Fun Facts About Orthodontics and Straightening Your Teeth

When you visit our office for orthodontics, we will start by examining your teeth and talking about your goals and what you want your smile to look like. This isn't the 1980’s.  There are a variety of ways to straighten your teeth and improve your smile now.  Traditional metal braces are only one solution, and we will work with you to make sure that whatever we recommend is a fit for your appearance goals and your lifestyle.

If you are concerned about a certain type of treatment of worried that you won’t be able to eat your favorite burger – let us know.  We want to take your concerns into consideration so that when we make a treatment recommendation we are making one that you can live with. 

Here are some fun facts about orthodontics that you should keep in mind.

• Braces are for the artist in you.  That’s right – you can get creative with your braces. That’s because we use rubber bands to secure your wire in place. They come in a wide variety of colors, and you can make any pattern that you want.  Your braces can match your favorite outfit or the next holiday.  It’s up to you!
• You don’t have to see them.  In some cases, patients qualify to wear braces behind their teeth instead of in front.  This may sound strange, but it can be an effective way to move your teeth.  If you’re interested in this option let us know, and we can determine if it’s a viable treatment for you. 
• You can take them off.  If you use an aligner to straighten your teeth, instead of metal braces, you can take the aligner off when you eat.  This is the perfect option for foodies that can’t live without their favorite plate of ribs or other messy foods that can be hard to eat with braces.  Simply pop it off; eat like normal, brush, and put the aligner back on to keep your teeth moving in the right direction. 
• The procedure is faster.  Dental technology has improved to the point that most people wear orthodontics for a shorter period of time than they used to.  Decades ago some people had their braces on all through high school.  Now it’s common to wear them for two years or less. 
• They are smaller.  The size of the metal brackets and wires has shrunk.  This means that more of your natural teeth show through, they are easier to clean, and your appearance will look better.  Even though they are smaller they are still more effective, so it’s better all around. 

Orthodontics is also cooler than it used to be.  Braces got a bad reputation when they first came out because only a few people wore them.  This made them a little strange.  Now, more and more people have braces, and it is rare for kids to not have at least a few of their friends wearing braces at any given time.  This has made them socially acceptable and even fun. More importantly your smile will look amazing when done. 

Our Family Dentist Office Has Compiled Ways That You Can Save Money on Dental Care

In our family dentist office, we treat patients of all ages and understand that the larger your family is, the more important it becomes to save money. Managing health care expenses is an important part of that.  Unfortunately, most people don’t know how.  Our team has compiled a series of ideas that you can implement to start saving money right away.

• Review your dental insurance.  Just because you are insured, doesn’t mean that your policy is right for you.  It is important to review your dental coverage on an annual basis to make sure that it is covering the things that are the most important to your family.  You should also look to see if you can get similar coverage for a reduced rate or if you can get more procedures covered without increasing your annual premium.
• Purchase a savings plan.  You can buy a dental savings plan online and use it to help reduce what you pay for dental work. Select one that covers procedures your dental insurance does not.  This way you will be covered, regardless of what dental work you need to be done.  As a family dentist, we have seen patients save money by taking this simple step.  These dental plans reduce the rate that you pay for dental work and can be particularly helpful when getting orthodontics.
• Have your teeth cleaned.  If you want to control your health care cost, you need to focus on preventative care.  Most insurance companies will pay for all or most of your dental cleanings so this becomes an affordable way to stay healthy. By cleaning your teeth twice a year, we can remove harmful plaque and bacteria that can lead to cavities and gum disease. This is by far the easiest way to save money because it prevents the need for emergency dental care later on.
• Prevent an accident.  If you injure your teeth, you will need emergency dentistry and a dental restoration.  This can be expensive, especially if you have damaged multiple teeth.  In our family dentistry office, we recommend that you wear a mouth guard in order to prevent dental injuries while playing sports.  The American Dental Association reported that over 200,000 high school and college athletes avoid injury on an annual basis by wearing one, and these devices can help younger children and adults as well.
• Use fluoride.  You can strengthen your teeth and prevent cavities by using fluoride.  In our dental office, we provide fluoride treatments for children but they can work for adults too. You can also brush with fluoride toothpaste twice a day for the maximum benefit.
• Try sealant.  If your child has deep ridges in their teeth, bacteria can become trapped in them and lead to cavities.  We can seal their teeth so that nothing will become trapped, and their teeth can stay healthy.

The best way to save money and to manage your dental care cost is to prevent dental emergencies.  We can do so in our family dentistry office so call today and schedule your appointment.

The Spooky Truth About Halloween from a Pediatric Dentist

Halloween is bad for your teeth and as a pediatric dentist we have ways that you can protect yourself and your kids from getting cavities due to a sugar overload.  Sugar is bad for your teeth in any amount and when the kids are trick-or-treating or the office is throwing a party, it can be difficult to resist the urge to eat those cupcakes or indulge in a candy bar.  This places your teeth and gums at risk for getting an infection.

We understand that it isn’t easy to resist sweets but have several ways that you can encourage your kids to make healthier choices in a way that is so fun they won’t even notice it.

• Create your own haunted house.  Instead of going out trick-or-treating, create your own haunted house and surprise the kids walking by.  Get your own children involved in the planning process so that they can get excited to set everything up and startle the kids that are coming to your door.  While they won't be getting candy themselves, this can actually be far more fun and we would love to hear their stories at our pediatric dentist office. 
• Go out for a good time.  Instead of trick-or-treating, you can dress up in costume and go bowling or even out to dinner.  Ask your kids what they want to do and go to it in costume.  This is a funny way to have a good time and be festive without overloading on sugar. 
• Party all night.  Spend the evening by either hosting a party or going to a friend's party.  Have everyone dress up in costume and play games, give out prizes and dance the night away.  You can have a great time, and the kids will love it.  By throwing a party, you can control the foods that your kids eat and make sure that they don’t fill up on sugar. 
• Swap the candy for a toy.  You can give your kids a toy in trade for their big bag of candy.  It's much more fun to get a new toy and healthier too!  This is a great solution because it allows you to confiscate the candy without the struggle and tears. 

If you decide to go trick-or-treating, make sure that you don’t go on an empty stomach.  As a pediatric dentist, we recommend that you feed your kids a diet that is full of lean protein, veggies, dairy products and nuts.  This is good to eat every day and not just on Halloween.  By feeding your kids a large dinner that also contains complex carbs, they will feel full and not be tempted to snack on candy as they go.  This is important because if they are walking around hungry, they will instantly turn to candy, and this will only make them hungrier as the night goes on.  

After they have eaten a piece of candy, make sure to brush their teeth right away.  It is important to get sugar off of their teeth so that they aren’t at risk for cavities developing.  You can buy a special Halloween toothbrush to make this even more fun.

Visit Steele Dentistry of Stapleton, a Sedation Dentist, for Help with Sensitive Teeth

People living with sensitive teeth should visit a sedation dentist as we can treat you oral health issues while keeping you completely comfortable.  This is important because sensitive teeth can create discomfort while even brushing them and getting teeth cleaned can seem like a chore unless you visit a dentist that knows how to keep you feeling great during the entire appointment.

We offer various levels of sedation so that our patients can feel relaxed and at ease, regardless of whether they are having their teeth cleaned or a major oral procedure.  When you schedule an appointment, let us know that you suffer from sensitive teeth so that we can plan accordingly.  Our dentist will meet with you and discuss options before starting a procedure to ensure that the best possible course of treatment is selected for your particular needs.

There are several reasons that you may experience tooth pain and as a sedation dentist we can treat all of them.  This includes:

• Cracked Teeth.  If your tooth has become cracked while eating a nut, playing sports, or in an accident, the damage could be causing you significant amounts of pain.  We can restore your tooth using cosmetic dentistry solutions including dental veneers and dental crowns. 
• Fillings that have worn away.  If you had a cavity repaired years ago, that filling might wear away over time.  As it does, your teeth can become more sensitive to hot, cold, or brushing. We can replace your filling and do so using a natural colored filling so if metal was used before, you can improve the appearance of your teeth and their physical condition. 
• Cavities.  When you get a cavity, it may feel uncomfortable and become painful over time.  As a sedation dentist, we can treat your cavities so that the infected area is removed and filled in. This way you can eat without pain or discomfort.
• Brushing too hard.  If you use a hard toothbrush and brush vigorously, you could be stripping away your enamel and cause your teeth to hurt.  We recommend switching to a soft toothbrush and brushing using fluoride toothpaste so that your teeth can be strengthened. This will help to reverse some of the damages. 
• Gum disease.  When bacteria settle on and underneath your gums, you can get gum disease.  This will make your gums swell and even bleed.  It will also make your gums and teeth sensitive overall.  By removing the bacteria, we can help your gums to heal naturally so that the disease won’t spread, and you can feel more comfortable. 
• Lack of enamel.  The enamel on your teeth protects the interior of your tooth that is made out of dentin.  The enamel can wear away through the process of demineralization and as it does, the dentin is exposed along with the nerve endings inside of it.  We can perform a bonding procedure to seal the dentin and close the pores containing those nerve endings. 

As a sedation dentist, we offer a variety of ways to treat your sensitive teeth while keeping you comfortable.  To learn more, call and schedule an appointment. 

A Family Dentist Finds a New Way to Help Keep Your Gums Healthy

As a local family dentist, we are always interested in news that can help our patients to have healthier gums and teeth.  Researchers at the University of Boston published a report in the Journal of Periodontology that concluded drinking coffee could help your gums and teeth to stay healthier.  This is an interesting concept considering that for years; people thought coffee could actually be bad for your teeth.

In order to find the truth, researchers reviewed information collected by the Department of Veteran Affairs in Boston.  They collected dental exam data along with food intake sheets for over 1,100 men over the course of thirty years.  This three-decade study provides a glimpse into long-term oral health and how food can impact it.  Researchers broke the men into two distinct groups – those that drank a cup of coffee or more every day and those who did not.  What they found is that the men who had at least one cup of coffee a day had fewer teeth with bone loss than those in the other group.

There is a link between teeth with bone loss and gum disease.  Drinking coffee then can help to prevent gum disease.  This makes sense when considering that the caffeine in coffee is likely where the health benefits come from.  Caffeine is an anti-inflammatory that can prevent gums from swelling.  Swollen gums are often the first sign of gum disease so it is easy to see how the two can work together.  There are certain groups of people that are at greater risk of having their gums swell and drinking coffee may have additional benefits for them.  Diabetics, for example, have reduced blood flow which can lead to swollen gums.  By simply drinking a cup of coffee every day, this risk can be reduced.  However, as a family dentist, we recommend that this is part of the treatment and prevention plan – not the only part of the plan.

Brushing and flossing throughout the day is still extremely important as bacteria causes gum disease.  Brushing throughout the day removes sugar and bacteria from the teeth before it can cause any problems.  Additionally, drinking water is very important because water will wash the sugar away and help the body to produce the saliva it needs for a healthy mouth.  Eating a balanced diet is important to oral health and the health of the body, as is having teeth cleaned at least twice a year.  Working together, all of these components can help to prevent cavities and gum disease.

As a local family dentist, we also want to remind patients that drinking coffee can make your teeth stained and yellow.  Our teeth whitening procedures can address this, but it is important to note that if you increase your coffee intake, you also increase your risk of having yellow teeth.  Overall, it is important to do everything in moderation so grab a cup of coffee but don’t go overboard on the java.

Here’s What to Expect When Visiting an Invisalign® Dentist Denver Patients Trust

If you are looking for an Invisalign dentist Denver patients depend on, you have come to the right place. We offer this procedure for teens and adults looking to straighten their smile without the need for traditional metal braces. Orthodontics is important for moving teeth into position and aligning a bite. There are, however, alternatives to wearing metal braces, and Invisalign® is an amazing option because teeth can be straightened without anyone noticing.

The Invisalign® system uses aligners to move teeth into place.  These are clear devices that look like a retainer.  They surround the upper and lower teeth and simply pop into place.  When you start your treatment, an impression will be taken of your teeth, and a series of aligners will be created in a lab that are slightly different from the one before it.  Each aligner will move your teeth closer to being straight so you wear one for two weeks than switch it out for the next one in the series.  This is done at home, so there are fewer appointments than if you wore traditional braces.

People that wear metal braces have to visit the orthodontist more frequently because of the work required to straighten teeth using this method.  With braces, a metal bracket is placed on each tooth, and a wire is threaded between them and secured in place with rubber bands.  In order to move teeth, the wires need to be tightened, and the rubber bands replaced on a regular basis.  This requires frequent office visits.  As an Invisalign dentist Denver patients count on, we make the process easier by limiting office visits to checks ups so that we can make sure the aligners are doing their job.

Another benefit to wearing aligners is that they don’t hurt.  When you switch out your aligners they will feel a little tight but your teeth will not hurt during the process.  Braces, on the other hand, do make your teeth hurt when the wires are being tightened and especially when they are first installed.  This makes the procedure more challenging to get through and people that don’t have time to slow down, may find this aspect difficult.

Busy professionals like the fact that Invisalign® is meant to be taken out.  You are only supposed to wear it for 22 hours a day which provides plenty of time to make a work presentation or attend a dinner meeting without wearing it. This level of flexibility is amazing when straightening your teeth because you can accomplish your smile goals without feeling as though your life is interrupted or you have to change your normal activities.  Simply keep your current schedule and take out the aligner when you need to – just remember to put it back in.

As an Invisalign dentist Denver patients talk to, we also find that wearing the aligners makes it easier to keep teeth free from stains during the entire process.  When wearing braces it becomes difficult to brush teeth because of all of the metal in your mouth.  This can lead to staining when they are taken out.  Since you remove your aligner to brush teeth like normal, this risk is greatly reduced.  To find out if this is the right procedure for you, give us a call.

Complete Your Teeth Whitening Procedure Before Your Special Day

There are many reasons to have a teeth whitening procedure. Whether you are planning your wedding, graduating from college, attending your high school reunion or taking a vacation of a lifetime, having a bright white smile will ensure that your teeth look beautiful for those picture perfect moments. There are times in life where something special happens that changes everything else. These experiences are what makes a full life and are worth preserving. Make sure that you are ready to smile with confidence so that your exterior appearance reflects the joy you are feeling inside.

The fastest way to improve your appearance is by whitening your teeth. Your smile is often the first thing people will notice when looking at you. Additionally, a recent study by Match.com found that a beautiful smile is the most attractive quality for both men and women. It is welcoming, speaks of good health, and directly impacts how people view you.

At Steele Dentistry of Stapleton, we provide a teeth whitening procedure that can fit within the busiest of schedules, making it easy for everyone to have a beautiful smile. We understand that our patients are on the go and may want to whiten their teeth at night, on vacation, or as needed. This is why we provide customized teeth whitening trays and professional whitening gels so that you can whiten your teeth when it is convenient for you. 

To get started all you have to do is schedule an appointment to have your custom whitening trays (mouth guard) created. This is done by taking a mold of your teeth and creating plastic trays that fit securely and snugly around your teeth. This way there is no risk of the bleach leaking into your mouth, which is a common problem with over-the-counter solutions. Once the trays are made you can use them long-term and simply need to replenish the whitening solution when you run out.

The benefit to using our professional grade solution is that your teeth can become up to eight shades whiter. Most patients need to wear their mouth guard and whitening solution for three to four hours each night for one to two weeks. During this timeframe you will start to see improvements to the appearance of your teeth and when you are finished your smile can look absolutely brilliant.

Adults of all ages can benefit from this procedure as it can remove years of staining from smoking, drinking coffee or tea, and eating foods that are artificially colored. Teeth can also become dull due to old age, and this procedure can brighten them.

There are times where a teeth whitening procedure is not enough to produce the dramatic effect that patients are looking for. When this is the case, dental veneers or crowns may be a better solution. Dr. Steele is a cosmetic dentist that offers both and can transform dull or stained teeth into something brilliant and beautiful. Dental veneers for example are a plastic shell that is placed directly on top of the tooth and can cover stains, correct chipped or cracked teeth, and even straighten a crooked tooth. This cosmetic dentistry solution is ideal for people that want a perfect Hollywood style smile. To learn more about your options or have your teeth whitening procedure completed, schedule an appointment to see Dr. Steele today.