have for adult patients to have an exam during a routine maintenance visit following the standard head and neck exam. Patients with a history of oral cancer should receive at least semi-annual ViziLite® Plus exams.

As is the case with most cancers, age is the primary risk factor for oral cancer.

Though approximately 90 percent of oral cancer victims are age 40 and older, recent studies indicate that increasingly, patients younger than age 40 are being diagnosed with oral cancer. Although tobacco and alcohol use are the primary lifestyle risk factors that contribute to the development of oral cancer, 27 percent of oral cancer victims do not use tobacco or alcohol, and have no lifestyle risk factors. Oral cancer affects twice as many men more than women, but oral cancer in women is on the rise nationwide.

For more information on VizLite® Plus, visit www.vizlite.com.

Bad Breath Treatment

There are two types of bad breath: transitory bad breath and chronic halitosis.

Transitory bad breath is caused by foods like garlic and onions and generally only lasts from 1 to 3 days.

An estimated forty million Americans, however, suffer from chronic halitosis, or bad breath. Because our sense of smell has an incredible ability to adjust to odors, many people with halitosis aren't even aware of their problem breath.

About 10 percent of the time, chronic bad breath is actually caused by underlying medical conditions like diabetes, sinusitis or emphysema. Your dentist can help diagnose the various types and causes of bad breath.

The pungent, "rotten egg" odor of chronic bad breath usually results when bacteria in the mouth and on the tongue cause the formation of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs). Most over-the-counter mouthwashes will effectively mask these compounds for only a few hours, at best.

Although there is no permanent cure for most cases, long-term treatment for halitosis can be easy, convenient and effective.

Our oral hygiene department is trained in the effective management of bad breath. We use comprehensive techniques, including the BreathRx™ Breath Management System, to neutralize and remove odor-causing bacteria and VSCs from the teeth and tongue.

Ask how we can help you attain the fresh, clean breath you want and deserve.

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Sports Mouthguards

Dental injuries are the most common type of facial injury sustained during sports participation in America. According to the National Youth Sports Foundation, more than five million teeth will be knocked out in sporting activities this year alone. The American Dental Association estimates that over 200,000 of these injuries are prevented each year by the use of sports mouthguards.

The lifetime dental rehabilitation costs can approach several thousand dollars per tooth for the athlete who loses a tooth (or teeth) in a sporting injury. In fact, replacing a single knocked-out tooth will cost more than 20 times the preventive cost of a custom fit, professional grade mouthguard.

If you or your child plays soccer, baseball, softball, volleyball, rollerblading, skateboarding, martial arts, boxing, kickboxing, roller hockey, ice hockey or lacrosse, wearing a custom fabricated mouthguard could significantly reduce the chance of dental injury and the reduce risk of concussion.

Over-the-counter, boil and bite type mouthguards do not fit as accurately as custom fabricated types. They are often uncomfortable and interfere with breathing and speaking. Boil and bite mouthguards provide a false sense of protection due to the dramatic decrease in thickness created when the athlete bites the softened mouthpiece into place.

No child should be participating in sports with out wearing a custom made athletic guard.

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Fluoride Applications

What is fluoride and how does it reduce tooth decay?

Fluoride is a naturally occurring element that prevents tooth decay systemically when ingested during tooth development and topically when applied to erupted teeth. Systemic fluorides are those that are ingested into the body and become incorporated into newly forming teeth.

Systemic fluorides taken regularly during the time when teeth are developing (6 months to 16+ years of age) are deposited throughout the entire tooth surface and provide longer-lasting protection than those applied topically.

Sources of systemic fluorides include water, dietary fluoride supplements in the forms of tablets, drops or lozenges, and fluoride present in food and beverages. Topical fluorides strengthen teeth already present in the mouth. In this method of delivery, fluoride is absorbed into the surface of the teeth, making them more decay-resistant.

Topical fluorides include toothpastes, mouth rinses and professionally applied fluoride gels, foams and rinses.

Researchers have observed fluoride's decay preventive effects in three specific ways:

1. Fluoride makes tooth enamel harder and more resistant to the acid that causes tooth decay.

2. It reduces the ability of dental plaque organisms to produce acid.

3. Fluoride promotes the remineralization (repair) of tooth enamel in the early stages of tooth decay.

Did you know?

Research shows that fluoride reduces cavities by up to 50 percent in children.

As a direct result of water fluoridation and over-the-counter fluoride products, half of the children entering the first grade today have never had a single cavity, compared with 36 percent in 1980 and 28 percent in the early 1970s.

People who drink optimally fluoridated water from birth have up to 40 percent fewer cavities over their lifetimes.

Do adults benefit from fluoridation?

Fluoride benefits people of all ages in two ways. Studies have clearly shown that the presence of topical fluoride in an adult's mouth during the initial formation of decay can not only stop the decay process, but also make the enamel surface more resistant to future acid attacks. Additionally, the presence of systemic fluoride in saliva provides a reservoir of fluoride ions that can be incorporated into the tooth surface to prevent decay.

Is water fluoridation safe?

Since the 1930s, hundreds of carefully conducted scientific studies have shown that water fluoridation, at the concentrations recommended for decay prevention, has no harmful effects. Fluoridation of community water supplies is a valuable public health measure supported by the American Dental Association, the World Health Organization, the U.S. Public Health Service, the American Medical Association and the American Cancer Society.

Does bottled water or well water provide fluoride protection against decay?

The vast majority of bottled waters on the market do not contain optimal levels (0.7-1.2 ppm) of fluoride. Additionally, reverse osmosis home treatment systems remove significant amounts of fluoride from the water supply. Consumers on well water, or who use home water treatment systems, should have their water tested at least annually to establish the fluoride level of the treated water. Testing is available through local and state public health departments. Private laboratories may also offer testing for fluoride levels in water.

What types of fluoride products are available?

Dietary fluoride supplements are available only by prescription. They are available in two forms: drops for infants aged six months and up, and chewable tablets for children and adolescents.

There are a variety of topical fluoride rinses, gels and foams that are available either as office treatments, or by prescription. Many over-the-counter products are useful, as well. Your dentist or hygienist will be happy to discuss which of these products may be of benefit to you.

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Post-Op Information

All informational materials and instructions provided in these sections are intended as basic and general guidelines for post-treatment care. If you have any questions regarding your treatment that are not covered here, please contact our office at 610-667-2770 and we will provide you with personalized instructions and answer any questions you may have. If you are having a true dental emergency please contact our office at 610-667-2770 and contact Dr. Weinstock on his beeper.

After Crown & Bridge Appointments

Crowns and bridges usually take two or three appointments to complete. In the first visit the teeth are prepared and molds of the teeth are taken. Temporary crowns or bridges are placed to protect the teeth and reduce sensitivity while the custom restorations are being made. After the procedure the teeth and tissue may still be anesthetized, so please refrain from eating and drinking hot beverages as the tongue, lips and roof of the mouth may be numb. Eat only when the numbness has completely worn off.

Occasionally a temporary crown or bridge may come off. Call us if this happens and bring the temporary crown with you so we can re-cement it. It is very important for the temporary to stay in place as it will prevent other teeth from moving and preventing a proper fit of your final restoration.

It is normal to experience some hot, cold and pressure sensitivity after each appointment. The sensitivity should subside a few weeks after the delivery of the final restoration. Mild pain medications like Tylenol or Advil (Motrin) may also be used as directed by our office.

To keep your temporaries in place, avoid eating sticky foods (gum), hard foods, and if possible, chew on the opposite side of your mouth. It is important to brush normally, but floss carefully and don’t pull up on the floss, as that may dislodge the temporary. Rather, pull the floss out from the side of the temporary crown.

If your bite feels uneven, if you have persistent pain, or if you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to call our office at 610-667-2770.

After Tooth Extractions

After a tooth extraction, it is important for a blood clot to form to stop the bleeding and begin the healing process. That is why we ask you to bite on a gauze pad for 30 to 45 minutes after the appointment. If the bleeding or oozing still persists, place another gauze pad and bite firmly for another 30 minutes. You may have to do this several times.

After the blood clot forms, it is important not to disturb or dislodge the clot as it aids healing. Do not rinse vigorously, suck on straws, smoke, drink alcohol or brush teeth next to the extraction site for next 72 hours. These activities will dislodge or dissolve the clot and retard the healing process. Limit vigorous exercise for the next 24 hours as it will increase blood pressure and increase bleeding from the extraction site.

After the tooth is extracted you may feel some pain and experience some swelling. An ice pack or an unopened bag of frozen peas or corn applied to the area will keep swelling to a minimum. Take pain medications as prescribed. The swelling usually subsides after 48 hours.

Use the pain medication as directed. Call the office if the medication doesn't seem to be working. If antibiotics are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if signs and symptoms of infection are gone. Drink lots of fluid and eat nutritious soft food on the day of the extraction. You can eat normally as soon as you are comfortable.

It is important to resume your normal dental routine after 24 hours. This should include brushing and flossing your teeth at least once a day. This will speed healing and help keep your mouth fresh and clean.

After a few days you will feel fine and can resume your normal activities. If you have heavy bleeding, severe pain, continued swelling two or three days, or a reaction to the medication, call our office immediately at 610-667-2770.

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