With proper care, a dental implant can last 25 years or longer. The technology is still fairly new, so there is not a great deal of documentation of implants that have been in place longer than that. One of the biggest determining factors in the lifespan of an implant is good oral hygiene – patients must brush and floss daily in order to keep the surrounding teeth and gum tissue healthy.

Along with good oral hygiene, the placement of the implant can affect longevity. Back molars receive more wear and tear than other teeth in the front of the mouth, so implants that replace molars may have a shorter life. Patients that do not grind their teeth (a condition also known as bruxism) may have longer-lasting molar implants than those that do.

A patient’s overall health can also affect the longevity of a dental implant – patients who are in good health when they receive the implant and who remain in good health are more likely to maintain their implants for decades. Non-smokers also have lower failure rates than smokers. Having them placed by an experienced implant dentist can also help ensure they last as long as possible.

Implant technology has come a long way since its inception. Implant dentists are using more and more durable materials and increasingly reliable methods. Patients who maintain good oral habits, don’t smoke, and who follow their implant dentist’s post-operative instructions can have implants that last two or more decades. Call our Denver office at 303-832-7789 for more information and to schedule your visit.

Dental implants are indistinguishable from your surrounding natural teeth, and require no extra care beyond your regular oral hygiene habits. Along with being a convenient and long-lasting way to replace teeth and increase your confidence, patients who choose implants can enjoy the health benefits of a complete smile without the risks of other procedures.

One of the most important advantages of implants is that they do not require the alteration of surrounding teeth like tooth-supported bridgework does. This means that the teeth surrounding the implant can remain strong and intact, reducing the risk of complications and tooth sensitivity. 

In addition to keeping surrounding teeth intact, dental implants also allow for better oral hygiene than some other tooth-replacement options. The cap functions like a normal tooth, so you can floss around it and between it and the surrounding teeth. This will help prevent tooth decay and gingivitis.

Since they are permanent, there is no risk that the implants will slip out as you eat or speak as dentures sometimes can. There are no restrictions on what you can eat or drink (aside from what you should avoid in the name of general good dental health), and there is no risk of food particles being stuck under a removable appliance.

The success rate of dental implants is very high, if the patient follows post-operative instructions from the implant dentist. This includes quitting smoking, which will improve both your oral health and your general health. Implants are an excellent option for those who want to restore confidence in their smile.

To find out if you are a candidate for dental implants, contact Governor’s Park Dental Group in Denver Colorado to schedule your professional consultation.

Avoid crunching ice with your teeth. The cold and the hardness of the ice can cause microscopic cracks in tooth enamel. It can even lead to visible tooth fractures. You should also avoid crunching popcorn kernels, fruit pits, or any other hard item.

Don’t use your teeth as tools. Using your teeth to rip open packages, remove tags, or open bottles can lead to chipping a tooth. Your teeth might even fracture.

Pay attention to how much you grind your teeth or clench your jaw throughout the day. If your partner tells you that you grind your teeth at night, visit your dentist to get fitted with a night guard. A night guard will reposition your bite to relieve tension on the jaw, and will protect your teeth.

Neglectful dental home care is another bad habit to avoid. Don’t forget to brush at least twice a day and to floss daily. Don’t use hard bristled toothbrushes, and don’t use the same toothbrush for more than four months. It’s also important not to skip regular check-ups and cleanings with your dentist.

When you do go in for a cleaning (at least twice a year), ask about the proper way to brush your teeth and to floss. Improper brushing can lead to receding gums or worn tooth enamel. Brush for at least two to three minutes each session, using the methods you are shown.

Avoid eating staining foods, or sweet, sticky foods. Red wine and coffee can lead to tooth yellowing, while foods like candy or soda can lead to tooth decay. Snack on healthy foods like carrots or an apple, and use a straw if you are going to drink soda.

Finally, avoid over-bleaching or over-whitening your teeth, which can weaken the enamel.

For more tips and to schedule your visit in Denver, contact our office at 303-832-7789.

Avoid certain beverages that can stain your teeth, leading to yellowing. Coffee, black tea, soda and red wine are the most common offenders. If you are going to drink these items, use a straw that is positioned in the back of the mouth (as opposed to up against your teeth). 

Developing poor dental hygiene habits can also cause the teeth to change color. If you do not brush or floss frequently, plaque can build up on the surface of the teeth. Staining foods and beverages also remain on the teeth longer, which may cause deeper stains.

Smoking or using other tobacco products are also common causes of teeth yellowing. Some diseases and their treatments can cause the teeth to become dull or discolored. For example, some patients undergoing radiation on the head or neck area will find that their teeth are yellowing.

Some medications can cause the teeth to look stained. Some antihistamines, antibiotics (doxycycline and tetracycline, specifically), antipsychotics, and certain mouth rinses are the most common offenders. Blood pressure medications could also be the culprit.

If your teeth have already become stained or yellowed due to these or other causes, your cosmetic dentist will recommend the best treatment for you. Teeth whitening is a common solution to dull, discolored teeth. We offer both at-home systems and in-office whitening – our dentist will help you select which is more appropriate for your smile.

Another treatment option that may be appropriate for you is veneers. Veneers are shields (usually of porcelain) that are attached to the front of the stained tooth. The porcelain is color-matched to surrounding teeth, so they appear natural. This option is best for patients for whom teeth whitening will not be effective.

To learn more and to schedule your consultation, contact Governor’s Park Dental Group serving Denver today.

Fortunately, people who participate in sports can protect their smiles by wearing a mouthguard. Whether you’re aiming for a Division I scholarship or just lacing up your cleats for a rec league game, you should be wearing a mouthguard.

Those devices absorb and deflect the forces that the mouth may encounter during a game. In addition to protecting the smile, some research suggests that wearing a mouthguard may even prevent some of the negative effects associated with concussions.

The best mouthguards are those that are carefully crafted for you by a dentist. Boil-and-bite models may be available at your local sporting goods store, but a custom-designed version will fit better and outperform the alternatives.

In fitting a patient for a mouthguard, the dentist will take impressions of the mouth. Those impressions are then used to design and manufacture the mouthguard. This process ensures that the mouthguard is tailored to the unique structure of the patient’s mouth.

To protect their mouths when at play, many patients turn to a brand that has demonstrated value in other aspects of sports. Under Armour Performance Mouthwear™ offers the same high quality in mouthguards that patients expect from the manufacturer’s athletic apparel and equipment.

Some patients may be reluctant to wear a mouthguard because they feel that it compromises their ability to play the game. That’s not the case at all. In preventing injuries, mouthguards actually ensure that you’ll be able to continue to bring your best effort.

Additionally, a properly fitted mouthguard may prevent teeth clenching, which can release a stress-related hormone called cortisol that can have a negative effect on your athletic performance.

Prevent oral and facial injuries by wearing a mouthguard. At your next visit, ask about your options for a custom-designed device. Call our Denver office at 303-832-7789 for more information.

Teeth that are stained due to medication, diet or lifestyle can discourage you from flashing a bright smile. Your cosmetic dentist has a treatment option that will change that drab smile to a “wow” smile in just a couple brief visits through dental veneers.

Veneers are very thin shell-like covers designed to be placed over your teeth to hide stain or other dental imperfections. Wear and tear, as well as discoloration, can be treated with veneers.

Veneers are one of the least invasive cosmetic procedures available because very little of your dental enamel is impacted when they are placed. Just enough of your natural tooth is removed to accommodate the thin veneer and still maintain the contour of your surrounding teeth.

Dental veneers are designed to match the shape and shade of your untreated surrounding teeth making them virtually undetectable.

Dental veneers are suitable when covering one or many teeth and can offer strength and durability to treated teeth. Veneers are generally made from porcelain fabricated from dental impressions taken of your teeth.

After the dental lab returns your veneers, your cosmetic dentist will prepare the dental enamel of the teeth to be treated and temporarily place the veneers to ensure they are the exact fit and appearance intended. Once satisfied, a liquid is applied that helps the veneers adhere to the front of the teeth.

To determine if you are a candidate for dental veneers, your cosmetic dentist will conduct a thorough dental exam. Children and teenagers are not the best candidates – most dentists will encourage patients to wait until at least age 18 before veneer treatment. Patients suffering with dental disease or extreme dental decay might be advised to treat these conditions before proceeding with dental veneers.

Care of your dental veneers is nothing more than the excellent oral hygiene habits you already follow, consisting of daily flossing and brushing twice daily with a toothpaste or gel. Twice annual visits to our dental provider for a professional cleaning and exam will allow you and your veneers to maintain that bright smile for many years. Call our dental team today to schedule a consultation for veneers in Denver.

Many employers and insurance plans have ways to save funds for these procedures. But if you do not have access to one of those savings plans, there is a credit card available through GE called Care Credit that is designed to provide you the funds needed for your dental care.

Your cosmetic dentist can design a treatment plan specifically for you with repayment options including:

• Flexible Spending Account – You are allowed to save funds on a pre-tax basis. You work with your employer to set aside a payroll deduction that is withheld from your paycheck before taxes. Generally the amount that you save on taxes can make a great start for this plan. The one caveat to a flexible spending account is that money saved through the year must be used during that year or it is lost.
• Health Savings Account – The HSA works much like the flexible spending account with one very big exception. If the funds are not used, they are rolled over making them accessible when you’re ready to use them.
• Care Credit – GE has made available a credit card plan designed specifically to pay for your health care needs. Many of these plans offer interest free incentives for a designated period making them ideal for needed dental treatment. Repayment is much like a standard credit card in that minimum monthly payments must be made to keep the account in good standing.

Whether you rely on a qualified savings plan like FSA or HSA, or wish to take advantage of the Care Credit plan, your cosmetic dentist will be able to design a treatment plan that will fit your budgetary and timeline requirements.

It is important that you let our dental provider know whatever limitations you might have so the best options may be presented to fulfill your needs. One thing is certain … with these many options available, the smile makeover you desire is more accessible than ever before. Call our Denver cosmetic dentist at 303-832-7789 if you have any questions.

That solution is a dental bridge. When one or a couple of teeth are lost, a dental bridge allows your dentist to replace that loss with a permanent dental appliance that will look beautiful and allow you to enjoy the functionality you had before.

There are several types of dental bridges. Based on the location in your mouth, your dentist will be able to make a recommendation for the type that is best suited for you.

A thorough dental exam will be needed to ensure that the teeth intended to support your new bridge are sound and healthy. One of the leading causes of bridge failure is dental decay in the abutment teeth that are the support of your bridge.

The process of placing a dental bridge involves preparing the supporting teeth. It will be necessary to place dental crowns on these teeth. The bridge is then made up of those two crowns and the replacement teeth between the crowns, called pontics. Your dentist will make impressions of your teeth for the dental lab to fabricate your dental bridge to closely match the shape and shade of your surrounding teeth. Your dentist will place a temporary bridge to protect your prepared teeth while your permanent bridge is being made.

When completed, your dentist will “try-in” your new bridge to guarantee fit and functionality. When you and your dentist are satisfied with the final result, the bridge is permanently cemented in place. Upon completion you should again be able to eat, speak, and smile without difficulty. A dental bridge can take a little time for adjustment, which is normal.

Our dentist will explain the importance of excellent oral hygiene habits consisting of daily flossing and brushing tips to keep plaque build-up to a minimum. Your commitment to twice yearly dental visits becomes crucial in order to maintain good dental health and the long life of your dental bridge. Contact our Governor’s Park Dental office in Denver for additional information on how dental bridges can work for you.

Caring for Your Whitened Teeth

Regular care and brushing are important to keep your treated teeth white. Your cosmetic dentist will provide guidelines for how to care for your teeth after your whitening treatment. One important guideline is to avoid staining agents. These agents, which likely caused your teeth to be stained in the first place, will continue to stain your teeth if exposure continues after your whitening treatment. Agents that will stain your teeth after whitening include:

• Coffee
• Tea
• Fruit juices
• Nicotine

If you are careful to avoid staining agents, your teeth whitening treatment will last much longer. Periodic maintenance treatments, which take much less time than a full whitening treatment, will help keep your smile bright and white.

Maintenance Treatments for Teeth Whitening

Most dentists will suggest avoidance of certain foods and beverages for a short period immediately after teeth whitening—usually about twenty-four hours. This helps you get the best results from your whitening treatment, as the teeth can be more susceptible to staining for a short time after whitening.

Our cosmetic dentist will provide instructions and guidance regarding maintenance. You might receive trays and whitener to use at home periodically to keep your teeth white, or you might be asked to come back on occasion for a maintenance treatment in the office. Either way, your teeth will likely be much less stained than they were before your initial whitening treatment, and the in-office treatment will take less time.

To find out more about teeth whitening, how it works, and how to keep your smile white both before and after whitening treatment, please call our Denver office at 303-832-7789 for an appointment or consultation.

Cosmetic Crowns

At one time, crowns were the most common way to treat cracked, pitted, heavily discolored or misshapen teeth. They can also be used to slightly reposition teeth or to alter the bite. In some cases, porcelain veneers are used for these purposes, since they are less invasive and easier to place than crowns.

However, sometimes teeth are too damaged to support veneers, or other issues mean veneers are not the best choice for restorations. In these cases, crowns can be a better option. If teeth have already had restorations such as fillings, especially multiple fillings or large fillings, crowns are often a better choice for additional restoration. In addition, veneers are only used on front teeth. Restoration or cosmetic treatment for molars is best accomplished with cosmetic crowns.

How Dental Crowns are Placed

Whether they are for cosmetic or restoration purposes, dental crowns are placed in a two-part process. First, the tooth is prepared. The dentist reshapes the tooth to make room for the crown, then molds are taken. A temporary crown is affixed to the tooth to protect it over the next few days while the custom made, permanent crown is manufactured.

When the permanent crown is ready, the dentist removes the temporary crown and affixes the permanent crown. Crowns can be made from porcelain, metal, or metal fused with porcelain. A consultation with our dentist can help you determine which of these options is best for you and for the individual tooth. For example, metal crowns or metal crowns bonded with porcelain are often preferred for back teeth because they can better withstand the force exerted during chewing.

For more information about cosmetic crowns, please contact Governor’s Park Dental Group serving Denver CO to schedule an appointment or a consultation.