Once upon a time, having cavities meant having a mouth full of silver. But like most dental technology, cavity treatments have come a long way, and getting a filling no longer means sacrificing the cosmetic quality of your smile. Tooth-colored fillings are designed to match the color and texture of a natural tooth so that your cavities can be filled effectively and discreetly for a healthy and attractive smile. Dr. Alexander Smith, your dentist in Westminster, CO, offers cosmetic and general dentistry services for children and adults.

Protect Your Oral Health and Smile with Tooth Colored Fillings in Westminster, CO

As the American Dental Association (ADA) points out, the best filling is no filling. Although cavities and tooth decay are one of the most common dental problems, they are also highly preventable. The best way to fight them is by eating a healthy, well-balanced diet, maintaining a good oral hygiene routine which includes both daily flossing as well as visiting the dentist every six months for a checkup and professional cleaning.

However, when cavities do happen, getting them treated as quickly as possible is the best way to save both your tooth and your smile. Also known as composite fillings, tooth-colored fillings are made out of a combination of materials (known as composite resins) like plastic and silica. Tooth colored fillings can be used on the front or back teeth, and are generally the filling of choice and used more frequently than amalgam (metallic) fillings.

The average shelf life for a composite filling tends to be shorter than with metallic fillings, at an average of five years, but each situation is different and they can actually last for much longer. After you receive a filling, continuing to practice oral hygiene and preventive care to keep your teeth and gums healthy and to avoid further tooth decay and damage.

Find a Dentist in Westminster, CO

For more information about tooth-colored fillings and other cosmetic and restorative dentistry services, contact The Family Dentist by calling (303) 427-8690 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Smith today.

Dental Bridges: Find out How These Simple Solutions Could Restore Your Missing Teeth.

While we often associate tooth loss with children, the fact of the matter is that millions of American adults also face tooth loss. Of course, no matter your age, our dentist, Dr. Alexander Smith at The Family Dentist office in Westminster, CO, understands that replacing a missing tooth is a serious matter that requires immediate attention. Luckily, a dental bridge is an easy solution that could replace your missing teeth in no time.

What Is a Dental Bridge?

This fixed-in-place oral prosthetic is designed to fill that gap in your smile with a false tooth. The false tooth, also known as a pontic, is custom-made to look just like the rest of your teeth. As a result, the only person who will know that you have an artificial tooth is you! For it to stay in place, the bridge will then be attached to the healthy natural teeth that surround the gap to support the artificial tooth.

Dental bridges can be made from a variety of different materials such as:

• Porcelain
• Ceramic

What Is the Dental Bridge Procedure Like?

In most instances, our Westminster, CO, general dentist will be able to place the dental bridge in two appointments. The first appointment we will need to prep the two natural teeth for their dental crowns. In order to do that, we will need to shave the teeth down so that the crowns can fit over them. Once the teeth are prepped, we will take impressions of your mouth. These impressions are then sent to a lab so they can create your custom restoration.

Once your bridge has been fabricated we will check the look and fit of the restoration and make sure you are fully satisfied before we cement it permanently into place.

Am I a Good Candidate for a Bridge?

If you are an adult who is missing a tooth and wants a fast, non-surgical approach to treating their tooth loss, then this could be the right option for you! Of course, in order to verify that you are a good candidate for a dental bridge, we will need to check the health of your teeth to make sure they are strong enough support the dental bridge.

Don’t let a missing tooth ruin the health and appearance of your smile. Our family dentist offers a variety of options to meet your smile needs. Call The Family Dentist in Westminster, CO, today at (303) 427-8690 and let us know that you want to schedule a consultation with us to discuss whether dental bridges are right for you.

Could these tooth-shaped restorations protect your oral health?

Crowns, sometimes referred to as dental caps, are hollow restorations that are placed over the entire visible portion of a tooth to strengthen and restore it. These restorations are designed to look just like a real tooth so the only person who will even know that you have crowns is you and your Westminster, CO, dentist Dr. Alexander Smith. Let’s find out more about crowns and when they could benefit your smile.

When are dental crowns used?

This tooth-shaped restoration can be used for both restorative and cosmetic purposes; however, in most cases, a crown can be used to improve functionality and restore strength back into a weak or damaged tooth. Here is when you might be able to benefit from a dental crown:

• You have a cracked or fractured tooth
• You have a tooth that is too weak for a filling to support
• You have to cover a dental implant to replace a missing tooth
• You have a tooth that is severely stained or malformed
• You need to support a dental bridge to replace a missing tooth

What goes into getting a dental crown?

Before you get your dental crown you may have to undergo treatment or tooth preparation depending on what’s going on. For example, if you are dealing with a dental infection our Westminster, CO, family dentist will need to perform root canal therapy to clean out the tooth and get rid of the infection before the crown is placed. Before anything happens we will discuss your treatment plan with you in detail.

Next, we will need to prep the tooth before getting your crown. This entails removing some tooth enamel so there is room for the crown to fit over the tooth. Since an extensive amount of enamel has to be removed we will use local anesthesia beforehand so you don’t feel a thing.

From there, we prepare the tooth and then take impressions. These molds of your mouth are what a dental lab will use to make your very own custom-fitted dental crown. In many cases, a temporary crown will be placed over the tooth until the permanent crown is ready to be placed over the tooth.

The Family Dentist in Westminster, CO, is here to ensure that everyone gets the dental care they need. From preventive dentistry to cosmetic treatments we offer it all so that you can maintain that beautiful smile that you deserve. If you are interested in learning more about dental crowns schedule a consultation with us.

Close the gaps in your smile with dental implants, a permanent tooth replacement option. Dental implants replace missing teeth, restore your smile, and restore normal tooth functioning. There are several additional benefits to getting dental implants, as well. At The Family Dentist, Dr. Alexander Smith is your dentist in Westminster, CO, for dental implants.

What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are a durable, long-lasting tooth replacement option. Dental implants replace both missing teeth and their roots. There are three components to a dental implant, including a metal implant, an abutment, and a crown. The metal implant is drilled directly into the jaw bone and acts as a tooth root, anchoring the entire dental implant in place. The crown is installed above the gum line and functions as the replacement tooth. The abutment connects the metal implant and crown together.

The placement of dental implants requires at least two appointments. The metal implant is placed first. The abutment may also be placed during the same appointment. The crown is not placed for several weeks following installation of the metal implant. During this time, the gums have a chance to heal and the metal implant fuses with the jawbone through a natural process known as osseointegration. Once the metal implant is fused with the jawbone, the crown can be placed.

Crowns are the only portion of the dental implant visible after installation. Crowns are custom made for each individual for a perfect fit. Additionally, crowns look just like natural teeth. No one will be able to tell you have a crown. Further, crowns function like regular teeth and can be used for normal functions, such as biting and chewing food. With proper care, your crown and dental implant will last for many years. Your Westminster, CO, dentist can help you decide if dental implants are the right tooth replacement option for you.

Benefits of Dental Implants

There are several benefits to choosing dental implants as your tooth replacement option. Benefits of dental implants include:

• Restoration of your smile
• Replacement of missing teeth
• Look and function like natural teeth
• Reduce strain on surrounding teeth
• Prevent teeth from shifting into gaps
• Last for years

Dental implants replace missing teeth and close the gaps in your smile. For dental implants in Westminster, CO, schedule an appointment with Dr. Smith by calling The Family Dentist at (303) 427-8690.

Do some aesthetic flaws in your smile trouble you? A gap between your two front teeth, yellowed tooth enamel, or mild crookedness may seem like small things, but to those of us who have less than perfect smiles, the defects seem huge. Over the past 30 years, cosmetic dentistry in Westminster, CO, and across the country has gained popularity because it dramatically changes smiles and personal outlooks. That's why Dr. Alexander Smith, at The Family Dentist, includes a long menu of aesthetic treatments in his modern dental practice.

The smile makeover

It starts with healthy teeth and gums. That means no tooth decay, extensive restorations or gum disease. With that good baseline established, Dr. Smith can examine your smile from an artistic standpoint. What changes would improve that all-important first impression? In what ways would you like your smile to be enhanced? What goals are realistic and age-appropriate?

Additionally, his complete examination, X-rays, intraoral photos and other sophisticated types of imaging tell him what's best for your smile in the long run. For instance, porcelain veneers provide a longer-lasting repair of chips and cracks than does composite resin bonding. However, veneers also require significant enamel reduction while bonding does not. So your Westminster, CO, cosmetic dentist lends his extensive expertise to making the best possible recommendations for your unique needs and preferences.

Menu of services

Some smile makeovers involve just one kind of treatment--professional teeth whitening, for example. In fact, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry says that whitening is by far today's most popular aesthetic treatment. Other makeovers combine services to arrive at the best oral function and appearance for the particular patient.

At The Family Dentist, Dr. Smith and his dedicated team offer the following cosmetic dental services:

• Composite resin bonding. This application of a tooth-colored mixture of acrylic and glass repairs small chips, hairline cracks, gaps and mild overcrowding. Bonded right to existing tooth enamel, the resin is smoothed and polished, creating a repair that's impossible to detect and yet is very durable.
• Porcelain veneers. These tooth-shaped shells of fine ceramic custom-cover the front of teeth which have more extensive flaws. Large chips and dark stains which don't respond to whitening procedures are common examples.
• Professional teeth whitening. Done at the office or at home, whitening improves tooth color by as much as 8 to 10 shades. The process is fully supervised, safe, effective and a much better choice than over the counter whitening products.
• Dental contouring. Dr. Smith uses handheld tools and fine sandpaper to even out tooth shape, cracks, pits and more. This comfortable, inexpensive process takes just one appointment.

How can your smile improve?

Find out by contacting The Family Dentist in Westminster, CO. Dr. Smith offers cosmetic dentistry at its finest, and you'll love the results. Call today: (303) 427-8690.