“Fear of the dentist” is pretty much a universal phenomenon among people of all ages. We all experience it to some degree or another, but with children, the anxiety can be much greater. After all, adults know what to expect. Children aren’t quite sure why their teeth need to be worked on or what that work entails.
At Wellness BioDentistry, we work with people of all ages and have plenty of tools and resources at our disposal to make our dental work as easy and painless as possible for both children and adults. Our Idaho Falls dental clinic provides a relaxing environment where you can get that much needed dental work done.
Pediatric Dentistry
There’s some debate as to what age children should first see the dentist. Is it at age 5? Why not 7?
At Wellness BioDentistry we believe that children should see the dentist around 6 months of getting their first tooth. Not only will this allow us to help teach children healthy dental habits and better inform their parents as to how to care for baby teeth, but it also sets a good first impression for a child about the dentist. When a child’s teeth first emerge, there’s generally no major work to be done. They can experience a calm and relaxing appointment with the dentist so they’re less likely to experience anxiety the next time around.
Here’s what you and your child can expect during their first visit to our Idaho Falls dental clinic:
- We’ll teach them how to brush their teeth.
- We’ll show them areas of their teeth that they could miss while brushing, and show them how to reach those areas.
- Dr. Baker will review the health history of your child, answer any questions you might have, and go over your child’s oral habits as well as their overall health.
Much of your child’s first dental appointment consists of Dr. Baker explaining what you can expect as your child grows and their baby teeth start to come in.
As stated above, a child’s first dental experience should be a positive one. At our Idaho Falls dental clinic, Dr. Baker loves making balloon animals and silly hats for children, and after their appointment, they can use a shiny gold token to select a prize from our prize machine. They’ll leave knowing there’s nothing to fear about going to the dentist.
Children need to see the dentist regularly. After all, we can’t expect their hygiene habits to be on par with adults, and their dexterity is also limited making it difficult for them to properly brush all areas of their teeth. This can put them at greater risk for tooth decay. Dr. Jordan Baker is great at communicating with children and can explain what plaque and bacteria are and how they can affect their teeth. At our Idaho Falls dental clinic, we also offer fluoride-free home care for your young ones.
Idaho Falls Dental Care For Adults
Whether it’s a simple cavity or a wisdom tooth extraction, Wellness BioDentistry can help. We are a bio-compatible dental clinic, which is simply a way of saying we take a holistic approach to dentistry with a focus on not just the health of your teeth, but the overall health of your body as well. We use products and techniques that are healthier than much of what’s used in standard dentistry.
Sedation
There’s no shame in having anxiety about a dental appointment. After all, the teeth are incredibly sensitive parts of the body. Having them worked on can understandably send shivers up your spine.
Fortunately, our Idaho Falls dental clinic can provide the sedation you need to sit back and relax while the work is being performed. You might even find your dental appointment to be a pleasant experience.
Mercury-Free Fillings
Over the years, more and more dentists have started avoiding mercury fillings for the following reasons:
- Mercury is a known toxic heavy metal. It has been shown to have negative effects on human health over time.
- Mercury fillings do not look or feel like natural tooth tissue, resulting in a “metal mouth” look.
- Mercury fillings have no adhesive quality. They have to be forced into place, which can create microfractures in the tooth. These are great places for plaque and bacteria to fester.
- Mercury fillings expand and contract with temperature changes, which can create more microfractures over time.
Many dentists in Idaho Falls are avoiding mercury fillings in favor of resin-fillings, and Dr. Jordan Baker is one of them. Resin fillings are safer for the human body, are adhesive (thus allowing for gentle application), don’t expand and contract with temperature changes, and look and feel like natural teeth.
Non-Metal Implants
If you’re missing a tooth, an implant is usually the best option. Unfortunately, too many dentists in Idaho Falls are using metal implants. These are not as bio-compatible as the non-metal implants we use at our dental clinic.
We install Zirconia implants comprised of zirconium oxide. These are beneficial for the following reasons:
- They are non-toxic.
- They are actually stronger than metal implants.
- They adhere to the body better than metal implants.
Laser Dentistry
A lot of pain involved with the conventional dental drill results from the grinding effect, pressure, and heat of the drill piercing the tooth. With laser dentistry, none of this is a problem. In fact, many times anesthesia isn’t even required with laser dentistry.
At Wellness BioDentistry we have two kinds of laser “drills”.
- Waterlase: This is a gentle and safe way of working with your teeth. It can be used on both hard and soft tissue. It can be used for dental fillings as well as frenectomy or for contouring soft tissues. Like all laser dental tools, it uses different wavelengths of light to shape the teeth. Waterlase excites the water molecules that naturally exist in your teeth to cut into them. It also applies a stream of water to prevent heat.
- EPIC Diode Laser: This is a compact laser dental appliance that’s lower in intensity. It is great for treating periodontal disease, aphthous ulcers, and cold sores.
Mouth Meets Body
At our Idaho Falls dental clinic, we understand that the body is an interconnected system. Work that is performed on your teeth can have lasting effects on various other parts of your body, even if they seem unrelated. For example, rough gum cleanings can force plaque and bacteria into the bloodstream, where they can then enter the arteries of your heart and brain. In fact, did you know that tooth decay and periodontal disease are linked to heart disease and stroke?
Dr. Jordan Baker is one of the few dentists in Idaho Falls who takes these things into consideration. At our dental clinic, you can expect dental work that is focused on not just the health of your teeth, but the health of your body as a whole.