Having a young family, with each member requiring a variety of different dental services can be an overwhelming endeavor for any family. A family needs a dentist, who can provide comfortable care for each member. When we moved to Orem, Utah, we were going to a dentist near Thanksgiving Point, but it proved to be out of the way and difficult to drive all the way to Thanksgiving Point. We then were able to find dental care in the comfort of the office of W. Michael Black, a dentist so close to our home, in Orem, that it proved to be extremely convenient for all of our family dental and general dentistry needs.

Dr. Black's office is one that keeps all of our dental records so precisely and stays in contact with us frequently to ensure that our dental health is maintained. This type of dental care has been a relief for our family. It has allowed our family the ability to concentrate on other aspects of life, with the knowledge that our dental health will be taken care of all along the way in an office that is dedicated to gentle and excellent dental care. It is not often that you can feel so comfortable and happy a dentist office, that you leave with a smile on your face.

Dr. Michael Black, DDS, a member of the American Dental Association and the Utah Dental Association, has been our dentist and dental health provider for a number of years now. He has practiced general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry for 25 years. He is well equipped with the tools and techniques for any of our dental care needs, with a focus on preventive dental services, crown and bridge work, root canal therapy, veneers, teeth whitening, and painless dentistry. Whatever procedures are required, Dr. Black has us covered. They care about our teeth, and believe in delivering high quality, comprehensive dental care in a friendly, professional environment.

With his calm and endearing personality, Dr. Black helps to make our visits seem very comfortable and even relaxing. A couple of our children may even decide to look into dental schools as an educational plan for their future, having been so impressed with the state-of-the-art preventative and restorative dental services provided by Dr. Black and the friendly Hygienist. Their experiences with dentistry have been a positive one with our dentists office. Cosmetic Dentistry seems to be an area of intrigue for one of our daughters.

Dr. Black's supporting team aids in providing the most up to date dental services found anywhere in Utah County. He serves the communities of Orem, Provo, Springville, Spanish Fork, Pleasant Grove, American Fork, Lehi, and Saratoga Springs. His staff includes dental hygienists, dental assistants, and office staff, all of which are dedicated to helping their patients with all of their general dentistry needs and other dental heath issues. The office is diligent about being in contact with our family, informing us of all of our dental services appointments and giving us the most up-to-date dental health tips. They bring exceptional patient care and honest, high quality dental health to a whole new level. I am so grateful that I was able to find this dental team.

We are happy with the fact that Dr. Black can prescribe medications, such as antibiotics, as some of our family needs to be treated before some dental health services are provided. It is a comfort that he can provide our young ones of our family with sedatives, when needed, to keep the anxiety level to a minimum.

A dentist is expected to diagnose, treat and when possible provide prevention for all dental health conditions and dental services. As a community, advertisers have relied on dentists to give an expert's verification for certain products. We have all heard the rhetoric of: four out of five dentists recommend.... The dental community has become a trusted adviser for our overall oral and general dentistry health. Dr. Black is that trusted dentist for us.

Dr. Black and his staff have been instrumental, as top dental experts, in supporting programs that have been implemented by the American Dental Association, to go into schools, maternal and child health agencies, and other community-based settings, where they give advice on teeth cleaning, dental care, and oral hygiene. As with pediatric dentistry, Dr. Black and his dental care team create an atmosphere of trust and confidence in their pediatric dentistry patients. Also, as a dentist with numerous pediatric dentistry patients, Dr. Black places special importance in preventing tooth decay.

Prevention of cavities is an important part of the overall dental care of the patient. This is where we, as parents, can make a significant difference for our familys dental health. For example, one of the earliest problems that can arise, in babies, is a condition they call Bottle Mouth. This occurs when a babys teeth are in contact with the sugars from milk or fruit juices for extended periods of time, such as allowing a baby to go to sleep while sucking on a bottle of milk, and allowing the bottle with the milk to remain in the mouth after the baby is asleep. The milk breaks down while still in the mouth and turns into simple sugars, which in turn causes tooth decay. This makes no difference if this is formula, breast milk, fruit juice, or any other liquid, except water. If bottle mouth is left untreated it can cause pain and make it difficult for a child to eat and chew. Eventually this condition can affect and damage the permanent teeth developing under the gums. Abscesses can develop which means that there is infection and that infection can lead to other parts of the body.

Our dentist, Dr. Black, has encouraged us to use a clean, wet cloth to wipe our babys teeth and gums after eating. This helps remove any bacteria that can build up on the teeth and gums and cause decay. Also, it is recommended in the general dentistry community that parents teach their infants to drink from a cup by the time they turn one year old. Sippy cups work well as a transition from the bottle to a regular cup. However, continuous sipping from these cups will still result in decay, unless, of course, they are filled with water.

For all ages, snacking and drinking sugary liquids continuously throughout the day can cause the same kinds of problems with any of our teeth. This can be a real concern for our dental heath. The dentist recommends that we have a meal or snack and then have a few hours when we are not putting anything into our mouths, except water. This will greatly enhance our dental health and minimize the dental care and dental services we will require.

A positive dental habit that will make a huge difference is to floss at least one time in every 24 hours. There are a couple of benefits that come from flossing. This one act alone can be the best cure for bad breath. Another reason this is such a great habit to get into is that flossing interrupts the contact of the bacteria that collects in between our teeth and threatens to eat away at our enamel.

The most common thing that we think about, when we are talking about dentists and dental health, is brushing our teeth. Dr. Black has helped us understand the importance of this simple act. To prevent cavities, we need to remove the plaque that builds up on our teeth. Plaque is the layer of bacteria that coats the teeth. The absolute best way to get rid of this plaque is to brush our teeth twice a day. This, along with flossing once a day can keep the decay away. Brushing also helps keep the gums healthy and prevents problems from developing with our gums. Also, toothpastes contain fluoride, which is the most common active ingredient in toothpaste. It is what helps prevent cavities. So we should always be sure to use toothpaste containing fluoride when brushing our teeth.

Learning these preventative measures from our family dentist has been a big help in raising our family here in Orem, Utah. It is comforting to know that we can place our dental health wellbeing in the hands of such a competent, capable dentist, knowing that any of the dental services we may need in the future will be taken care of in a timely and professional manner.

We looked into what is involved in becoming a dentist, in the event that any of our children do take the path that our family dentist has taken. It appears that all dentists in the U.S must graduate from a university before entering dental schools. Then to become a licensed dentist, one must complete an accredited dental school curriculum and successfully master all clinical competencies and national board exams. The majority of dental school graduates move immediately into general dentistry practice. This is the path that Dr. W. Michael Black took after his dental school was complete. The impressive thing about him, the dentist we trust for our family, is that he is always continuing his education of the latest dental care procedures and dental technologies.

General dentistry as well as specialty dentists will receive a four-year doctorate degree in dentistry which is referred to either as a D.D.S. (doctor of dental surgery) or D.M.D. (doctor of dental medicine). Dr. Black is a doctor of dental surgery (D.D.S.) In the United States, specialty dentists typically complete two to six years of education in a specific area after receiving a DDS or DMD. Dental specialisties include: Endodontics, which is dealing with diseases of the dental pulp and the inner portion of the teeth etc.; Orthodontists, who is concerned with the treatment of improper bites and tooth irregularity; Periodontics, which is the branch of dentistry concerned with the structures surrounding and supporting the teeth; Prosthodontists, who are the dental specialists who have undergone additional training and certification in the restoration and replacement of broken teeth with crowns, bridges, or removable prosthetics (dentures).

Dr. Black has a trusted network of professionals when his patients need to be referred to specialists. When you need a dental specialist, to improve the health and appearance of your smile, you truly need to be able to trust that this dental professional is qualified and has your best interest at heart. Our dentist, Dr. Black has been instrumental in guiding us to those specialized dental care providers that will provide the best dental services for our family. He helps us make contact with these Drs to communicate our dental health needs. For example, I now have two dental implants provided by a Periodontics specialist in Orem, who was recommended to me by our dentist.

It is nice when a dentist works closely with pediatricians and family physicians to provide the best comprehensive medical care and dental health care as well. This has been a crucial process in dealing with our special needs daughter. She has mouth, jaw, tongue, and breathing issues. What a difference it is to have someone at the center of her care with the knowledge to know how to get her the extra or specialist care that she needs.

Two of our children will soon be needing braces. We will be relying on our dentist, Dr. Black, to recommend the very best dental specialist for our specific family needs. There are numerous Orthodontists in Utah County, but to find the one that will suit us the best is something that I wont have to take on alone. It will be a relief to have our dental health care provider help us to contact the Orthodontists office for any explanations that might need to be passed on to this new Dr.

It has been nearly six months since our last visit with Dr. Black. He has recommended, like most dentists do, that we have regular check-ups and cleanings by his Dental Hygienist every six months. Since we scheduled that appointment at the time of our last check-up, I will be expecting a call from them to remind me of the date and time of the appointment and to see if any changes need to be made. His office makes the entire dental health care process a simple one. For that I am grateful.