November 28, 2011
Bruxism is defined as grinding your teeth sometimes during the day but usually at night.
Some signs that you may be bruxing are:
●worn or broken teeth
●tooth sensitivity
●pain in your jaw muscles
●headache
●facial pain
●damage on the inside of your cheek
The causes of bruxism are unclear at this time. Some causes may be anxiety, stress, misalignment of teeth, sleep problems (sleep apnea), and certain medications.
Severe bruxing will cause major damage to your teeth resulting in the need for extensive dental work.
If you see signs of wear or chipping of your teeth, talk to your dentist about having a custom night guard made to help protect your teeth.
There is no cure for bruxism at this time so wearing a night guard will help prevent major damage to your teeth. A night guard worn as a prevention appliance can alleviate tooth destruction and save you from having expensive dental work in the future.
Yours in good dental health!
Clint Bruyere, D.D.S.
November 16, 2011
Ulcers usually occur inside the mouth and lips and are not contagious. Fever blisters usually occur on the lips (caused by the herpes virus) and are contagious. Fever blisters are treated with an antiviral agent either taken orally or an ointment (acyclovir, denovir, or pencilovir.)
Mouth ulcers (apthous ulcers) have no definitive treatment.
Let’s look at possible causes first. Some studies have indicated that people get these because of an auto-immune response passed on through genetics. Many things may cause an outbreak such as, but not limited to:
●trauma
●stress
●hormones
●chemicals like sodium lauryl sulfate, a foaming agent in toothpastes
●citric acids in food, such as tomatoes, oranges, or pineapple
●cinnamon oil or flavorings
There is no cure for apthous (mouth) ulcers at this time. Several things can be done to ease the discomfort and speed the healing. Some treatments include:
●cauterizing the lesion with a laser or silver nitrate
●using mouth rinses containing lidocaine
●using topical steroids
●taking B and C vitamins
Unfortunately, mouth ulcers are difficult to treat. The good news is, in most cases they resolve themselves with 7-14 days.
If you are having pain with mouth ulcers, contact your dentist to go over treatment options. If you have these ulcers frequently, it may take several different types of treatments to find the one that works best for you.
Yours in good dental health!
Clint Bruyere, D.D.S.
November 14, 2011
Cosmetic dentistry focuses on improving the appearance of your teeth and smile.
A complete examination is needed to determine if there are any dental disease problems that need to be addressed first, such as:
●Cavities
●Abscesses
●TMJ (jaw joint)
●Bone and tissue loss from extracted teeth
Once these areas have been evaluated, you and your dentist can talk about the things you would like changed in your smile.
Multiple procedures are available to give you a great smile:
●Bleaching
●Orthodontics and bleaching
●Porcelain veneers
●Porcelain crowns and bridges
●Implants
●Precision partials
●Dentures
●Tooth reshaping
●Bonding with filling materials
Special attention needs to be paid to the gum line when forming a treatment plan for cosmetic dentistry. Gum lines that are not symmetrical can be treated by a gum specialist (periodontist) to place your gums in the correct position.
If problems with the gums are not addressed, the best veneers and crowns can be placed and the result will not be satisfactory.
Cosmetic dentistry can be as simple as bleaching or as complex as a full-mouth rehabilitation. Ask your dentist to explain the options you have to improve your smile – it can make the difference in your appearance AND your life!
Yours in good dental health!
Clint Bruyere, D.D.S.
November 13, 2011
Before dental implants began being used, fixed bridges were the choice for replacing missing teeth when people did not want a removable appliance.
Fixed bridges require that at least two teeth (sometimes more) be cut down for a crown. Then an impression is taken of the teeth and temporary crowns are placed to cover the prepared teeth. The impression is sent to a dental laboratory to have a fixed bridge made that will cover the prepared teeth and replace the missing teeth. The bridge is then tried in to check for fit, adjusted, and cemented.
Implants are done by placing a titanium cylinder into the jaw bone of the missing teeth. They are allowed to heal for 3-6 months. Then the dentist uncovers the implant to place an abutment (foundation) into the implant, an impression is taken, and a dental lab will make a crown(s) to replace the missing teeth.
When implants can be placed successfully it is advantageous to use them because you do not have to prepare (cut down) healthy teeth.
Disadvantages of fix bridges:
1. Preparation (cutting down) of healthy teeth
2. Preparation of the teeth can sometimes cause damage to the nerve and you will need
to have a root canal also.
3. Difficulty may occur keeping the area clean under the pontic (missing tooth area)
Disadvantages of implants:
1. Restoration of the area takes longer
2. Cost is higher
Your general dentist and implant specialist can work together to determine the best option for you. When implants cannot be done then fixed bridges are a good alternative.
Yours in good dental health!
Clint Bruyere, D.D.S.
 
November 7, 2011
Just a reminder to all people who have dental insurance. PLEASE take advantage of your insurance and use it. Once the calendar year is gone, so are the benefits.
Even if your teeth and gums are healthy, take advantage of the cleanings, exams, and x-rays your insurance provides. Finding problems when they are small will save you a lot of out-of-pocket expenses and less time in the dental chair. And let’s face it, there are places you’d rather be.
If you have a lot of work to be done, you can take advantage of your benefits this year and start again January 1, 2012.
Check with your dental office for your remaining benefits and use them to your advantage.
Yours in good dental health!
Clint Bruyere, D.D.S.
November 1, 2011
When the nerve tissue in a tooth dies either from a deep cavity, a crack, or trauma, it will cause a toothache.
Endodontics involves the removal of the nerve and pulp (blood vessels) and sealing the root canals from the top of the root to the pulp chamber.
The procedure is done by first using local anesthetic to numb the tooth. Then the pulp chamber is opened to show all the canals going down to the root(s). Small files are placed to the ends of the root and moved in and out of the canal to remove the dead tissue. Bleach is used to help loosen the dead tissue and destroy bacteria inside of the tooth. The canals are then sealed with materials to keep the bacteria from getting back into the canals.
A crown will need to be placed to help protect the tooth and to help seal the top of the tooth from bacteria.
Root canals have gotten a bad reputation as being painful but that is really not the case now. Most root canals can be finished in one visit and with modern techniques and materials, most post-operative pain is minimal.
Yours in good dental health!
Clint Bruyere, D.D.S.
October 30, 2011
Signs – Symptoms:
●Pain or tenderness of your jaw joint
●Pain in or around your ear
●Difficulty chewing
●Facial pain
●Joint “locks up”
●Headaches
Causes:
●Jaw joint disk moves out of place
●Joint cartilage is damaged by arthritis
●Joint damaged by trauma
●Muscles that help stabilize the joint become fatigued from clenching or grinding
●Misaligned teeth
●Stress
Treatment:
After a proper diagnosis, several treatments are available and may include:
●Bite-guard therapy
●Orthodontics
●Anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxants
●Stress reduction
●Arthrocentesis: flushing out of the jaw joint
●Surgery (last resort)
If you have any type of pain in your joint or facial muscles, it is important to be seen by a dentist as soon as possible. Having treatment done early may prevent further damage to the joint and more expensive treatment in the future.
Yours in good dental health!
Clint Bruyere, D.D.S.
October 24, 2011
Clint’s Killer Sweet Potatoes
3-4 large sweet potatoes
1 lb. Andouille sausage
4 Tbsp butter
1/4 – 1/2 cup heavy cream
Granulated garlic to taste
Salt and pepper
Bake potatoes until soft. While potatoes cool, cook sausage in oven until done. Peel potatoes and place in bowl. Add butter, garlic, salt, and pepper to taste. Use mixer to beat in cream. Chop ½ of sausage in food processor until fine. Blend into potato mixture and place in a glass casserole dish that has been sprayed with Pam. Finely chop the other sausage and sprinkle over the top of the potato mixture. Bake at 275 degrees for 20-30 minutes.
Yours in good dental health!
Clint Bruyere, D.D.S.
October 13, 2011
Have you ever wanted that “Hollywood” smile so many stars have? The beautiful white teeth, straight and perfect – the confidence they seem to show? Most people say they would love to have a smile like that and veneers are the answer.
Veneers are custom made, very thin, porcelain shells that cover the teeth to change the teeth’s shape and color.
In most cases, some enamel will need to be removed to make a proper veneer.
Veneers are not possible on people with fillings between the teeth or with active gum disease. People who grind or clench their teeth, in the day or night, are not good candidates for veneers either.
Advantages of veneers are:
●can change the shape and color of the teeth without grinding the whole tooth down as
with crowns
●are stain resistant
●are tolerated well by gums
Veneers can last ten or more years with proper care. The first step in knowing if veneers are right for you is a complete exam to see if you are a candidate.
Please be aware of advertising from some companies pushing “no-prep” veneers. Very few people are candidates for this type of procedure.
Call to make an appointment and let us show you how to have a million dollar smile that won’t cost you a million.
Yours in good dental health!
Clint Bruyere, D.D.S.
October 11, 2011
Piercings of the lip, cheek, and tongue have become increasingly popular.
These oral piercings can be costly in the damage to your teeth and gums. Some complications are:
*broken teeth
*receding gums
*drooling
*severe infections
*loss of taste
*nerve damage
*aspiration of the jewelry into the lungs
Athletes who have oral piercings and wear them during sporting events have had severe fractures ending in tooth loss.
Please gather all the information you can before deciding to do this. Our advice is to keep piercings for the ears.
Yours in good dental health!
Clint Bruyere, D.D.S.
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