Dental Health Center
Grand Peaks Dental Health Center offers attentive, personalized dental care for the entire family! We are happy to see patients of all ages for your dental care needs. Our dental clinics provide a relaxed and friendly atmosphere in a state-of-the-art and professional environment to the surrounding communities. We provide treatments that ensure you the best possible experience for all of your dental needs, from general dentistry to crowns. Visit our office today to meet our dental team!
Our Dental team offers a number of services, including:
- General Family Dentistry
- Cleanings and X-Rays
- Periodontal Care
- Fluoride/Sealants
- Fillings/Cavity Repair
- Root Canals
- Extractions
- Crowns
- Bridges
- Veneers
- Whitening
- Wisdom Teeth
Your Dental health is important to us, we also support our patients by offering:
- Flexibility to be seen in either our locations.
- An Electronic Medical Record system which allows our staff to coordinate your care at either location.
- Bilingual, Spanish speaking, staff who are ready to provide our patients with the care they deserve.
- Extended hours to accommodate almost any schedule.
Dental Hygiene Education
Dental hygiene is very important to your overall health. Our Dental team will provide you with education about prevention in order to maximize your oral health and maintain a healthy smile. Each appointment will focus on education and prevention, which are the keys to preventing cavities and gum disease. You will also be given tips and recommendations specific to your dental needs. Our Dentists will help identify areas of concern and answer any questions regarding your dental health.
Dental Cleanings
Grand Peaks’ Dentists recommend having your teeth cleaned professionally every six months to reduce the chance of gum disease and to identify any issues before they become a problem. Having your teeth routinely cleaned is recommended to anyone over the age of three.
Professional cleanings are a crucial part of good oral hygiene and are needed to maintain the health of your teeth and gums. During a dental cleaning the hygienist’s aim is to remove plaque, tartar and stains that have accumulated on the teeth. Even with routine brushing and flossing, tartar can still develop. In between routine cleanings, good oral hygiene at home is vital to prevent tartar buildup and gum disease. Routine cleanings will also screen for oral cancer, gum disease and other conditions that may require treatment.
Periodontal Care
When a deeper cleaning is necessary for a patient, our Hygienists are here to help. In instances where it is necessary to remove more tartar build-up than usual, additional time will be scheduled. These appointments can be the first step in improving overall oral health and preventing significant issues in the future.
Fluoride/Sealants
Fluoride is a treatment to strengthen the enamel of a tooth to help prevent cavities from forming. Sealants provide a barrier on the chewing surfaces of molars, which helps protect them from decay. Each of these services can be provided at Grand Peaks! Your routine exam will determine if this treatment is appropriate for you. Routine prevention measures can help maintain your healthy smile.
Fillings/Cavity Repair
When a tooth is damaged by decay, a filling can help preserve your tooth. Our Dentists use a composite material that closely matches the natural color of your tooth. This allows us to provide repair that blends with existing tooth surfaces.
Root Canals
If a tooth receives an injury or suffers damage to the nerve of the tooth, a root canal may be necessary. This procedure involves removing the pulp where the nerve of the tooth is and then filling it with a special material that seals off the root canal from its supporting structures. The tooth is then restored to a natural shape with a filling or crown.
Extractions
In cases of severe decay or damage to a tooth, it may be necessary to have an extraction. During an extraction, the tooth will be removed to prevent other damage, infection and pain in your mouth.
Crowns
A crown may be necessary in cases where a tooth has become damaged, fractured, decayed or broken. The crown can improve a tooth’s appearance and shape. Our Dentist will work with you to remove the damaged part of the tooth, and then create a temporary crown. The impression of your tooth will be sent out to create your custom crown. Once your crown is ready, an appointment will be made to cement the permanent crown to your tooth.
Bridges
When a tooth is missing, a bridge may be necessary. Bridges are used to “bridge” the gap between the missing tooth and existing teeth.
Veneers
If you would like to improve the appearance of your teeth, a veneer may be an option. Prior to the veneer placement, a consultation must be scheduled to identify if a veneer is an option for you. If so, a treatment plan will be created to complete this procedure.
Additional Services
Whitening
As we age, our teeth may naturally change colors. This may be for many reasons such as, lack of regular dental hygiene, foods and drinks that are consumed, smoking or other tobacco use, illnesses or even medications. If you notice your smile is not as “white” as it used to be, ask our dental services team about our tooth whitening options.
It’s recommended that whitening treatments only be done as directed. Over-treatment can lead to sensitivity and inflammation of tissues.
- Whitening trays: Our dental services team will make a custom fitted whitening tray for you. At home, these trays can be filled with whitening gel daily for 20 minutes for 1-2 weeks. After this initial 2 week period, a whitening pen can be used to maintain a whiter smile.
- Whitening pens: These “pens” are available for purchase at any time with no appointment needed. For best results, these pens are used after the whitening trays are used. This product is applied directly to the teeth and go, no need to rinse.
Dental Health As It Relates To Mental & Physical Health
Grand Peaks is dedicated to the health and wellness of our community. As such, our services are interlinked—our dental services relate directly to one’s overall mental and physical health.
Here are some examples:
There have been many different materials used to fill cavities throughout the evolution of dentistry, and one such material that is still popular in conventional dentistry is an amalgam that includes mercury.
These are often referred to as “silver fillings”—a deceptive word as there is actually very little silver involved.
These fillings are comprised of:
- Silver
- Tin
- Copper
- Mercury
It’s mercury that is the main factor of concern, as it is today recognized as a toxic heavy metal. This is why its use as a material in dentistry is losing popularity and is in fact either banned or heavily controlled in many European countries.
Mercury can cause damage to the brain, kidneys, nervous system, and can also cause harm to unborn children.
It can also cause various mood and mental problems such as:
- Difficulty concentrating (brain fog),
- Irritability,
- Mood swings,
- Memory problems,
- Insomnia,
- Anxiety.
Mercury vapor is released from these dental fillings every time you brush and floss, clench your teeth, eat, and chew gum.
For these reasons, among others, we use mercury-free materials for fillings at our St. Anthony and Rexburg dental clinics.
Typically referred to as “composite” or “resin” fillings, the benefits of these mercury-free fillings are numerous:
- They are safe for the human body,
- They’re naturally adhesive, meaning they don’t have to be forced or wedged into place,
- They look and feel just like your natural teeth.
Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammation of the gums as a result of plaque and tartar buildup.
Inflammation is one of the body’s natural defenses against damage and infection. However, when this gum inflammation becomes chronic, it can result in excessive bleeding, gum recession, and tooth loss.
At our dental clinics, we provide periodontal disease treatment for reasons that go beyond the health of the mouth, but also for the health of the body as a whole.
Bacteria-laden plaque has direct access to the bloodstream via the gums, and for this reason, it’s been shown that periodontal disease correlates with a higher risk of serious health problems like heart disease and stroke.
Those suffering from mental and behavioral health issues typically have problems with their dental hygiene.
That said, it’s not so simple as X causing Y. Rather, these two factors play into each other.
For instance, if someone is dealing with chronic depression, normal everyday tasks like brushing and flossing can feel almost impossible, and their dental health suffers due to a lack of self-care.
Conversely, amalgam fillings (as mentioned above) can feed into mood and mental issues like anxiety, irritability, and brain fog.
Finally, as problems in dental health negatively affect the health of the body as a whole, the mind suffers in turn.
It’s all interlinked, and it’s something we take into consideration at our dental clinics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Grand Peaks offers a sliding scale discount according to family size and income based upon Federal Poverty Guidelines. For additional information, see our Sliding Fee Discount Program.
Yes,we will bill all insurance including Medicaid. It is up to the patient to determine if Grand Peaks or Upper Valley Community Health Services is an in-network provider. For more information, please contact our Dental Clinic.
Yes we pull wisdom teeth. During your dental visit, the Dentist will determine if your wisdom teeth may be extracted in our facility. If, for some reason it is determined that you need a specialist, we can refer you to an Oral Surgeon.
Yes, your teeth can change in a fairly short period of time. A dental X-ray is the only way to see if there are any issues inside the tooth. Both of our Dental Clinics have modern X-ray equipment to allow quick, clear X-rays to be viewed by our Providers on our Electronic Medical Record.
Yes! If one of our Dentists prescribe an antibiotic, most likely it can be filled at our Pharmacy.
We ask that you pay for your portion of the visit at the time of service, or for most procedures we ask for 50% of the anticipated charges. If you have insurance, we do our best to estimate the amount you will owe, however you may receive a statement with a remaining balance. If you qualify for the Sliding Fee Discount Program, that discount will be applied to your account balance. All prescriptions must be paid in full at time of pick-up.
Our Dental team recommends we see your child beginning at 12 months of age and every 6 months thereafter. This visit is typically a quick examination and an educational visit. This gives parents the opportunity to ask questions and to see their child’s mouth from the viewpoint of a Dentist. This allows us to gently introduce children to all the sights and sounds of a dental office.
No, but our Dental team can refer you to our local Specialists.
Typically, our Dentists use a composite material, which closely matches the natural color of a tooth, for fillings. This leaves a more natural looking smile, rather than the traditional “silver” looking fillings.
Receive Affordable Quality Dental Care
We provide treatments that ensure you the best possible experience for all of your dental needs.
