Watch this brief video and hear Dr. Heppler and Dr. Pyper explain their unique approach to dental care and why you should become a patient!

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.

We sincerely appreciate you visiting Silver Falls Family Dental online, and whether a new patient or an old friend, we look forward to servicing all of your family’s dental needs!

Dr. Lance Heppler, DMD, FAGD

Dr. Kendall Pyper, DDS

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. These include:

• Medical history review: Knowing the status of any current medical conditions, new medications, and illnesses, gives us insight to your overall health and also your dental health.
• Examination of diagnostic x-rays (radiographs): Essential for detection of decay, tumors, cysts, and bone loss. X-rays also help determine tooth and root positions.
• Oral cancer screening: Check the face, neck, lips, tongue, throat, tissues, and gums for any signs of oral cancer.
• Gum disease evaluation: Check the gums and bone around the teeth for any signs of periodontal disease.
• Examination of tooth decay: All tooth surfaces will be checked for decay with special dental instruments.
• Examination of existing restorations: Check current fillings, crowns, etc.
• Removal of calculus (tartar): Calculus is hardened plaque that has been left on the tooth for sometime and is now firmly attached to the tooth surface. Calculus forms above and below the gum line, and can only be removed with special dental instruments.
• Removal of plaque: Plaque is a sticky, almost invisible film that forms on the teeth. It is a growing colony of living bacteria, food debris, and saliva. The bacteria produce toxins (poisons) that inflame the gums. This inflammation is the start of periodontal disease!
• Teeth polishing: Removes stain and plaque that is not otherwise removed during toothbrushing and scaling.
• Oral hygiene recommendations: Review and recommend oral hygiene aids as needed (electric dental toothbrushes, special cleaning aids, fluorides, rinses, etc.).
• Review dietary habits: Your eating habits play a very important role in your dental health.

As you can see, a good dental exam and cleaning involves quite a lot more than just checking for cavities and polishing your teeth. We are committed to providing you with the best possible care, and to do so will require regular check-ups and cleanings.

Keep your teeth healthy for life!

Brushing and flossing help control the plaque and bacteria that cause dental disease. Plaque is a film of food debris, bacteria, and saliva that sticks to the teeth and gums. The bacteria in plaque convert certain food particles into acids that cause tooth decay. Also, if plaque is not removed, it turns into calculus (tartar). If plaque and calculus are not removed, they begin to destroy the gums and bone, causing periodontal (gum) disease.

• Plaque formation and growth is continuous and can only be controlled by regular brushing, flossing, and the use of other dental aids.
• Toothbrushing – Brush your teeth at least twice a day (especially before going to bed at night) with an ADA approved soft bristle brush and toothpaste.
• Brush at a 45 degree angle to the gums, gently using a small, circular motion, ensuring that you always feel the bristles on the gums.
• Brush the outer, inner, and biting surfaces of each tooth.
  Use the tip of the brush head to clean the inside front teeth.
• Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.Electric toothbrushes are also recommended. They are easy to use and can remove plaque efficiently. Simply place the bristles of the electric brush on your gums and teeth and allow the brush to do its job, several teeth at a time.

Flossing – Daily flossing is the best way to clean between the teeth and under the gumline. Flossing not only helps clean these spaces, it disrupts plaque colonies from building up, preventing damage to the gums, teeth, and bone.

• Take 12-16 inches (30-40cm) of dental floss and wrap it around your middle fingers, leaving about 2 inches (5cm) of floss between the hands.
• Using your thumbs and forefingers to guide the floss, gently insert the floss between teeth using a sawing motion.
• Curve the floss into a “C” shape around each tooth and under the gumline. Gently move the floss up and down, cleaning the side of each tooth.
• Floss holders are recommended if you have difficulty using conventional floss.

Rinsing – It is important to rinse your mouth with water after brushing, and also after meals if you are unable to brush. If you are using an over-the-counter product for rinsing, it’s a good idea to consult with your dentist or dental hygienist on its appropriateness for you.

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