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Post operative difficulties with dental extractions

Denver and Highlands Ranch dentists Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp want their patients to be thoroughly informed their patients on un-common issues that can occur with ANY dental treatment. Most  post operative dental treatment is routine and uneventful.  Some are not. It is these small percentages that patients need to understand and accept as possible outcomes before treatment is started. Our Highlands Ranch dentists serve patients in the Lone Tree, Castle Pines, Centennial, Greenwood Village,Parker, Aurora and the Greater Denver Area.

Informed Consent for dental extractions

Informed consent for dental extractions can be accomplished a variety of ways.  First certainly in orally… letting yo know the common and uncommon consequences of dental surgery.  The second is written and the third in a combination of both.  Our Highlands Ranch dentist want to inform you of the common consequences of having a tooth taken out.  Those would include bleeding (obviously) pain (no kidding) possible infection for the most common consequences.  Less common consequences include dry socket…and … damage to adjacent teeth or filling. Uncommon but POSSIBLE consequences include sinus perforation ( a hole into the sunus where the root was) to numbnes of the lower lip… chin… or tongue.

Options for dental extraction

Obviously the first option is no treatment. A second might be some type or root canal or gum treatment.  Sometimes there is no”good” option other than extraction.  The key is “you” get to choose! You should know the consequences of treatment and NO treatment.  Then armed with this information you decide.

Call our Highlands Ranch dentists today

Please feel free to call out Highlands Ranch dne Denver dentists today and make an appointment today at (303) 694-9740.

Thanks to Matt and Scott of US Web Central for their help with our Blogs. They can be reached by clicking on the following link Denver Web Design and SEO.

Fracture in a tooth

Fracture in teeth is a common finding on many patients. Fractures can come in several forms. In many cases (but not all) a horizontal fracture is easier to deal with. Some notable exceptions of course is fractures at the gum line leaving no tooth structure above the gums.  Highlands Ranch dentists Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp want to address these types of issue “sooner”  than later.  “If” you wait… the fracture may determine the outcome and the outcome may be favorable or not. Our office serves the Highlands Ranch area as well as Denver, Lone Tree, Castle Pines,Parker, Ken Caryl, Greenwood Village and well as Parker Colorado.

Vertical Fractures on Teeth can be catastrophic

Vertical fractures on teethcan cause substantial problems.  If the vertical fracture is  very superficial  then “possibly” a dental restoration “may” be appropriate.  Larger but still superficial vertical fracture “most likely” be treated effectively with a dental crown.

Significant fractures may need to be extracted Dentistry in Highlands Ranch

Cracked tooth syndrome has many different causes and many different solutions. One element is isolating the diagnosis to a fracture tooth because many fractures are microscopic. If the fracture goes down the root surface it is generally thought that this is doom’s the tooth to extraction.

Highlands Ranch dentist case example of superficial fracture on a tooth

The following case has been presented.  As you can see there is no mistaking the fracture and the only question is… how far into the tooth it goes.  The first treatment will be to place a dental filling in it (hopefully).  When the fracture is open up it may be limited or extend to the pulp or down the root surface.  The treatment risks to the patient ranges form minimal (filling) to significant (extraction)

Please call today and make an appointment

Please feel to call our Highlands Ranch dentist and make an appointment at (303) 694-9740.

Thanks to Matt and Scot of US Web Central for their help with our Blogs.  They can be reached by clicking on the following link Denver SEO and Web design.

Highlands Ranch Dentists attending Denver Midwinter Dental Convention

Highlands Ranch dentists, Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp will be attending the Denver Midwinter Dental Convention. This Conventions runs from Thursday January 21 to Saturday January 23 and is held at the Convention Center downtown.

There are numerous course which the Dr.’s DeLapp will be taking ranging from cosmetics to new research in Dentistry. As both doctors teach part-time at the Dental School they will be participating in programs that are University sponsored.

Office closed

The office will be closed from January 21 through the 25th.  The doctors DeLapp will be taking emergency only call for patients of record during this time. We can be paged by calling our Highlands Ranch dental office at (303) 694-9740.

Exercise appears to protect White Blood Cells

German researchers are in the process of publishing a paper in the journal Circulation that endurance athletes appear to be able to live a longer healthier life than healthy non smoking adults who did not exercise regularly. This fact may be due to the enhancement of white blood cells which have elongated telomers.  When telomeres get t9o short they stop dividing and you begin to show signs of aging. Dr. James and Candace DeLapp are Highlands Ranch and Denver dentists who also serve patients in the Lone Tree, Castle Pines, Parker, Aurora, Centennial, Ken Caryl and Greenwood Village areas of Colorado.

to view our dental practice video click the f0llowing link Highlands Ranch and Denver Dentists

The role of white blood cells

The role of white blood cells role was primarily thought to be to fight off infections but more recent studies have shown that white blood cells can also seek out abnormal cells growth associated with cancers. One speculation is why we become more susceptible to cancers as we age “may” be that the white blood cells themselves age and become less effective in removing cancerous cells.

New advances also state that a healthy mouth improves overall health Denver Dentistry

Numerous studies have shown that periodontal disease adversely affects your overall health.  A chronic infection decreases you bodies over all ability to fight aging and effects your risk of heart attack and stroke.

Call our Denver Dentists today

Please feel free to call out Denver and Highlands Ranch dentist today and schedule an appointment.  They can be reached at (303) 694-9740.

Thanks to Scott and Matt of US Web Central for their help with our Blogs.  They can be reached by clicking on the following link Denver Web Design and SEO.

Antibiotic Prophylaxis and Dental treatment of Patients with Joint Replacement

In the winter edition of the Journal of the Colorado Dental Association (2010) Thomas Greany DDS discussed antibiotic coverage for patients with total joint replacement. Denver Dentists Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp are seeing more and more patients in their practice who have had joint replacement.  What the “potential” worry is about is bacteria in the blood stream of a dental patient can infect the joint complicating its function. Their dental practice serves the Greater Denver area including Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Castle Pines, Parker, Ken Caryl, Aurora, and Greenwood Village areas

to view our dental practice video click the following link Denver Dentists dental practice video

Recommendation from 2002 for antibiotic coverage for dental treatment Denver Dentistry

In 2002 a panel of dentists, infectious disease specialists and surgeons reviewed literature to see if antibiotic prophylaxis in needed to prevent infections of prosthetic joints.  This panel concluded that prophylaxis is not indicated for patients with:

• Pins
• screws
• plates
• “most” (but not all) with total joint replacement

Recommendations for antibiotic pre-medication for joints include:

• All total joint patients during the first two years following replacement
• Immuno-compromised
• immuno-suppressed
• Co-morbidities
• Previous joint infections
• malnourishment
• Hemophelia
• HIV
• Type ! diabetes
• Malignancy

“New” Changes in the wind for antibiotic premedication?

The 2010  Greany  article sites a new opinion by Oswald and Gould in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (2008)  that stated there is “no evidence to link prosthetic joint infections to dental procedures and none to prove that antibio0tic prophylaxis is effective” The question that needs to be asked is …what to do? Currently our Denver dentists will be following the ADA and American Academy of Orthpaedic Surgeons recommendations until they are updated by these groups. What we wish our patient to understand is the recommendation for antibiotic coverage for joint replacement “may” in time change.

Call our Denver dentists today and make an appointment

Please feel free to call and make an appointment with our Denver and Highlands Ranch dentists today.  The can be reached at (303) 694-9740

Thanks to Scott and Matt of US Web Central for their help with our Blogs.  They can be reached by clicking on the following link Denver web design and SEO

Happy new year from our Denver and Highlands Ranch dentists 2010

From their Denver and Highlands Ranch Dental office Dr.’s James and Candace DeLapp want to wish you a Happy New Year.  All the best to you and your family.

The new year 2010

New-years resolutions abound and even our dentists have several in mind. Keeping you healthy is a good goal for everyone.  If including your dental health is one of your goals please feel free to contact our office.  In most (but not all instances) new insurance maximimums will apply.

Hope to see you soon this year and…

Please take care this weekend.

Bone Preservation post tooth extraction

When a tooth is removed the bone that supported the tooth melts away.  In addition, in time, this melting away continues where the gun ridge becomes both shorter and narrower. Denver Dentists Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp want to preserve as much bone as possible for a variety of reasons described below. This Denver and Highlands Ranch dental office serves Lone Tree, Castle Pines, Parker, Aurora, Greenwood Village, Ken Caryl, and Centennial areas of Colorado.

Dental Implant Placement Denver Dentistry

One of the many criteria used by our Denver implants dentist are  the volume both height and width of the bone in the edentulous space (where the tooth is missing). Horowitz et al (2009) in Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistrydescribes a study in which a synthetic bone was added to the extraction site. These authors used pure phase beta tricalcium phostpate to help preserve the ride volume after a tooth was extracted and prior to dental implant being placed. This bone augmentation preserved 91% of the bone volume when compared to 50% with out the augmentation.

to view our dental practice video click the following link Denver Dentists

A tooth or dental implant helps preserve bone

A tooth or dental implant helps preserve bone in the jaw.  There have been postulated may reasons why this occurs but the good news it does. If a tooth is extracted and bone augmentation is accomplished a dental implant needs to be placed in the next 6 months to one years or the bone will melt away again.  The key to remember is a tooth or dental implant keeps bone!

Call our Denver Dentist today for an appointment

Please feel free to call our office and make an appointment today.  The Dr.’s DeLapp can be reached at (303) 694-9740.  If you would like to send an e-mail please do so by clicking the following link Denver Dentistry

Thanks to Matt and Scott of US Web Central for their help with our websites and Blogs.  They can be reached by clicking on the following link Denver SEO and Web Design

Semester Ending for Highlands Ranch and Denver Dentists Teaching at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine

Highlands Ranch dentists Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp teaching duties at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine takes a break for Christmas Break.  The Fall quarter will be ending December 11th and will pick up again January 4th when everyone returns back from break.

Dental Pre-clinical Teaching Courses

Dr’s DeLapp both teach the pre-clinic and clinical areas at the dental school.  Dr. James DeLapp teaches the pre-clinical courses on Tuesdays and Dr. Candace DeLapp teaches on Wednesday.  Both doctors teach the “clinical courses” on Fridays. The pre-clinical courses they teach include:

• Operative Dentistry I-III dental fillings (Direct Restorations)
• Fixed Prostodontics I-III dental crowns and Bridges (Indirect restorative)
• Cosmetic Dentistry dental veneers teeth whitening etc.
• Removable Prostodontics Dentures
• Removable Prostodontic Partial Dentures
• Occlusion how your teeth fix together

Dental Clinic Coverage Denver Dentists

On Fridays both Dr’s DeLapp cover the dental clinic.  Obviously, this is why Friday’s are not available for patients at our Highlands Ranch Dentaloffice.  The doctors are not “off”  …they are teaching at the dental school. Students  from the traditional dental school as well as  the International program perform dentistry on patients.  The whole spectrum of treatment is performed  under their direction a supervision with the exception of root canals and oral surgery. Those dental disciplines are covered by specialist at the school.

Practicing what they “Teach”

The opportunity to network with professors from the University  provide great feedback and constantly improve their dental skills. Teaching a subject can reinforce information and the ultimate benefactor form their efforts is their patients (and  hopefully the students!).

Call our Highlands Ranch and Denver Dentists today!

Please feel free to contact our Denver and Highlands Ranch dental office today for an appointment. They can be reached at (303) 694-9740.  If you would like to send them an e-mail click the following link E-mail Denver dentist.

Dogs and Dentures don’t mix

You probably guessed what this story is about.  Yes… one of our canine friends chewed up one of our long term friends denture. From all reports it is in many “pieces parts” (parts is parts). There are several recommendations our Denver and Highlands Ranch dentists make involving dogs and cats.

Dogs and cats know how expensive something is especially your denture!

How do they know… I don’t know… but they do.  It is like they could be a contestant on the “Price is Right”.  Your dog may not get the price right …but they know the most expensive and inconvenient item to chew up.! This issue is NOT something new or unique to this patient.  Our Denver and Highlands Ranch dentists have seen this MANY times before in our practice. It “may” have something to do with the scent or odor of the denture … we don’t know.  Al we know is your denture is at risk of being destroyed by your dog.

Other dental items dogs chew up

You would think your dog would limit their culinary appetite to dentures but they don’t.  Other items you dog may enjoy includes but is not limited to:

• Occlusal guard or nite guard
• Orthodontic retainer
• Invisalign retainer
• Whitening trays
• “Other”

Prevention of Canine destruction of your denture

When you take your denture out at night put it in an area where the dog can’t get to it.  Trust us… putting it on the nightstand for the most part is NOT a good idea!

Eating your denture can be fatal to your dog

The acrylic or plastic swallowed by your dog could cause problems and our strong recommendation is to find the parts and contact your veterinarian.

Call our Highlands Ranch and Denver dentist today

Hopefully… this is not why you are calling our office but if it is we will try to help you  as best we can.  Our phone number is (303) 694-9740

Clenching toothache

Denver dentists Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp frequently see patients who have a tooth-ache. The causes of the tooth ache include but are not limited to:

• Dental decay
• Gum disease
• Lost filling or dental crown
• Dying tooth
• Other medical problem (heart pain can refer to the jaw)
• “other”

Differential Diagnosis Highlands Ranch and Denver dentist

A “differential diagnosis” is our best guess in order of priority. The thought behind a differential diagnosis is to look at “all” possibilities not just the one the “appears” to be obvious. Most of the time… in most cases… we are spot on with the diagnosis but in others symptoms can persist. Marrying a diagnosis can at times be wrong and we should look and test as best we can for other potential causes of discomfort.

Tooth pain can be caused from a variety of sources and sometimes their presentations are not definitive. In addition… no one ever said you could not have more than one thing going wrong with you at a time.  All these factors can contribute to difficulty in isolating the source or sources.

Pain from clenching and grinding Denver Dentistry

Apparent tooth pain can be from a tooth dying or… from clenching and grinding. A patient seen recently had pain that he was certain was from a new dental crown fabricated at another office.  Today…. at this time…. the differential diagnosis is the pain was from clenching and grinding. His jaw muscles we very tender to palpation etc and all signs point to this diagnosis.  However… as in all differential diagnosis… I  (and the patient) understand that other problems “could” be the root cause.  This patient was given the other symptoms that could occur and will call if symptoms don’t get better or change and become isolated.

Call our Highlands Ranch and Denver Dental office today for an appointment

Please feel free to call our office today and schedule an appointment.  We can be reached at (303) 694-9740.  If you prefer to send us an e-mail please click on the following link Denver Dentists.

Thanks to Matt and Scott of US Web Central for their help with our web sites and blogs.  They can be reached by clicking on the following link Denver web design and SEO