Monday, June 15, 2015

As a Denver Dentist We Are Providing Information on Oral Health

Denver Dentist
At a Denver dentist, we believe in a holistic approach to dental medicine, which means a large amount of our focus is on preventing problems from every happening. Naturally when you come in with a specific issue, we will want to deal with that and make sure that you are taken care of. Much of the time we prefer if your visits are more routine because we have learned that it is easier for you if we can prevent problems rather than having to treat them. This requires a level of collaboration between us so that you can have a degree of knowledge about how some dental problems occur, how to prevent them, and how to best care for your teeth.

We have also learned that for many people their source of information on oral health comes from the Internet. Googling something has become the way many of our patients find information. While this has definite advantages, like patients who understand aspects of what we do, there are also disadvantages. The information you get online may not be from a dentist and may be presented in a way that is convoluted and confusing. For that reason, we have this blog, to provide you with information so that you can get your knowledge directly from our Denver dentist office.  We hope that you will use what you learn here as a conversation starter in our clinic. At the end of the day, dentistry is a medical science, and there is no better way to learn about your dental issues than face to face with a dentist who knows your history.

As a Denver dentist we see our share of rare conditions, however, for the vast majority of the time, most people come in for pretty routine issues. Checkups, cleanings, and cavities make up the bulk of what we deal with on a day to day basis. Cavities, in fact, make up the second most common occurring medical problem that people have across the country. The only thing that causes people to miss more work or school is the common cold. A cavity is essentially a buildup of bacterial acids that bore a small hole in your tooth. Every mouth contains bacteria, typically several strains. This bacteria is natural and harmless. Unfortunately, it also tends to colonize on the teeth, which is where an accumulation of bacteria becomes plaque. Plaque is that thin yellowish film you see on your teeth when they are dirty The challenge is that bacteria, especially when it is built up in plaque form, tends to feed on sugary and starchy foods. When it does this, the bacteria release acid onto the tooth. For a while, this has no impact because the tooth can repair the damaged enamel, but after a while the minerals in the enamel starts to wear out, and a small white spot will appear. Eventually, the enamel will get soft, and then a tiny hole will appear which we call a cavity. We can treat the cavity and return you to excellent oral health in our dental office.

To learn more about this or other conditions, read our blog and visit our office today.

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Visit a Restorative Dentist in Denver After Being in an Accident

Restorative Dentist in Denver
As a restorative dentist in Denver, we treat a lot of people that have damaged their teeth in an accident. While we focus on preventative care in our dental office, we know that accidents do happen.  Even if you are focused on your oral health, brush and floss twice a day, and visit our dental office regularly, there is no real way to prevent something like a car wreck and when accidents happen, your teeth can be damaged.

If you think it won’t happen to you, consider this –
Over 5 million youths suffer sports-related injuries every year.  Many of these are dental injuries so wear a mouth guard if you want to protect you and your children.

Around 9 million people visit the emergency room on an annual basis due to slip and fall accidents.  Both men and women are impacted, and once you reach the age of 65, there is a one in three chance that you will fall every year.  That is an alarming statistic and a problem that frequently leads to the need for a restorative dentist in Denver.

Car accidents also claim a lot of victims every year with around 5.4 million people in car wrecks annually.  If you are in a car wreck and hit your face on the dash, you might suffer a dental injury.

Looking at these statistics, it is not particularly if you will ever be in an accident but when will you be in one and will your teeth be damaged in the process? Keeping that in mind, it is important to know who you can all if you damage a tooth.  It is important to note that visiting the emergency room is not a wise solution. ER doctors are fantastic for fixing your broken arm or any physical problems that you have.  However, they are not trained in dentistry which means that they can provide you with medication and help to triage the problem, but they cannot identify the root of the issue or provide you with a dental restoration. This means that you will need a secondary appointment anyway. You can save time by calling us first.

As a restoration dentist in Denver, there are several ways that we can correct a tooth that has been damaged, including:
  • Dental crowns.  This is perhaps one of the most common solutions because a crown is a cap that surrounds the tooth entirely.  It is made of porcelain or ceramic and designed to be a tight fit so that your tooth looks natural and not overly large.  Simultaneously, since it caps the tooth, nothing can touch it directly, allowing you to bite down with force, without the fear of discomfort. A crown can restore a tooth that has been severely cracked or chipped. 
  • Dental veneers.  A veneer is a thin shell that sits on top of your natural tooth.  It is often used to correct a slight crack or chip and will blend in with your surrounding teeth.
Given the number of solutions that we offer, if you have damaged a tooth, call our office to meet with a restoration dentist in Denver.