Dana Matlock DDS

Dana Matlock DDS Innovative Dental Practice In Friendly Coastal Community.

Some services offered are the following:
Comprehensive & Limited Exams
Invisalign
Digital X-rays
Pano Imaging
Cone Beam Imaging
Dental Cleanings
Periodontal Treatments & Cleanings
Extractions
Fillings
Crown & Bridge
Root Canals
Implants
Dentures and Partial Dentures
Professional Whitening
TMJ Consultations and Treatment Plans
Botox Therapy
Esthetic Dentistry

On this day, we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for his non-violent pursuit of peace on earth, equality a...
01/15/2024

On this day, we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. for his non-violent pursuit of peace on earth, equality and justice for all.

“If we are to have peace on earth, our loyalties must become ecumenical rather than sectional. Our loyalties must transcend our race, our tribe, our class, and our nation; and this means we must develop a world perspective.” -MLK 1967

Happy MLK!

Dana Matlock DDS

On the twelfth day of Christmas, when I smiled others smiled back at me.Did you know we can recognize a smile from over ...
01/05/2024

On the twelfth day of Christmas, when I smiled others smiled back at me.

Did you know we can recognize a smile from over 300 feet away? Smiling helps you live longer, and smiles are contagious! When you smile at a random person on the street, odds are you just made their day a little brighter.

Studies have shown that as many as 57% of people agree that a smile from a stranger improves their day. (American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry) Other studies also indicate that a confident smile portrays intelligence, power, and wealth. People who offer a genuine smile to others are also perceived as more creative, outgoing, approachable, and confident. One reason a smile is “contagious” is due to the mirror response from motor neurons in the brain. When we see a smile, our bodies natural reaction is to mirror the mood and smile back. Once you smile, your brain releases chemicals like dopamine, serotonin, and endorphins, that elicit a happy feeling, reduce stress, and act as a mild pain reliever. In addition, your body produces antibodies increasing your immunity! All these things are beneficial to your health and can increase your lifespan.

It is not necessary to have a perfect smile to make others smile too. However, having a full set of clean and aligned teeth usually makes people feel more confident in smiling; thus, they may smile more frequently. So if you have any concerns about your smile, reach out to your dentist to determine the best treatment plan for your aesthetic dental goals. Whether it’s veneers, Invisalign®, professional teeth whitening, dental implants, dentures, or further specialist referrals, your dentist can help you attain the perfect smile. After all, some 50% of people say the first physical trait they notice in someone is their smile. So let’s get out there and smile to do our little part to make the world a happier place. Cheese!

We hope you enjoyed our 12 Days of Christmas, or at the very least garnered some tidbits of dental knowledge. Now get out there and show off your smile. Happy Holidays!

Please mention this Facebook post when you book your next appointment for a free complimentary custom teeth whitening valued at $270.00! Call and book your appointment by January 31, 2024 to qualify for your free gift.
This offer is valid for new and existing patients after an exam, cleaning, and imaging are completed. Accepting new patients. Not valid with any other offers. Restrictions apply.

Dana Matlock DDS

On the eleventh day of Christmas I asked my dentist what’s the best dental option for me, crowns, dentures, implants, or...
01/04/2024

On the eleventh day of Christmas I asked my dentist what’s the best dental option for me, crowns, dentures, implants, or veneers?

As with all speciality medical work, a doctor will need to assess the situation of your ailments. In this case, a doctor specialized in oral health, aka your dentist, is who you will need to see.
An oral exam and some imaging will help you and your dentist determine the best treatment plan for you.

To determine which option best suits your dental needs, let’s first take a look at what each of these procedures treat.

Let’s begin with the veneer. Veneers are a treatment you can choose when you have a healthy tooth that has discoloration, chips, or gaps. A well cared for veneer will often last 10-30 years! Take care however, as veneers are made of porcelain, a super hard glass, but they can break under excessive force. Veneers will help you attain a smile you love.

When is a dental crown an option to consider?

A crown is typically utilized after loss of tooth structure or after your tooth has cracked. An X-ray showing the damage is often needed to diagnose this condition. The procedure involves removing minimal tooth structure and any identifiable decay leaving behind a strong natural tooth post. You will leave with a temporary crown while the lab constructs your final restoration. Once the crown is fabricated in the lab, you will revisit your dentist within a couple of weeks to place the crown. A well taken care of crown has a typical lifespan of 10-15 years, but for some they last for decades. If you are feeling cold or hot sensitivity, or are having persistent toothaches, this may be the treatment you need to resolve the pain.

What’s the difference between a crown and an implant?

A crown is more or less a tooth shaped cap over the remaining portion of viable tooth, whereas an implant is the replacement of the entire tooth structure, from the roots to the tooth itself utilizing a crown to represent the tooth structure.
An implant may be necessary in the event you lose a tooth entirely, or if the damage or decay to a tooth is too severe to save any remaining portion of it. After the loss of the tooth, whether from decay or any other way in which the tooth could not be saved, an implant may be the next option to keep a full smile. An implant is a surgical procedure that combines the extraction of any remaining tooth as well as the removal of the roots. In their place, a titanium implant is placed. After healing is complete, your dentist will attach a crown to your implant. Implants often last 10-30 years with good dental care.

Another question often asked is why should an implant be considered opposed to leaving a vacant space between the teeth?

Aesthetics aside, a primary reason to consider an implant, is the material acts as a structure to support the empty pocket of the lost tooth in the jawbone. The loss of the tooth overtime can cause loss of bone leading to functional and esthetic concerns.

At what point should dentures be considered as a treatment option?

Dentures allow for a nicely aligned smile with increased functioning as opposed to a lack of teeth. However, they will never be as strong as your natural teeth. Dentures are best suited when no teeth are remaining or if the remaining teeth are severely damaged.

What option is best for you? Visit your dentist to find out!

Dana Matlock DDS

On the tenth day of Christmas I stuck my tongue out and opened wide… your Dentist examines your tongue at routine visits...
01/04/2024

On the tenth day of Christmas I stuck my tongue out and opened wide… your Dentist examines your tongue at routine visits.

Why does your dentist ask you to stick your tongue out?

Sticking your tongue out helps to see otherwise impossible to see places. During your exam, your dentist will examine your tongue to screen for cancer, lesions, white tongue, hairy tongue, size, texture, and coloration to help determine the condition of your oral health and other possible health concerns.

Here are some fun facts about the tongue:

The tongue is the only muscle that works without the support from the skeleton.

The tongue is the strongest muscle group in the human body relative to size. It is composed of 8 individual muscles that work in unison. What interesting shapes can you make with your tongue?

Your tongue has around 3,000-10,000 taste buds at any given time. Taste buds die off and regrow every 10-14 days. No wonder we might hate the way something tastes and within a few years end up loving it.

Your tongue can taste 5 flavors, and differentiate between salty, bitter, sour, sweet, and savory.

It’s obviously not as good as a toothbrush, but the tongue works as a natural cleanser after eating.

Dana Matlock DDS

On the ninth day of Christmas my dentist informed me…Americans lose around 5,000,000 teeth per year from sports related ...
01/03/2024

On the ninth day of Christmas my dentist informed me…

Americans lose around 5,000,000 teeth per year from sports related injury!

This does not include cracked teeth, fractured roots, and tooth intrusion each representing millions of more injuries.

Whether you’re playing baseball, basketball, soccer, lacrosse, football, or ultimate frisbee to name a few, all contact sports carry a risk of mouth injury. One of the simplest ways to protect your teeth in sports is to wear a mouth guard. When it comes to a mouth guard, you have several options to choose; from a stock mouth guard, which is inexpensive but doesn’t typically fit optimally. A boil-and-bite mouth guard may cost a little more but offers a more comfortable fit, and finally custom mouth guards hand made by your dentist. These will offer the most comfort and better protection. The more comfortable a mouth guard fits, the less subliminal attention you may require which should allow you to focus optimal attention to the sport you are playing. If you are playing at a high level in your sport, you may want to consider a custom fit mouth guard.

Remember, a lost or broken tooth costs on average 20 times more than a custom mouth guard. In all cases, any mouth guard protection is better than none.

Dana Matlock DDS

01/01/2024

On the eighth day of Christmas at the turn of the New Year, my dentist provided some knowledge to me… dental care is associated with many healthcare related things.

Over the years, more and more studies are released showing the importance of oral health in connection with increased risks for various medical conditions.

Poor oral health has been linked to an increased risk for:

- Diabetes (High Blood Sugar)
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Certain Cancers (24% increase in likelihood of cancer diagnosis in patients with severe periodontitis)
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Dementia
- Complications during pregnancy.
- Kidney Disease
- Higher Rate of Respiratory Infections (Chronic Gingivitis)
- Decreased Fertility

That is a healthy list of not so healthy conditions due to poor oral healthcare. So take some steps now to help ensure a healthy mouth for a healthy life. Brush and floss twice a day. Visit your dentist at least once a year, or as directed by your oral health care team.

We wish you a Happy New Year!

Dana Matlock DDS

On the seventh day of Christmas I learned a gross but cool thing, saliva is amazing.Did you know the average human creat...
12/31/2023

On the seventh day of Christmas I learned a gross but cool thing, saliva is amazing.

Did you know the average human creates enough saliva to fill a bottle of wine per day! In their lifetime that is over 27,000 gallons of spit, enough to fill two large swimming pools!

Saliva is an important part of the bodies ability to maintain a healthy mouth and body. Dry mouths become breeding grounds for bacteria to fester causing bad breath and an increased risk for tooth decay. If you are suffering from dry mouth consider the amount of water you are drinking each day. Good hydration is important for not just keeping your saliva levels normal day and night, but also helps keep your mind and body functioning at a higher level. From a dental standpoint, saliva helps to neutralize acids in the mouth by washing away acidic residue from eating. In addition, saliva helps to remineralize healthy tooth surfaces and help to prevent gum disease. Dry mouth can also occur at night. If you find yourself waking to drink water throughout the night, wake with a sore throat, or with abnormally bad morning breath, than you may be suffering from dry mouth. Some causes of night time dry mouth are due to hydration, sleeping with an open mouth due to clogged sinuses, snoring, and or other sleeping conditions. If you suffer from any of these issues, consider discussing them with your dentist and physician. Dentists can help by providing sleep guards, and prescribing specialized toothpastes and mouth rinses that can help reduce dry mouth. Physicians can help you determine if you have any other underlying health issues that may be contributing to nightly dry mouth. Staying well hydrated and keeping your saliva pooling along with daily tooth brushing and flossing can help keep your pearly whites bright and shining throughout your lifetime. Saliva, kind of gross, but also pretty cool too.

Dana Matlock DDS

On the sixth day of Christmas, my dentist busted another dental myth for me… the myth that babies don’t need to brush te...
12/30/2023

On the sixth day of Christmas, my dentist busted another dental myth for me… the myth that babies don’t need to brush teeth.

It turns out that brushing your infants teeth the moment they emerge can help them establish strong oral health from the get go. Poor oral health in children’s early years can lead to lifelong complications including difficulty speaking, malnourishment, and health issues. Even though it can be difficult to brush an angry infant’s teeth, remain patient and stick with it twice a day. You will be doing a great service for your little one. As children get older but not yet ready to brush solely on their own, approximately the ages of 2-6, help show them how to properly brush their teeth. This includes self demonstration, providing them opportunities to do it by themselves, squeezing the correct amount of toothpaste (not too much) and how to reach all the teeth’s surfaces using a gentle circular motion. Consider doing a “polishing” or offer them the “polishing” job as a secondary tooth brushing to ensure they are getting maximal oral health maintenance each day. Try to add flossing by utilizing floss pickers to get between the teeth.

Tooth decay is the number one chronic disease with children today, and can lead to health concerns affecting not just the mouth, but the whole body, long after baby teeth have fallen out.

Dana Matlock DDS

On the fifth day of Christmas, a dental fact was given to me.Did you know Americans spend over a hundred billion dollars...
12/29/2023

On the fifth day of Christmas, a dental fact was given to me.

Did you know Americans spend over a hundred billion dollars a year on hair products!?! By contrast, Americans only spend about $2 billion dollars a year on dental care products! In terms of looks, some may argue good hair over good teeth, but when concerning your overall health, dental care is far more important.

Dana Matlock DDS

On the fourth day of Christmas my dentist said to me, dentistry is ancient history…The first known dentist lived in anci...
12/28/2023

On the fourth day of Christmas my dentist said to me, dentistry is ancient history…

The first known dentist lived in ancient Egypt more than 5,000 years ago! Hesi-Re lived in 3000 BC during Egypt’s Third Dynasty and was recorded as the first tooth expert. He had the high ranking title of Wer-ibehsenjw, translated as the, “great one of the ivory cutters.”

However, it wouldn’t be another 4,700 years until the father of modern dentistry was recognized. Pierre Fauchard was a surgeon who in 1723 published the book; “The Surgeon Dentist, a Treatise on Teeth.” The book provided the first comprehensive system for treating and caring for teeth. His efforts included identifying that acids derived from sugars we consume were the cause for tooth decay. In addition, he identified many methods for replacing, repairing, and straightening teeth making him a pioneer in general dentistry, dental prosthesis, and orthodontics.

- Here are a few more interesting historical dental facts:
The Estrucan civilization from central Italy in 7th century BC may have been the first civilization to utilize dentures. They were made from animal teeth and and bonded together with gold bands.

- Fillings made from gold, and silver have been found in the remains of ancient Greek, Egyptian, and Chinese cultures. 1300 years ago one of the first amalgam fillings was made from mercury, silver, and and tin found in China.

- Paul Revere was the first forensic dentist. He was known for helping to identify fallen revolutionary soldiers based on their teeth and the dental work he had performed on them.

- Dental forensics helped to identify John Wilkes Booth, Adolph Hi**er, and convict Ted Bundy for his crimes.

Dana Matlock DDS

On the third day of Christmas, my dentist proffered a dental myth to me, sugar doesn’t cause cavities. The consumption ...
12/27/2023

On the third day of Christmas, my dentist proffered a dental myth to me, sugar doesn’t cause cavities.

The consumption of sugar is linked to the cause of cavities, however, it is not the sugar itself that causes cavitation. Cavities form when a specific bacteria consumes and metabolizes the sugars to produce an acid that demineralizes the tooth’s enamel. The more starches and sugars a person consumes, the larger the bacterial colony potentially becomes. Sugars we ingest can be derived from not just sweet treats, but also from carbohydrates, fruits, and vegetables. Take the combination of these foods and incorporate added sugars from sodas, desserts and candy, and the mouths natural defenses are overloaded. Of the 200-300 bacteria living in your mouth, it is predominantly one that causes tooth decay. The culprit is known as streptococcus mutans and once it out competes the other naturally occurring bacteria in your mouth, it forms bacterial colonies in the form of dental plaque on tooth surfaces. This little bacteria feasts on sugars, changing the pH levels in your mouth. Too much sugar ingestion, and not enough dental care to offset it, then cavities emerge
So, while sugar is not directly responsible for carries, we know that eating it causes bacteria to thrive. When bacteria thrives and is not controlled, it can cause cavities. So consider having sugars in moderation, and remember to brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and to floss daily.

Some additional facts about drinks and foods:

- People who drink three or more glasses of soda per day have 62% more tooth decay, fillings, and tooth loss than those whom do not.

- The recommended daily intake of sugar is cumulatively 4 teaspoons yet one can of soda has 10-12 teaspoons of sugar!

- A semi sweet food that may actually be good for your teeth is the coconut! Coconuts are naturally anti-bacterial and can help reduce the risk of developing gum disease and cavities.

Dana Matlock DDS

On the second day of Christmas, my dentist reminded me daily dental care’s good for me.What is routine dental care? Brus...
12/26/2023

On the second day of Christmas, my dentist reminded me daily dental care’s good for me.

What is routine dental care?

Brushing for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste and flossing twice a day represent the bulk of your routine dental care. Planning to visit your dentist once or twice a year for an exam and cleaning is the second portion of maintaining a good dental routine. So, daily maintenance, and the occasional scheduled dental appointment are typically all that is needed to keep your teeth in good condition.

For many of us, busy lives means scraping any extra minute out of the day for a moment of peace as essential to our own self care. So are those few minutes spent brushing, flossing, and rinsing really worth losing each day?

Habitual dental care is key to good overall dental health. So what is needed in order to keep our teeth and gums in good shape? For most of us, a two minute tooth brushing twice a day, along with flossing once a day is good enough to keep our our oral health in good condition.

For others, further dental care may be required. We are all unique in not just our appearance, but also the unseen microcosm that makes us each unique. Our genetics can determine how much extra care must be taken when either brushing or flossing. The oral healthcare you received as an infant, or performed while you were a child plays a role in the health of your adult teeth. The pH and acidity level of your mouth is also different from person to person. These things in combination with your individual eating habits, and oral health care can determine the condition of your teeth and gums.

Dana Matlock DDS

Address

Newport, OR

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+15412642800

Website

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Some services offered at Dr. Dana Matlock and Dr. Mark Builder's office are as follows Comprehensive & limited Exams Digital Xrays Pano Cone beam imaging Dental Cleanings Periodontal treatments & cleanings Extraction's Fillings Crown & Bridge Root Canals Implants Removable's