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Posts for category: Dental Procedures
When we believe we are doing all the right things with our dental hygiene at home we may convince ourselves that we can skip a dental cleaning, or two. But as you'll read below a cleaning regimen is simply incomplete without dental cleanings at your dentist's office. To learn a lot more about the benefits get in contact with your Westminster, CO, dentist Dr. Alexander Smith of The Family Dentist.
The Battle Against Plaque
The reason why we brush and floss every day is to eliminate the plaque that daily builds on our teeth. It is that sticky film that builds there and it is made up of millions of bacteria.
This bacteria produces acids that can harm the enamel on our teeth and our gums as it feeds upon the sugars we consume.
But even our best efforts can leave some plaque behind. This is especially true if you suffer from spacing issues that create crevices where plaque can hide. Whatever we don't manage to brush or floss away can harden into tartar thanks to the minerals in our saliva, making it much more difficult to remove.
Helping in the Fight
Tartar can typically only be removed at your dentist's office, alongside any leftover plaque, and this is done during your scheduled biannual cleanings. Which, alongside good hygiene habits at home, can help you prevent cavities and gum disease.
During the checkup portion of the visit, your dentist examines your teeth, and if you have been diligent about coming in your doctor can help you prevent common dental problems. Or treat them in their early stages when these can still be managed with far less invasive treatments.
Dental Cleanings in Westminster, CO
Dental cleanings can help you stay on top of your dental hygiene and can help prevent complications and potentially costly procedures. So if it's been some time since your last visit make an appointment today with Dr. Smith of The Family Dentist in Westminster, CO, by dialing (303) 427-8690.
You go for the best in whatever you undertake. Why not apply the same philosophy to tooth replacement? The Family Dentist in Westminister, CO, is Dr. Alexander Smith. He places dental implants in patients who have lost teeth to accident, gum disease and decay. A dental implant could be your best option for permanent tooth replacement.
Dental implants and you
If you're a teen or adult with good overall health and a strong jaw bone, you could receive dental implants to fill those smile gaps. At his Westminster, CO, office, Dr. Alexander Smith will examine your teeth and gums and also scan your jaw bone to determine its size, health and density. If it's strong enough, he can surgically insert a titanium implant screw into your empty tooth socket.
Over the next weeks to months, that device will bond with your jaw bone. Osseointegration, as the action is called, anchors this artificial tooth root. Dr. Smith then attaches a metal alloy extension post and lifelike crown.
That completes a single-tooth implant. The more you use your dental implant, the stronger your jaw bone will become. You should have that new tooth indefinitely.
Other advantages of dental implants
Dental implants:
- Rarely fail or need replacement
- Look and feel totally real
- Are immovable and restore almost 100 percent of your natural chewing power (traditional dentures produce a small fraction of that)
- Clean-up with twice-daily brushing and once a day flossing (see Dr. Smith semi-annually for your exam and hygienic cleaning)
- Support bridgework or partial/full dentures
- Are customized to your specific needs
- Strengthen and support your remaining teeth
- Need no adhesives or soaking
- Keep your facial features youthful and your speech, clear
Get ready for the best
The American College of Prosthodontists says that 120 million Americans have lost at least one tooth. Are you included in that number? Then, contact The Family Dentist, Dr. Alexander Smith, in Westminster, CO. Dental implants really are as tremendous as they sound. Learn how they could improve your appearance and oral function. Phone our office at (303) 427-8690.
If you're ready to replace missing teeth, dental implants offer an excellent restoration option. Your Westminster, CO, dentist, Dr. Alexander Smith, can help you decide if implants are right for you.
Dental implants completely restore teeth
Dental implants restore missing teeth above and below the gum line. Tiny titanium posts that naturally bond to your jawbone, implants are placed in the vacant spaces of your smile during minor oral surgery in our Westminster office.
Implants act as roots for your new teeth and become securely attached to your jawbone in as little as three to six months. Once your implants are bonded, your dentist adds small abutments to the top of them and makes an impression of your mouth that will be used to create dental crowns.
Crowns are artificial teeth that look just like the visible parts of your teeth. They're screwed on to the top of the dental implants to complete the restoration of your teeth.
Implants function just like natural teeth
Your dental implants won't slip or slide when you bite and chew or irritate your mouth. You also won't experience a significant change in your biting power and will be able to easily chew tough or hard foods with your new teeth.
Although your teeth may be synthetic, they'll feel perfectly real. In fact, many people who receive implants don't notice any difference between implants and their natural teeth.
Additionally, the constant stimulation of your jawbone by your tooth roots keep the bone strong. Resorption, a problem that can occur when the jawbone begins to shrink after tooth loss, won't be a problem if you replace your roots with implants.
Finally, caring for dental implants is quick and easy, for it only requires regular brushing and flossing. When you floss, however, you'll need to pay a little extra attention to the area around your new crown. Keeping this area clean and free of debris will help you avoid an infection that could jeopardize your new tooth. Fortunately, infections are rare if you practice good oral hygiene.
Call us for treatment
Restore your smile with dental implants! Call your dentist in Westminster, CO, Dr. Smith, at (303) 427-8690 to schedule an appointment.
Are you ready for a fabulous smile? If so, arrange a consultation with your cosmetic dentist in Westminster, CO, Dr. Alexander Smith. Artistically skilled and experienced, Dr. Smith helps scores of people achieve their dream smiles. He'll tell you which procedures will maximize your personal appearance and outlook.
How should your smile change?
Think about it--carefully. The best cosmetic makeovers work with the patient's unique facial features and the specific ideas of how he or she wishes to look.
So, do you want to brighten some dental stains? Are you missing a tooth or have an ugly chip or two right in your smile zone? Do dark, deteriorating fillings mar your smile appearance and make you self-conscious?
Then, when you come to see The Family Dentist, tell him your ideas. He'll examine you to uncover any health problems (or potential issues) so they can be resolved before attempting a smile makeover of any complexity. Then, your cosmetic treatment plan can begin.
Offered aesthetic services
Your Westminster, CO, cosmetic dentist offers several treatments which may be customized to meet your smile goals. One of the most sought after is in-office teeth whitening, says the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Often the finishing touch on a complex makeover, or used by itself for a quick and dramatic color change, whitening helps individuals flash a smile which is brighter by up to eight shades of color.
Other services are:
- Porcelain veneers These tooth-colored shells of premium ceramic disguise small defects and strengthen weak tooth enamel.
- Tooth-colored fillings Made of composite resin, glass ionomer, or porcelain, these realistic fillings restore decay and enhance the dental appearance.
- Invisalign clear aligners A wonderful and almost invisible alternative to conventional braces, Invisalign appliances shift crooked teeth and correct bite problems for better oral health and personal appearance in less time than you may expect.
- Dental implants These artificial teeth have titanium roots below the gum line, along with posts and porcelain crowns above it. They look, feel, and behave just as real teeth do and give patients wonderful smile appearance.
Find out how your smile can change
Combine your vision for a rejuvenated smile with Dr. Smith's ability to make it a reality. Call your cosmetic dentist at The Family Dentist in Westminster, CO, for your personalized consultation: (303) 427-8690.
Discover one cosmetic solution that can quickly give you a more perfect smile.
Thanks to amazing advancements in cosmetic dentistry our Westminster, CO, dentist Dr. Alexander Smith now has a fast and reliable way to completely alter the shape, color or size of one or more teeth to give you the smile you’ve always wanted. These thin porcelain laminates are bonded to the front of teeth to hide common flaws to make you feel more confident whenever you smile.
What problems can dental veneers address?
There is a reason so many people are turning to dental veneers in Westminster, CO, to improve their smiles. After all, these thin porcelain shells can easily hide a variety of imperfections that may leave you feeling less than confident about your appearance. By applying veneers we can easily cover,
- Discolorations and stains
- Chips and cracks
- Malformed or oddly shaped teeth
- Uneven or worn teeth
- Misaligned teeth (minor crowding, twisted teeth or gaps between teeth)
Any flaws that affect the appearance of your smile but don’t affect the integrity or health of your teeth may be treated with porcelain veneers.
Who is a good candidate for dental veneers?
Are you wondering whether it might be time to sit down with our dentist and see if veneers are right for you? If you are dealing with any of the issues above then you very well could be an excellent candidate for veneers. Here is what makes someone a good candidate,
- Good oral health
- Dedication to good oral hygiene and care
- Realistic expectations about the results you’ll receive
- Healthy, strong tooth enamel
We will check your teeth and gums to make sure that you aren’t dealing with gum disease or decay, as any dental issues will need to be treated before you can undergo cosmetic dentistry.
What goes into getting dental veneers?
Getting veneers is fairly straightforward and simple. They can usually be placed in about two visits. Here are the steps involved in getting veneers,
- Tooth preparation: We can’t just apply veneers directly to the front of your teeth because this can make them look bulky. Therefore, we will need to shave off a very small amount of enamel from the front of your teeth to make room for your veneers. This is quick and painless.
- Taking impressions: Once teeth are prepped we will take impressions of your teeth so that a dental lab has the exact measurements needed to create your veneers. After impressions are taken we may decide whether to apply temporary veneers to the front of your teeth to protect them in the interim.
- Fitting your veneers: It can take up to a week to get your permanent veneers. Once they are made you will come back into the office so that we can check the fit before bonding them to your teeth.
Are you interested in getting dental veneers? If so, then schedule your consultation with The Family Dentist in Westminster, CO, to find out if you are the ideal candidate for this treatment.