Preventive Care
Our Upper West Side Dentist, Dr. Shirley strongly believes that preventive care is the best way to maintain oral health. It is our goal to help you maintain a beautiful smile and to prevent dental decay, gum and periodontal disease. At Upper West Side Dental a preventive visit includes a full mouth examination, gentle Ultrasonic cleanings, check-up digital radiographs as well patient education. Your preventive care education starts at our Upper West Side Manhattan dental office and is practiced at home. Our office staff maintains a highly active recall system to ensure the highest degree of oral health for you and your family.
Exams
Our Upper West Side Preventive Care Dentist, Dr. Shirley recommends visiting his Manhattan Dental Office for a dental exam every 6 months. Having an dental exam every 6 months can catch problems in their early stages when they are easier and less expensive to treat. In addition to examining your teeth, Dr. Shirley will screen for Gum Disease, Periodontal Disease, Oral Cancer, TMD and problems with your bite.
X-Rays
At Upper West Side Dental, we pride ourselves in offering the latest technology in dentistry. Digital x-rays are the newest technology in dental radiography. Not only are these type of x-rays more comfortable, but once they are taken they are immediately uploaded to our computers. Another quality patients appreciate is that we are able to adjust the dosage of exposure per radiograph. If you experience gag reflex when x-rays are taken, we accommodate by using our panoramic x-ray machine. The panoramic is a full mouth x-ray that captures an image of all your teeth and sinuses. Depending on your risk level, digital x-rays are recommended every six months to one year. Visit our Upper West Side Dentist, Dr. Shirley to evaluate your carries risk level.
At Upper West Side Dental, your comfort is our top priority. If you are looking to have a cleaning that is thorough and efficient but dislike traditional hand scalings, book your dental cleaning with our Upper West Side Dentist, Dr. Shirley. We offer cleanings using the Cavitron, a new and quick alternative to hand tools. Cleaning teeth with the Cavitron is superior to hand scaling because the ultrasonic energy of the Cavitron actually kills the bacteria that causes periodontal disease. We recommend you visit our Upper West Side Manhattan Dental office for dental cleanings every 6 months. Having cleanings every 6 months ensures less plaque accumulates your teeth thus making your dental cleanings more comfortable. Those that stay away from the dentist may require a deep cleaning, which can be verified by having an exam by our Upper West Side Dentist, Dr. Benjamin Shirley. Book your dental cleaning today!
Do you wake up in the morning with jaw pain? You may be experiencing Bruxism, also known as teeth grinding. Bruxism is a condition in which you grind, gnash or clench your teeth. It typically occurs unconsciously, either while asleep or as a response to being nervous. Some may clench or grind their teeth while they are working out. Bruxism can potentially lead to serious long term tooth damage if not treated. Our Upper West Side dentist, Dr. Shirley offers appliances that help the prevention of teeth grinding. Our custom-fit mouth guards come in either soft or hard and can be fabricated in one visit. The mouth guard fits over either the upper or lower teeth and acts like a shield to protect the teeth. Along with having a custom made mouth guard, Dr. Shirley encourages patients that have bruxism to take yoga or meditation classes. This may lower stress levels and help with bruxism. Dr. Shirley also fabricates athletic mouth guards for patients who want to protect their teeth from damage during sport activities. Whether you grind your teeth or play sports, Our Upper West Side Manhattan office offers may options to protect your teeth.
At Upper West Side Dental we believe prevention is the best method of treatment. We offer two preventive procedures, Sealant and Fluoride treatment. A dental sealant is an extra-thin, plastic coating that is painted on the chewing surfaces on teeth. Fluoride prevents tooth decay in adults and children by strengthening the tooth enamel. After your dental exam and cleaning, Dr. Shirley may recommend either a fluoride rinse or a topical application.
Snoring happens occasionally, but if it happens frequently it can affect the quality of not only your sleep but of others in your household. Approximately one-third of the population snores. Snoring can lead to poor sleep which causes fatigue, irritability and increased health problems. It can also cause a rift in your relationship. The common causes of snoring are age, sleep posture, nasal/sinus problems and being overweight. Snoring could indicate Sleep Apnea, which can be life threatening. According to a UCLA School of Dentistry study: “The struggle for breath can result in soaring blood pressure, which can damage the wall of the carotid arteries and increase the risk of stroke”. Snoring is a serious condition that should not be ignored or overlooked.At Upper West Side Dental we provide devices such as the Silent Nite SL which will allow for a comfortable nights rest.