Tag Archives: Palm Harbor FL

A Brief Guide to X-Rays | Palm Harbor Dentist

X-rays are an important tool for every specialty within dentistry. Having our X-rays taken is considered standard procedure. Yet, there are reasonable reservations individuals may have about the risks associated with inviting x-rays into their lives. Here are some things you should know about dental x-rays.

The Basics

X-rays are generally considered to be a safe, effective means for dentists to understand your unique oral structure and health. Dentists will take four different types of x-rays; bitewing, occlusal, panoramic and periodical. Each of these focus on a different aspect of your teeth and bite.

The bitewing will show how well your teeth align and may also show cavity development. Occlusal x-rays capture all your teeth in a single image and can help detect abnormalities in the anatomy of your mouth or palate. Panoramic images let dentists check your wisdom teeth, jaw and any implants you may have. Periodical images show the entire tooth from root to crown.

Safety

While there is no official preparation to receive an x-ray, there are measures dentists take to ensure your safety and theirs. Whomever takes your x rays will outfit you with a lead vest to protect your internal organs and other essential body parts from radiation exposure. It effectively blocks the radiation from your person without hindering the ability to produce an image.

Purpose

The purpose of a radiograph, or x-ray, is to analyze oral health. They capture what is happening on the interior if your teeth and gums. Images allow dentists and orthodontists to evaluate positioning, decay and impact of the teeth. Whenever you enter a new practice without existing or current imagery your dentist will take them for your file with their practice.

They are also used to track the progression of growing teeth in children and the progress of any treatment you may undergo.

The level of radiation is very low, but the different types of x rays show dentists different things. Periodical X-rays show abnormalities in the bone and root structures. Occlusal X-rays share a story of tooth development and placement. Each work to show dentists and hygienists an in-depth view of the condition of your teeth, and how they may proceed with your oral care.

To learn more, contact Dr. Lieberman at 727-785-8017 to schedule a consultation today. Or visit www.dentist-lieberman.com for additional information.

Dr. Larry Lieberman proudly accepts patients from Palm Harbor and all surrounding areas.

Baby Teeth Matter: Here’s Why | Palm Harbor Dentist

Early interventions for the proper maintenance of your baby’s teeth are crucial for the health of their adult teeth as they start to grow. “Baby teeth” are the precursor for adult teeth, they are the placeholder and it’s important they be maintained for gum health and reduction of harmful bacteria. They may never acknowledge the effort you put in for them, but just know you are setting them up for success later in life.

Oral hygiene for our children begins the day their first tooth breaks through the gum. With a damp, soft cloth, lightly wipe your baby’s gums after feeding. Once more prominent, you may begin using a soft toothbrush and non-fluoride toothpaste twice a day until preschool age. At that age, the amount of toothpaste that can be safely used increases to the size of a pea.

When your child is at that age and able to brush on his or her own, it’s important to keep an eye on them. Many children find the process of brushing their teeth to be boring or unimportant, but this is the best age to develop their oral care routine. Singing toothbrushes and flavored toothpaste help encourage kids to find the process more enjoyable and help guide them towards brushing their teeth for two minutes. Another great way to encourage your child is to brush with them and show them how to get to their molars, the back of their teeth, and the front. Brushing together allows you to ensure they are doing so properly while setting the example and making sure they don’t feel like they are being monitored, which may be upsetting.

An oral care routine matters from the day teeth appear, so parents who take their children’s oral hygiene seriously, and encourage good habits to aid their child’s ability to properly care for their teeth later in life.

If you’re interested in learning more about dental lasers, contact Dr. Lieberman at 727-785-8017 to schedule a consultation today. Or visit www.dentist-lieberman.com for additional information.

Dr. Larry Lieberman proudly accepts patients from Palm Harbor and all surrounding areas.

Why Flossing is Important for Oral Hygiene | Palm Harbor Dentist

Routine flossing helps to ensure that the granules of residual food left after meals are removed to prevent plaque buildup and cavities. Plaque buildup will harden over time turning into discord tarter that only your hygienist or dentist can remove. When traces of food remain tucked away between our teeth, it becomes a source of food for corrosive sugars to feed on; over time, this becomes the source of pockets in the teeth for bacteria to settle and the problem to compound. Here are three ways you can make the habit of flossing a routine addition to your care routine.

Find floss you enjoy

Waxed, non-waxed, plush, disposable picks, threaders, and water flossers are all available options. If one type of floss doesn’t make you want to floss, it’s less likely you will do it. It’s important to find a way to floss that suits your tastes. The tried-and-true thin waxed threads may irritate your gums, so trying a plush thread may alleviate your disregard. If the notion of putting thread between your teeth is off-putting, a water flosser that shoots a stream of high-pressure water may do the trick.

2. Place your floss in more places than the medicine cabinet

Keeping an extra carton of floss on your desk at work, in your purse or car, or even on your bedside table is a great way to eliminate any excuse not to. If you forget to floss in the morning, use your next bathroom break at work to give your pearly whites a quick scrub. If you are in the airport and just had a hearty meal, taking a minute to floss can go a long way in keeping unwanted plaque from building up.

3. Set a reminder

If it’s not currently part of your routine, or you have so much going on it’s hard to remember, setting a reminder on your phone or a notecard by your sink may help you begin to incorporate this practice until its second nature. If the technique of flossing is something you struggle with, employ this practice as a means to check in with helpful guides that walk you through the proper steps until you get the hang of it.

4. Reward yourself

Marking off days on a calendar, watching an episode of your favorite show, or brewing a cup of your favorite tea are all great ways to reward yourself for remembering to floss. As you go along, allow yourself a special treat once a week, every two weeks, or once a month to reinforce the good hygiene habit you are forming. It takes about 21 days to form a habit, so whatever you do to encourage yourself to keep practicing for at least that long, will go a long way toward a lifetime of proper oral care.

Dr. Larry Lieberman proudly accepts patients from Palm Harbor and all surrounding areas.

When You’re Nervous About Your Dental Procedure | Palm Harbor Dentist

Now that we’ve begun another year, it’s time to take some time to reflect on yourselves and what we hope to accomplish in the upcoming year. For some of us, going to the dentist is a frightening experience in their head to the point of dodging checkups. It’s so common, dental anxiety is an official phobia that strikes some patients. Unfortunately, because our mouth plays such a strong hand in our overall health, dodging the dental chair isn’t a smart idea. Thankfully, the dental industry has acknowledged these fears and have focused on patient care to help you get through these checkups which will result in a healthy smile, regardless of your dental anxiety.

Sedation dentistry, also referred to as “sleep dentistry”, uses medication to help ease and relax patients before or during their dental procedure. There are many methods that can be used in sedation dentistry, and the method used depends on the patient’s needs. Here are the four most common methods of sedation dentistry:

Nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is combined with oxygen and inhaled through a mask over your nose. This nitrous oxide helps calm the patient’s nerves.

Oral sedation. The night before a procedure, the patient will take an oral medication to ensure that you’re calm and relaxed during the procedure. The recovery time for this method is a bit longer, so a ride home will be necessary.

IV sedation. This method is considered to be moderate to deep sedation. This type of dental sedation is administered into the bloodstream, which results in immediate relaxation.

General anesthesia. The strongest method of sedation is general anesthesia. During this type of sedation, the patient cannot be easily awakened until the effects fully wear off.

If you’re interested in learning more about sleep dentistry, contact Dr. Lieberman at 727-785-8017 to schedule a consultation today. Or visit www.dentist-lieberman.com for additional information.

Dr. Larry Lieberman proudly accepts patients from Palm Harbor and all surrounding areas.

Dental Appointments with Lasers | Palm Harbor Dentist

The use of the traditional drill is often cited as one of the reasons why plenty of patients tend to skip out on going to the dentist. Fortunately, we no longer live in a time and age where dentists have to rely on their drills and other conventional tools to perform most, if not all, of their procedures. Still iffy? Here are some benefits to dental lasers:

Better accuracy and precision. Using lasers, dentists can easily remove tooth enamel decay, which can prove to be quite difficult to do through conventional means. Procedures done on the bone and gum tissues are also more precise using lasers, which leaves the surrounding areas unaffected and helping you maintain your natural set of teeth for a longer time.

Greatly reduced trauma. Physically, the use of high-speed drills can, in many cases, cause fractures in the teeth. Although reversible, will eventually lead to further dental problems. With lasers, trauma is significantly minimized.

Faster and more efficient procedures. Since dentists don’t have to rely on shots or anesthesia, the use of lasers can make it easier for them to perform certain procedures that would usually require multiple trips in one visit.

Less bleeding and swelling. For many years, bleeding and post-op swelling were common in dental procedures. With lasers, dentists can perform procedures such as soft tissue with little to no bleeding and post-op swelling involved!

Versatility. Lasers can be used on a wide range of both hard and soft tissue procedures. Those that required the extensive use of drills and scalpels, such as decay removal, cavity preparation, root canals, and many others will be far easier to do all thanks to lasers.

Dr. Larry Lieberman proudly accepts patients from Palm Harbor and all surrounding areas.

Do You Have a Habit that Affects Your Smile? | Palm Harbor Dentist

We all do the very best we can to preserve our smile, but there are some habits we have that may be doing some damage to it. And since we are close to the new year, what better time to re-evaluate some habits we may not want to carry over into 2023. If you find that you are a culprit to one of them, consider adding it to your resolution list:

Chewing ice. After you’ve finished a drink, you might have the habit of chewing the ice that is leftover. It’s a common occurrence for a lot of us and we don’t even think twice about it. But the cold and hardness of the ice cubes can actually do damage to your teeth by chipping or cracking them.

Using your teeth as a tool. Let’s face it – we all are guilty of this one at some point of another. Using your teeth to crack open nuts, or tear through plastic can be incredibly detrimental. Just like chewing ice, using your teeth as a tool may cause damage to your teeth. Use the appropriate tool for the job.

Drinking carbonated beverages. While soda is known to be incredibly sugary, this includes sugar-free sodas as well. Sodas are acidic and incredibly harmful to teeth.

Biting your nails. This one is one of the more common bad habits, but biting your nails is not only damaging to your nail beds, but also your teeth.

Grinding your teeth. The official term for this habit is bruxism and it commonly occurs at night. Grinding your teeth can wear them down. While this is difficult to control, a dentist may give you a night guard to help you get it under control. Destressing also helps.

If you’re interested in learning more about poor dental habits, contact Dr. Lieberman at 727-785-8017 to schedule a consultation today. Or visit www.dentist-lieberman.com for additional information.

Dr. Larry Lieberman proudly accepts patients from Palm Harbor and all surrounding areas.

Giving Thanks for a Healthy Smile | Palm Harbor Dentist

Tis the season for gather together with family and friends to give thanks for all of the year’s blessings. While you’re at it, why not take a second to give yourself a healthy smile. It’s really quite easy – when you get to your Thanksgiving dinner, eat a lot.

Foods and drinks high in sugar and acid are typically bad for your teeth because they contribute to both tooth decay and periodontal disease, making them weaker and more vulnerable to tooth decay. Foods like celery can help brush food particles off of teeth, and they also encourage the production of saliva to cleanse the teeth. Foods high in calcium and protein (such as cheese, milk, meats, and nuts) tend to be low in sugar and key to stronger teeth by protecting tooth enamel. If you notice, these are all staples in a Thanksgiving feast.

In addition to the sugar and acid contents of food, patients should pay attention to how long the food is in contact with their teeth. Soft foods like peanut butter are more likely to be stuck between teeth, and drinks that are sipped throughout the day tend to stay in contact with teeth all day. In order to keep these foods from having adverse effects on your teeth, eat or drink the sugary ones in one sitting so you can brush or rinse afterwards. If a toothbrush isn’t handy, popping a stick of sugar-free gum in your mouth will create the saliva needed to rinse your teeth enough until a proper brushing is available.

If you’re interested in learning more about a healthy smile, contact Dr. Lieberman at 727-785-8017 to schedule a consultation today. Or visit www.dentist-lieberman.com for additional information.

Dr. Larry Lieberman proudly accepts patients from Palm Harbor and all surrounding areas.

Finding the Ideal Dentist for Your Dental Needs | Palm Harbor Dentist

Now that we are about to embark on the 2022 holiday season, it is important to schedule a quick dental visit. After all, the holidays mean there are loads of events to attend with friends and family. And with that, lots of good times and photos to take. Having a clean healthy smile will only enhance your winter celebrations.

For those of you that have yet to find a dentist to visit, you really need to hit the streets to find one. Not only is your oral health very important, but it is directly affecting your overall health, so maintaining a clean, healthy mouth is of the utmost importance.

We understand that it can be a daunting task, but we are here to help. Firstly, list specific needs you may need from your dental professional. Maybe you have a family, maybe you need certain hours, maybe you’re just new in town – having a dentist that can work with all your specific needs is important.

The first thing you should do when looking for a dentist is to ask the people around. But chances are, you are going to be using a search engine online, so look for a dentist catered to your specific needs. Below is a list of options – perhaps trying one of these will be a better option:

Pediatric dentists/pedodontists. Specialize in pediatric dentistry
Endodontists. Diagnose and treat diseased tooth pulp and perform root canal work
Prosthodontists. Specialize in crowns, bridges, and dentures
Oral pathologists. Use laboratory procedures to diagnose diseases of the mouth
Oral/maxillofacial surgeons. Performers of surgical treatments, such as removing cysts, tumors, and teeth
Specialize in correcting improperly positioned teeth
Specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of gum disease

If you’re interested in learning more about finding a dentist, contact Dr. Lieberman at 727-785-8017 to schedule a consultation today. Or visit www.dentist-lieberman.com for additional information.

Dr. Larry Lieberman proudly accepts patients from Palm Harbor and all surrounding areas.

Signs and Symptoms: TMJ Edition | Palm Harbor Dentist

No one wants to experience jaw pain, but for most patients, it can’t be helped. Here is where it gets tricky – did you know that TMJ, or Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome, is one of the most misdiagnosed syndromes in the world? Oftentimes, TMJ is overlooked, as jaw related issues can be linked to a multitude of different health issues. So, how do you know when it’s not just a chance occurrence or something that is becoming an issue, we need to concern our dental professional with? Here are some signs and symptoms in which point to TMJ:

Pain in the jaw, especially around the joint
Popping or clicking of the jaw
Ear pain
Ringing or popping sounds in the ears
Headaches
Blurred vision
Tight or sore jaw or neck muscles
Shoulder pain
Locking or dislocation of the jaw

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above, contact Dr. Lieberman immediately, as he can appropriately diagnose the root of your jaw and facial pain. Thankfully, there are lots of ways to treat this condition and get you back to sleeping peacefully. Below are some of DIY tips you can do on your own to relieve some of the pain you’re experiencing:

Facial exercises such as stretching, relaxing, or massaging the muscles found around the jaw.
Avoiding actions such as yawning, singing, or excessive chewing.
Learning new stress relieving techniques including but not limited to meditation, breathing exercises, or personal stress relievers.
Formulating an exercise plan in order to increase our pain tolerance.

If you’re interested in learning more about TMJ pain, contact Dr. Lieberman at 727-785-8017 to schedule a consultation today. Or visit www.dentist-lieberman.com for additional information.

Dr. Larry Lieberman proudly accepts patients from Palm Harbor and all surrounding areas.

Protecting Your Smile During the Holiday Season | Palm Harbor Dentist

It’s Autumn – the time of year when the football season begins, and thus pick-up games with friends and family. And if we know anything about these games, we know loads of accidents can happen at each play. If you sprain an ankle, you ice it and call it a day. But what if something happens to your smile? You have a dental emergency on your hands.

If you find that you are in need of dental assistance, call for an appointment and follow these tips while you wait:

Knocked-out tooth. For adults, place the tooth in the socket without touching the root; if that’s not possible, place the tooth between your check and gums, in milk, or in ADA-approved tooth-preservation solution. It’s crucial to keep the tooth wet. For children with baby teeth, come to our office as soon as possible; do not try to place the tooth in the socket.

Cracked tooth. Rinse your mouth and place an ice pack on your face to reduce the swelling. Wrap the tooth up in wet gauze or a towel and bring it to the office.

Toothache. Use warm water to rinse your mouth, and gently floss to remove any food. If you note any facial swelling (which may signal infection), come to our office or your healthcare provider as soon as possible.

Bitten tongue or lip. Clean the area with a cloth or rinse your mouth with water. Apply an ice pack to the area. If the bleeding doesn’t slow, come to our office or go to the ER.

If you are preparing for the annual family football game and don’t want your smile wrecked? Why not wear a mouthguard during the game to protect those pearly whites from accidents.

If you’re interested in learning more about dental emergencies, contact Dr. Lieberman at 727-785-8017 to schedule a consultation today. Or visit www.dentist-lieberman.com for additional information.

Dr. Larry Lieberman proudly accepts patients from Palm Harbor and all surrounding areas.