General & Family Dentistry

Oak Mountain Dental is excited to announce that we now offer same-day crowns using the latest CEREC technology. We strive to make your dental visits as convenient as possible.

Each dental crown is custom made from impressions of your teeth in order to fit your smile precisely. This ensures that your restoration is comfortable and aesthetic. Crowns can be made from a variety of materials, including gold, porcelain fused to metal, and porcelain. If you are interested in a natural-looking restoration, Dr. Jake R. Richards, Dr. Mitch J Driscoll and Dr. Brandon Call may suggest an all-porcelain dental crown in Pocatello, Idaho. To learn more about crowns and their uses, we welcome you to call or visit us today at Oak Mountain Dental. Our team is eager to help you reach all of your goals for a healthy, inviting smile!

A crown is a dental restoration that can be used for a number of purposes. The dental crown entirely encases the tooth, starting at the gums, in order to improve its structure, appearance, or function. Our dentist may recommend a crown to:

• Anchor a dental bridge to replace a missing tooth
• Enhance the appearance of a severely darkened or stained tooth
• Strengthen a weakened or fractured tooth
• Repair a significantly decayed or damaged tooth
• Support a large filling when little original tooth structure is left
• Improve the functionality and appearance of an irregularly shaped tooth
• Protect a tooth that has undergone root canal treatment

If you are missing one or more teeth, our dentist may recommend a restoration called a dental bridge. A bridge is used to replace either a single missing tooth or a couple of teeth in a row. While there are several types of dental bridges available, the most common is known as the traditional bridge. This type of restoration is made of two dental crowns and one or more artificial teeth, which are supported by the crowns. These crowns are attached to the natural teeth adjacent to the gap in order to provide stability to the artificial teeth. Because the artificial teeth and crowns are designed to match your natural teeth, bridges are very natural looking.

Dr. Jake R. Richards, Dr. Mitch J Driscoll and Dr. Brandon Call will help you determine if a dental bridge in Pocatello, Idaho, is the best available choice to replace your missing teeth and restore your smile. In most cases, it requires just two visits to our office to complete your restoration. We invite you to contact our friendly dentist and team today by calling or visiting Oak Mountain Dental to learn more. We are eager to restore your smile!

A dental bridge can improve your smile by:

• Restoring the natural volume of your face
• Improving your ability to speak, chew, and eat as normal
• Enhancing the appearance of your smile
• Preventing the remaining teeth from drifting out of alignment
• Alleviating uneven stress on the bite
• Improve the functionality & appearance of an irregularly shaped tooth
• Protect a tooth that has undergone root canal treatment

When a patient is missing one or more teeth, Dr. Jake R. Richards, Dr. Mitch J Driscoll and Dr. Brandon Call may recommend dental implants in Pocatello, Idaho. A dental implant consists of a titanium implant post and an implant restoration. The implant post is surgically placed in your jawbone by a specialist, where it acts as replacement tooth roots. The implant restoration, which can be a dental crown, a dental bridge, or dentures, is attached to the implant post by our dentist.

Dental implants have many advantages. The implant post fuses with your jawbone, making the dental implant a permanent part of your smile. Dental implants look and feel like your natural teeth. Dental implants are very durable and can last for many years, or even a lifetime. Dental implants improve your overall oral health because they do not require tooth reduction like dental bridges do. Implants have several advantages over dentures. Dentures can slide and slip in your mouth, which can make eating difficult. However, dental implants function like your natural teeth, so you can eat whatever you like with ease. Because dentures slip, they can cause you to mumble or slur when you speak. Because dental implants cannot slip, you can speak properly.

We invite you to contact Oak Mountain Dental today to learn more and to schedule your next visit.

Have you lost several or all of your teeth? Are you looking for a restoration option that is natural looking, affordable, and noninvasive? If so, dentures and partials might be just what you need. Dentures are used to replace multiple missing teeth and are custom made to fit your smile aesthetically, securely, and comfortably. A denture is a removable oral appliance composed of artificial teeth set into a gum-colored, pink base.

Our dentists, Dr. Jake R. Richards, Dr. Mitch J Driscoll, and Dr. Brandon Call will help you determine which type of denture is best suited to your specific dental needs. We invite you to contact our friendly dental team at Oak Mountain Dental today to learn more about dentures in Pocatello, Idaho, and to set up your personalized consultation at our office. We look forward to improving your smile!

There are two main types of dentures:

• Complete dentures – This type of denture is used when all of the teeth in the dental arch have been lost or removed. The complete denture, also called a full denture, sits on the gum tissues and can be used to restore the upper arch, lower arch, or both arches.
• Partial dentures – A partial is used when you still have some natural teeth remaining in your smile. The denture attaches to your natural teeth and fills in the gaps left by the missing teeth.

Please call us if you have a dental emergency: (208) 237-6453.

If you have ever experienced a dental emergency, you know they can make you feel helpless and uncertain of what to do. In the case that you or a family member experiences a dental emergency, you just need to remember one thing – call Dr. Jake R. Richards, Dr. Mitch J Driscoll and Dr. Brandon Call at Oak Mountain Dental! Our caring dentist and dental team are pleased to provide prompt care for dental emergencies so you can feel confident that we are always here when you need us.

We urge you to contact us as soon as possible so we can schedule your visit and provide you with the care you need. If you experience an injury to the head or neck, go to your primary care doctor or the emergency room first, even if your smile is damaged. For more information about dental emergency care in Pocatello, Idaho, we welcome you to contact our office today.

We provide treatment for all kinds of dental emergencies, including:

• A knocked-out tooth
• Injuries to the soft tissues of your smile, such as the lips, cheeks, tongue, or gum tissues
• An extruded (partially knocked-out) tooth
• A chipped or broken tooth
• A severe, lasting toothache or tooth pain
• An item stuck between teeth
• A lost or damaged restoration, such as a filling, bridge, or crown
• A cracked or fractured tooth

Dr. Jake R. Richards, Dr. Mitch J Driscoll and Dr. Brandon Call are pleased to provide gentle, high-quality treatment for gum disease in Pocatello, Idaho. Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a condition that starts with inflammation in the gum tissues. Caused by bacteria, this inflammation can progress into a serious disease if not treated early. Gingivitis, the early stage of gum disease, is characterized by gums that are swollen, tender, red, and bleed easily. As the disease becomes more serious, the gum tissues begin to recede, resulting in bone loss and eventually tooth loss. In addition, periodontal disease has been connected to a number of serious health conditions, such as pregnancy complications, heart disease, diabetes, respiratory conditions, stroke, and high blood pressure. We provide gum treatment to halt the progress of the disease and avoid these serious complications.

Gum treatment is based on the severity of the disease. In the early stages, periodontal disease can typically be controlled with improved at-home dental hygiene and additional cleanings at our office. If the condition has progressed, our dentist may recommend antibiotic treatment, deep cleanings (scaling and root planing), or gum surgery. To find out what type of treatment is right for your smile, we welcome you to contact us today at Oak Mountain Dental.

When a tooth is damaged or decayed, it is important to repair the tooth in order to maintain the function and health of your entire smile. If the tooth is not damaged seriously enough to require a dental crown, our dentist may recommend a dental onlay or inlay in Pocatello, Idaho. Inlays and onlays, also called partial crowns, are similar to fillings in that they only replace the decayed portion of the tooth, whereas a crown covers the entire tooth. Unlike dental fillings, however, inlays and onlays are constructed outside of the mouth by using molds and impressions of your teeth. Once the inlay or onlay is ready, it is cemented in place to restore the tooth’s structure and health. Dental inlays and onlays can be created from a number of materials, such as gold or porcelain. Porcelain inlays and onlays are popular among patients who are interested in natural-looking restorations.

Inlays and onlays serve the same purpose in restoring a damaged tooth, but they are slightly different. A dental inlay is used when the damage or decay is entirely contained within the cusps, or the raised portion of the tooth surface. An onlay is used, on the other hand, to replace one or more of the cusps as well. If you think a dental inlay or onlay is right for your smile, we welcome you to contact Dr. Jake R. Richards, Dr. Mitch J Driscoll and Dr. Brandon Call by calling us at Oak Mountain Dental today.

Do you have a severe toothache that is especially noticeable when biting down or chewing? Has your tooth become increasingly sensitive to hot and cold temperatures? Are the nearby gums swollen and tender? If so, the tooth may be infected. Tooth infection occurs when the inner tissues of the tooth, called the dental pulp, become decayed, damaged, or injured. If the tooth infection is not properly treated, it may result in the death of the tooth. This necessitates tooth extraction, and the infection may also spread to other parts of your smile. To prevent these consequences, our dentist may recommend root canal treatment for the infected tooth. Root canal treatment allows us to restore your smile’s health and save the tooth.

During root canal therapy, our dentist removes the infected and diseased tissues from the tooth. The tooth is then thoroughly sanitized and is filled with a medicated material. Dr. Jake R. Richards, Dr. Mitch J Driscoll or Dr. Brandon Call then places a restoration, such as a crown, over the tooth to restore its structure and function. In just one or two visits to Oak Mountain Dental, we can restore the health of the tooth and relieve the pain that often accompanies tooth infection. To learn more about getting a root canal in Pocatello, Idaho, we invite you to call or visit us today. We are eager to improve your dental health!

Visiting the dentist can be scary. In fact, according to a 2015 study, a whopping 80% of Americans experience some level of anxiety about visiting the dentist! If you or your kids find yourselves avoiding the dentist due to nerves, sedation dentistry can be a great option.

Sedation dentistry is when medication is used during a procedure to ease the patient’s anxiety. It can be used for any procedure, from a routine cleaning to a root canal.

Your degree of consciousness depends on the level of sedation you choose. There are four main levels: minimal sedation (the patient is awake but relaxed), moderate sedation (the patient is awake but may not remember the procedure), deep sedation (the patient is nearly unconscious but can be awakened) and anesthesia (the patient is completely unconscious).

Different dentists may use varying medications, but these are a few common sedation methods:

Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, is a form of minimal sedation that the patient breathes in. The gas helps them to relax, and its effects wear off quickly.

Oral sedation is usually achieved by having a patient take a pill before their procedure. Its effects range from minimal to moderate based on dosage. Oral sedation makes the patient groggy and sometimes causes them to fall lightly asleep.

IV sedation administers medication through your veins, which makes it work much faster. IV sedation is typically moderate to deep, depending on the dosage.

Anesthesia can be administered in several ways, but it will cause the patient to fall deeply asleep during the procedure.

Patients should be aware of which medications are used in the type of sedation they select. If you have questions or concerns, we are happy to discuss your options with you in more detail. We want you to have the best experience possible at Oak Mountain Dental. If you experience dental anxiety, consider sedation to make your procedure smooth and worry-free!

Sedation is a safe option for any patient, but it can be especially useful for those who experience:

• Sensitive teeth
• Low pain threshold
• Extreme dental anxiety
• Sensitive gag reflex
• Extensive dental work to be done

Do you feel sleepy during the day? Do others complain about your loud snoring? You may have a common sleep disorder that causes your breathing to be repeatedly interrupted during your sleep cycle. This disorder can quietly drain your energy levels and reduce your quality of life, not only causing snoring and sleepiness but even bringing on headaches, mood changes and other health problems. Sufferers sometimes try to lessen these symptoms by making lifestyle changes such as weight loss, avoiding smoking and alcohol, and changing up sleeping positions, but this doesn’t always work.

When it can’t be treated by simple lifestyle changes, Oak Mountain Dental can help! Dr. Jake R. Richards, Dr. Mitch J Driscoll and Dr. Brandon Call can help you assess whether a Sleep Appliance is right for you. We offer various methods to help treat and manage it comfortably. Call us today to get your sleep back on track and feel your best every day!

There are two main types of sleep apnea:

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): OSA is the most common type of sleep apnea. It occurs when the muscles that support the soft tissues in your throat relax, causing a narrowing or closing of your airway and preventing enough air from getting through.
• Central Sleep Apnea (CSA): CSA can be caused by a number of conditions affecting the brain stem, and results in an interruption of breathing while you sleep. It occurs when the brain fails to send proper signals to the muscles that control your breathing.