Invisalign® Dentist in Denver and the Invisalign® Revolution

As an Invisalign® dentist in Denver, we get to work with the most advanced technological breakthrough there is in teeth straightening. Since the advent of Invisalign®, people everywhere have been able to get their teeth straightened without having to worry about the embarrassment of having a mouth full of metal. It is possibly because of this that 1 in 5 patients that come in for orthodontics treatments in clinics like your Invisalign® dentist in Denver, are adults. This is good news, because as a nation we have an incredible need for straighter teeth. Recent data shows that just over 1 in 3 Americans have teeth that would be naturally considered straight. With 35% of the population accounted for, that leaves 65% of the nation that suffers from some degree of malocclusion. Malocclusion is what dentists, including your Invisalign® dentist in Denver, call crooked teeth. Of this 65%, an entire 15% have such bad malocclusion that it affects their lives directly by causing them challenges with their social skills, eating, and speaking clearly. But these are not the only patients who could benefit from the revolutionary technology called Invisalign®.

Across the country 20% of people suffer from a misaligned bite, commonly broken into two categories, over-bite and under-bite. Your bite is the coming together of your top and bottom teeth when you bite down on something. Typically the teeth are supposed to be perfectly aligned when biting down, however for 1 in 5 people, the upper and lower teeth miss each other because one of them protrudes  further out than the other. While this may not seem like a serious issue, it can lead to an irregular wearing down of teeth, cavities, and the face not being perfectly symmetrical. With an over 97% customer satisfaction rate, Invisalign® is the best way to treat people who are suffering from either malocclusion or misaligned bite. We know, however, that the biggest challenge for any Invisalign® dentist, including your own Invisalign® dentist in Denver, is to spread the word so that more people realize the transformative power of Invisalign®.

Many times when folks walk into our offices they have never heard of Invisalign®, or have been sent to us by their dentist and have many questions. The most important question people ask is: how does this treatment work? The answer to that question is relatively simple, since, like most game-changing technology, Invisalign® works on a fundamental concept. In fact, Invisalign® works using the same basic principle as braces. Both use pressure to gradually move the teeth out of the misaligned place that they are in, and realign them into where they should have been. This is where, however, the two technologies diverge. While braces use metal bands and posts to move the teeth, Invisalign® used a series of invisible aligners to move your teeth. These aligners are specially created for you in the laboratory at 2-week intervals. Each aligner gradually moves your teeth between .25mm and .30mm toward their correct positioning, all while being practically invisible to everyone around you.

Cosmetic Dentist  >  Family Dentist

Learn More About a Full Mouth Rehabilitation in Denver

We can complete a full mouth rehabilitation in Denver, and do so when our patients have been in an accident or suffered a major oral trauma.  This tends to happen when someone is hurt at work while playing sports, or in a car wreck.  This level of trauma is not simply fixing a chipped tooth but addressing multiple problems at the same time.  Occasionally, a full mouth rehabilitation even involves jaw surgery.  If you or a family member is in this situation, we recommend that you visit our office right away so that we can begin to correct the damage to your teeth and help you to feel comfortable again.

What is involved in a full mouth rehabilitation in Denver?

This is completely dependent upon the extent of the damage, and each cause is unique.  While one patient may have broken the majority of their teeth, another may have had them knocked out. The only way to create a treatment plan is to conduct a physical examination and to take x-rays so that we can determine what all of the issues are.  Next, we will create a treatment plan that addresses issues in order of priority.  Urgent matters like restoring a damaged tooth will be first, even if we use a temporary solution to prevent any further injury or an infection.  Afterward, we can address more long-term problems like replacing missing teeth.  Keep in mind that after this level of damage, the procedures may take several months to complete.  It is important to do the work steadily but not rush through it because that can cause further damage to the teeth and gums.  If you are in this situation, we will provide you with a detailed treatment plan and make adjustments based on your input and goals.

What is the recovery process like after a full mouth rehabilitation in Denver?

That depends on the procedures that were performed.  We will typically complete them in stages, and each procedure has its own recovery process and timeframe.  For example, if you have a dental crown placed to restore a damaged tooth, it may be a couple of weeks from the time we start to when your tooth feels 100 percent. If we are replacing lost teeth with dental implants, it will take a week or so to recover after the implant surgery but the entire process can take a couple of months to complete since we are waiting for the process of osseointegration to take place. You will be entirely comfortable during this time but will not have the final tooth.  When creating your treatment plan, we will look for ways to minimize any discomfort or irritation so that you can feel better as quickly as possible.  We will also give you a detailed plan that includes information on the recovery process and timeframe after each procedure.  This will help you to plan ahead with work and your other obligations.  A full mouth rehabilitation in Denver is a major undertaking so feel free to ask us as many questions as you need during your consultation.

Dentist  >  Cosmetic Dentist

How a Clear Correct Dentist Can Improve Your Appearance

When you want to have your teeth straightened, a Clear Correct dentist can help. We can improve your appearance in simple, efficient ways that you never imagined were possible. Do not avoid having your teeth straightened because you don't want to go to the trouble of getting braces. A clear correct dentist can provide you with an easier solution that doesn't require hours of your time spent at the orthodontist for adjustments. Continue reading to learn more about how clear correct works and how we can help.

• Why You Should Consider Visiting a Clear Correct Dentist
• You have crooked or crowded teeth.
• You have glaring dental misalignments.
• You feel embarrassed to smile and interact with others because of your teeth.
• You are worried your crooked teeth will allow cavities to develop easier. 
• You find it frustrating to brush and floss properly due to the placement of your teeth. 
• You do not want to wear traditional metal braces. 
• You do not have time to visit an orthodontist every few weeks for adjustments to braces.
• You want to look professional in both your work and home environments. 
• You want to make a good impression.
• You want to improve your confidence.
• You want to look more attractive.
• You want an invisible solution for straightening.
• You are an adult with all or most of your permanent teeth. 

How Clear Correct Works

Our clear correct treatment involves the use of a series of aligners. These aligners are made of a transparent plastic. Each aligner you receive will help to further reposition teeth that are out of alignment. You will receive a new set of aligners every two to three weeks. These aligners should be worn daily for at least 20-22 hours. You should only remove your aligner to eat or drink and to clean your teeth and aligner. The treatment period can last up to a year and a half depending on how crooked or misaligned your teeth are, but in most cases it won't be that long.

Visit a Clear Correct Dentist to Get Started

When you want to take the next step to having a straighter, more attractive smile, you will need to come into our clear correct dentist office for a check up and evaluation. If we determine you are a viable candidate for the clear correct alignment system, we will proceed with your preparation. Using impressions and 3D imaging, we will create a clear correct straightening plan that is customized for your teeth and needs. You will receive new aligners every few weeks that will be the next step in your treatment plan. Wear these new aligners to progress your straightening treatment.

We will send off the information we collect during your appointment to have your clear correct aligners created. These aligners will be personalized for you. While you are on the clear correct straightening treatment plan, you will visit our office during different stages so that we can keep an eye on your progress. We will make sure you are wearing your aligners correctly and that you are not experiencing any problems. Soon you will have a straighter, improved smile that you will be proud to show off!

Veneers Dentist Denver  >  Orthodontics

As a Denver Dentist We Are Providing Information on Oral Health

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.

Visit a Restorative Dentist in Denver After Being in an Accident

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. 

Learn How a Veneers Dentist in Denver Can Transform Your Smile

As a veneers dentist in Denver, many patients ask us questions about how veneers can help them.  Dental veneers are what we use to repair a number of minor problems and challenges with your teeth. Sometimes teeth get cracked, chipped, or discolored to the point where they require repair. We complete the repair by using a tiny, ultra-thin piece of porcelain specially formulated for this purpose. Known as dental veneers, or porcelain veneers, these devices literally take on some of the qualities of the enamel they are replacing. Enamel is one of the body's hardest substances, making it extremely durable. As such the porcelain veneers are also extremely hard and can last a very long time. The best feature of these dental veneers is how closely they resemble enamel, which means that the teeth we repair with will look exactly like the teeth surrounding it. Naturally we can also use the veneers to make all of your teeth look a lot better esthetically.

What can dental veneers be used to fix?
There are very few tools that we have in our tool belt that is as versatile as dental veneers. These are so handy that they have actually managed to bridge the age-old gap in the two schools of thought between the importance of appearance and functional dentistry. As a veneers dentist in Denver, we can fix problems on both sides of the equation at the same time. Their malleability makes dental veneers ideal for fixing problems without having to remove large amounts of enamel or having to remove the entire tooth. This has led to them being used to repair minor cracks, breaks, and chips in teeth. The challenge with damaged teeth, usually caused by some kind of trauma, is that the damage typically spreads. The tooth will get more broken or even worse will become infected. To avoid such an eventuality, a dental veneer can be used. The veneer would not only repair the damaged tooth, but would also make it look great. On the purely cosmetic side, dental veneers are used when traditional methods of whitening have not worked. Since porcelain veneers do not stain, this is a semi-permanent solution for obtaining white teeth. Veneers are also used to help a patient achieve a better bite, to straighten some degrees of malocclusion (also known as crooked teeth), and to ensure that you have the right amount of space between your teeth.

Can everyone get veneers?
In a word, yes. Most people make excellent candidates for dental veneers. There are a few minor conditions, in a very small segment of the population, which could exclude someone from getting them. The vast majority of people can while a small percentage of people do require that we correct minor issues before proceeding with placing the dental veneer. To make sure that you are an excellent candidate for dental veneers we will have you come in for a complete evaluation and examination. As a veneers dentist in Denver, we will discuss your options, the process, and what results you can expect when you visit our office.

Teeth Whitening  >  Cosmetic Dentist

Here is What You Can Expect from an Invisalign® Dentist in Denver

As an Invisalign® dentist in Denver, we know that it is important to know what to expect during your treatment. We have all the answers to your important questions. Visit us to approach your Invisalign® treatment with confidence, and embrace the possibility of more beautiful and straighter teeth. Follow along as we discuss what you should expect during your Invisalign® treatment.
How does Invisalign® work?

Your custom-made aligners are created with a smooth, virtually invisible plastic. You will receive a series of aligners during your treatment, normally every two weeks. Each aligner is the next step of the process and they will make slight adjustments to your misaligned teeth, gradually creating an overall straight smile. One of the most popular aspects of Invisalign® is that no one will know you are wearing your aligners so you will look completely natural. You should strive to wear your aligner for at least 20 hours a day for the best results.

Will the aligners affect my speech?
As expected, you may notice a slight lisp when you put in your first aligner. Your mouth will get used to its presence, and your lisp will disappear in a short period of time— normally a day or two. As an Invisalign® dentist in Denver, we receive very few complaints regarding this.

Are there restrictions that I should be aware of during treatment?
Your aligners will be removable. This is convenient and necessary. You should always remove your aligner to eat and to brush your teeth. Not removing your aligner during these times could cause bacteria growth and tooth decay. You should also remove your aligner to clean it. As an Invisalign® dentist in Denver, we suggest cleaning your aligner with warm water and a toothbrush. Never use an abrasive substance like toothpaste.
You should also remove your aligner to chew gum. You should avoid smoking while wearing your aligner as well. Smoking while wearing your aligner can cause discoloration and warping.

Is Invisalign® affordable?
The cost of Invisalign® is comparable to getting wire braces; however, the cost will depend largely on how extensive your treatment will need to be. As an Invisalign® dentist in Denver, we can help you to determine the exact costs and a payment plan as needed. Your insurance company may also help you pay for your Invisalign® treatment.

Will I need to wear a retainer after treatment?
In most cases, we recommend that you wear a retainer after treatment. This will ensure the longevity of your straightened teeth. In some cases, you may not need a retainer, depending on whether or not we think your teeth will be inclined to gradually move back to their original position.

As you consider receiving an Invisalign® treatment, visit our dentist office for the most all-inclusive information regarding the process. We know you will be pleased with your straightening plan, your aligners, and your amazing results. Straighter teeth are just right around the corner with Invisalign®. You never have to feel self-conscious again with your newly aligned teeth.

Teeth Whitening  >  Cosmetic Dentist