Dental Blog

For most people with fixed dental implants, an MRI is possible. The implant alone does not automatically rule out the scan, but the imaging team needs to know about it before you enter the MRI room. Your implant's materials and any attached or removable components can affect the safety screening and the images. The exact device details matter, so mention your dental work when you schedule.

Whether a plan helps pay for implants depends on its written benefits, not simply on whether it is labeled dental insurance. Some plans may cover part of implant treatment, while others exclude implants or cover only certain related services. If you're asking, "does dental insurance cover implants," the most useful first step is to check your own plan's terms.

Fluoride treatments often get mentally filed away as a "kids only" part of dentistry, but the team at Coeur d'Alene Dental Center recommends them for plenty of adult patients too. Whether a professional fluoride treatment makes sense for you depends on your cavity risk, not your age.

Bad breath is one of the most common concerns patients bring up at Coeur d'Alene Dental Center, and it's rarely something to feel embarrassed about. Most cases trace back to a specific, treatable cause rather than a mystery that mouthwash alone can solve. Understanding what's actually happening in your mouth makes it much easier to fix.

If you have been wondering what scaling and root planing is, the short answer is that it is a deep dental cleaning for areas a regular cleaning cannot reach. Scaling removes plaque and tartar from the teeth, including below the gumline. Root planing smooths the tooth roots so gum tissue has a cleaner surface to heal against. At Coeur d'Alene Dental Center, Dr. KC McVey and the team use this treatment as the first line of defense when gum disease has taken hold.

Yes, in many cases — but active gum disease usually needs to be treated before implant surgery is considered. The answer depends on the condition of your gums, jawbone, remaining teeth, and overall oral health. A dental examination can show whether the disease is controlled and whether there is enough stable bone to support an implant. At Coeur d'Alene Dental Center, Dr. KC McVey and the team evaluate both together before recommending a path forward.

If you're missing a tooth, the sticker price on tooth-replacement options is usually the first thing that stops people from calling a dentist. Mini dental implants have become one of the more affordable ways to close that gap, and understanding what drives their cost helps you compare quotes with confidence instead of guessing. At Coeur d'Alene Dental Center, a practice that has treated patients in the CDA area since the 1970s, we've walked hundreds of patients through this exact pricing conversation, and the numbers below reflect what most patients actually pay in 2026, not just a marketing estimate.

If you're missing a tooth, the sticker price on tooth-replacement options is usually the first thing that stops people from calling a dentist. Mini dental implants have become one of the more affordable ways to close that gap, and understanding what drives their cost helps you compare quotes with confidence instead of guessing. At Coeur d'Alene Dental Center, a practice that has treated patients in the CDA area since the 1970s, we've walked hundreds of patients through this exact pricing conversation, and the numbers below reflect what most patients actually pay in 2026, not just a marketing estimate.

Signs Periodontal Disease Is Getting Worse

So, you've been told you have gum disease, or maybe you're just worried it's getting worse. It's a common concern, and honestly, it's smart to pay attention to what your mouth is telling you. Ignoring it is like ignoring a leaky faucet – it just gets worse and can cause more damage down the line. Let's break down the signs that tell you your gum disease is advancing.

If you are weighing your options for a smile upgrade, you have likely come across two popular cosmetic treatments: Bioclear and porcelain veneers. Both can dramatically improve the appearance of chipped, cracked, worn, or unevenly spaced teeth, but they take fundamentally different approaches. The core distinction comes down to one clinical principle our doctors prioritize: conservation of healthy tooth structure. Bioclear is a minimally invasive, additive technique that builds onto your natural tooth, while veneers typically require removing a thin layer of irreplaceable enamel. Understanding that difference is the key to choosing the right treatment for your smile and your long-term oral health.