General Dentistry in Reno, NV

What is Wellness Dentistry?

"Wellness Care" is a term we use in our practice to describe the value of learning the necessary steps that can be taken to prevent bigger health issues from occurring. Like any dental office, we can get your teeth and gums healthy and repair any existing damage. But we go even further and teach you how to circumvent dental problems before they become huge issues. We begin with a systematic examination. Most of our patients claim they've never experienced such an all-encompassing examination of their gums or teeth before. We scrutinize your bite and how your teeth fit together, we inspect for oral cancer, Gum disease, and indications of wear on your teeth, searching out any issue that might create difficulties for you later. We truly desire to head off problems and make your teeth and gums healthier, so you will occupy less time in the dental chair!

A Healthy Smile, A Healthy Body

At de Bruin Dental Center, we recognize that your optimal oral health is not only about looking your best. It's about preserving healthy teeth and gums. Gum disease is not only a primary cause for tooth loss, it has also been linked to diseases that threaten your overall health. The good news is that gum disease can be treated successfully, often without surgery. We want our patients to achieve their best possible oral health. Our promise to you includes paying detailed attention to all your needs, so you always appear your best and experience peak health benefits.

The Importance of Hygiene Visits

An important motivation to visit your dentist should be to have your teeth cleaned by a professional hygienist. Plaque and tartar accumulate on teeth over time, wreaking havoc. Plaque is sticky. But normally, regular brushing can eradicate the bulk of it. The concern is for leftover plaque, which solidifies into tartar. This falls outside the scope of your standard toothbrush and floss in terms of removal. Tartar amasses below the gumline as well as on the surface of your teeth, triggering the growth of bacteria that produce gum disease. Modern research indicates a definite link between untreated gum disease and other life-threatening conditions like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. If you don't remove plaque, you're taking a serious risk with your continued well-being. Having your teeth cleaned routinely is one of the easiest things you can do to stay healthy!

Dentistry Without Drills or Needles?

One of the most remarkable developments in modern dentistry is called air abrasion. Now, it's feasible to go to the dentist and never experience the drill or the stab of a needle. Instead of a standard drill, this device projects a beam of small particles and air at the area of decay and gently mists it away! Most of our patients require little or no anesthesia during this process. The whine and the vibration of the drill are gone – and so is most of the pain! For many procedures, it's goodbye needles, goodbye drill!

Saving Hopeless Teeth

A root canal – even the suggestion is enough to make some people postpone their dental appointment. Previously, before the innovation of suitable tools and anesthesia, the root canal deserved its dreaded reputation. However, with modern anesthetics and new, cutting-edge technology, root canals are now remarkably manageable. A root canal is the process of fixing a tooth by excavating the pulp chamber of the tooth and restoring it with a filling material. This is often required when dental decay touches the nerve of the tooth (or the tooth has developed an infection). There comes a point where a simple filling will not repair the damage. Teeth with these types of problems used to dictate extraction, which can cause even more difficulties and should be avoided whenever possible. Contact us today and discover how Dr. de Bruin can help you save your teeth. He's extremely experienced in advanced root canal therapy.

Senior Dental Care is Different

Aging is a fact of life. Not even our teeth and gums are exempt from the process. At de Bruin Dental Center, we're trained to help combat the issues that can arise with growing older. The risk potential for developing gum disease and root decay requires extra vigilance from seniors. Daily cleaning and proper nutrition are vital for maintaining healthy gums. Aging also usually means taking more prescription drugs to maintain your health. A decrease of saliva flow is sometimes a side effect of these medications. There are easy-to-use products available that can help this condition. Your fillings are getting older, too. They can weaken or crack. Regular check-ups will permit us to keep your prior dental repairs in tip-top shape. Years of plaque buildup, as well as consuming coffee, tea, or tobacco, can make teeth appear stained. Ask us about procedures that can fight these problems. Remember, if your gums become red, begin to bleed, or your teeth start to feel loose, contact us immediately.

Are You Diabetic or Pre-Diabetic?

Has diabetes caused you to put off your dental care? There is an established link between your dental health and your capacity to effectively control your blood sugar levels. It's a brutal cycle. Untreated gum disease makes your diabetes worse and diabetes makes your gum disease worse. At de Bruin Dental Center, we've received special training on dental care for diabetics. Contact us today for a complimentary consultation. We have the means to assist you. You can be confident you'll receive both compassionate and completely non-judgmental care.

Do You Suffer from Bad Breath?

It can not only destroy your social life, it's frequently a sign of more chronic health problems. Gum disease may be the culprit behind your persistent bad breath. Major developments in the diagnosis and treatment of bad breath have encouraged Dr. de Bruin to install a Fresh Breath Center in his practice. Fresh breath can be yours again!

No Mercury! No Metals! No Kidding!

Dental repairs are often necessary, but most people don't want them to be obvious to the world. Therefore, the traditional silver-mercury amalgam filling is no longer a preferred choice. A metal filling is an efficient, budget-minded repair, but the results are difficult to camouflage against white teeth. In addition, metal does not always bond well to teeth, so decay can and often does leak into the tooth. Innovations in dental technology permit Dr. de Bruin to offer restorations that are a natural-looking white. These composite materials bond to the healthy part of your tooth, reducing the probability of new decay developing in the future. They're a state-of-the-art restoration that contain no metals, strengthen your tooth, and are nearly imperceptible against the natural part of your tooth as compared to a metal filling.

What is Xylitol and What Does It Have to Do with Reducing Cavities?

Xylitol is a natural component of fruits, berries, mushrooms and other vegetables. In fact, our own bodies generate from 5 to 10 grams of xylitol every day. It is exceptionally effective in preventing tooth decay triggered by consuming foods high in sugars and starches. Over 25 years of clinical testing corroborates that xylitol is the premier sweetener for protecting teeth. As a result, it has been endorsed by dental associations worldwide.

Xylitol is currently available as a sweetener in chewing gum, toothpaste, mouthwash, and even candy. It's been proven to offer relief to those suffering from allergies and other respiratory ailments and is also available as a nasal spray. At de Bruin Dental Center, we offer and encourage our patients to use xylitol products. The results have been outstanding. If you desire fewer cavities and better upper respiratory health, ask us about xylitol!