I can't afford a crown. What can you do?

This tooth needs a crown. It has a large filling on the one side. The other side is broken. And, there is a cavity on the front. Problem is that the patient cannot afford a crown. So, we gave it a try with just filling material.

Here is the tooth after we got done. It looks very good and is functional. If the patient uses it only for light to moderate chewing it should last for a while.

Dr. Jim Ellis, DDS
1220 33rd Street Suite C
Ogden, UT 84403
(801) 783-3490

• Dr. Ellis on Facebook
• Dr. Ellis' Website
• Dr. Ellis on Google+

SOURCE: http://www.bestogdendentist.com/2013/04/cant-afford-crown-what-can-you-do/

What are Tonsil Stones?

Humans and hamsters have something in common...

We both can pack our cheeks with food! What are you talking about Willis? What I am talking about is Tonsils stones.

Tonsil stones are found in the nooks and crannies of your tonsil glands. These stones are made up from; mucous, dead cells, food partials, and lovely bacteria. Tonsil stones, or tonsilloliths, are formed when this trapped debris hardens, or calcifies. This tends to occur most often in people who suffer from chronic inflammation in their tonsils or repeated bouts of tonsillitis.

While many people have small tonsilloliths that develop in their tonsils, it is quite rare to have a large and solidified tonsil stone.

Pretty cool huh?

Well for me growing up, not so cool… you see I suffered from many symptoms that are now being credited to Tonsil Stones. What are these symptoms you ask? For exact symptoms, we will use our trusted source for all things Webmd.com

Web source: http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/tonsil-stones-tonsilloliths-treatment-and-prevention

What are the Symptoms of Tonsil Stones?

Many small tonsil stones do not cause any noticeable symptoms. Even when they are large, some tonsil stones are only discovered incidentally on X-rays or CT scans. Some larger tonsilloliths, however, may have multiple symptoms:

• Bad Breath. One of the prime indicators of a tonsil stone are exceedingly bad breath, or halitosis that accompanies a tonsil infection. One study of patients with a form of chronic tonsillitis used a special test to see if volatile sulfur compounds were contained in the subjects' breath. The presence of these foul-smelling compounds provides objective evidence of bad breath. The researchers found that 75% of the people who had abnormally high concentrations of these compounds also had tonsil stones. Other researchers have suggested that tonsil stones be considered in situations when the cause of bad breath is in question.
• Sore Throat. When a tonsil stone and tonsillitis occur together, it can be difficult to determine whether the pain in your throat is caused by your infection or the tonsil stone. The presence of a tonsil stone itself, though, may cause you to feel pain or discomfort in the area where it is lodged.
• White Debris. Some tonsil stones are visible in the back of the throat as a lump of solid white material. This is not always the case. Often they are hidden in the folds of the tonsils. In these instances, they may only be detectable with the help of non-invasive scanning techniques, such as CT scans or magnetic resonance imaging.
• Difficulty swallowing. Depending on the location or size of the tonsil stone, it may be difficult or painful to swallow foods or liquids.
• Ear pain. Tonsil stones can develop anywhere in the tonsil. Because of shared nerve pathways, they may cause a person to feel referred pain in the ear, even though the stone itself is not touching the ear.
• Tonsil swelling. When collected debris hardens and a tonsil stone forms, inflammation from infection (if present) and the tonsil stone itself may cause a tonsil to swell or become larger.

How are Tonsil Stones Treated?

The appropriate treatment for a tonsil stone depends on the size of the tonsillolith, and its potential to cause discomfort or harm. Various options include:

• No treatment. Many tonsil stones, especially ones that have no symptoms, require no special treatment.
• At-home removal. Some people choose to dislodge tonsil stones at home with the use of picks or swabs.
• Salt Water Gargles. Gargling with warm, salty water may help alleviate the discomfort of tonsillitis, which often accompanies tonsil stones.
• Antibiotics. Various antibiotics can be used to treat tonsil stones. While they may be helpful for some people, they cannot correct the basic problem that is causing tonsilloliths. Also, antibiotics can have side effects.
• Surgical Removal. When tonsil stones are exceedingly large and symptomatic, it may be necessary for a surgeon to remove them. In certain instances, a doctor will be able to perform this relatively simple procedure using a local numbing agent. Then the patient will not need general anesthesia.

So, how does one prevent these horrible stones from invading our mouths? The answer is simple... Call Dr. Ellis!


Dr. Jim Ellis, DDS
1220 33rd Street Suite C
Ogden, UT 84403
(801) 783-3490

• Dr. Ellis on Facebook
• Dr. Ellis' Website
• Dr. Ellis on Google+

SOURCE: http://www.bestogdendentist.com/2013/04/tonsil-stones-tonsilloliths/

What Kind of Cosmetic Outcome is possible in Ogden Utah?

• So, what is possible in dentistry?
• Once something has gone so far can you bring it back to what it was?

Here is a wonderful case to look at that. We will call this patient Mrs. Corey to protect her identity. Mrs. Corey is wanting to get her teeth back to the way the used to be.

Here is a BEFORE picture of one of Mrs. Corey's molars.

• Nothing too bad. 
• Old metal filling.
• Some cracks starting in the enamel. 
• And, possible new decay starting in a few spots.

And, here is the AFTER picture.

• A brand new zirconia crown. 
• No more metal look. 
• The risk of fracture is now less.  
• And the patient loves the look.

Dr. Jim Ellis, DDS
1220 33rd Street Suite C
Ogden, UT 84403
(801) 783-3490

• Dr. Ellis on Facebook
• Dr. Ellis' Website
• Dr. Ellis on Google+

SOURCE: http://www.bestogdendentist.com/2013/04/what-kind-cosmetic-outcome-possible-ogden-utah/

Which dentist is right for you?

Well, that's kind of like asking if all apples are the same. Apples come in different colors. Apples come in different sizes. Apples come with a variety of flavors.

So what apple is right for you? That depends on the situation. Is it a hot summers day and you just want an apple that will taste good? Or are you looking to make a pie and need an apple that is good for baking? The answer to these two questions would lead you to two very different varieties of apples. Yet they are both still called apples.

The same can be said for dentists. Every dentist has had to go to a qualified dental school to get his/her degree. Every dentist has had to take the same national examinations to prove that they are proficient at certain types of dentistry. Therefore, anyone that legally can be called a dentist is pretty much the same thing.

So what dentist is right for you. Like the apples, that depends on what you are looking for. If you want convenience then do an internet search for dentists and you can find the absolute closest dentist to you by mileage. If you want the cheapest dentist then call dental offices and ask what their cost is on a certain procedure. You can then find the cheapest dentist out there.

These factors are the easy ones. But what if you want a dentist that is good with kids. What if you want a dentist that has a good cosmetic eye and can not only fix your teeth but make them look attractive as well. What if you want a good bedside manner, etc. etc. etc.

These are some of the tougher ones. For this you need to do a little more homework. Go online and read reviews. Ask neighbors, friends, and family. Ask to see before and after pictures of work they have done. Ask if they have gotten any extra training in any particular aspect of dentistry. Ask if there are procedures that they choose not to do. Even though every dentist can do a root canal, some choose not to.

Once you have found all of this out you can choose which dentist is right for you. Last thing you want is to take a bite thinking you have a golden delicious and end up with a granny smith.

Dr. Ellis on Facebook

Dr. Ellis Website

Do you have bad breath?

What is the cause of bad breath??

There are many causes.

Teeth that are decayed.

Gum disease.

Bacteria.

Digestion problems.

Etc.

One of the first things to do in order to determine the cause of your

bad breath is to get to a dentist and get a good cleaning.

This will make sure you start off with a clean slate.

Then.....

For 2 weeks commit to brushing after each meal.

For 2 weeks commit to flossing daily.

And for 2 weeks commit to rinsing with a mouthwash such as Listerine, daily.

(Important note: You also need to brush your tongue.

Tongue scrapers, pictured below, are also available.)

After the 2 week period see how your breath is.

If it still smells as fresh and clean as it did when you left the dentist office

then your bad breath was, more then likely, a result of poor oral care.

This would be good news because all you need to do is continue

your new pattern of brushing, flossing, and rinsing and your bad breath should be history.

If things return to there normal, bad breath, state then other things need to be considered.

Dr. Ellis Facebook

Dr. Ellis Website

Dr Ellis on Google+

Ogden Dentist Cosmetic: Tooth Restoration

Cavities along the gum line are a common thing. A lot of these types of cavities happen along the base of bottom teeth. Reason for this is simply gravity. When you are done eating, or drinking, something the remnants of what didn't get swallowed settle to the floor of the mouth and end up eroding the bottom teeth along the gum line.

BEFORE Tooth Restoration 

AFTER Tooth Restoration 

But, these cavities can be fixed. And with proper oral hygiene, and an understanding of what causes them in the first place, they can be prevented in the future.


Dr. Jim Ellis, DDS
1220 33rd Street Suite C
Ogden, UT 84403
(801) 783-3490

• Dr. Ellis on Facebook
• Dr. Ellis Website
• Dr. Ellis on Google+

SOURCE: http://www.bestogdendentist.com/2013/04/ogden-dentist-cosmetic-tooth-restoration

Do I need to use mouthwash?

Mouthwash is typically in 3rd place when it comes to oral care.

#1 Would be brushing

#2 Would be flossing.

No matter what mouthwash companies say about their products

nothing can replace brushing and flossing.

If you do a good job at brushing and flossing and you would

like to ad mouthwash to your routine that would be great.

If you want to add a mouthwash, which one is best for you?

That depends on what you want to accomplish.

Some mouthwashes provide extra fluoride.

Some kill bugs.

Some simply freshen your breath.

Some are for people with dry mouth conditions.

So it really depends on what you want from the mouthwash.

Find out what you want, then either talk to your dentist and/or head

to the pharmacy and read the labels on the bottles.

Dr. Ellis on Facebook

Dr. Ellis Website

Dr. Ellis on Google+

It's just a small cavity. I can get to it later. Right??

I hear this all the time.

And the truth is that sometimes a small cavity is just that, a small cavity.

But other times it is much much worse.

That only way to know however is to go the dentist and get is checked out.

A perfect example of this is represented in these pictures.

This first picture looks like the smallest of cavities.

This next picture however, shows the extent of decay that was present

down inside the tooth and the amount of tooth structure that

we had to end up removing.

Very close to a Root Canal.

In the end the tooth looks great but there is no getting around the 

fact that the size of the filling will now make this tooth much weaker 

then it needed to be if the patient would have been getting regular

checkups and fixed the problem much sooner.

Dr Ellis Website

Dr Ellis on Facebook

Dr Ellis on Google+