The Importance of Regular Checkups

You actively take the time to brush and floss every day. You stay away from sugar, don’t smoke and make sure to eat healthy foods. Your teeth and gums don’t hurt and you don’t notice any problems with your mouth.  So, why should you brother to visit checkup twice a year or even once a year?

Even you have stellar oral hygiene habits and you haven’t noticed any problems with your teeth or gums, there are very good reasons to schedule regular dental checkups, including:

• Professional dental exams are mean to identify problems that can be easily missed, ignored or haven’t yet become serious but could. These include minor issues like cavities and plaque. Even serious issues like periodontal disease, infection, and early signs of oral cancer can go unnoticed without professional care.


• Regular exams and in-office dental cleanings address hardened plaque and tartar that can’t be removed through regular brushing and flossing. Professional cleanings also assess areas of the mouth that are tough to access on your own, even with the most cutting-edge household oral hygiene products.


• Regular exams are just one part of your individual practices that keep your smile healthy—just as being a responsible car owner requires the occasional trip to the mechanic.  A professional dental exam is also one part of keeping your smile looking great! Your biannual checkup is the perfect time to ask questions and address your concerns about daily care and any smile improvements you’ve been considering.

If you’re due for a checkup, go ahead and contact us at Bensalem Dentistry for a consultation.  We look forward to seeing you at our new, state-of-the-art facility in Bensalem, PA. 

Dental Crowns

Crowns are used to protect and strengthen teeth that have become extremely weak, decayed or fractured. Covering your affected tooth and restoring it to its original shape and size, dental crowns (sometimes called caps) can help reduce pain, save your tooth from needing to be extracted and keep your smile beautiful and functional. At our office in Bensalem, PA, we can see if a crown is necessary to save your smile.

Over time, as your teeth begin to weaken, they become more susceptible to problems, including decay, cracks and discoloration. Crowns are usually only necessary if decay has reached the point where the tooth structure is compromised and a filling isn’t enough to stop decay. When a crown is installed, Dr. Michael Eisenbrock will remove the decay from your tooth and use core build-up to insulate the nerve and create a surface for the crown to bond to. An impression is then made of this surface so that crown can be custom fitted. Usually made of porcelain, gold or porcelain fused to metal, the crown is fabricated in a lab and then cemented onto the current tooth. This fabrication process can take between two to three weeks.

Crowns are made incredibly strong to protect the remaining tooth structure, while the custom fit ensures that the seam between tooth and crown is miniscule, which helps protect the tooth from further decay.

If you’re experiencing pain in one of your teeth, stop by our office to see if a crown can save your smile. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Michael Eisenbrock at Bensalem Dentistry by calling 215-638-9952. For more information about our practice, visit www.bensalemdentistry.com.   

Intraoral Camera

At Bensalem Dentistry, we use the most advanced technology to help as make an accurate diagnosis. That’s why we offer patients the intraoral camera. Not all dental problems can be detected through a visual exam alone. The intraoral camera is a small device, which is used in order to view areas of the mouth, which may not be visible through an exam or x-ray.

Since the camera is small, it is comfortable for patients. The intraoral camera is placed inside the patient’s mouth and can zoom in on areas of concern. Problems areas, such as cavities or decay, can be magnified, which allows dental issues to be identified sooner than through an exam.

The intraoral camera technology also allows us to transmit the images onto a monitor for you to view. This gives you the opportunity to see for yourself dental problems. Because you will see the dental issues firsthand, you will be able to take an active role in your treatment plan with a thorough understanding of the problem.

In addition to the intraoral camera, we also offer advanced technology, such as digital x-rays and sedation dentistry. Dr. Eisenbrock and his staff are experienced in various areas of dental care including cosmetic, restorative and periodontics. For more information on the intraoral camera or any of our services, please call Bensalem Dentistry at 215-638-9952.

Periodontal Health

Caring for your teeth is an essential part of maintaining good oral health, but your gums also play an important role in your health, and proper care is crucial. Gum disease can be a serious detriment to your oral health and overall wellness, and at our office, Dr. Michael Eisenbrock provides the type of regular periodontal care and checkups you need to maintain peak health and prevent gum disease.

With periodontal disease responsible for 75 percent of all adult tooth loss cases in the United States, it is critical to check for and treat periodontal issues when they first arise. Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums that starts when a build-up of plaque on your teeth hardens surrounding gums. In its early stages, this gum disease is gingivitis, but if it is left untreated, it becomes periodontis. Periodontis can destroy your gum tissue and lead to tooth loss. Periodontis can even result in a loss of bone mass in your jawbone, and heart disease, diabetes and stroke have also been linked to poor periodontal health.

The state of your gums affects the health of your entire body, so come to Bensalem Dentistry in Bensalem, PA to receive periodontal cleanings and treatment. It is easier to prevent gum disease or treat it early on than to reverse the effects of periodontis. Call 215-638-9952 to schedule an appointment or visit www.bensalemdentistry.com for more information.

TMD and TMJ

TMJ is an abbreviation for temporomandibular joint, which is the joint that connects your mandible (lower jaw) to your skull at the temporal bone. While many call disorders associated with this joint, TMJ, those disorders are more appropriately called TMD (temporomandibular disorder), and TMD can have symptoms that range from teeth grinding and headaches to trouble chewing and pain when opening and closing your mouth. TMD is not only an annoying disorder; it is also a destructive one and can cause serious damage to your teeth if left untreated. At our office in Bensalem, PA, Dr. Michael Eisenbrock can determine if you suffer from TMD and offer ways to treat the disorder.

The TMJ controls an assortment of jaw functions, including chewing, so if you’re chewing muscles or the joint itself is in pain, it is possible that you have TMD. TMD is often caused by stress, which leads to unconscious clenching and teeth grinding while awake and asleep. TMD’s symptoms include pain, trouble chewing, lock jaw, headaches or ear pain and a popping or clicking sound when opening your mouth. However, these symptoms may be indicative of other health problems as well, so it is important to see a medical professional for a diagnosis.

Grinding your teeth is an especially worrisome TMD-associated behavior since it can lead to further problems with your mouth. If your teeth grinding is left unaddressed, you will cause serious wear to the enamel of your teeth and expose the dentin, which will make your teeth more sensitive to heat and cold and more susceptible to decay. However, you can work with Dr. Eisenbrock to relieve symptoms with mouth guards or night guards.

If you think that you might be suffering from TMD or teeth grinding, schedule an appointment Bensalem Dentistry by calling 215-638-9952. For more information, visit www.bensalemdentistry.com.

Wisdom Teeth Extractions

Some of us are fortunate enough to be born without wisdom teeth, or to have them grow in perfectly straight.  However, most people are not so lucky.  Wisdom teeth can become impacted, or cause crowding and smile gaps.  This is why we offer precise, comfortable wisdom tooth extractions at our practice.

Wisdom teeth can cause a number of dental problems if they are not addressed and removed, if necessary.  Impacted teeth can affect the gum, jaw bone and surrounding teeth.   Patients may experience pain, tooth sensitivity and even develop cysts.

We encourage patients to visit our practice for x-rays, even if you aren’t experiencing any dental pain.  With a careful record of your wisdom tooth growth, we can determine if an extraction will be necessary.  Wisdom tooth extraction is precise thanks to the advanced dental tools and technologies used at our practice.  Any post-op discomfort is manageable with over-the-counter medications.  We invite you to visit us at Bensalem Dentistry to learn more about wisdom tooth extractions.

Stained Teeth

Here at Bensalem Dentistry,  our patients experience a variety of dental imperfections, including lack of luster of their teeth. Stained teeth are an unfortunate result of smoking, drinking certain beverages, and eating foods with high amounts of sugar — in addition to the natural aging process.

Our dentist, Dr. Michael Eisenbrock, provides teeth whitening procedures right here in our office that help patients whiten their teeth. While the tray whitening system we offer can whiten our patient’s teeth up to eight shades, we still believe preventative measures are an important way to keep a smile bright.

Dr. Eisenbrock recommends avoiding the following things that can stain or discolor the teeth:

• Red wine


• Black coffee


• Tea


• Smoking cigarettes


• Dark-colored sodas


• Berries


• Soy sauce


• Sugar and sweets

Our dental office provides the take home whitening system, which utilizes custom-made trays from impressions of the patient’s teeth and whitening gel to whiten their teeth in the office and at home. Our take-home trays are reusable, so our patients can use them again and again should the brightness of their smile fade.

If you have stained teeth and want to whiten them, contact us here at Bensalem Dentistry in Bensalem, PA by calling (215) 638-9952 or visiting www.bensalemdentistry.com.