Blog Archive
You’d think in an advanced society like the United States, missing teeth wouldn’t be a huge problem. Unfortunately, that’s not true. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that, by the time they reach 50 years old, Americans have lost an average of 12 teeth (including their wisdom teeth). And by the time...
Dental bridges are a tooth restoration option that “bridges” the gap between teeth caused by a tooth lost to decay or disease or one that’s been extracted. This tried-and-true technique can give you back the smile you want and the ability to maintain good oral health. At Riverdale Dental Arts, Dr....
If you mention the term “root canal,” most people shudder in horror. That’s because root canal procedures are (wrongly) associated with extreme pain. The procedure isn’t what causes the pain — it’s the infection, decay, and/or dying nerve in the canal that sent you running to the dentist in the...
If you have minor dental imperfections, such as chipped, cracked, or discolored teeth, you have a range of cosmetic restoration options to turn your smile from glum to great. These include dental veneers, crowns, teeth whitening, and dental bonding. Of the bunch, bonding is both the cheapest and the least time-consuming, making it...
Nobody wants to think they’ll have a dental emergency, but accidents do happen. Dr. Sheldon Kupferman and his staff at Riverdale Dental Arts provide dental emergency services at their office in the Bronx, New York. Here, they discuss the top reasons you may need emergency dental care, and how you should handle them. Is...
Nobody wants to lose a tooth, and no dentist wants to see their patients without their pearly whites, but sometimes a tooth just needs to go. Why would that be? At Riverdale Dental Arts, Dr. Sheldon Kupferman and his team take their patients’ oral health very seriously. Even though it might seem...
If your teeth have become yellowed or stained, it can really put a dent in your smile and your self-confidence. That may be why, according to the American Association of Orthodontists, almost 90% of dental patients ask their providers for teeth whitening. At Riverdale Dental Arts in the Bronx, New York, our...
Bad breath, also known as halitosis, is an oral health condition characterized by a bad odor in the mouth beyond socially acceptable norms. It can arise from many different causes, and it’s not only treatable, but it’s also preventable. Halitosis affects about 1 out of 4 people worldwide. One research study that...
Most people don't have perfect teeth. Some of that comes down to genetics — they’re uneven or too small or have small gaps between them. Some of that is also due to your environment — they’re stained from eating, drinking, or smoking; or maybe you’ve chipped or cracked a tooth....
While going to the dentist twice a year for professional cleanings is a must-do, it’s not enough to keep your mouth healthy and happy. For that, you need a good at-home dental hygiene regimen. At Riverdale Dental Arts, Dr. Sheldon Kupferman and his staff stress the importance of dental health, and that includes...
When most people hear the term “root canal,” they shudder in horror. That’s because root canals have a large association with pain. However, it’s not the procedure you go for that causes the pain — it’s the decay, infection, and/or dying nerve that sends you running to the dentist in...
With the holiday season approaching upon us, it can be tricky to fit it all in. But it’s a great opportunity to prioritize your insurance benefits for the year. Call our office right away at 7185481148 so we can book an appointment that works well with your busy schedule.
Following a tooth extraction, a unique, temporary but painful complication is called dry socket, and it needs to be treated by your dentist. There are things you can do to prevent dry socket from occurring, making your recovery quicker and easier. Dr. Sheldon Kupferman of Riverdale Dental Arts in the Bronx,...
Teeth whitening has become big business. According to Healthline, in 2015 alone, Americans spent more than $11 billion on in-office and at-home teeth whitening treatments and products. Some of that undoubtedly comes from the large number of substances that can cause tooth discoloration. Some of these substances are well known: tea,...
Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, is a progressive bacterial infection that starts with inflammation of the gums and, if not treated, progresses to destroying the gum tissue. It’s a serious problem in the United States, with nearly 50% of adults over 30 having mild-to-severe symptoms. It’s also the leading cause of...
You may not think much about your teeth, aside from brushing, flossing, and going to the dentist twice a year. But your 32 adult teeth are amazing structures specifically tailored to biting, chewing, and protecting themselves from damage. Dr. Sheldon Kupferman of Riverdale Dental Arts in the Bronx, New York, believes...
You want your teeth to last a lifetime, but sadly, that’s not the case for a lot of people. Even with our high standard of dental care, by age 50, the average American has lost an average of 12 teeth. But today’s dentistry allows practitioners to partially or fully restore missing or damaged teeth...
When the average person hears the term “root canal,” they cringe. Root canals have an overly large association with pain, but it’s not actually the procedure that causes the pain — it’s the decay, infection, and/or dying nerve that precedes it that sends you running to the dentist. At Riverdale...
Veneers are a dental restoration option that can fix a variety of flaws, from enamel discoloration to a tooth that’s too short. If you have a crooked tooth or two, but not enough to warrant orthodontia, chances are veneers can fix them, too. At Riverdale Dental Arts, Dr. Sheldon Kupferman and his...
You’re not the only one who’s gotten their teeth whitened. It’s big business in the United States, where, according to Healthline, Americans spent more than $11 billion in 2015 on at-home teeth whitening products and in-office treatments combined. So, if you’ve gone to all the trouble of getting white, radiant...
In spring, everything seems to blossom — why not your smile? If off-color or discolored teeth make you want to hide your smile, brighten it with a teeth whitening appointment. Teeth whitening is big business in the United States, with people of both sexes and all ages going for the...
Nobody wants to have a dental emergency, but life happens. Do you know what to do if you’re experiencing an emergency, or even if it truly is an emergency? At Riverdale Dental Arts, Dr. Sheldon Kupferman and his staff handle both routine and emergency dental cases for their patients in...
We make lots of New Year’s resolutions at the beginning of the year, many of which fall by the wayside a short time later. One important resolution we should make but don’t often do is to improve our oral health — not just for a few weeks, but year-round. At...
You’d think in a First World country like the United States, missing teeth wouldn’t be a huge problem. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, by the time they reach age 50, Americans lose an average of 12 teeth (including wisdom teeth). And by the time they...
Picture-perfect smiles rarely happen naturally. Most of us have at least one smile flaw that makes us feel self-conscious and less than confident about our pearly whites. The good news: Veneers provide a great solution in just a couple of office visits. At Riverdale Dental Arts, Sheldon Kupferman, DDS, and...
Whenever we begin a new year, we often feel like making resolutions for better habits and better health. Along with better general health, striving for better oral health can make a huge difference in our happiness. That is because the smile and the body are intricately linked, and a healthier...
Winter is almost here, and sports activities can find a way to bring a dental emergency into your life during the busy holiday season. Whether you are skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, swimming, or surfing, accidents can happen. It can mean running into a tree while sledding, falling on your face...
Autumn is in full swing, and that means the cold weather is fast approaching (if it isn’t already here)! You may be tempted to hunker down with holiday goodies and snacks, but you do not want to ignore your health or even your dental health. Even if you are busy...
Halloween is lurking around the corner, but so is the coronavirus, making traditional Halloween parties trickier. This year, big parties and parades, creepy haunted houses, and gathering in crowds to trick-or-treat are off the table for many, or at the very least, downsized and held outdoors while social distancing. While...
New Patient Special Dr. Sheldon Kupferman and our team love welcoming new patients to Riverdale Dental Arts! To learn more about our exciting offers and to schedule your next appointment at our office, contact us today at 718-548-1148! Call 718-548-1148 to schedule your dental appointment today!
The mouth is home to millions of bacteria, some of them good and some bad. In fact, half of the bacteria in your mouth can lead to bad breath! National Fresh Breath Day is observed every year on August 6th to create awareness of oral hygiene in the fight against...
When it comes to your smile, taking care of your teeth is an investment in your oral health that pays many dividends. With tooth loss, missing teeth can affect you in multiple ways. Even losing just one tooth can cause problems. Some of that is emotional, as people often feel...
As humans, we are regularly developing habits throughout our lifetime, and they aren’t always good ones. Bad habits are quite common, and a lot of them are formed unintentionally. Many times we develop habits that aren’t good for us without being aware of it, but bad oral habits can cause...
Your toothbrush is one of the most important tools you have in your home to keep your pearly whites healthy and beautiful. Used properly twice a day, your toothbrush will help you ward off tooth decay, gum disease and even bad breath. Its job in your daily oral hygiene kit...
Good oral health is essential for a healthy smile. The mouth is home to colonies of microorganisms like bacteria and viruses, and when controlled by daily brushing and flossing, your oral health can thrive. Conversely, consuming a high sugar diet that feeds the bad bacteria creates harmful acids that erode...
More and more people are keeping their natural teeth healthy for a lifetime of beautiful smiles. At any age, a healthy mouth is a valuable asset when it comes to looking and feeling your best. Getting older means taking care of yourself to continue feeling great. Like your body, your...
In honor of February’s Gum Disease Awareness Month – a global public awareness campaign for preventing gum disease – our practice wants to help spread the word about this insidious disease. That’s because it can destroy your smile if it is left untreated. Fortunately, you can take action to help...
If you find yourself with bad breath or have had someone remark on your breath, you might be experiencing halitosis. Bad breath may come and go depending on what food you are eating or if you have “morning breath,” common in those who tend to breathe through the mouth. Still,...
Winter is here and if you are exposed to the harsher weather, you could find yourself experiencing more cold and canker sores, chapped lips and dry mouth from the colder, drier conditions of the season. The good news is, there are steps you can take to protect your mouth, teeth,...
Upcoming holidays are around the corner, and you’re probably already thinking of all the foodie goodness coming your way. November is Good Nutrition Month, so you might want to consider adding healthy options to your meals to maintain good oral and general health and wellbeing. The goal of our dental...
Happy October, everyone! It’s one of the spookiest seasons of the year, and one of the scariest things we can think of is having problems with our teeth and gums. Since October is National Dental Hygiene Month, we want to promote a healthy mouth for everyone by acknowledging the importance...
September brings the month of National Gum Care, a time to raise awareness for healthy gums everywhere. No matter your age, you should always be striving for great oral care, and this doesn’t just mean your teeth. Your gums are just as important when it comes to maintaining a great...
We learn at a young age that brushing and flossing are vital to keeping your smile healthy. We need to continue these daily habits in our ongoing quest to maintain healthy smiles for strong teeth and gums. Seeing your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and checkups at least twice a...
If you have recently learned that you have a badly broken, damaged, or infected tooth, our dentist may recommend having a dental crown placed. A crown or tooth-shaped “cap” is a fixed prosthetic cemented onto a tooth to restore its appearance, form and function as well as strengthen the tooth....
Our team strongly encourages everyone to floss daily, but do you ever wonder why? Well, flossing is vital for top-notch oral health and smiles. It can help you and your oral health in more ways than you might realize. This means that if you forget to floss, your smile can...
This is the month where we recognize our mothers for all their efforts and take the opportunity to thank them for all they have done, which may also include them teaching us how to brush and floss. As a mother, your oral health is important to both you and your...
Spring has sprung, and summer is almost here! The sun shouldn’t be the only thing shining bright this season. Your smile is a great feature to show off to friends, family, coworkers, social media, a date and everyone else! Need help to show off your smile confidently? Our team can...
Although we are turning back the clock for daylight savings, you can’t turn back time on your teeth. Studies have shown that one in five Americans has untreated cavities, which is decay that has damaged a tooth’s hard, outer enamel layer and created small holes. Cavities can arise in people...
February brings National Children’s Dental Health Month! This is brought to you by the American Dental Association to create child awareness of the benefits of good oral health. This year’s month-long campaign is, “Brush and clean in between to build a healthy smile.” First Dental Visit Around their first birthday,...
Have you been waiting for the right time to get teeth whitening treatment? There’s no better time than the New Year! In 2019, you are setting all kinds of new goals, and one goal you can shoot for is a whiter and brighter smile. Teeth whitening lightens teeth, helping remove...
Your daily brushing and flossing routine is crucial to thwarting dreaded cavities and gum disease from invading your smile, but by itself, it’s still not enough to maintain top-notch oral health. There is a reason we recommend regular dental cleanings and exams! Seeing our dental team for routine dental checkups...
Do you know the important differences between full and partial dentures? Our team is happy to review both versions for optimal tooth replacement to help you better understand how they can restore your smile. Below we will review the main types of dentures, which are full and partial dentures, and...
October is here and fall has officially begun, bringing with it Breast Cancer Awareness Month as well as National Dental Hygiene Month. This is a time to raise awareness for both and help to prevent problems by monitoring your health and being mindful of your lifestyle choices. Whether you are...
If you have ever lost a tooth, you might have more than just a gap between your teeth. If a lost tooth is not replaced, the bone in the jaw that supported the lost tooth starts to deteriorate. That’s because when you chew your food, there’s no more stimulation to...
When it comes to protecting your teeth, your first line of defense against tooth decay and cavities is tooth enamel, as it is the outermost covering that protects the more vulnerable dentin and tooth pulp below. Your enamel comes equipped for the job as the hardest substance in your body....
When you come in for dental exams and we have cleaned your teeth and gum line and removed any hardened plaque, our dentist can look at them for any signs of trouble, such as cavities, loose or broken teeth, damaged fillings, and evaluate your risk rate of certain diseases which...
All your life, you’ve heard your dentist, your parents and maybe even your teachers tell you to brush your teeth so you don’t get cavities. For most of us, there is only one kind of cavity: a hole-in-the-tooth kind of cavity. Would you be surprised to find out that there...
To lower your risks associated with poor oral hygiene, you should visit our dentist to assess your oral health and determine if you have any susceptibilities or vulnerabilities. Furthermore, if you notice anything abnormal or irregular about your smile or experience any potential harm to your teeth, make sure you...
Did you know that spring is a very popular time to receive cosmetic dentistry such as dental bonding to achieve a beautiful smile? To perform this procedure, our dentist uses a high-quality porcelain material to repair damaged teeth and transform the appearance of your smile by improving dental flaws. Below...
A common oral health risk that many people experience at least once in their lives is experiencing a dental emergency. Oral emergencies happen when your mouth suffers immediate damage, which can arise from blunt trauma, accidents or even the foods you eat. Below, we have provided a list of common...
If you don’t take proper care of your smile, you could suffer tooth loss. There are several factors that could contribute to the loss of your teeth. If you want to maintain a natural and healthy smile for a lifetime, then you need to take care of your teeth and...
Are you interested in keeping cavities at bay? If so, good for you! Cavities are a serious and dangerous dental issue that should be avoided at all costs. Cavities form when plaque and sugars create acids that attack the teeth. This wears down tooth enamel and underlying layers. If you’re...
A dentist will often use a dental filling to repair a small cavity, chip, or a minor case of dental attrition. This mode of treatment essentially replaces the compromised area with an alternate dental material. As the years go by, poor oral hygiene practices could start to affect the strength...
If you are looking to get a dental bonding, you may be wondering how the appointment would go. We will explain what happens during the application process so you can feel relaxed and informed. The dentist will first make sure the bonding will match and blend with the color of...
The teen years are some of the most important years for your oral health. Not only are the last of your adult teeth growing in, but numerous habits and peer pressures arise that can greatly influence your oral health. In order to ensure your smile can thrive for the rest...
Are you at risk for cavities on your molars? If you don’t have oral sealants applied, the answer may be yes. We assembled this post to help you learn a small bit extra about dental sealants; continue reading to improve your knowledge, and feel free to reach out to set...
Are you interested in knowing more about some of our dental treatments? If so, you have come to the right blog. Today, our dentist, Dr. Sheldon Kupferman, is happy to teach you about some of the most commonly used dental treatments that help many patients achieve their smile and oral...
Always be mindful of the damage that can easily arise in your teeth. If your precious tooth enamel, which is the thin layer on top of your teeth that prevents damage to the inner workings of a tooth, is damaged, the inner linings of the root and pulp could be...
Cavities do not go away on their own. If a cavity is left untreated, you could lose the tooth, or develop an infection that will be painful and could have a serious effect on your health. You may try to ignore a cavity for a while, but at some point,...
At any point in time, millions of acids could be sitting on your tongue. Not satisfied to cause bad breath alone, these small bacteria could also be creating a host of other health problems. Cleaning your tongue with a tongue scraper will assist you to defend your oral health, and...
Have you ever heard of dental veneers? Although the term may seem foreign to you, chances are you have seen them at some point in your life. Many actors, actresses, and celebrities are known for undergoing dental veneer treatment to give them what we often refer to as a movie...
Your toothbrush takes care of your teeth. But in order for it to do that, you need to take care of your toothbrush! First, realize that toothbrushes only last 3-4 months! They need to be replaced frequently, even if they look “fine.” You should get a new brush even sooner...
Mini dental implants are just like regular dental implants, except they are smaller and they don’t require as much time to place. They can successfully enhance your smile by replacing your missing teeth. They can anchor to the underlying bone and support tooth-replacement restorations, like dental crowns, dental bridges, and...
Restoring missing teeth will improve your ability speak and to chew, and will renew your confidence as your appearance improves. Missing teeth allow your remaining teeth to drift out of alignment, and those empty spaces on your gums can provide places for bacteria and plaque to accumulate. Dentures are a...
The molars and premolars in the back of your mouth play an important role in your overall oral function. The sharp contours of the tooth enamel on the biting surface helps these teeth to efficiently bite, chew, and grind the foods you consume. Unfortunately, these deep pits and fissure on...
If you have the bad habit of putting off routine dental checkups at Dr. Sheldon Kupferman‘s office, a small cavity could go undetected. In a situation like this, the decay could spread to a larger area of tooth enamel. As this happens you might notice increasing sensitivity and discomfort in...
Are you afraid of flashing your smile because of a blemish or two? Fortunately, teeth whitening treatments exist that can easily wipe out discolorations and give you the smile you desire. Stave off scary stains and discolorations with tooth whitening. Here are a few tips about which treatment to choose:...
The time has come for your dental cleaning and exam at Riverdale Dental Arts, but you are a little nervous. You are not alone in your worries. You may be surprised to learn that dental fears and anxieties are common. Luckily, there are some ways that you and your dentist...
The bacterial presence of tooth decay can often be pervasive and without timely treatment, the tooth can become significantly compromised. In time, a severe dental fracture could occur or a dangerous infection could form in the root and gums. In some of these cases, Dr. Sheldon Kupferman might be able...
Sometimes, if you’re not careful, dental issues and emergencies can occur while you’re traveling. This can be extremely inconvenient. However, did you know there are things you can do to reduce the chances of those things happening? Well, it’s true. To help you reduce the chances of experiencing a dental...
Sometimes, if you’re not careful, dental issues and emergencies can occur while you’re traveling. This can be extremely inconvenient. However, did you know there are things you can do to reduce the chances of those things happening? Well, it’s true. To help you reduce the chances of experiencing a dental...
Gingivitis is the earliest stage of gum disease. Typical symptoms include chronic bad breath as well as gums that tend to bleed easily after brushing and flossing. It’s primarily caused by inconsistencies in your daily oral hygiene routine that allow hardened tartar to form at the gumline. This often results...
There are several things that can injure your mouth. This could be something as simple as grinding your teeth at night or a dental accident. Sometimes a more significant oral trauma can befall you, causing serious damage to one or more teeth. The severity of the problem will largely influence...
If you’ve had a cavity repaired by a filling at Riverdale Dental Arts in the past, it was designed to repair the tooth for many years to come. If you’ve struggled to maintain good oral hygiene in the time since the filling repair treatment, the remainder of the healthy tooth...
Unfortunately, there is something that can impact your dental appointment and put your health in danger while you’re at Riverdale Dental Arts—and that is dental allergies. Dental allergies are inconvenient because they make your appointment troublesome and even concerning. This is why it’s important to tell Dr. Sheldon Kupferman about...
Tooth decay is caused by the erosion of your tooth enamel until holes are formed in your teeth called cavities. Cavities can strike in your younger years as well as in your olden days, so protecting your teeth is a lifetime task that takes practice and effort. Take the time...
If you are a victim of gum disease, then it’s important to do what is necessary to restore your oral health. If you don’t, there is a chance your teeth could become loose and fall out of their sockets. The first step you need to take is to visit Dr....
Dental fillings are designed to restore the full function of a tooth and prevent complications after it was attacked by tooth decay. As the years go by, the pervasive bacteria living in your mouth can exploit the seam between the filling and the surrounding healthy tooth enamel. When this happens,...
Do you have tooth decay that needs to be repaired? Dr. Sheldon Kupferman may recommend a dental filling in The Bronx, New York, to restore your tooth. Our dentist will remove the decay and then fill the area with the dental filling material. What is a composite filling?Composite fillings are...
A blow to the face or other oral trauma can sometimes carry enough force to severely crack a tooth. This is even more likely to happen if you participate in contact sports without the protection of a quality mouthguard. If the damage is severe, the tooth might be so badly...
No matter how old you are, your oral health is still important. As we age, not only should we take into account our eating and drinking habits for our physical health, but also because what we eat and drink can drastically affect our oral health too. The more time we...
Most of the time, when a tooth is knocked out of the socket, the force and trauma associated with the injury severely damages the tooth to the degree that it can’t be saved. When this happens, your dentist, Dr. Sheldon Kupferman, usually needs to extract the remnants of the tooth...
Halloween is coming, and that means buckets of candy will be consumed. Just remember, even healthy foods can lead to plaque buildup, which can lead to tooth decay. So, your daily brushing routine shouldn’t change based on the season. However, in case you have forgotten, here are 13 easy tips...
You know that a missing tooth can be embarrassing, but do you know what you can do about the problem? When you consider your options, we recommend considering the benefits of dental implants. But do you know what happens when you get an implant? Will your implant blend well with...
Cavities are small areas of tooth decay that form when the natural bacteria in your mouth manage to exploit the otherwise healthy tooth enamel. While this is often the result of an inadequate oral hygiene routine, other factors, like enamel erosion or chipped tooth enamel, can increase the chances of...
Have you ever heard of a tooth abscess or a tooth infection? While the two can be caused by similar issues, there are actually a few important differences between the two. For instance, while both issues will need professional treatment, the treatments could be very different. Still, what are the...
Did you know that your enamel—which is the protective, outer layer of your teeth—is generally considered the hardest substance in your body? This is especially fortunate because your enamel is vital to your dental health. Unfortunately, while your enamel is hard, it can break down, leaving you more vulnerable to...