Welcome to Silver Falls Family Dental
Contact us today for an appointment
Welcome and thank you for visiting Silver Falls Family Dental online! In addition to being conveniently on Oak Street in downtown Silverton, Oregon, you can always access important information here.
Briefly, the About Us section provides a quick overview of our general dentistry practice, including an introduction to our friendly staff. You can view the Meet the Dentists video, which provides our approach to dentistry, and what makes it so special here in Silverton.
In Services, there are four sections outlining our Preventative, Restorative, Cosmetic and Oral Surgery services, including patient Payment Options. You can always reach out to us by phone or email as listed on the Contact Us page.
Finally, we encourage you to sign into our email subscriber so that we may provide you with periodic updates on treatments, special promotions, and general tips on preventative oral health. You can unsubscribe from this service at any time, and we promise never to share your information with third parties. Our company blog, Silver Linings, also has periodic tips on preventative care and maintenance, so be sure to check back often. Read more
How Often Should I have a Dental Exam and Cleaning?
Contact us today for an initial exam.
You should have your teeth checked and cleaned at least twice a year, though your dentist or dental hygienist may recommend more frequent visits.
Regular dental exams and cleaning visits are essential in preventing dental problems and maintaining the health of your teeth and gums. At these visits, your teeth are cleaned and checked for cavities. Additionally, there are many other things that are checked and monitored to help detect, prevent, and maintain your dental health. Read more
Dental Sealants and Composites
Dental sealants and composites have been used for many years. Sealants prevent tooth decay and composites are tooth colored dental fillings.
Resin-based sealants and composites are made from plastic. Some types of plastic have been in the news lately because of a chemical called BPA, a chemical that acts like estrogen. Some studies with laboratory animals suggest a disruption in normal hormone activity. This has led to speculation about the effect of BPA on humans.
An article that was just published in a medical journal assessed various existing studies on dental materials and BPA. A low level of BPA may be present in the saliva a few hours after placement of resin-based sealants, but based on current evidence, the American Dental Association believes that this low level and brief exposure time poses no known health risk.
Trace amounts of BPA may be present as a byproduct of the manufacturing process or with certain sealants (those with bis DMA) after coming in contact with enzymes in saliva.
The one-time exposure to BPA from sealants is about 200 times lower than the daily level EPA considers safe. Dental materials are far less likely to cause BPA exposure than other consumer goods such as plastic bottles and linings of metal cans.
The researchers say sealants and composites should continue to be used because of their proven benefits which outweigh potential risks of BPA. The researchers also say that BPA exposure can be reduced if a newly-placed sealant or composite filling is rinsed or wiped.
I have composite dental fillings, and my children have had dental sealants.
As your dentist, I want to answer any questions you may have about your dental treatment. You can also visit the American Dental Association’s Web site at ADA.org for more information.
Kendall Pyper, DDS