Paul Martinez, DDS is a graduate of Georgetown Dental School and has been practicing in Carbon County for over 30 years. Paul and his wife, Cathy, are lifetime residents of Carbon County and both graduated from East Carbon High School. Paul and Cathy's children Colton, Mallorie, and Wyatt all graduated from Carbon High School. Colton graduated from Westminster College, and Wyatt is currently attending the University of Utah. Dr. Martinez is a General Dentist who evaluates, treats, and prevents diseases and disorders of the oral cavity while providing overall dental care to patients.
Dr. Colton Martinez is a recent graduate of Creighton University School of Dentistry. He has returned to his hometown of Price, Utah to provide comprehensive dental care to the residents of Carbon and Emery Counties. Dr. Martinez enjoys golfing, hunting, and fishing. Dr. Martinez is in the office Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 5:00 and occasional Saturdays from 9:00 to 3:00.
Misty has worked in our office for six years. Her world consists of her high school sweetheart, Jessee World, who she has been married to for 17 years, and their three beautiful children. When she isn't keeping our world spinning by managing our front office, Misty enjoys baking, riding horses, and spending time with her family.
Mallorie Martinez comes in frequently to volunteer her time at the Family Dental Center. She has two amazing children, Elias and Mariah, and is currently working to earn a Psychology Major at Utah State University Eastern. When she isn't busy volunteering, spending time with her family, or at school, Mallorie enjoys cooking, singing, dancing, and writing.
Aubrey joined our office in January 2020 after graduating high school in Colorado, spending her summer volunteering in Costa Rica, and then moving to Utah with her family. She loves her job and plans to pursue a degree in the dental field. During her free time she enjoys anything and everything soccer-related, watching scary movies, paddle boarding, hiking, longboarding, jumping in puddles, sunflower searching, and exploring the great outdoors. She is always looking forward to her next great adventure!
To protect your health, we adhere to what is called 'universal precautions.' That means we use the same protective measures with every patient to prevent the transmission of viruses or bacteria that cause infectious diseases.
Some of these precautions are readily visible to you during a dental visit. You'll be able to note the general cleanliness of the office, the use of masks and gloves, special waste containers, and our frequent hand washing. Other precautions, such as sterilization and disinfection are performed before your visit.
There are several acceptable methods of sterilization of instruments. For example, instruments that can withstand high temperature may be sterilized in a steam autoclave, which uses steam and high pressure, or with dry heat in an oven-like environment. Other instruments that can't be heated are scrubbed clean then sterilized or disinfected in chemical solutions. These methods of sterilization kill microscopic organisms capable of causing diseases.
We use disinfection procedures on surfaces and equipment that cannot be removed for cleaning and sterilization, such as countertops, drawer handles, x-ray unit heads, and light handles. A chemical agent, registered with the Environmental Protection Agency as a hospital disinfectant, is used in the dental office. Disinfection is done in the treatment room between patients to assure the operatory is absolutely clean for each patient.
The use of disposable items is another way we maintain a clean and safe office. Many dental materials such as gloves, masks, wipes, paper drapes, needles, and scalpel blades are used only once then disposed of properly.
When added to community water supplies is the single most effective public health measure we have to prevent tooth decay and improve oral health for a lifetime. It also heals newly formed cavities and can prevent the formation of cavities on the roots of teeth.
All water contains some fluoride naturally, in amounts greater or lesser than that needed to contribute to oral health benefits. Water fluoridation is the process of adjusting the natural level of fluoride to the concentration necessary for protection against tooth decay. Another way to receive fluoride is by using oral care products such as toothpaste, mouth rinse, and gel. In fact, 90 percent of toothpaste, and many mouth rinses, contain fluoride. Both systemic fluoride (fluoride that comes from eating foods and drinking liquids) and topical fluoride (fluoride that is applied to the surfaces of the teeth) work together to keep teeth strong.
For example, when children are young and their teeth are still forming, fluoride works by making tooth enamel harder and more resistant to the acid that causes tooth decay. In fact, studies indicate that people who drink optimally fluoridated water from birth will experience up to 40 percent less decay over their lifetimes. For adults, the benefits are just as great. Fluoride helps repair the early stages of tooth decay even before they become visible in the mouth, a process known as remineralization. For older adults who experience problems with root caries (decay along the gum line), fluoride has been effective in decreasing the condition.
Not only is fluoridation an oral health benefit, but its also economical! The average cost for a community to fluoridate its water is estimated to be less than 50 cents a year, per person. Over a person's lifetime, that is less than the price of having one cavity treated. In light of increasing health care costs, fluoridation is presently the most cost-effective way to prevent tooth decay.
Since the 1930s, hundreds of carefully conducted scientific studies have shown that water fluoridation, at the concentrations recommended for good oral health, has no harmful effects. Fluoridation of community water supplies is a valuable public health measure supported by the American Dental Association, the World Health Organization, the U.S. Public Health Service, the American Medical Association, and the American Cancer Society.
The ADA encourages parents to take an active role in their children's oral health and one way to do so is to supervise their brushing habits. Children should be told to use only a small amount of toothpaste and not to swallow toothpaste and mouth rinses.
While it is true that fluoride is instrumental in preventing tooth decay, fluoride alone cannot prevent dental disease. To help, the ADA recommends brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and eating well-balanced meals. Regular dental check-ups also are recommended.
Drinking optimally fluoridated water and properly using products containing fluoride will not cause dental fluorosis. Dental fluorosis occurs when the natural fluoride content is too high and children drink this water when their permanent teeth are forming. Only a very small percentage of children experience this condition. Drinking water fluoridated at the recommended level will not cause fluorosis or unsightly stained teeth.
The U.S. Public Health Service completed an extensive study of the benefits and risks of fluoride. Their report concluded that 'Optimal fluoridation of drinking water does not pose a detectable cancer risk to humans.' The report went on to say that fluoride 's 'benefits are great and easy to detect.'
In such communities, dentists and physicians may prescribe fluoride tablets or drops for children to take daily, or fluoride may be added to the school water supply. Children also may benefit from fluoride mouth rinses at home or school or the application of fluoride solutions or gels in the dental office.
All water contains some fluoride naturally. However, unless the fluoride content is printed on the label, don't assume bottled water contains fluoride levels adequate to prevent tooth decay. It may be necessary to contact the manufacturer to obtain this information.
True! All dental amalgams, commonly referred to as 'silver fillings,' contain various metals such as silver, copper, tin, and mercury. Mercury is necessary to chemically bind these compounds together to form a hard, stable restorative material. When mercury is combined with these metals, however, it becomes an inactive substance. Under the pressures of vigorous chewing and grinding, very small amounts of mercury vapor may be released. There is no valid, scientific evidence that associates this minute amount of mercury vapor with any health problems.
Studies of dental amalgam in tooth restorations have been conducted worldwide for more than 100 years. These studies have repeatedly failed to find any link between amalgam restorations and any medical disorder. Amalgam continues to be a safe restorative material for dental patients.
Dental amalgam is used for a number of reasons including its durability, longevity, and ability to withstand the intense pressures of chewing. Other materials have drawbacks. Gold is an effective material, but it costs more than amalgam. Tooth-colored ceramics, porcelains, and plastic provide a natural appearance, but aren't as resistant to stress or fracture and have to be replaced more often. New restoration materials continue to be developed that may someday equal or exceed the benefits of amalgam. In determining the best material, dentists use their professional judgment and consider the desires of the patient.
Mercury can be found in food, water, and air. Consequently, there is always a very low level of mercury present in the human body. It is interesting to note that the daily dosage of mercury from these non-dental sources exceeds the minuscule amount released from dental amalgam fillings.
Stories of overnight cures from serious diseases are not supported by sound scientific evaluation. When these claims are made, it is important to remember that many diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, have a history of suddenly subsiding. The patient's condition may improve or the symptoms may even disappear for a while for no known reason.
The Food and Drug Administration has concluded that amalgams cause no demonstrated clinical harm to patients and that removing amalgams will not prevent adverse health effects or reverse the course of existing diseases. Also, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society has found no evidence that Multiple Sclerosis is related to amalgam fillings.
Only a very small number of people are allergic to the mercury in amalgam fillings. Fewer than 100 cases have ever been reported. In these rare instances, mercury may trigger an allergic response. Symptoms, which are similar to typical skin allergies, usually disappear in two to three weeks.
For more than 100 years, literally billions of dental amalgam fillings have been used to restore decayed teeth. Dental amalgam has been proven superior in terms of durability and cost-effectiveness. Yet, misconceptions about amalgams still exist. To help set the record straight, the American Dental Association (ADA) has prepared this informational brochure to provide you with the most accurate information on this topic.