Gum Disease Treatment

Defeat Gum Disease Painlessly

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, generates more tooth loss than decay. Dr. Dernick is pleased to offer his patients a powerful weapon in the fight against gum disease. Available in powder form, ARESTIN™ contains tiny microspheres, which deliver a time-released antibiotic directly to the site of the infection, those tiny spaces between gums and teeth. If you have gum disease, it can now be treated painlessly - and that's truly good news.

Smiles of Memorial  
Daniel Dernick, DDS
909 Dairy Ashford Rd #113
Houston, TX 77079
(281) 493-0061 
SmilesofMemorial.com 

Prevent Migraine and Tension Headaches with a Dental Device

Headache and Migraine Sufferers - We May Have Your Miracle Treatment!

There is a drug-free method to prevent migraine and tension headaches. This FDA-approved miracle device known as NTI™ works by relaxing the muscles under your scalp. In clinical trials, 82% of migraine sufferers had relief from their headaches and overall experienced a 77% reduction in their migraine events. NTI has been talked about by Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America and written up in People Magazine. The results have been outstanding. Best of all, the device is fast, easy to use, painless, and inexpensive. If you have a history of migraines or know someone who does, then be sure to ask us about this exciting new treatment.

Smiles of Memorial  
Daniel Dernick, DDS
909 Dairy Ashford Rd #113
Houston, TX 77079
(281) 493-0061 
SmilesofMemorial.com 

Wisdom Teeth

Below is an article found on MouthHealthy.org.

With age comes wisdom. Specifically, wisdom teeth.

Your mouth goes through many changes in your lifetime. One major dental milestone that usually takes place between the ages of 17 and 21 is the appearance of your third molars. Historically, these teeth have been called wisdom teeth because they come through at a more mature age.

When they come through correctly, healthy wisdom teeth can help you chew. Itís normal to feel a little discomfort when your wisdom teeth appear, but if you have pain, see your dentist immediately.

Room to Grow?
Wisdom teeth can lead to problems if there isnít enough space for them to surface or they come through in the wrong position. If your dentist says your wisdom teeth are impacted, he or she means they are trapped in your jaw or under your gums.

As your wisdom teeth make their way through your gums, your dentist will be monitoring your mouth for signs of the following:

• Wisdom teeth that arenít in the right position can allow food to become trapped. That gives cavity-causing bacteria a place to grow.
• Wisdom teeth that havenít come in properly, which can make it difficult to floss between the wisdom teeth and the molars next to them.
• Wisdom teeth that have partially come through can give bacteria a place to enter the gums and create a place for infection to occur. This may also lead to pain, swelling and stiffness in your jaw.
• Wisdom teeth that donít have room to come through are thought by some to crowd or damage neighboring teeth.
• A wisdom tooth that is impacted can form a cyst on or near the impacted tooth. This could damage the roots of nearby teeth or destroy the bone that supports your teeth.

To read the entire article visit MouthHealthy.org.

The article also contains links about:

• Why You Might Need to Have Your Wisdom Teeth Removed
• Keeping Your Wisdom Teeth?

Smiles of Memorial  
Daniel Dernick, DDS
909 Dairy Ashford Rd #113
Houston, TX 77079
(281) 493-0061 
SmilesofMemorial.com 

Dental Sealants

Prevent Tooth Decay - the Easy Way!

The application of dental sealants can help prevent suffering from tooth decay, which means fewer damaged teeth that could potentially result in a lifetime of fillings and crowns. We all know that brushing your teeth properly is an acquired skill. Even with scrupulous brushing the deep grooves in the back of teeth are often missed, even by adults. Sealants form a barrier between the back teeth and bacteria, food acids, and plaque formation that can develop within our mouths.

Smiles of Memorial  
Daniel Dernick, DDS
909 Dairy Ashford Rd #113
Houston, TX 77079
(281) 493-0061 
SmilesofMemorial.com 

Non Surgical Gum Disease Treatments

Have You Been Told You Need Gum Surgery?

Does the painless treatment of gum disease seem improbable? It's not. You no longer need to dread gum surgery. Dr. Dernick uses an advanced FDA-approved laser for the effective, non-surgical treatment of gum disease. The procedure is both minimally invasive and patient friendly.

Smiles of Memorial  
Daniel Dernick, DDS
909 Dairy Ashford Rd #113
Houston, TX 77079
(281) 493-0061 
SmilesofMemorial.com 

Dental Root Canals

Saving Hopeless Teeth

Previously, the solution to teeth with damaged roots or infection was extraction. Fortunately, these teeth can now often be saved by a root canal. With modern anesthetics and technology, the procedure of fixing a tooth by removing the pulp and replacing it with filling material is painless. The once-dreaded root canal has lost its anxiety factor!

Smiles of Memorial  
Daniel Dernick, DDS
909 Dairy Ashford Rd #113
Houston, TX 77079
(281) 493-0061 
SmilesofMemorial.com 

Dental Digital X-rays

Improving the Way We See Your Mouth

Our practice uses digital X-ray technology. We can take an image of your mouth and immediately view it on our computer screen. This allows us to view your entire mouth in one panoramic picture, including your upper and lower jaws. Even better, digital X-rays expose you to 75% less radiation than non-digital (film) X-rays, and this digital technology is 
"green" technology.

Smiles of Memorial  
Daniel Dernick, DDS
909 Dairy Ashford Rd #113
Houston, TX 77079
(281) 493-0061 
SmilesofMemorial.com 

Experience Cleaner Teeth with Ultrasonic Dental Tools

The Cleanest Your Teeth Can Be

You can experience cleaner teeth with less scraping than from regular scaling instruments. The Cavitron Scaler™ is a high-frequency vibration (ultrasonic) tool that enables us to easily remove hard deposits. It works especially well under the gum-line and even into the deep pockets that can form around teeth, which is advantageous in the event that you need gum disease treatments. Many patients report that they experienced less discomfort with the Cavitron Scaler than with traditional instruments. Your teeth will never have felt so clean!

Smiles of Memorial  
Daniel Dernick, DDS 
909 Dairy Ashford Rd #113 
Houston, TX 77079 
(281) 493-0061 
SmilesofMemorial.com 

Regular Dental Care for Seniors

Senior Dental Care is Different

Just as our bodies slow and show the unmistakable signs of age, so do our teeth. Even your fillings, crowns, and bridge work can weaken, crack, or show excessive wear. Fortunately, with regular checkups, we can help you combat the more serious side effects. We offer treatments to reverse the dark staining caused by years of consuming acidic beverages or tobacco or by the buildup of plaque. Simple products are now available to alleviate the reduction of saliva caused by some medications. As we age, the potential hazards of gum disease and root decay increase. Daily cleaning and good nutrition, to maintain healthy gums, is even more critical for us as seniors. If you are experiencing red, irritated gums, bleeding, or your teeth start to feel loose, please contact us.

Smiles of Memorial  
Daniel Dernick, DDS 
909 Dairy Ashford Rd #113 
Houston, TX 77079 
(281) 493-0061 
SmilesofMemorial.com 

Comfortable Dental Care

No More "Fat Lips" or Numbness After Treatment!

Have you ever experienced that "fat-lip" feeling that comes from having your mouth numbed before treatment? The sensation can last for hours, making it hard to eat or even talk. Well, we say, NO MORE to "fat lips"! Instead, we offer our patients OraVerse™. After your treatment is complete, we can use OraVerse to reverse the effects of the anesthetic. It reduces the amount of time you're numb in half and then your mouth feels back to normal.

Smiles of Memorial  
Daniel Dernick, DDS  
909 Dairy Ashford Rd #113  
Houston, TX 77079  
(281) 493-0061 
SmilesofMemorial.com 

Gum Disease Treatments

There Is Good News

Surgical treatment may be necessary for advanced gum disease. Gum surgery is never fun, but it is almost always successful in controlling the condition, and common insurance plans usually cover a portion of it. With mild periodontal disease, there are very effective NON-surgical procedures that, coupled with improved dental hygiene, can virtually halt the spread of the disease. This, too, is usually partially covered under most dental insurance plans.

Smiles of Memorial  
Daniel Dernick, DDS  
909 Dairy Ashford Rd #113  
Houston, TX 77079  
(281) 493-0061 
SmilesofMemorial.com 

Gum Disease Linked to Heath Problems

Gum Disease Can Contribute to Serious Health Conditions

Recent medical research has found a startling connection between periodontal (gum) disease, stroke, and heart disease. Since heart disease can be fatal, that makes gum disease a more serious matter than previously understood. The American Dental Association estimates that as many as 8 out of 10 Americans have periodontal disease. If this were any other affliction, such as AIDS or tuberculosis, it would be considered an epidemic! Many dentists treat it as just that. They used to believe that gum disease would never be considered that way because "no one ever dies from it." The worst is that you lose your teeth. Not pleasant - but certainly not life threatening. But that's all changed. 

The American Academy of Periodontology reports that "Studies found periodontal infection may contribute to the development of heart disease, increase the risk of premature, underweight births, and pose a serious threat to people whose health is already compromised due to diabetes and respiratory diseases." Periodontal disease is characterized by bacterial infection of the gums. These bacteria can travel into the bloodstream - straight to the heart.

Smiles of Memorial  
Daniel Dernick, DDS  
909 Dairy Ashford Rd #113  
Houston, TX 77079  
(281) 493-0061 
SmilesofMemorial.com 

Diet, Food Choices and Healthy Gums

Below is an excerpt from an article found on Colgate.com that was written by the ADA 

Can food or drink choices help a person have healthier gums?

Japanese researchers studied a group of nearly 950 adults to determine whether consuming dairy products with lactic acid like milk, yogurt and cheese, had a lower risk for gum disease.

Participants' periodontal health was evaluated through two measurements - periodontal pocket depth and clinical attachment loss of gum tissue. Researchers found that participants who consumed 55 grams or more each day of yogurt or lactic acid drinks had significantly lower instance of periodontal disease. They found that consuming milk or cheese was not as beneficial to periodontal health.

Researchers theorize that the probiotic effect of Lactobacillus bacteria could be related to healthier gums. Another Japanese study showed that adults who drank green tea might also lead to healthier gums, because its antioxidants have anti - inflammatory properties.

To read the entire article visit Colgate.com.

Smiles of Memorial  
Daniel Dernick, DDS  
909 Dairy Ashford Rd #113  
Houston, TX 77079  
(281) 493-0061 
SmilesofMemorial.com 

Sedation Dentistry using Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous Oxide Sedation

Breathe in—breathe out, repeat—relax! Laughing gas, the more commonly known name for nitrous oxide sedation, makes treatment more comfortable. Inhaled through an over-the-nose mask, nitrous oxide medication induces a state of relaxation, which allows local anesthetic to be administered without pain. Now you don't have to fear the needle!

Smiles of Memorial  
Daniel Dernick, DDS  
909 Dairy Ashford Rd #113  
Houston, TX 77079  
(281) 493-0061 
SmilesofMemorial.com