CEREC 3D technology allows our doctor to capture a 3D images of your tooth after it has been prepared for a ceramic restoration. The milling unit then communicates with a computer on which your restoration is designed while you wait.

The finished restoration is beautiful and very natural looking, as it is made out of tooth-colored, biocompatible, high-grade and plaque-resistant ceramic. Best of all, it eliminates the need to wear a temporary crown or have a second appointment to place your restoration. CEREC 3D technology is state-of-the-art dental care for your busy lifestyle.

Dental implants are the standard of care for the replacement of missing teeth. Implants are titanium posts used to replace the roots of missing teeth. They are then restored with ceramic crowns. Implants have become extremely popular with patients because they are minimally invasive, comfortable and natural looking. With dental implants we can replace missing teeth without the need to drill any adjacent teeth, give you full function, strength and the beauty of natural teeth.

Implants can also be used to secure a full set of removable dentures for people who have no remaining natural teeth. This can greatly improve the chewing ability and limit bone resorption. Dental implants have many advantages. They maintain bone support for adjacent teeth, improving the long-term prognosis. They are long-lasting, durable, and remove the possibility of future decay.

Dr. Suzie begins seeing patients as early as their first birthday, and aims to provide them with a fun experience, so that they look forward to their dental visits.  Whether they need routine care, a small restoration or oral surgery, your child will be treated with gentleness and precision.  Many children are apprehensive about visiting the dentist, either due to previous experiences or fear of the unknown.

We strive to allay these concerns by providing a safe and pleasant environment, and offer nitrous oxide (laughing gas) when necessary.  Good oral care habits should begin early, in order to ensure a healthy mouth for life.  Educating parents and kids in creating an oral care routine is a passion in our practice!

Orthodontics is a rapidly growing area of our practice. Orthodontic treatment can be done at any age and can improve facial appearance as well as tooth crowding, excessive spaces, bite problems and jaws that are out of alignment. Having well-aligned teeth not only improves aesthetic concerns, it helps you chew your food properly and simplify your oral hygiene routine.

It is never too late to get the smile you’ve always wanted. The American Association of Orthodontics recommends that all children be screened for malocclusions by the age of seven. Early intervention helps utilize growth and guide erupting teeth into correct positions.

Our individualized patient appliance is developed specifically for each patient, allowing us to align your teeth effectively and efficiently.

If you’ve ever thought about straightening your teeth, we would be delighted to provide you with additional information.

We are proud to announce that Dentistry on Officers’ Row now offers Laser Assisted Periodontal Therapy (LAPT). This is a non-surgical and minimally invasive treatment for periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease, if left untreated, can result in:

• Increased risk of heart attack by as much as 25%
• Increased risk of stroke
• Problems controlling diabetes (type I and II)
• Respiratory and Pancreatic disease
• Digestive disorders
• Sore teeth and embarrassing bad breath
• Swollen, bleeding and sensitive gums

LAPT is fast, gentle and less expensive than periodontal surgery. The laser allows us to deliver the most precise, least traumatic periodontal treatment, so the patient will heal with less post-operative pain and risk of infection. Some soft tissue procedures can even be completed without anesthetic.

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a potentially life-threatening sleep disorder characterized by repeated pauses in breathing during sleep. The term sleep apnea is derived from the Greek etymology meaning “without breath”. Breathing pauses can last anywhere from several seconds to minutes, and happen as often as 30 times or more per hour. Ongoing disrupted breathing causes an imbalance between the carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in the bloodstream, as not enough carbon dioxide is exiting and not enough oxygen is entering the body.

Reason for treating sleep apnea

It is very important to seek medical attention if sleep apnea is suspected. Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the soft tissue lying at the back of the patient’s throat collapses into the airway. The tongue then falls towards the back of the throat which tightens the blockage and prevents oxygen from entering the lungs. The problem worsens when the chest region, diaphragm, and abdomen fight for air. The patient must arouse from deep sleep to tense the tongue and remove the soft tissue from the airway.

Because sleep apnea causes carbon dioxide levels to skyrocket in the blood and oxygen levels to decrease, the heart has to pump harder and faster to compensate for the lack of oxygen. Sleep apnea has been linked to a series of serious heart-related conditions, and should be investigated by the dentist at the earliest opportunity.

What does sleep apnea treatment involve?

Initially, Dr. Ryan Bergman will conduct tests in order to investigate, diagnose, and pinpoint a suitable treatment. He can offer different treatment options which depend largely on the exact diagnosis and the health of the patient. He may advise the patient to halt some habits that aggravate sleep apnea such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and tranquilizer use.

Sleeping masks were traditionally used to keep the patient’s airways open while they slept, but nowadays there are some less intrusive options. Dental devices that gently tease the lower jaw forward are very effective in preventing the tongue from blocking the main air passage. These dental devices are gentle, easy to wear, and often help patients avoid unwanted surgeries.

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a hinge that connects your jaw to the temporal bones of your skull, which are in front of each ear. It lets you move your jaw up and down and side to side, so you can talk, chew, and yawn. Problems with your jaw and the muscles in your face that control it are known as temporomandibular disorders (TMD). But you may hear it wrongly called TMJ, after the joint.

What Causes TMD?

We don’t know what causes TMD. Dentists believe symptoms arise from problems with the muscles of your jaw or with the parts of the joint itself. Injury to your jaw, the joint, or the muscles of your head and neck — like from a heavy blow or whiplash — can lead to TMD.
Other causes include:

• Grinding or clenching your teeth, which puts a lot of pressure on the joint
• Movement of the soft cushion or disc between the ball and socket of the joint
• Arthritis in the joint
• Stress, which can cause you to tighten facial and jaw muscles or clench the teeth

What Are the Symptoms?

TMD often causes severe pain and discomfort. It can be temporary or last many years. It might affect one or both sides of your face. More women than men have it, and it’s most common among people between the ages of 20 and 40.
Common symptoms include:

• Pain or tenderness in your face, jaw joint area, neck and shoulders, and in or around the ear when you chew, speak, or open your mouthwide
• Problems when you try to open your mouth wide
• Jaws that get “stuck” or “lock” in the open- or closed-mouthposition
• Clicking, popping, or grating sounds in the jaw joint when you open or close your mouth or chew. This may or may not be painful.
• A tired feeling in your face
• Trouble chewing or a sudden uncomfortable bite — as if the upper and lower teeth are not fitting together properly
• Swelling on the side of your face
• You may also have toothaches, headaches, neck aches, dizziness, earaches, hearing problems, upper shoulder pain, and ringing in the ears (tinnitus).

What treatments are available?

Dr. Suzie Bergman is a TMD sufferer herself, and has pursued continuing education in the area of TMD and pain management. Her mentor is Dr. David Dana of Beverly Hills, CA, an international lecturer and expert in the field. She has learned the protocols for treatment, including splints and medications, and works closely with a physical therapist trained in this area.

She is also certified in the use of Botox (botulin toxin) for pain management. Increasingly, BOTOX® is used as an alternative treatment for TMJ (temporo-mandibular joint) disorders and associated jaw tension and pain. When injected into facial muscles afflicted with soreness and discomfort, BOTOX® relieves TMJ and jaw tension for many patients. The injections often eliminate headaches resulting from teeth grinding, and, in cases of severe stress, BOTOX® can even minimize lock jaw.