Don’t let today’s economy change the way you look at your dental care. Unfortunately dental work can be expensive. Here are some thoughts on focusing your money on prevention.

Routine care and exams should be the last thing to be cut from your budget. Many times we see patients cutting back on these exams and end up with a toothache down the road. The ability to manage problems when they are smaller can save money in the long run. An example of this would be a Sonicare toothbrush versus the cost of a filling. We love Sonicare and think their toothbrush does a superior job at cleaning teeth. Plus, it is more fun to use than a manual brush. The cost of this toothbrush is around 100$. If this can help prevent a filling (cost $150-300), you can see the advantage this can give you. Another example is the size of fillings. Fluoride mouth rinse can help prevent the progression of cavities and future decay. Various stores sell this rinse for under $5 and, used once a day, can significantly reduce your risk of cavities.

~Dr. Berkner

Cosmetic Bonding:
Bonding is a generalized dental term meaning to adhere some type of artificial tooth material to the natural tooth. Cosmetic bonding uses esthetic white materials to replace silver fillings or enhance the color and looks of anterior teeth.
The type of bonding material will be decided by you and your dentist after a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of the types of bonding materials right for you.
FILLINGS:
When it comes to fillings, patients today have two distinct choices:
1. Amalgam fillings have been used by dentists for more than a century and are the most thoroughly researched and tested restorative material among all those in use. They are durable, easy to use, highly resistant to wear and relatively inexpensive in comparison to other materials. For those reasons, they remain a valued treatment option. Amalgam fillings have the approval of the ADA for use in a patient’s mouth. The disadvantage of a silver colored, “amalgam,” filling includes the possibility of short term sensitivity to hot and cold after the filling is placed. Also, a silver colored filling is not as natural looking as one that is tooth colored, especially when the restoration is near the front of the mouth and shows when the patient laughs or speaks. The advantage of an amalgam filling is that it can withstand high chewing loads, especially useful for restoring molars where the chewing load is greatest.
2. Composite fillings are a mixture of glass or quartz filler in a resin medium that produces a tooth-colored filling. Composite fillings provide durability and resistance to fracture in small to midsize restorations. Composites can also be “bonded,” or adhesively held in the cavity, often allowing the dentist to make a more conservative repair to the tooth. It generally takes longer to place a composite filling than what is required for an amalgam filling. Therefore, composite fillings are more expensive than amalgam fillings. They require that the cavity be kept absolutely dry during the procedure and they are subject to stain and discoloration over time.
DIGITAL X-RAYS:
Thanks to new digital technology, dentists today using the most modern equipment are able to take x-rays with up to 90% less radiation than from older conventional equipment. In addition, this new technology generates images that are diagnostically superior to x-ray film. They are environmentally safer and require no hazardous developing solutions, fixers, cleansers or x-ray mounts.
IMPLANTS AND TOOTH REPLACEMENTS:
Replacing missing teeth can be achieved with dental implants, bridges, dentures or partial dentures. Today, whenever possible, implants have become our favored way to replace missing teeth. Acting as a substitute tooth root, implants bond with the jawbone to form a stable foundation for a permanent replacement tooth that looks good, feels good, and functions like a natural tooth.
Fixed bridges, partial dentures, and dentures are all common ways to replace missing teeth and are usually less expensive than implants.
A fixed bridge is permanently attached to the adjacent space where your missing tooth, or teeth, were.
A partial denture replaces one or multiple missing teeth and should be removed every night and cleaned. It is then placed back in your mouth the next morning.
A denture replaces all of your natural teeth. It can be secured in your mouth by a proper fit over your gums. A more secure fit can be achieved by having it attached to implants placed in your jawbone. This is a relatively easy procedure, relatively painless when the implants are placed, and gives the patient maximum denture support without the denture popping loose.

Crowns, or “caps,” are traditional and most commonly used restorations in dentistry today. Because the enamel has to be completely removed for a crown, a more conservative onlay or porcelain veneer restoration may be recommended by your dentist. However, when teeth are badly broken, extensively decayed, or simply in need of replacing existing crowns, crowns are the treatment of choice. Crowns can be made of all porcelain, porcelain fused to gold, porcelain fused to zirconium, or all gold. The best crown material is often determined by an individual’s bite and esthetic considerations.

Porcelain Veneers:

Porcelain veneers are the flagship procedure in cosmetic and restorative dentistry. Their success can be traced back to NASA and the space shuttle program in the late 1990’s. When NASA had trouble with the missing tiles upon re-entry, they developed a method of bonding the porcelain tiles to the undercarriage. This bonding technology was adapted to dentistry and has allowed us to bond porcelain veneers directly to the tooth surface which is as strong as natural tooth structure and one that will not stain. Porcelain veneers can be very thin. The semi-translucent veneer can be made to match the light transmitting properties of natural teeth. Because they
are metal free, they eliminate the hated “black line” found around the gum line of many traditional porcelain fused to metal crowns.
Exquisite natural esthetics are achieved with this restoration. It is most often used to close spaces, cover permanently stained or discolore

General Dentistry:

General Dentistry is the foundation for good oral health as well as your overall health. Did you know that poor oral health, tooth decay and gum disease can be a contributing factor in heart disease?
Along with excellent, personalized care and service, it is the goal of today’s dentist to provide optimal dental health care for each patient. Dental treatment should not be based on “just fix it when it hurts or breaks,” but on developing a customized dental hygiene program for each patient. This consists of a dental examination (soft tissue examination, oral cancer examination, and 6- point periodontal examination), teeth cleaning, digital x-rays, and the use of other diagnostic equipment or procedures to uncover, prevent, or treat problems in the early stages before they progress. Your dentist will suggest a variety of dental procedures to help prevent or treat decay or disease of the teeth, mouth, gums, and tongue.

Today’s dentists treat you with the idea of building a foundation of trust and reducing your dental apprehensiveness to insure your success in maintaining good oral health.

Children’s Dentistry:

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that tooth decay is the most chronic disease among children aged five to seventeen. Your child needs to have instilled, through positive dental experiences and your encouragement, with a conviction so that he or she says, “I can’t wait to see my dentist again!”

Missoula does not have fluoride in its water system. Therefore, the use of daily fluoride drops and pills are the most single effective method, other than ideal brushing and flossing, to reduce cavities in children. Yes, I said “flossing.” Parents should help their child brush and floss until age 6-8. This fluoride supplement should continue until approximately 12 years of age.

Dental Potpourri Continued

“Just a quick note to thank you for your professionalism and beautiful work.  I appreciate what you are doing.  Your staff is also terrific!”

“I feel fortunate to have such a fine dentist caring for the health of my mouth.  I always feel at ease and confident that you know how to handle anything that comes up.  Your dedication to your profession and kind treatment of each patient is obvious.  I so appreciate your thorough communication as you work on me . . . puts me at ease.”  This was unsolicited and in a thank you note from Molly.  I asked her about including it and she was very willing.