S. mutans is a bacterium best known for causing cavities. The bacteria resides  in dental plaque..an architecturally sophisticated goo composed of an elaborate molecular matrix created by S. mutans that allows the bacteria to inhabit and thrive in our oral cavity. Where it churns out acid that erodes our teeth.

Normally, S. mutans confines its mischief to the mouth.  Sometimes, particularly after a dental procedure or even after flossing the bacteria enters the bloodstream. The immune system usually destroys them, but occasionally within just a few seconds the bacteria can travel to the heart and colonize its tissue, especially heart valves.

No matter what types of bacteria you have in your mouth, maintaing good oral heath is important. Good oral health can be acheived by brushing and flossing regularly, using a fluoride rinse before bed, eating a healthy diet and keeping sugar to a minimum. Good oral health will result in a healthier you!!!!

Reference Sources: Science Daily, University of Rochester Medical Center

Most people would agree that getting to know the people who rotate your tires isn’t all that important. But when you are entering the watchful care of a team of oral professionals things are a little different.

Our friendly and professional staff are here to make you feel at home while providing you the best possible care. Whether your needs are snap-on dentures, fillings or simply a cleaning, our team constantly strives to surpass your expectations. Our people are the difference; we’d like to introduce you to our family at Today’s Dentistry.

• Meet the Doctors
• Front Office Staff
• Hygiene
• Assistants

When you are in pain the last thing you ever want to hear is “We need to set an appointment.” This is why we have gone out of our way to meet your oral needs by providing just-in-time dental care. Whether you are a family or professional on the run and simply require a cleaning, or you truly are in pain, same-day dentistry is our commitment to your care.

Professional dental exams and dental cleanings are critical to your oral health; knowing that we are here to help you get in and get out quick is simply our way of saying we care about you and we don’t want you to put it off another minute.

What happens if you put it off?

Dental exams and cleanings are what tune ups are to your car. You get things checked out, cleaned up and tweaked for better performance. If all’s not well, you’ll be clued into problems you probably had no idea about or thought would never happen to you. But just like it’s easy to tune out a tune up, it’s also easy to delay a teeth cleaning. However, if you postpone, be prepared: Without regular dental cleanings, you can bet that a film will build up on your teeth that even the most vigorous brushing won’t remove. In fact, that film is actually plaque — bacteria that creeps into crevices and cusps, eventually causing cavities and gum disease. With a dental teeth cleaning, your dentist can hang up plaque and save you money in the long run. And did you know? We can detect signs of up to 120 other diseases during a routine dental exam — which usually precedes a dental cleaning.

Need to schedule an appointment? Call us today, the number is at the top of this page.

About one-half of all Americans dread going to the dentist. The dentists at Today’s Dentistry understand and will help alleviate your fears. Our expertise in sedation dentistry can give you the dream smile you deserve in only one or two anxiety-free appointments. Don’t be discouraged by past dental fears; our excellent staff will work with you to create a smile you’ll never want to hide again!

Many people are afraid or uncomfortable going to the dentist. Sedation dentistry offers relaxed and anxiety-free dental procedures for patients who fear dental procedures, fear needles, have difficulty with their gag reflex, have very sensitive teeth or have difficulty becoming numb from oral injections. It also provides an opportunity to perform multiple or lengthy dental procedures in a single session.

Sedation dentistry requires that the patient take a prescribed medication about one hour before the scheduled visit. The patient will arrive at the dentist in a well-relaxed state, though fully responsive. During the procedure, patients aren’t unconscious, but mentally “detached” from what’s going on. The sedative usually lasts about six hours and the patient will need a ride to and from the dental appointment.

Dr. Klint Keller and Dr. Jason Hammer are all trained and certified to do sedation dentistry in Idaho. If you fear dental procedures, then sedation dentistry may be the comfortable, anxiety-free dental alternative you desire.

Candidates For Sedation Dentistry

Sedation dentistry is for patients who have a high fear of going to the dentist. Perhaps you have had a past traumatic dental experience or difficulty in getting numb. Perhaps you have a bad gag reflex or very sensitive teeth. Or you may have complex dental problems and are simply afraid of how long you will have to be in the dental chair to get them corrected. You may also be afraid of needles or shots, hate the noises and smells associated with dental work, or are afraid or embarrassed about your teeth. If these things apply to you, Sedation Dentistry is your answer.

Contact us today to discuss how we can help you overcome your fear. No obligation!

A snap-on denture is a type of overdenture that is supported by and attached to implants. An overdenture is attached to implants, while a regular denture rests on the gums, is not supported by implants, and tends to fit less firmly in the mouth.

A snap-on denture is used when a person doesn’t have any teeth in the jaw, but has enough bone in the jaw to support implants. An implant-supported denture has special attachments that snap onto attachments on the implants.

Snap-on dentures usually are made for the lower jaw because regular dentures tend to be less stable there. Usually, a regular denture made to fit an upper jaw is quite stable on its own and doesn’t need the extra support offered by implants. However, you can receive a snap-on denture in either the upper or lower jaw.

You can remove a snap-on denture easily. Some people prefer to have fixed (permanent) crown and bridgework in their mouths that can’t be removed. Your dentist will consider your particular needs and preferences when suggesting fixed or removable options.

How do snap-on dentures work?

There are two types of snap-on dentures: bar-retained and ball-retained. In both cases, the denture will be made of an acrylic base that will look like gums, with porcelain or acrylic teeth that look like natural teeth attached. Bar-retained dentures require at least three implants. Ball-retained dentures need at least two.

Bar-retained dentures

A thin metal bar that follows the curve of your jaw is attached to two to five implants that have been placed in your jawbone. Clips or other types of attachments are fitted to the bar the denture, or to both. The denture fits over the bar and is securely clipped into place by the attachments.

Ball-retained dentures

Each implant that has been placed in the jawbone holds a metal attachment that fits into another attachment on the denture. In most cases, the attachments on the implants are ball-shaped (“male” attachments), and they fit into sockets (“female” attachments) on the denture. In some cases, these attachments are reversed, with the denture holding the male attachments and the implants holding the female ones.

Before you put that tooth under your pillow, did you know that there is much more to that tooth than meets the eye? A single tooth has many different parts that make it work. And teeth play an important role in your daily life. They not only let you eat stuff like apples, they also help you talk. So let’s talk teeth!

Tiny Teeth

Unlike your heart or brain, your teeth weren’t ready to work from the day you were born. Although babies have the beginnings of their first teeth even before they are born, teeth don’t become visible until babies are about 6 to 12 months old.

After that first tooth breaks through, more and more teeth begin to appear. Most kids have their first set of teeth by the time they are 3 years old. These are called the primary or baby teeth, and there are 20 in all. When a child gets to age 5 or 6, these teeth start falling out, one by one.

A primary tooth falls out because it is being pushed out of the way by the permanent tooth that is behind it. Slowly, the permanent teeth grow in and take the place of the primary teeth. By about age 12 or 13, most kids have lost all of their baby teeth and have a full set of permanent teeth.

There are 28 permanent teeth in all — eight more than the original set of baby teeth. Between the ages of 17 and 21, four more teeth called wisdom teeth usually grow in at the back of the mouth. They complete the adult set of 32 teeth.

Read more here >

Cavity Animation

Having bacteria in your mouth is a normal thing. While some of the bacteria can be harmful, most are not and some are even helpful.

Certain types of bacteria, however, can attach themselves to hard surfaces like the enamel that covers your teeth. If they’re not removed, they multiply and grow in number until a colony forms. More bacteria of different types attach to the colony already growing on the tooth enamel. Proteins that are present in your saliva (spit) also mix in and the bacteria colony becomes a whitish film on the tooth. This film is called plaque, and it’s what causes cavities.

Thank you to everyone who helped by donating to our food drive this past fall. We ended up collecting 942 pounds of food for the Idaho Food Bank. We look forward to this becoming an annual event.