The Importance of Replacing Missing Teeth

We see patients on a regular basis who are in need of tooth replacement, whether it be a single tooth or several teeth, there are essentially three options. 

Option 1: The first and best option is a dental implant.  It is essentially a screw or a post with rivets made of titanium that is placed in to the jaw bone (we also offer a ceramic implant for patients who are looking for a metal free option). It is then allowed to heal for four-six months so that the bone can fuse to the implant. After healing is complete, a different type of post called an abutment is screwed into the implant so that a replacement tooth can be placed on top. A crown or cap is placed on the post. The process is then complete and the patient may use the implant normally.

Implants are the most similar to a natural tooth. You eat, brush, and floss as you would without an implant. 

Implants also have a much longer life span than other treatment options. 

Option 2: The second option is a bridge. It is made of porcelain, metal, or a combination of both. A bridge is three or more teeth that are fused together and then attached to the neighboring teeth. The bridge will fill the empty space left from the missing tooth. In order for the bridge to fit onto the existing teeth, they must be prepped or ground down to create enough space for the bridge to fit. It is then cemented into place. 

The biggest risk factor with a bridge is bridge failure. This happens when either one or both of the neighboring teeth get decay on them. If this occurs, the entire bridge needs to be removed to have the decay taken out properly. Then a new bridge would need to be made and cemented into place.

Option 3: The third option is a removable partial denture or a retainer that has teeth attached to it. An impression or mold of the upper and lower teeth is taken. The impression is then sent to a Dental Laboratory for fabrication. Once completed, the patient will return to the dental office for an appointment to ensure a proper fit.

Partial dentures are fairly easy to care for. They come in and out of the mouth and can be brushed daily with a soft toothbrush. At night, it is recommended that partial dentures be removed from the mouth and placed in a cup of water with an effervescent tablet like Polident to clean it thoroughly.

The biggest downside to a partial denture for patients is the fact that it does come in and out of the mouth. Over time, it will also need adjustments to keep it fitting well and eventually will need to be replaced. 

It is important to replace missing teeth for the following reasons:

1. Teeth will shift over time. For example, if you had your second to back tooth on the lower left side, extracted, eventually the tooth behind it will begin to move forward at an angle to fill the space. Also, the upper teeth will begin to move down until they touch the opposing teeth again. This process is called super eruption. When teeth begin to shift or move up or down, sometimes they will do it to the point that they are no longer savable and need to be extracted.

2. If you have a tooth extracted and you wait several years before deciding to replace it, there may not be room for an implant or another option because the teeth around it have shifted too much.

3. The other problem with waiting several years before replacing a tooth is you will begin to lose the bone in that area. Which results in needing a bone graft if you have decided to have an implant placed. When having a bone graft done, this will delay healing time and also prolong the implant process. 

Here at Davis Dental, we want to help you have a long lasting, fully functioning, beautiful smile! Contact us for more information. (801)292-5812

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

The Prettau Implant Bridge

The Prettau Implant Bridge is the most advanced implant bridge on the market. Unlike other plastic or acrylic options, the Prettau is made of Zirconia, one of the strongest materials in dentistry today, so it won’t crack, chip or stain. In fact, it is actually a metal found on the periodic table of elements. It, however, does not have the appearance of most metals and can be made to look like natural teeth and gum tissue.

If you are missing teeth, have poor teeth with continual problems experiencing bad odors from ill-fitting dentures, this is the ideal restoration. The Prettau Implant Bridge has so much to offer, and can significantly improve a patient’s quality of life, happiness, and self-esteem. The Prettau is a permanent, all on 4, implant bridge that will last a lifetime! This Prettau is professionally milled to compliment your smile and facial structure. The detail in the craftsmanship of each Prettau is unsurpassed, nothing on the market comes close to the durability and styling of the Prettau Implant Bridge.

This restoration is not only very strong, durable, and won’t chip, but also offers superior aesthetics. It is fixed (not removable) to dental implants placed into the jaw, offering stability and function similar to natural teeth. At Davis Dental, we are continually committed to offering our patients the latest and best dentistry available on the market. Not only do we restore the patient’s smile with the Prettau Implant Bridge here at Davis Dental, but we are able to perform the surgical portion (implant placement, bone grafting, and sedation) as well. The entire procedure is done from start to finish at our office, maintaining consistency from the treatment plan, to the surgery, and to the final prosthesis, ensuring the most consistent and excellent outcome.

Change your life forever! If you’re unhappy with your smile, The Prettau is the solution! Regain the freedom to eat what you want and smile with confidence!

For more information on the Prettau Implant Bridge, contact Davis Dental (801)292-5812

Information from this post was collected from www.prettauimplantutah.com 

5 Ways to Help You Overcome Your Dental Anxiety

Do you get extremely nervous before you make a visit to your dentist? You're not alone! Many patients tell us every day that they hate coming to the dentist. But what if I told you there were simple ways to cope with your fear? Guess what?! There is! Here are 5 simple ways you can make going to the dentist a little less stressful. 

1. Don't be afraid to tell your doctor how you feel. They will be glad to do whatever they can to make your visit more comfortable. 
2. Do you like to know exactly what is going on? Let your dentist know! Ask them to explain each part of the procedure so you are never taken by surprise. Some people prefer to not know anything that is happening because it makes them more nervous. What ever you prefer, make sure you let your doctor know. 
3. Deep breathing can be very beneficial for patients with anxiety. Essential oils applied prior to your appointment can also help you relax. Some patients even enjoy a combination of deep breathing exercises and essential oils because not only does it help you relax, it can actually be therapeutic. 
4. Do you hate the sound of the drill? Trust us, most patients do, and we understand. Bring a pair of headphones and your favorite music to help drown out the high pitched noise. 
5. Establish a stop signal. It can be a simple raise of the hand, or a thumbs down to let your doctor know you need them to stop right away. It doesn't have to be a pain signal, it can just mean that you need a rinse or that you simply need a break to breathe and relax. 

These are just a few ways to help you relax before and during your dental procedure. If these methods do not work for you, there are always sedation methods that may be the best option for you. Visit your dentist to establish the best route of treatment for you. 

To make an appointment with Dr. Davis and his team, contact us at (801) 292-5812

Information gathered from personal experience and psychcentral.com

Ten Things To Consider Before Purchasing Dental Insurance

Are you looking into purchasing a dental benefits/insurance plan? Here is a list of things to consider before you do. 

1. Will you be able to continue seeing your current dentist? 

If you have a dentist that you really like, you may want to look into an insurance plan that he or she participates with. If your dentist is not on that list, don't be afraid to ask why your dentist has chosen not to participate. They may have a very good reason. Don't let insurance companies fool you into thinking you can only see a dentist that is on their list. Several companies will help pay even if it is not with a participating doctor. 

2. Know what is covered in the plan you are researching. 

Many insurance companies do not cover certain procedures, especially when it comes to preventive treatment. Dental sealants and fluoride are not always covered. Both of these procedures could prevent future decay and save you money in the long run. 

3. Is the treatment you need determined by you and your dentist?

If you are having to choose dental treatment based on what your insurance plan will cover, you may not be receiving the treatment that is best for you. You and your dentist should be making the decision together on what treatment is ideal for your overall health. 

4. What type of dental care is covered?

Does the plan you are researching cover braces, bridges, crowns, or periodontal disease? What about major treatment such as; dentures, implants, or TMJ disorder? 

5. What is your coverage maximum?

Most dental plans cover on average a $1,000-$2,000 maximum per year. This small amount can be greatly diminished after one or two procedures depending on what type of treatment is needed. If you know you need more work than this amount allows, it may not be worth the premiums and remaining out of pocket expense to purchase a dental plan.

6. What if you need to see a specialist?

Some plans do not cover specialist visits leaving you with the entire cost out of your own pocket. 

7. Does the plan cover out of area emergencies?

Nothing is worse than having a toothache while you are trying to enjoy yourself on vacation. Does your dental insurance take care of these types of visits?

8. Does the insurance have a waiting period? 

If you are needing treatment immediately, you are likely going to have to wait 3 months for minor work such as fillings, and one year for major work like bridges and crowns. 

9. Does the plan have a pre-existing condition clause?

Some companies will not cover pre-existing conditions such as missing teeth. If you have a missing tooth that needs to be replaced with a bridge or an implant, many times insurance plans will not cover this treatment. 

10. Do you have an existing crown or bridge that needs to be replaced?

The majority of insurance plans will not pay for a bridge or crown that needs to be replaced if it has been under 5 years. Some companies won't help pay if it has been less than 7 years. 

It is important for you as a patient to consider all of these options before opting to purchase a dental insurance plan. 

Information for this post came from www.investopia.com and www.ada.org