Today dentistry patients have a variety of options for rejuvenating their smiles and getting the dream smile they’ve always wanted. We all know that a beautiful smile can increase a patient’s self-esteem and confidence. When considering cosmetic dentistry, you should evaluate what treatments fit your timeline, budget, and dental goals.

Here I’m going to review some of the popular treatments that our Longmont cosmetic dentists offer:

Lumineers®: Lumineers® are made of thin layers of multi-dimensional porcelain. Lumineers® are affixed directly to dental enamel, so they can correct a variety of cosmetic problems including misshapen teeth, discoloration, and large gaps between teeth. Lumineers® are often a popular option for patients looking to achieve a smile makeover.

Dental bonding: Our Longmont cosmetic dentists can rectify many aesthetic problems with dental bonding. Using a tooth-colored resin, we can repair cracked or chipped teeth, close gaps between teeth, and subtly change the shape of dental enamel. Dental bonding is an efficient way to correct moderate cosmetic problems.

Teeth whitening: Teeth whitening procedures are increasingly popular in our office because they are so fast and cost-effective. Teeth whitening procedures utilize hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide to bleach dental enamel—erasing stains and brightening a patient’s smile. Teeth bleaching treatments can be formulated for at-home or in-office use.

When considering cosmetic dentistry, it’s important to choose a cosmetic treatment that is best for your specific situation. Your cosmetic treatment should align with your dental goals, timeline, and budget. Our Longmont cosmetic dental office can guide you through your options and help you choose one that works for your life. Give us a call if you have any questions or you’d like more information about smile transformations—(303) 776-4229.

Last week I had my regular appointment with Mike, one of my young patients. Mike developed great dental hygiene habits early on, and he is always proud to show off his smile when he comes in to our office. Our Longmont general dentists were complimenting him on his brushing and flossing habits when Mike piped up, “I know! I bet I don’t even need a dentist!”

Mike’s precocious comment got me thinking—some of my patients, especially my younger patients, may think that daily brushing and flossing are enough to prevent cavities and dental decay. Undoubtedly, brushing and flossing help prevent cavities, but your daily dental hygiene routine alone isn’t enough to keep your mouth healthy. Today I’m going to talk a little bit about how cavities form in order to show why every patient needs professional dental treatment in conjunction with at-home care.

Everybody is trying to avoid cavities—so how do they form in the first place? As you move through your day, eating and drinking, a sticky film of sugar and bacteria coats your teeth—this is called plaque. The acid in plaque attacks dental enamel—breaking it down and causing cavities and gingivitis. You can control plaque to a certain extent by brushing and flossing. However (and this is the important part!) you can’t reach all of the plaque on your teeth and gums. Eventually, this plaque hardens into something called tartar (also known as calculus). Only a dental professional can effectively remove tartar, so flossing and brushing cannot prevent cavities from calculus.

As you can see, regular flossing and brushing can help keep your teeth healthy by preventing plaque from hardening into tartar. However, in order to remove harmful and resistant tartar you need a professional dental cleaning. Our Longmont general dentists provide quality professional dental care, and they can even help your whole family perfect your at-home cleaning routine! Give us a call if you have any questions about cavity prevention or you’d like to schedule an appointment—(303) 776-4229.      

Patients who want to improve their smiles with cosmetic dentistry have more options than ever before. Our Longmont cosmetic dentists strive to offer dentistry solutions to fit every patient’s desired outcome and budget. One particularly innovative and versatile cosmetic dentistry solution is Snap-On Smile®. Today I’m going to be reviewing Snap-On Smile®, what it can do, and how it works.

So what is Snap-On Smile®?

Snap-On Smile® is an appliance that “snaps” into place over your existing smile. It is completely removable, and easy to use. Snap-On Smile® is made of dental resin—so it’s not bulky, but it’s still durable. This cosmetic appliance is designed to be worn all day—you can eat and drink with it as if it were your natural smile. The only times you remove Snap-On Smile® is to sleep and brush your teeth.Snap-On

Smile® can be used to fix a variety of cosmetic problems such as:

·         unsightly stains

·         crooked, misaligned teeth

·         chipped teeth

·         gaps in your smile

·         missing teeth

Many patients elect to use Snap-On Smile® because it doesn’t require any drilling or painful dental procedures. Additionally, it’s an affordable cosmetic dentistry solution. Patients sometimes use Snap-On Smile® while they’re determining what kind of long-term cosmetic work they want to have done, and others use Snap-On Smile® indefinitely because they like the ease, comfort, and results.

Whether you’re looking for a short term cosmetic solution or a smile makeover, Snap-On Smile® is a fast, non-invasive way to rejuvenate your smile. As always, give our Longmont cosmetic dentists a call if you have any questions about cosmetic treatments for you or your family. We can also schedule an appointment to talk about your dental situation and options in greater detail—just call (303) 776-4229.

Quality pediatric dentistry is hugely important for developing healthy teeth for life. One way that parents and dentists can help children maintain strong teeth is through the appropriate use of fluoride. Parents often ask our Longmont family dentists how fluoride should be administered, in what form, and at what age. Today I’m going to address these issues and give a brief overview of how fluoride is used in dentistry.

What is fluoride?

You’ve probably heard about fluoridated water and fluoride toothpaste, but you may not know what fluoride actually is. Fluoride is found in soil, water, and rocks—it is a naturally occurring element that contributes to healthy bone and tooth development. Fluoride is easily absorbed by teeth, and thus it can be useful for developing pediatric teeth as well as adult enamel.

Why is fluoride used in dentistry?

In order to maintain your dental health, you have to maintain healthy enamel. Dental acid—from eating and drinking—compromises and erodes enamel through a process called demineralization. Fluoride can prevent enamel deterioration because it contains calcium and phosphorus, which neutralize acid. Through a process called remineralization, fluoride can also strengthen weakened enamel.

How do patients get fluoride?

• Food and drink: Fluoride is a naturally occurring element, so it is found in substances that we consume every day. Most adults already get enough fluoride through food and drink. Tap water in the United States is also fluoridated, increasing domestic consumption.
• Over the counter dental products: Most toothpastes and mouthwashes contain fluoride. Using toothpaste and mouthwash daily can cleanse and strengthen teeth at the same time.
• Professional fluoride treatments: In-office fluoride treatments contain a higher concentration of fluoride than at-home treatments. Dentists commonly administer professional fluoride treatments in the forms of gels, foams, and mouth guard products. These treatments are often used for patients with compromised dental enamel and children.

Fluoride is a largely safe product with few side effects. However, it’s important to note that children under the age of 18 months should not use fluoridated products, because they may swallow large quantities of fluoride. Additionally, children under the age of 6 should be monitored when using fluoride. Ingesting excessive fluoride can lead to a condition called fluorosis, in which permanent teeth are stained or pitted.

Fluoride is useful in pediatric and adult dentistry—it’s used to strengthen tooth enamel and combat demineralization. Please feel free to give our Longmont family dentists a call if you have any questions about fluoride treatment for you or your family—(303) 776-4229.

In the world of dental treatment, there is one phrase that always gets patients wringing their hands with worry—“It’s time to schedule your root canal.” Root canal therapy is probably one of the most feared dental treatments around. However, the general public often mischaracterizes this necessary procedure. The truth is that root canals don’t need to be painful or stressful, and in fact, having a root canal can help you avoid serious health problems in the future. In today’s blog post we’re tackling the big stuff—take a deep breath, it’s time to talk about root canals.

Root canal therapy, commonly called a root canal, refers to a procedure in which a dentist removes infected dental pulp from the inside of a tooth and then seals the empty space with a filling. Inside each tooth is a protected chamber filled with nerves, tissue, and blood vessels. When this material becomes damaged and infected with bacteria the tooth begins to deteriorate and cause pain. Eventually the infection begins to spread through the roots of the tooth to other parts of the mouth, resulting in abscesses (pus-filled pockets).

It’s important to catch infected pulp early, so that it can be effectively treated. Here are some common symptoms that may indicate you need a root canal:

• Intense tooth pain, especially when pressure is applied
• Increasing and lasting tooth pain from heat or cold temperatures
• Tenderness and swelling in the gum tissue
• A persistent or recurring bump on the gums
• Darkening of the tooth

A root canal will eliminate these painful symptoms. We’ve already talked about how dental abscesses can develop when pulp infections spread. It’s important to realize that delaying or refusing root canal treatment could lead to even more serious health conditions such as:

• Facial swelling
• Neck swelling
• Holes in dental enamel, exposing dental nerves
• The deterioration of the jawbone near the tooth

I can tell you from years of experience that the complications of dental pulp infections are much more painful and problematic than root canal therapy. Our Longmont root canal dentists, for instance, utilize the latest sedation techniques to keep patients calm and pain-free during treatment. Many of our patients report that their root canal therapy was no more painful than a normal filling. Don’t let unnecessary fear stand in the way of your health. If you’re interested in learning more about root canal therapy, or you’d like to speak with our Longmont root canal dentists, give us a call at (303) 776-4229.

Dental implants are an increasingly popular option for many of our patients who want to replace missing teeth permanently. Because dental implants are a relatively recent technological development, many patients ask our Longmont dental implant dentists how dental implants are different from other crowns, bridges, and dentures.  The number one way that dental implants are superior to other tooth replacement options is that dental implants are affixed directly to your bone, and therefore more durable and long-lasting than the alternatives. Today I’d like to talk about some of the features of dental implants that increase their strength. Let’s review each part of the dental implant:

 

• The Root: this part of the dental implant is placed within the bone where the root of the missing tooth used to sit. The root of the dental implant is made of titanium or titanium alloy. Over time, these strong titanium posts fuse with the bone, mimicking natural teeth, and increasing dental implant stability.

The Abutment: this piece connects the root of the dental implant to the restoration. This connector post is made of strong titanium, and it holds the restoration securely in place.  
The Restoration: dental implant roots can be used to secure bridges, dentures, crowns, and other restorations. The restoration is the part of the dental implant that resembles a tooth and is visible when you smile and speak. These are generally made of sturdy porcelain or composite resin, and crafted to fit your bite and smile.
Dental implants can also improve your overall oral health.  They are not anchored to adjacent teeth, so they do not cause uneven wear and tear on your natural teeth. And in general, dental implants allow you to speak and eat more naturally than dentures and bridges, which can shift awkwardly.

 

As  you can see the components of dental implants work together to produce a strong and stable replacement tooth. If you want to learn more about dental implants, our Longmont dental implants dentists can answer all of your questions. Give us a call (303) 776-4229 to speak to our one of our dentists or feel free to schedule an appointment!

So many of my patients are looking for the same thing, a whiter, younger-looking smile. As we age, our teeth become stained and worn—it’s inevitable—but there are ways to refresh your smile with cosmetic dentistry. Last week one of my patients asked me about the teeth whitening benefits of Lumineers. Today, I’d like to address how Lumineers can help you enjoy a whiter smile.

 

Permanently Pearly Whites

Our Longmont Lumineers dentists shade Lumineers to fit each individual, and give our patients natural-looking, white smiles. Best of all, Lumineers are designed to remain permanently white. Most patients can expect their Lumineers to last (and maintain their radiance) for around 20 years.

 

Luminous Shine

Lumineers are ultra-thin layers of multi-dimensional Cerinate porcelain that Lumineers dentists place directly over your existing teeth. Because they are made of a thin layer of porcelain, they mimic the translucency and opaqueness of natural enamel. This thin layer of porcelain is what allows Lumineers to look naturally bright, white, and radiant.

 

Smile Makeover

Lumineers are often an ideal option for patients who want to correct cosmetic problems and also get a whiter smile. Lumineers can fix crooked teeth, large gaps in smile, and dull and stained teeth. They can also cover cracked and chipped teeth. With just one Lumineers procedure, our patients have been able to get brighter and straighter smiles. 

 

Lumineers are an incredibly versatile cosmetic dentistry option, and they offer a permanently white solution for those patients looking to rejuvenate dull smiles. Our Longmont Lumineers dentists can answer all of your Lumineers questions, and explain your specific options in more detail. Give us a call (303) 776-4229 to speak to our one of our dentists or feel free to schedule an appointment!

Today I’m addressing a common question we receive in our office—if children have baby teeth, which they will lose before adolescence, do they really need to see a dentist twice a year? The answer to this question is an emphatic “yes,” quality dental treatment is critical to maintaining your child’s health. Here are just some of the reasons your child should see a Longmont family dentist twice a year:

Establish healthy oral hygiene habits early: Seeing a dentist regularly can help your children appreciate the importance of regular dental hygiene at home. Your children will learn how to brush and floss properly. Patients are also less likely to avoid the dentist as adults if they had enjoyable dental experiences when they were young. 
Monitor your child’s dental development: When your children come in for their regular appointments, our dental team will assess their dental growth with X-rays and a thorough examination. A complete dental history can help us prevent future dental and orthodontic problems in adolescence and adulthood.
Stop decay before it becomes serious: Dental decay, if left untreated, has the potential to cause serious and lasting damage to your child’s teeth and gums. Our dental team will examine the health of your child’s teeth, gums, cheeks, and tongue, so that we can treat problems that may not be noticeable to you or your child. With diligent dental visits, your child can avoid painful infections down the road.

 

Dental treatment doesn’t need to be scary, our Longmont family dentist can help your children have a positive experience in the dentist’s chair. You can learn more about our dental services here, or call (303) 776-4229 to speak to our friendly family dentists or to schedule an appointment.