Antimicrobial Therapy for Gum Disease

Below is an article written by by Tracey Sandilands and found on Colgate.com 

Antimicrobial therapy is a form of oral treatment used to eliminate or reduce the development of bacterial infections in the mouth. The therapy aims to prevent periodontal diseaseresulting from infections, which can cause painful, bleeding gums and loosening of your teeth.

Preparation and Treatment
If your dentist decides you will benefit from antimicrobial treatment, they will likely start with scaling and root planing. This process removes plaque and calculus (tartar) from the sulcus area around the teeth using either a scaler or instruments as well as an ultrasonic scaling device. In severe cases where there are periodontal pockets greater than 5-6 mm deep, the dentist may recommend that the patient be seen by a periodontist to evaluate the area with deeper pocketing and determine if gum surgery may be necessary. The scaling and root planing and gum surgery treatments require local anesthesia to reduce the patient's discomfort. The dental hygienist performs the scaling and root planing procedure.

During gum surgery, the periodontist makes an incision into the gum tissue, flaps the tissue back and cleans and scales the surface of the affected teeth and bone to remove the diseased tissue and infection. The gum tissue is then put back in place and sutured and the gum tissue will heal, and the periodontist will check the area a week or so after surgery. The use of an antiseptic mouthwash or antibiotic medication may be recommended for the next seven to 10 days.

Antiseptic Mouthwashes
Mouthwashes containing antiseptic ingredients help control the reproduction of the bacteria, which grow on the gum tissue in the mouth, and help to clean out the pockets around the individual teeth. The ingredients in antiseptic mouthwashes may include chlorhexidine, essential oils, and metal salts Sn11 and Zn11 to help control dental plaque and halitosis.

To read the entire article visit Colgate.com

The remainder of the article details the following:

• Antibiotic Medications
• After Treatment

de Bruin Dental Center   
Tomas G. de Bruin, DDS   
631 Sierra Rose Drive, Suite A  
Reno, NV 89511   
(775) 826-1838   
deBruinSmiles.com

What Is the Best Age for Braces?

Below is an article written by by Steve Auger and found on Colgate.com 

Responsible parents always want what is best for their children, even if the kids don't see it that way. That means yearly physicals, regular dental checkups and an orthodontist appointment if you suspect your child needs braces. While you're preparing for the visit, brush up on the best age for braces.

What Do Braces Do?
Orthodontic treatment solves multiple mouth issues. Some of those issues include teeth crowding, missing or extra teeth, tooth spacing and improper bites. Orthodontic issues are referred to as malocclusions. Malocclusions that aren't fixed can cause problems down the line, including worn enamel, tooth decay and issues with chewing and speaking.

First Visit to the Orthodontist
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends scheduling a child's first orthodontist visit by age 7 or at the first visible sign of a malocclusion. At that age, the child's teeth and jaw are still developing, making orthodontic issues, such as tooth crowding, easier to address.
Your child might be a bit apprehensive about the visit. A good orthodontist will take measures to put your child at ease, like giving them an office tour and introducing them to the staff. Once your child is more relaxed, the orthodontist can conduct the initial exam to determine if treatment is needed. Photographs and X-rays of the mouth and teeth will be taken to help the orthodontist decide how to proceed.

To read the entire article visit Colgate.com

The remainder of the article details the following:

• Types of Misalignment
• Adapting to Braces
• Not Just for Children

de Bruin Dental Center   
Tomas G. de Bruin, DDS   
631 Sierra Rose Drive, Suite A  
Reno, NV 89511   
(775) 826-1838   
deBruinSmiles.com

Cosmetic Porcelain Dental Veneers

'Smile Makeovers' in as Little as Two Visits!

If your teeth are irregularly shaped or have unattractive gaps or deep discoloration, our porcelain veneers may be the solution. Veneers are thin porcelain coverings that fit over and are bonded to your teeth. They are created from the most superior dental ceramic available and look completely natural. In addition to our standard veneers, we also feature ultrathin, conservative veneers. These are contact-lens thin and super translucent. Since they're so thin, little to no tooth reduction is required. Many times the process is so painless you won't even require a shot!

de Bruin Dental Center   
Tomas G. de Bruin, DDS   
631 Sierra Rose Drive, Suite A  
Reno, NV 89511   
(775) 826-1838   
deBruinSmiles.com

Children's Orthodontic Dental Care

Starting Early, A Full Range of Orthodontic Options

You trust Dr. de Bruin to handle all your child's normal dental care. Why not orthodontics? He sees children at the most important ages, between 6 and 11, when they have a combination of baby and permanent teeth, and his in-depth knowledge of craniofacial growth and development allows him to recognize and remedy airway problems, growth problems, and teeth and jaw disharmony early, saving you money.

Early adjustments by a trained dentist can save thousands of dollars as opposed to seeing a specialist later and avert unnecessary removals of permanent teeth as a teen. Dr. de Bruin can adjust for early crowding of front teeth, crossbites in the back teeth, and disparity of the upper and lower jaws, thus correcting these in less than 6 to 18 months, when done prior to their arrival at the teenage years.

de Bruin Dental Center   
Tomas G. de Bruin, DDS   
631 Sierra Rose Drive, Suite A  
Reno, NV 89511   
(775) 826-1838   
deBruinSmiles.com

Alternative Gum Disease Treatment

A Painless Way to Avoid Gum Surgery

There is an established, FDA-approved treatment for gum disease that has been pronounced to be miraculous. It's called Perio Protect™, and it may save you from having to submit to gum surgery. It's easy, completely painless, and exceedingly effective. In fact, it's as simple as wearing teeth whitening trays! In order for gum disease treatments to be fully effective, the medication must remain between your teeth and below the gum line. Up until now, the difficulty has always been keeping the medication in these areas. Your mouth has a persistent flow of saliva that washes away medications in just a minute or two. This reduces the effectiveness of most gum treatment. The innovation of Perio Protect is that the use of special trays maintains the medication where it's required to be for a much longer period of time. This equates to healing that can occur very quickly. Patients often see results in just a few days. If you've been advised that you may need gum surgery – inquire with us first to see if you are a candidate for Perio Protect!

de Bruin Dental Center   
Tomas G. de Bruin, DDS   
631 Sierra Rose Drive, Suite A  
Reno, NV 89511   
(775) 826-1838   
deBruinSmiles.com

6 MouthHealthy Holiday Snacks (That Are Almost Too Cute to Eat) (3 of 3)

Below is an excerpt from an article found on MouthHealthy.org

Sweet as the holidays may be, sugar-packed treats can wreak havoc on your pearly whites. This season, ring in the festivities with healthy and fun holiday snack options that fill your mouth with joy.

Pita Tree Appetizers

The low-fat sour cream in this recipe is a source of vitamin D, which strengthens bones and teeth.
Get the recipe >> 

Grinch Poppers

Be good for goodness sake to your teeth with these Grinch Poppers. For a healthier and more MouthHealthy alternative, swap the sugary and sticky marshmallow for another piece of banana. 
Get the recipe >>

To read the entire article with all healthy snacks please visit MouthHealthy.org

de Bruin Dental Center   
Tomas G. de Bruin, DDS   
631 Sierra Rose Drive, Suite A  
Reno, NV 89511   
(775) 826-1838   
deBruinSmiles.com