GENERAL DENTISTRY IN THE DALLES, OR
At River Dental Center, We Treat You Like Family
Earning Trust – One Patient at a Time
Our first goal, from the moment you walk in the door, is to earn a feeling of trust. We believe the absolute best general dentistry we can provide will only take place when there is a strong bond of trust with our patients, and we’re all working together toward the common goals of healthy teeth and gums and a beautiful smile.
Dentistry for Adults
Whether your dental needs are a complete exam, cleaning, or anything in between, our general dentist and staff will provide you with exceptional care. Your six-month visits keep your teeth clean and healthy and help prevent problems down the road by letting us spot them early. We can address your unique concerns and develop a relationship that ensures continuity of care. We look forward to meeting you!
Dentistry for Children
Our pediatric dentistry strives to make children of all ages feel at ease and enjoy themselves, so bring the whole family along! You can rest assured your child will receive the latest advancements in children’s dentistry, delivered with caring, thoughtfulness, and compassion. Our pediatric dentist looks forward to seeing them for their first dental visit when they cut their first tooth and watching them grow year after year.
A Healthy Smile,
A Healthy Body
Did you know that the cause of most tooth loss is not decay? It’s gum disease. And recent studies have established a link between gum disease and your overall health. The good news is that gum disease can be treated successfully, often without surgery. Our commitment to you includes paying meticulous attention to all of your needs for healthy teeth and gums so you not only look your best but also have optimum overall health.
Cosmetic Dentistry
Crooked teeth, worn teeth, fillings, gaps, chips, cracks, and discolorations – you name it, our cosmetic dentist in The Dalles, OR, can fix it! It’s no secret that our smiles have a huge effect on how others see us and how we feel about ourselves. Many patients tell us that they would love to fix their teeth, but they assume it will take something extreme to make it possible. They are thrilled to find out there are many conservative options for improvement. Ask us about veneers, bonding, crowns, and more cosmetic dentistry options. We also offer take-home teeth whitening for a dazzling smile.
Straight Teeth with Clear Aligners
With ClearCorrect™ it is possible to have straight teeth in as little as 9 – 15 months! No braces, wires, or headgear! And the best part is that no one will know you’re straightening your teeth – because it’s invisible! The ClearCorrect system is easily removable and allows you to eat and drink what you want while in treatment, and brushing and flossing are no problem!
Restoring a Healthy Smile
Damaged teeth not only affect the appearance of your smile, but your functionality in everyday life, too. It’s important to address chips, cracks, or other damage to prevent them from causing further problems later on. Dr. Ketcher is skilled at providing beautiful, strong restorations for a return to a healthy, natural-looking smile.
Do You Find Yourself Falling Asleep on the Job?
If you or a loved one find yourself falling asleep during the day, or snoring loudly or having interrupted breathing during sleep, it may be sleep apnea. For those who have been diagnosed with this condition, modern dentistry has new treatment options such as oral appliances. These have been successful for over 90% of the patients who use them and are an alternative to CPAP machines. Ask us about this treatment and start getting the rest you deserve.
Protecting Teeth During Sports
Did you know that 5 million teeth are knocked out each year in the United States alone? Many sports can be dangerous without the proper protection. The one-size-fits-all mouthguards found in stores just don’t fit very well. Custom-made sports mouthguards fit well, protect well, and can be worn for any sport.
Oral Surgery
Whether you require a root canal, extraction of wisdom teeth or a problematic tooth, or bone grafting/sinus lift for dental implant procedures, Our oral surgeon are able to perform these in our office, with the doctor and team you already know and trust.
Oral Cancer – Minimize Your Risk
It’s an often unknown statistic that oral cancer causes one American death every hour. For 40 years, this mortality rate hasn’t changed. But it’s not all bad news. Early detection means a 90% cure rate for oral cancer. That’s why we conduct a visual screening for oral cancer at every six-month checkup and cleaning. If the hygienist or doctor sees anything that gives them cause for concern, they’ll refer you to an oral surgeon. This screening could literally save your life!
TMJ/TMD Treatment
Dental occlusion (i.e. your bite) is sometimes the cause of frequent headaches, aching or popping jaws, shoulder pain, and neck pain. If your teeth have been ground down over the years or lost due to accident or dental disease, your jaw is not able to settle into a naturally relaxed position. This causes tension in the muscles in the jaw, and can lead to a variety of pain that you may have already grown accustomed to living with. The dentist can restore your dental occlusion so the jaw can be returned to the position that nature intended.
Miracle Treatment for Headache and Migraine Sufferers
The NTI™ device is an FDA-approved, drug-free treatment for the prevention of migraine and tension headaches that relaxes the muscles under the scalp to prevent the majority of headaches. In clinical trials, 82% of migraine sufferers had relief of their headaches, with a 77% reduction in migraine events. It’s painless, fast, and NOT expensive. If you experience migraines or know someone who does, then be sure to ask us about this exciting treatment.
State-of-the-Art Sterilization
Sterilization is taken very seriously in our office. In addition to cleaning and sterilizing all instruments after every use, single-use tools are used where needed. Instruments are sterilized after each use with a special unit called an autoclave, which is regularly monitored by an independent lab to ensure the highest level of safety and cleanliness. Your health is too important to us to take even the slightest risk.
Laser Scanner Finds Cavities Years Earlier
Sometimes cavities are too small to be visible to the dentist or show up on X-rays. Sometimes patients complain of tooth sensitivity, or mild to severe pain, yet X-rays and examination cannot pinpoint the source. The laser scanner can detect previously undetected decay years earlier, when the small cavity can be removed and repaired with a small invisible bonded filling.
Technology:
Intra-Oral Camera
The dentist works hand-in-hand with patients to create a bond of teamwork. The amazing intra-oral camera is a miniature video camera that displays a closeup picture of the inside of your mouth. You can see for yourself what work needs to be done and which teeth are doing fine. You then become a participant in each dental decision. You’ll love how this works!
Technology:
Digital X-Rays
Traditional dental X-rays have been “good enough,” but digital X-rays provide clearer and much more accurate pictures of what’s going on inside a patient’s mouth. This makes it easier for the doctor to diagnose issues. Leaks or breaks in fillings that used to go unnoticed, often leading to root canals, can now be found and treated before major damage is done. We can also view your entire mouth in one shot, including the upper and lower jaws, with panoramic digital images.