Cosmetic Dentistry Blog of Dr Sussman & Pogal

At the Center for Cosmetic & General Dentistry, our dentists are committed to bringing you the most advanced and beneficial dental technology. Before incorporating any new technology into our practice, our dentists vet the device for safety, effectiveness and overall benefit to our patients. We are proud to offer an innovative local anesthetic delivery system made by Anutra Medical.

The exact mechanics of the system get fairly technical, but basically the system "buffers" local anesthetic so that its acidity is closer to the acidity level naturally found in the body. The two major advantages are that you will become numb quicker and the injection of the anesthetic itself is less painful.

This delivery system offers the following benefits to our patients:

• Reduces pain
• Increases predictability of numbing
• Increases overall efficiency

The improved delivery system can be of benefit to you in a variety of dental procedures, from having tooth decay removed to the placement of a dental crown.

To learn more about how this anesthetic delivery system works and whether it applies to your dental care, please call the Center for Cosmetic & General Dentistry at 585-227-4390. We are proud to serve people from across New York, including Rochester, Greece and Webster. 

This month is Oral Cancer Awareness Month. The team at the Center for Cosmetic & General Dentistry would like to encourage you to schedule a routine checkup with our dentists, during which they will perform an assessment for signs of oral cancer in the mouth or neck.

Although oral cancer is a serious condition, many American adults are not aware of the incidence of this disease. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, about 48,250 people in the US will be newly diagnosed with oral cancer this year. That's 132 people every day. Tragically, the statistics say one person will die because of an oral cancer every hour of every day.

Early detection of an oral cancer leads to an 80-90 percent survival rate. Because most oral cancers today are discovered in late stages, the disease currently has a high death rate of about 43 percent at 5 years from diagnosis. Our dentists will look for early signs of cancer in the mouth, the back of the throat and on the exterior of your lips. We can refer to specialists for biopsy when necessary.

To schedule your routine checkup and oral cancer screening, please call the experienced team at the Center for Cosmetic & General Dentistry at 585-227-4390. We serve people from across New York, including Webster, Rochester and Greece.

After a long winter season of sugar-filled holiday treats and beverages, and a wintery diet low on fresh foods, spring arrives to give us a change in weather and a chance to start eating different types of food to optimize our dental health. When choosing your spring-time diet or when planning this season's garden, keep in mind the following foods (your teeth will thank you):

• Blueberries. With the most antioxidants among fresh fruits and vegetables, blueberries' polyphenol antioxidants neutralize free radicals that can lead to stress and cell breakdown and can have a preventive effect against oral cancer.
• Strawberries. Not only do strawberries contain malic acid (a natural enamel whitener), they also have all those little seeds that act as natural scrub brushes while you chew. Make sure to floss after eating these berries as those same seeds can easily become stuck in your teeth.
• Leafy greens. Not only do leafy greens such as spinach contain vitamins, minerals, and calcium to build enamel and keep your teeth healthy, eating them is conducive to a clean set of chompers. All that chewing generates saliva, which helps to wash away food particles; the greens themselves double as scrubbers, too.

Choosing healthy options such as fresh fruits and vegetables helps your entire body, teeth included. Make them a part of your overall dental health regimen along with regular checkups with the experienced dental team at the Center for Cosmetic & General Dentistry.

For more information on general dental health or to schedule a free consultation with Dr. Sussman or Dr. Pogal in Rochester, contact our experienced and compassionate dentists at the Center for Cosmetic & General Dentistry at 585-227-4390. We have been serving patients in Upstate New York for nearly 35 years.

There are many things that contribute to our teeth losing the pearly whiteness of our youth, from foods we eat and beverages we drink, to behavior such as smoking or using chewing tobacco. Luckily, you can avoid or diminish many of the worst offenders by limiting your intake or changing how you use them.

• Coffee: Your morning cup of joe has strong pigments and is high in acids, making it a prime stainer of teeth. Some evidence has shown you can minimize staining by adding dairy milk.
• Tea: Actually worse than coffee for staining, tea is also full of acids and tannins (plant-based compounds that make it easier for stains to stick to teeth). For iced tea, use a straw to bypass your teeth.
• Wine: Reds are the worst, being high in tannins, acids, and with strong pigments. White wine, while not having as strong colors in its tannins, nonetheless preps your teeth for other types of stains because of its high acidity, which weakens tooth enamel and makes it more vulnerable to stains.
• Berries: Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, cherries, grapes, pomegranates: basically anything that can stain your clothes can stain your teeth.
• Tomato Sauce: As with berries, the stain potential of anything tomato-based is high due to the high levels of pigments.

Fortunately, you can take steps to avoid staining your teeth. Brush your teeth as soon as you can after enjoying any of these drinks or foods, or at least swirl water in your mouth to rinse away staining material. Keep your regular dental appointments for cleanings that can help remove stains.

If your smile seems a bit duller recently, you may want to consider a teeth whitening procedure. For more information on these procedures and to schedule your consultation, please contact our experienced and compassionate dentists at the Center for Cosmetic & General Dentistry at 585-227-4390. We have been serving patients in Upstate New York for nearly 35 years.