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At Wellness BioDentistry, we want to provide you with the information you need regarding our Idaho Falls dental services. Dentistry can be complicated, and the teeth and supporting structures are naturally highly sensitive. It makes sense that people are curious about these procedures, so they know exactly what they’re in for before making an appointment.

Here are answers to some of our most frequently asked dental questions.

What Does a Dental Exam Include?

When you come into our office for a dental exam, your Idaho Falls dentist will perform a teeth cleaning and inspect your teeth for cavities, fractures, gum disease, broken or missing fillings and other possible problems. We will also be sure to review any of your previous x-rays for comparison, and perform a detailed oral cancer screening.

Once this is complete, Dr. Baker will explain to you exactly what he has found, and give professional recommendations for the most appropriate treatment, if any is required. Dr. Baker is also happy to answer any questions you may have.

This entire process should take anywhere from a half an hour to just over an hour, although the time frame will depend on your particular dental situation.

What Are Dental Crowns & Tooth Bridges?

Crowns and bridges are forms of restorative dentistry.

• Crowns: These provide a functional and cosmetic solution to broken, damaged, and decayed teeth. They surround or “cap” the tooth above the gum line, becoming a functioning part of the tooth while restoring its form and function, as well as restoring your bite and jaw movements. Generally, crowns are made of gold, porcelain-ceramic, or zirconia.
• Bridges: These are often used as a simultaneous solution for both broken and missing teeth. Your Idaho Falls dentist can replace missing teeth with artificial teeth, which are then bonded to surrounding teeth for support. Dental bridges restore your teeth, bite, and jaw movements. They are often made of zirconia, ceramic, porcelain, alloys, or gold.

Is Laser Dentistry Safe?

If a dental laser is utilized appropriately by a trained, professional dentist, then it is just as safe as any other dental instrument – sometimes more so. At Wellness BioDentistry, your Idaho Falls dentist can utilize a dental laser to safely perform important dental services.

Laser dentistry has been in use since 1990 for safe, effective treatment in a wide range of dental procedures. We utilize the Waterlase as a safe and gentle alternative to a “dental drill” to work on hard tissue for procedures like preparing teeth for fillings, or on soft tissue for procedures like contouring or frenectomy. This tool utilizes different light wavelengths in order to manipulate water molecules in the teeth, eventually allowing us to cut through the tooth. It also continually sprays water to prevent heat.

One of the main reasons the Waterlase is a useful dental tool is that it does not generate heat, pressure, or vibrations, which are the main causes of dental pain from conventional drills.

For some procedures, your Idaho Falls dentist at Wellness BioDentistry may utilize the EPIC Diode Laser, which produces a lower intensity laser, and is often used for treating periodontal disease, aphthous ulcers, and cold sores.

Do Dental Fillings Have Mercury?

Not at Wellness BioDentistry.

As a biocompatible dentist in Idaho Falls, Dr. Baker is committed to mercury-free fillings. Generally speaking, silver fillings (also called amalgam fillings) contain about 50% mercury. We avoid these, and can even remove pre-existing amalgam fillings.

There are a number of reasons for the choice behind our refusal to use amalgam fillings.

• Mercury is a highly toxic heavy metal.
• Amalgam fillings often have to be wedged in place, which can cause microfractures.
• Amalgam fillings often expand and contract depending on temperature changes, which can also cause microfractures.
• Amalgam fillings are generally not aesthetic, often discoloring teeth over time.

As a member of the Multi-Discipline Alliance, Dr. Baker has thorough training in the safe removal amalgam dental fillings.

How Do Tooth Extractions Work?

At Wellness BioDentistry, your Idaho Falls dentist will take an x-ray of the area of the tooth that needs to be extracted in order to make the appropriate plans for a dental extraction.

Simple tooth extractions involve a loosening of the tooth with a dental instrument called an elevator. Once this is done, it is removed using a dental instrument called a forceps. Surgical extractions are slightly more complicated, and is generally performed if a tooth has been broken off at the gum line, or hasn’t quite grown into the mouth yet. This involves much of the same process as a simple tooth extraction, but your Idaho Falls dentist will also make a small incision in the gum, and may also remove some of the bone around the tooth, or divide the tooth into two halves for easier extraction.

At Wellness BioDentistry, tooth extractions from your Idaho Falls dentist are safe, clean, and professional. Sedation dentistry will also help the process be less stressful and more relaxing.

When it comes to wisdom teeth, it is best to get them removed as soon as possible, as putting this off until later will make the process more complicated, and wisdom teeth can create problems for the rest of your teeth over time. If we are removing a non-wisdom tooth, there may be a risk of neighboring teeth shifting afterwards. Dr. Baker may recommend replacing the extracted tooth with a dental implant or a dental bridge.