Dental Examinations & X-Rays

If you are interested in becoming a patient at The Dental Clinic at Roseman University, the first step is to schedule a no-cost screening exam. These appointments are available Monday through Friday between 8 am and 5 pm on all days when the University is open. It’s important to understand the difference between these initial screening exams and the more comprehensive exams you will undergo if you are accepted as a patient in our clinic. Here is a brief overview of the two types of exams.

Screening Exam

The screening exam is a brief (20 to 30 minute) exam that is performed by one of our student dentists, under the supervision of a faculty member who is a licensed dentist. The purpose of this exam is to identify your dental needs on a basic level so we can determine if your needs meet our students’ ability to provide treatment. No dental care is provided during the screening appointments, and not everyone will be eligible to be a patient. You can schedule a screening by calling 801-878-1200.

Comprehensive Exam

Following the screening exam, if our students and faculty determine that our student dentists can meet your dental needs, you will undergo a comprehensive exam. This is a very thorough examination of your mouth and the surrounding areas (extraoral and intraoral hard and soft tissues). Your provider will:

  • Take x-rays of your mouth and teeth
  • Evaluate and record your medical and dental history
  • Perform a general health assessment
  • Evaluate and record any existing dental caries (cavities)
  • Check for missing or unerupted teeth
  • Evaluate and record existing restorations or prostheses (dentures)
  • Check for occlusal relationships, periodontal conditions, and any hard or soft tissue anomalies
  • Evalute for oral cancer where appropriate

All patients who are accepted for treatment will receive a comprehensive exam that includes x-rays, and it may also be recommended for patients who have a significant change in their overall or oral health, or who have not received treatment recently (in the past three years).

[info_box title=”” image=”” animate=””]Call our clinic today to schedule your free initial screening and consultation at 801-878-1200.[/info_box]

Top 5 Reasons to See a Prosthodontist

There are so many different types of oral care professionals out there, so trying to figure out what type of professional to see for a specific oral issue can be challenging. Many dental patients find themselves especially confused regarding the work that prosthodontists do. Unlike other dental professionals that often perform a wide variety of dental treatments, prosthodontists are highly specialized in teeth restoration and aesthetic improvement.

Here are the top five reasons why you should consider making an appointment with a prosthodontist:

1. Missing Teeth

Teeth can fall out for any number of reasons, including sports accidents, periodontal disease and old age. Prosthodontists are experts at tooth replacement and can offer a variety of solutions for missing teeth, including:

  • Implants
  • Bridges
  • Full dentures
  • Partial dentures

If you are currently missing one or multiple teeth, you should schedule an appointment with a prosthodontist and find out what it will take to restore your smile to its original beauty.

2. Complicated Aesthetic Needs

When you need intricate teeth restoration procedures due to worn or damaged teeth, you may want to seek advice from a prosthodontist. While other oral professionals may be able to help solve simple aesthetic problems, a prosthodontist has the tools and the skills necessary to perform more intricate procedures.

3. Congenital Oral Conditions

An experienced prosthodontist can offer extensive facial reconstruction for congenital oral conditions such as cleft palate and other issues that affect the function and appearance of the mouth.

4. Correction of Jaw Problems

Certain jaw joint problems may be corrected with the help of a prosthodontist. TMJ, TMD and other issues may require corrective procedures that only prosthodontists are able to perform.

5. Complete Oral Reconstruction

In some cases, complete oral reconstruction may be required in order to improve both the appearance and function of your smile. Although uncommon, oral reconstruction may be needed after oral cancer treatments or traumatic facial injuries.

If you would like to improve the appearance and functionality of your smile, try scheduling a consultation with a prosthodontist and find out what treatment options they recommend for you.

What is Prosthodontics?

There are many different specialties under the umbrella of oral care professionals. Everyone has heard of dentists and orthodontists, but there are others out there. One branch of oral care you may not be familiar with is prosthodontics. In fact, so few people understand what these professionals do that there is a whole prosthodontics awareness week in April. What type of work do they do? How do they help people?

Experts in Replacing Teeth

When teeth are lost due to injury, accident, or removal, your regular dentist may send you to a prosthodontist. Prosthodontists specialize in the replacement of lost or removed adult teeth. Whether you need a crown, bridge or dentures, either full or partial, look no further than a prosthodontist. They have special training that allows them to create and implement these important and common pieces of dental technology in order for their patients to live comfortably with their teeth.

Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry is oral care that is not medically necessary, but instead is related to enhancing the look of your teeth. Looking to get ceramic crowns or veneers? Want a brighter, whiter smile? Prosthodontists can help with that, as well. They often have advanced training that allows them to handle any type of cosmetic dentistry, including using bonding agents to close gaps and fill cracks or divots in a tooth.

Complex Cases

Sometimes, an injury is so severe that it cannot be fixed by a traditional dentist. That is when they send you to a prosthodontist. These dental professionals are capable of repairing damaged palates, rehabilitating victims of traumatic injuries and reconstruction for people who have survived oral cancers. In order to make sure their patients are fully treated, prosthodontists also help to manage the care for these patients across multiple medical and dental professionals.

Prosthodontics is an incredible dental specialty that is particularly concerned with replacing lost teeth, providing cosmetic changes and dealing with complex or traumatic cases. This branch of dentistry is incredibly beneficial to many people who have had injuries or need some kind of oral reconstruction.

4 Ways to Show Your Mouth Some Love

4 Ways to Show Your Mouth Some Love

Most people don’t realize just how important oral health is to their overall health. What happens in your mouth can impact your entire body in both good and bad ways. If you are dealing with inflammation and infection in your mouth it often leads to poor health in other areas of your body, and oral health has even been linked to chronic illness such as heart disease and diabetes. If you want to improve your health this year, show your mouth some love with these four tips.

Eat More Fruits and Veggies

fruits-vegetables-heart-shapeIf this sounds like a weight loss resolution, consider that eating more fruits and vegetables (and a healthier diet all around), can help you lose weight at the same time that it improves your oral health. Nutrients in fruits and vegetables help to build your immune system, improving your ability to fight off infection like gum disease, inflammation, and bacteria in your mouth. Raw, crispy fruits also help reduce plaque buildup on the teeth, leading to fresher breath and fewer cavities.

Quit Smoking

Smoking is one of the main causes of oral decay, including tooth discoloration, cavities, receding gums, infection, and lung and oral cancers. Both cigarettes and smokeless tobacco can double your risk of losing your teeth, but fortunately once you stop smoking, the risk of tooth loss and other diseases immediately decrease.

Start Flossing

If you think your mouth is healthy because you already brush twice a day, it could be a lot healthier if you add flossing to that routine. Flossing helps remove hard-to-reach plaque that builds up between teeth and near the gum line, where you toothbrush can’t reach, and where gum disease often begins. It only takes 2 minutes to floss your teeth, so if you add that to your 2 minutes of brushing in the morning or night, you’re still only spending about 5 minutes a day to get a healthier mouth.

Go See a Dentist

Even with the best at-home oral health care, there is no substitute for seeing your dentist regularly for cleanings and check-ups. If you haven’t been to the dentist in a while, show your mouth some love by schedule an appointment. Your dentist can help you identify and prevent oral health problems before they become major issues, and may notice subtle signs of disease that you would otherwise not see on your own. There are affordable places you can go for dental care, including the Dental Clinic at Roseman University, if you don’t have a dentist or you can’t afford to go to the dentist because you don’t have insurance.

February Neighborhood Health Series Dental Health Month Double Header Recap

February Neighborhood Health Series Dental Health Month Double Header Recap

Last month, Roseman University held its monthly free educational series – Neighborhood Health Series. The topic for February was Dental Health Month Double Header. Those in attendance enjoyed back-to-back sessions focused on dental health for adults, dogs, and children with specialized healthcare needs.

 

Part 1: The Benefits for Good Oral Health for Humans & Our Beloved Canine Companions 

What do we know about the intersection of human and animal dental health? How can we maintain health and extend the life of our furry family members, through regular preventative dental health? Meet Dr. Thacker, Director of Roseman’s Dental Clinics, Program Director of Roseman’s AEGD program, and Associate Professor. Dr. Thacker’s military background, dental training, and love for animals come together with a compassionate and holistic overview of human and canine Dental Health. Meet Dr. Thacker’s dogs and learn more about how to care for your pet’s teeth.

Presented by: Dr. Matthew Thacker & his canine companions

Part 2: Mission Alignment: Cure 4 The Kids and Roseman Dental & Orthodontics: Treating Medically Compromised Patients with Specialized Care

Dr. Alice Chen, Pediatric Dentist and Associate Professor partners with Dr. Joseph Lasky, Oncologist and Medical Director at Cure 4 The Kids (C4K) to talk about how the Roseman & C4K missions align to provide coordinated, empathic, patient-focused dental care to children with cancer or other critical diseases. How is their care different and how do the two organizations work together to maintain health, prevent complications, and support the patient’s journey to health and recovery?

Presented by: Dr. Joseph Lasky and Dr. Alice Chen

 

We enjoy sharing innovative, collaborative, and useful information with you! To view a full list of upcoming events or to register, visit speakers.roseman.edu.