Dr. Blake Barney DDS: Idaho Falls Dental Group

Christine Hatch

2 years ago

I have to sing the praises of Dr. Blake Barney at the Idaho Falls Dental Group. I wish I had found Dr. Barney three years ago. After losing some teeth because of xerostomia (dry mouth disease), I needed a lower bridge and was referred to a local denturist. Several months later I received the new bridge, but it did not fit properly. It was bulky, unstable, and hurt when I chewed. I could not bite into an apple or even a dense piece of bread without the bridge moving. After repeated returns to the denturist, it was obvious that he could not make the bridge stable. Fortunately, my oral surgeon recommended Dr. Blake Barney, who is a prosthodontist, a dental specialty I had never heard of. Prosthodontics is the branch of dentistry focused on making replacements for missing or damaged teeth, including dentures, crowns, bridges and other custom-made oral appliances. A prosthodontist can alter the existing teeth to achieve a much better fit of the appliance. Dr. Barney adjusted the bridge the denturist made so it wasn’t painful, but the adjustments he could make were limited by the shape of the bridge. I knew Dr. Barney could make me a better designed appliance. He crafted a new bridge for me that fits perfectly. There were no sore spots on my gums that required adjustments when I came in for my follow-up visits. Dr. Barney designed the bridge with a “clip” that attaches to one of my molars. The bridge feels like my natural teeth and does not move at all when I’m chewing. I highly recommend Dr. Barney for anyone who needs replacement of missing teeth or work on the mechanics of their teeth. His staff is great at scheduling—I rarely had to wait for more than a few minutes for my appointments, and they are wonderful to work with. Working with a prosthodontist is more expensive than working with a denturist, but the end product is far superior. As the old saying goes, “You get what you pay for.”