Fluoride Benefits

Many people are on the fence about fluoride and its benefits. Here at Davis Dental we have experienced the true difference fluoride use can make not only for children, but adults as well. Fluoride is vital in preventing tooth decay. Fluoride comes in many forms and can be used in different ways such as, in toothpaste, drinking water (in some areas) and mouth rinses. 

There is some controversy about having fluoride in drinking water, but according to the American Dental Association "more than 70 years of scientific research has consistently shown that an optimal level of fluoride in community water is safe and effective in preventing tooth decay by at least 25% in both children and adults. Simply by drinking water, Americans can benefit from fluoride's cavity prevention whether they are at home, work or school. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention named community water fluoridation one of 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century." 

• How does fluoride protect teeth?

Fluoride that comes from foods, beverages, and supplements helps protect teeth before they come into the mouth by helping the tooth enamel become stronger therefore resisting decay. 

After teeth erupt (break through the gums) fluoride helps to remineralize enamel (making it stronger) and can even reverse the signs of early decay. 

• Why should I want to drink fluoridated water?

You can better your overall oral health and prevent cavities simply by drinking water. It is a very easy and safe way to provide your teeth with fluoride. 

Overtime, the fluoride from your drinking water will be present in your saliva and will help to bathe your teeth with very small amounts of fluoride to help protect and remineralize teeth. 

• Why should I choose a fluoridated toothpaste?

Toothpaste helps to remove plaque and bacteria from the teeth and mouth. Adding fluoride to this method helps to strengthen enamel. 

• Should my children be using fluoridated toothpaste?

For children younger than 3 years, parents and caregivers should begin brushing children's teeth as soon as they begin to come into the mouth by using fluoride toothpaste in an amount no more than a smear or the size of a grain of rice. 

For children 3 to 6 years of age, parents and caregivers should dispense no more than a pea sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. 

Teeth should be brushed thoroughly twice a day (morning and night) or as directed by a dentist or physician. Children's brushing should be supervised to ensure that they use the appropriate amount of toothpaste. 

If you feel that your child isn't brushing thoroughly, we recommend that you help them brush and show them the proper technique. 

Fluoride is a simple, effective, and safe way to ensure healthy teeth. 

For more information visit our website at: davisdentalutah.com or contact Davis Dental at: (801) 292-5812

All information gathered from ada.org. Photo credit to ada.org.

Who Should You Trust To Makeover Your Smile

Many people looking to makeover their smile don't realize that going to just any dentist may not give them the results they are looking for. If you are one of these people, below is a list of qualities to look for when choosing a cosmetic dentist to design your smile:

Experience - the dentist you choose for your smile makeover should be someone who performs cosmetic dentistry every day and who’s focus is on smile design. Actively seeking accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) - The AACD is the largest organization in the world when it comes to cosmetic dentistry. Achieving accreditation through this organization is similar to board-certification in other medical fields. Dentists who are actively seeking accreditation through the academy have the proper knowledge and skills to create smiles that are natural, beautiful, customized to the patient, and long-lasting. Currently, there are only a few dentists in Utah actively seeking accreditation and only a handful of dentists who are members. Going to a dentist with this type of training will ensure that you achieve optimal results.

A dentist who looks beyond just the teeth - many dentists have “tunnel-vision” only focusing on the teeth and the oral cavity. This makes sense, because dental schools traditionally have trained dentists to think this way. However, in order to achieve optimal aesthetic results, the dentist should first focus on the patient’s facial features and facial type. This is where smile design begins - the teeth should be customized to a person’s facial features. Our face and lips are the frame for the teeth, and all these features together make what we define as a “smile”. If the face is not considered first, the new smile may appear to “not fit” or “match” the person or their personality.

A dentist who understands occlusion (aka “the bite”) and proper function of the teeth - If the dentist does not understand the proper form and function of a person’s “bite”, the new smile may be beautiful, but may also have problems down the road. The patient may end up having joint problems (TMJ problems) that cause pain and discomfort or may have teeth that constantly chip or break. When investing a lot of money into your smile, you should have the comfort of knowing that your new, beautiful smile will last a long time.

Smile makeovers should be customized to the patient - This is not a “one size fits all” procedure. When it comes to smile design, the dentist should consider the most appropriate treatment for the patient, with the goal in mind to be as “minimally invasive” as possible to achieve the most optimal result. This means that the dentist needs a firm understanding of all the modes of possible treatment and the various kinds of materials available - one person may need crowns on all of their teeth whereas another may only need bleaching and composite resin bonding.The goal is to achieve the person’s best smile with the least amount of dentistry.

Dr. Jordan D. Davis, DDS is an sustaining member with the American Academy of Cosmetic
Dentistry currently working toward achieving accreditation. He graduated from Creighton School of Dentistry in Omaha, NE with honors. He received one year of additional training in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Wexner Medical Center at The Ohio State University. He also teaches Oral Surgery at Roseman University School of Dentistry in South Jordan. 
For more information on Smile Makeovers, contact us at: (801)292-5812

Digital Smile Design

Dr. Davis is very passionate about dentistry and strives to stay up to date as dentistry advances. This past week, he spent some time in Canada with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry to further his education. Digital Smile Design is a new technological advancement that Dr. Davis found very interesting and something that he feels will be the new way of dentistry and even medicine. 

Digital Smile Design gives us the opportunity to design a patients smile through pictures and video. It takes the guess work out of dentistry! It starts by taking radiographs, photographs, and video of the patient. This information is then sent to Digital Smile Design and they design a smile that is perfect for that specific patient and their unique features. There is no "one size fits all" using this method. 
We will then receive a model of the proposed treatment that we can actually use in the patient's mouth to make sure it is what the patient is looking for. You no longer have to imagine what your smile will look like after treatment because you will already know. 

According to Digital Smile Design, "The whole concept is based upon the analysis of the patient's facial and dental proportions, utilizing a predetermined series of high quality digital photographs and videos, understanding the relationship between teeth, gums, lips, and smile with facial features in motion and with emotion. Digital drawings are easily made on the pictures, following a didactical sequence and a digital ruler is provided to precisely communicate with the dental technician and team when designing the smile. Resulting in a clear, attractive, and understandable treatment presentation for patients." 

We are looking forward to implementing Digital Smile Design into our practice to improve our overall patient experience. 

For more information about Davis Dental, contact us at: (801)292-5812

Information gathered from digitalsmiledesign.com