Dentistry Without Fear!

If you are preparing for a filling, root canal, crown, tooth extraction, or other dental procedure, you now have an option to relieve your dental anxiety. At Coulter Family Dentistry in Spokane Valley, WA, there are several options available to our patients for relief of pain and anxiety during routine dental visits.

Conscious, or moderate sedation, allows patients to remain awake during dental procedures. Patients are able to interact with their dentists but do not feel any discomfort or pain. Moderate sedation can also help patients avoid more severe side effects of general anesthesia such as nausea, headache, vertigo and long-term drowsiness. This form of sedation generally causes the patient to not remember anything about their dental appointment other than a pleasant experience.

One of the most common forms of non-IV sedation is Nitrous Oxide, known as 'laughing gas'. Patients of all ages can use Nitrous Oxide with minimal to no side effects.

Make sure you tell your Spokane Valley, WA dentist about any drug allergies or dependencies, existing prescriptions or over-the-counter drug use, medical conditions, changes in your health, history of anxiety, heart conditions or alcohol use before undergoing treatment. You and your Spokane Valley dental team will discuss the benefits and risks of each option. We will work with you to make sure you have a pain-free, anxiety-free, comfortable experience.

Affordable Dental Implants Are Just A Visit Away!

Affordable Dental Implants
in Spokane Valley, WA

In contemporary society, it might be shocking to know that “69% of adults ages 35 to 44 have lost at least one permanent tooth to an accident, gum disease, a failed root canal or tooth decay.” By the time most adults reach their seventies, 26% have few if any of their original teeth left.

With so many people losing teeth and with our current dip in the economy, many people cannot afford the cost of implants and so go either without their teeth or with the less favorable option of bridges or dentures. Yet dental implants are the most desirable of all teeth-replacement options: they look natural, last virtually forever, do not cause pain, discomfort and bad breath and are permanent. Unlike dentures and bridges, implants do not sit on top of the gums or adhere to adjacent teeth. Instead, your dental implant experts, Dr. Travis Coulter and Dr. Liz van den Hoven, places them inside the jawbone, making them a natural, long-term replacement for teeth.

Thankfully, there is an alternate solution for those who need implants but cannot afford the cost. With a moderate-term, esthetic provisional, patients would be able to preserve their implant site and have the benefit of a temporary replacement tooth. Using computer-aided design and manufacturing, dentists can digitally create temporary implants for a fraction of the cost of permanent ones. The result, produced by a milling machine, is almost as strong as gold.

What this means is that there is now a predictable and successful stopgap for people who do not want dentures but who cannot afford implants. Call your Spokane Valley dentists at Coulter Family Dentistry for further details on how you can get your grin back.

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!

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.

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.

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!