Dental Implants - The Art & Science of Dentistry

Dental Implants in Spokane Valley, WA

Implant dentistry merges art and experience with science to create naturally functioning replacement teeth. A dental implant serves as a replacement for the root or roots of a tooth. Like tooth roots, dental implants are secured in the jawbone and are not visible once placed. Implants are made of titanium, which has a special property of fusing to bone. This fusion is called “osseointegration” and is the basis of dental implant success. Dental implants have the highest success rate of any implanted surgical device. Learn more...

When teeth are lost, the bone that supported those roots is lost too. Placing implants stabilizes this bone, and prevents bone loss. Implants help maintain the jawbone’s shape, and supports the overal facial structure of the skeleton. Dental implants help you eat, chew, talk; all in a completely natural fashion.

At Coulter Family Dentistry in Spokane Valley, WA, our dentists use their extensive restorative experience to not only place the implant in their office, but also work with you to place the restorative crown after the implant site is healed and ready for a natural looking tooth. Dr. Coulter and Dr. van den Hoven also offer a variety of options for sedation dentistry to make the experience of replacing your missing tooth as comfortable as possible. To learn more about our dental implant options and whether they are the right fit for your needs, call us at (509) 924-1314 to schedule your personalized consultation. 

November is American Diabetes Month

Since people with diabetes are at a greater risk of developing some oral health problems, this is a good reminder of the importance of staying. Some of the common oral health problems associated with diabetes are: gum disease, fungal infections, infections and delayed healing. Periodontal (gum disease) is no laughing matter; it's also connected to heart disease and other health-related issues.

Our friends at www.perio.org tell us:

Diabetic patients are more likely to develop periodontal disease, which in turn can increase blood sugar and diabetic complications.

 
People with diabetes are more likely to have periodontal disease than people without diabetes, probably because people with diabetes are more susceptible to contracting infections. In fact, periodontal disease is often considered a complication of diabetes. Those people who don't have their diabetes under control are especially at risk.

Research has suggested that the relationship between periodontal disease and diabetes goes both ways - periodontal disease may make it more difficult for people who have diabetes to control their blood sugar.

Severe periodontal disease can increase blood sugar, contributing to increased periods of time when the body functions with a high blood sugar. This puts people with diabetes at increased risk for diabetic complications

For more information and to watch a video on how diabetes can impact your oral health, visit the MouthHealthy A-Z page on Diabetes.

Ready to learn more and schedule your appointment?
We are accepting new patients, and both of our doctors at Coulter Family Dentistry in Spokane Valley, WA have experience in treating patients with gum disease. Give us a call today at (509) 924-1314 or visit our website for more information!

A Season of Thanksgiving

As we approach Thanksgiving and live in this season of thankfulness, we want to send our thanks and appreciation to our patients and community. Without your patronage and service, we would not exist! Dr. Travis Coulter, Dr. Elizabeth van den Hoven, and the staff at Coulter Family Dentistry in Spokane Valley, WA strive for meeting your individual needs; not seeing people in terms of their teeth, but treating the whole person and helping them on a road to longer living in a healthy way.

We also thank the military personnel that have served in the past for our country and those that are serving now, away from family and friends.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday - to you and yours!

The Staff of Coulter Family Dentistry

Can You Afford to Skip Dental Care?

We all know life can be busy, but don’t neglect your oral health. Your dental care is just as important now as it was when you were a kid. Untreated dental disease can lead to serious health problems such as infection, damage to bone or nerve and tooth loss. Brush your teeth twice a day, floss once a day and see your Spokane Valley, WA dentist regularly.

In the current economic crunch, it may be tempting to skimp on dental care. But you will not save money in the long run by ignoring your dental health and you might endanger your child's health or your own.

We want to help you keep more of your money for other essentials and that is why we encourage you to get regular dental checkups. Insurance companies know that prevention is far less costly than cures and that is why most policies cover routine dental checkup and cleanings.

The best way to avoid more expensive dental procedures is to follow a home dental hygiene program and maintain regular checkups to identify issues before they become full-blown problems needing costly intervention.

Fact Check:
Did you know that the average adult between the ages of 20 and 64 has three or more decayed or missing teeth? If you are missing one or more teeth, there are plenty of reasons to correct the problem. Your dentists at Coulter Family Dentistry have many treatments to restore your smile.

The ADA website has many great resources for kids and adults of all ages - and Drs Coulter and van den Hoven recommend that you visit the pages often for great information on keeping mouth healthy all year long!

To learn more, visit pages on MouthHealthy.org.

Ready to Schedule Your Appointment With Dr. Coulter and Dr. van den Hoven?
We look forward to welcoming new and returning patients! Has it been a few years since we've seen your family? We still consider you our patient and we would love to see you back in the office to check up on your dental health and assist you in getting back on a healthy track. Request Your Appointment Online, or call us today at 509-924-1314!

Use Your Dental Insurance Benefits!

Toward the end of the year, our office typically gets an increase in phone calls from patients looking to schedule an end of year cleaning or restorative appointment and use their insurance benefits before they lapse December 31st.

Many patients sometimes don't realize that they can't carry over benefit maximums from year to year (with limited exceptions - check with your plan administrator to see if your plan qualifies for a rollover.) With premiums increasing in cost from year to year, it's important that you use the monies that you've been allotted - otherwise you've just given the insurance company back a chunk of free cash.

Why Should You Use Your Benefits Now?

1. Yearly Maximum: Most insurances have a year maximum of around $1,000. Unused benefits do not roll over at the end of the year.

2. Deductible: Deductibles vary but usually are around $50 per year. This decutible may reset at the beginning of the year.

3. Premiums: If you are paying monthly premiums you should be using your dental benefits. Regular cleanings can help prevent more serious treatments later.

4. Fee Increases: Health care costs and insurance continue to rise. Most fee adjustments are made at the beginning of the year including increases in copays and deductibles.

5. Dental Problems Can Worsen: By delaying treatment you risk more extensive treatment later. A simple cavity now could be a root canal later.

Read the full article on about.com here.

We still have appointments available in our Spokane Valley, WA dental office with Dr. Travis Coulter and Dr. Elizabeth van den Hoven, and we'd love to see you! Please call our office at (509) 924-1314 to schedule your appointment before time runs out.

Meet Your Dentists!

Travis V. Coulter, DDS

Dr. Travis Coulter graduated with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry in May of 2007, and moved to Spokane shortly thereafter. Before his dental education he completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at Southwestern Adventist University in Keene, Texas. Dr. Coulter and his wife made the decision to come to Spokane after falling in love with the area.

He is a member of the International Congress of Implantology, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, the American Dental Association, the Washington State Dental Association, and the Spokane District Dental Society. His hobbies include: dirt biking, mountain biking, rock climbing, snowboarding, and hiking.

Elizabeth E. van den Hoven, DDS

Dr. Elizabeth van den Hoven graduated with a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Loma Linda University School of Dentistry in May of 2007. Prior to her dental education, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Columbia Union College in Takoma Park, Maryland. In January of 2008 she joined her husband, Dr. Travis Coulter in Spokane, Washington.

She is a member of the American Dental Association, the Washington State Dental Association, and the Spokane District Dental Society. Her hobbies include: running, travel, violin, and spending time with family.

Learn more about our team, or request an appointment online with one of our Spokane Valley, WA dentists!

No More Dental Fear!

At Coulter Family Dentistry, we want you to have a comfortable experience. We offer several levels of sedation for anxious or fearful patients

Nitrous Oxide- laughing gas helps patients feel less anxiety and less discomfort in their mouths during procedures. The effects of the gas wear off within a few minutes of breathing oxygen.

Oral Conscious Sedation- Patients are prescribed an pill to take before coming to their appointment. The medication relieves anxiety and often can be combined with the effects of nitrous oxide once the patient is in our office.

IV Conscious Sedation- For these patients a medication is administered to take them to a deeper level of sedation than can be safely accomplished with pills. Patients undergoing this type of sedation usually do not recall anything from their procedures. In order to be licensed to perform this type of sedation our Spokane Valley, WA dentists have received extensive training in a dental residency including a rotation in the operating room of a hospital to administer general anesthesia to patients. Patients are carefully monitored to ensure their safety and comfort.

We are currently accepting new patients in the Spokane Valley, WA areas; call us today at (509) 924-1314 to make an appointment for an exam. Dr. van den Hoven and Dr. Coulter invite you to learn more about our Dental Services and Team Members. If you are having pain or have broken a tooth we would be happy to get you in to address your problem today. We look forward to serving you and meeting your family!

Why Do I Need A "Deep Cleaning"?

Some patients will need more than a professional cleaning (prophy) for their dental care. Patients with signs of gum disease (periodontal disease) may require more therapeutic types of cleanings to remove harmful plaque and bacteria from below the gumline and on the roots. Your doctor and hygienist will work together to properly diagnose the extremity of your Periodontal Disease and recommend a proper course of treatment.

Gum Disease (Periodontal Disease)
The American Association of Periodontists state that gum disease accounts for approximately 70% of all tooth loss in adults. Early signs of gum disease include bleeding gums when flossing or brushing and gums that are red, inflamed, or swollen.

Gum disease and tooth decay are caused by the same bacteria. These bacteria form plaque beneath the gum-line, which eats away at the bond between tooth and gum. If deterioration is allowed to continue, "pockets" form in between the teeth and the gums. Pockets deeper than 3ml may require special treatment to remove the bacteria and plaque. Without treatment and continuous maintenance, gum disease will eventually weaken the bonds that hold the teeth in place.

There is no permanent treatment for gum disease. However, it can be kept under control with proper personal hygiene and regular visits to a trained dentist or hygienist.

For more information on whether you need a deep cleaning, or to schedule your next cleaning appointment with our Spokane Valley, WA dentists, or give us a call today!

Brilliant, Natural Smiles with Cosmetic Dentistry

At Coulter Family Dentistry, a healthy, beautiful smile is our primary goal. Our dentists are well-trained in the art of creating a brilliant, natural smile with some of the latest advances in cosmetic dentistry. Below are a few of the ways we can give our Spokane Valley, WA patients the smile makeover they've dreamed of!

Veneers

Dental veneers are thin, custom-made shells of tooth colored porcelain or resin material precisely designed to cover the front surfaces of teeth. They can dramatically improve the appearance of teeth by altering the shape, color, size and or length. Dental veneers are intended to achieve optimal esthetics and function through minimal tooth preparation.

Teeth Whitening

Stains caused by coffee, smoking, and medications can often be removed through whitening procedures. In-office and at-home whitening kits are available.

Crowns

Crowns are used for a variety of reasons. Strengthening and repairing a tooth that has broken, relieving cracked tooth syndrome, restoring missing tooth structure due to tooth decay, and cosmetic repair, all are potential indications for the use of crowns. Cosmetic porcelain crowns can be used in almost every situation where a crown is needed.

Implant Crowns

Dental Implants are the wave of the future for replacing missing or damaged teeth. Although they can be a more expensive option for restorating a missing tooth, they look and feel like your natural tooth, and can be used to support dentures and bridges for a more secure and natural fit.

Tooth colored fillings

Tooth structure that is lost due to trauma or chipping can in many cases be simply repaired using composite resin-a tooth-colored material. Multiple shades are available to allow for an exact color match to your tooth. In addition most dental cavities can be filled with composite resin.

Bridges

There are several kinds of bridges used in dentistry, all designed to replace a missing tooth by resting on the teeth adjacent to the space. If this is a treatment that you need, we can discuss all the options and select the type of bridge that will best meet your needs.

Study Linking Dental X-rays to Brain Tumor

An article was published today in Cancer, a scientific journal of the American Cancer Society, regarding a link between dental x-rays and brain tumors. Check out both links below.

Cancer article

American Dental Association April 10 2012 Press Release

For more information on digital x-rays, or the technology we use at Coulter Family Dentistry, visit our website, or call us today at 509-924-1314.

Dental Implants To Replace Missing Teeth

If you have lost a tooth or know that you will soon lose a tooth, a dental implant can be considered as a possible replacement. The long term success of dental implants is proven and they are often an excellent choice for treatment of tooth loss. Conveniently located in the Spokane Valley, just minutes from the freeway, Coulter Family Dentistry can assist you throughout the entire process, from implant placement to final crown restoration. To learn more, visit our website, or call us at 509-924-1314 to schedule your appointment with our dental implant dentists.

Preschool Cavities

Cavities are on the rise. A recent video on Today highlights the growing epidemic. Click here to learn more. To learn more about your child's dental health, we invite you to give us a call and schedule their appointment today!

Welcome to Coulter Family Dentistry!

The dental team at Coulter Family Dentistry is excited to start this blog, dedicated to patient education and oral health.

Conveniently located in the Spokane Valley, Coulter Family Dentistry welcomes patients of all ages. Dr. Travis Coulter, Dr. Elizabeth van den Hoven and our dental team are committed to excellence and education with regards to patient care.

Using state of the art technology allows our practice to perform a wider range of diagnoses and treatments in the office, helping to reduce multiple visits and rescheduling, saving our patients time and money.

We've compiled a range of information within our website to help our patient community learn about the services we provide, and get a glimpse into our philosophy of dentistry. Dr. Travis Coulter and Dr. Elizabeth van den Hoven believe in treating the whole individual, and in taking the time necessary to help you understand treatment options for a healthy, beautiful smile.

For more information, call our office today or request your appointment through our online system. We can't wait to showcase Coulter Family Dentistry to you and your family!