Blog

Our Dental blog is ranked #1

Surfing through the Internet we Googled “Dental blogs” and came up with a site that ranks Dental Blogs.  Our Denver and Highlands Ranch Dentists Dental Blog was at the top of the list for dental Blogs. Dr. James DeLapp writes a number of articles about a variety of topics concerning dentistry.  Some of the topics are for patients… some for dental students…. and some for other dentists. This web site can be accessed by clicking on the following link Denver and Highlands Ranch Dental Blog

How to write Blogs in General

Blogs are really easy to use and you just need to take the time (minimal) to learn how to do.  The two main free Blogs are Blogger and Wordpress.  You can go to either site and they will set you up with a free Blog.  Wordpress.org allows more customization but it needs to be hosted on a site off of wordpress so there may be a nominal cost but I think it is well worth it.  You can make your Blog look just like a web page and that is an advantage.  There are tons of books on how to set up Wordpress so a quick visit to Barnes and Nobel may be in order.

Call our Denver and Highlands Ranch Dentists today!

Please feel free to call and make an appointment today at (303) 694-9740.

White dental fillings in the Denver metro Area

Amalgam (mercury plus silver etc.) dental restorations had (past tense) been a stable of dental restorations for decades.  Denver dentists Dr. James DeLapp, Dr. Sarah Parsons and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp believe it to be an adequate material in many cases.  Some of the disadvantages include its color and not being bonded to the tooth.  The silver in the amalgam in time “can” turn black and it looks like you have holes in your tooth.  Many patients object to this display of silver or black and wish a more modern material

Your “natural” tooth is the best material

Our Highlands Ranch and Denver dentists feel preservation of as much “natural” tooth structure is the best policy.  Any and we mean any dental material has a life-expectancy and this can be increased or decreased by how you take care of your teeth and the foods or drinks you ingest.  Obviously… smoking decreases the life expectancy of ANY dental restoration as well as contributing to increase in risk of gum disease.

Advantages of white dental fillings Highlands Ranch

The advantages of white dental fillings is you do not have remove a certain amount of tooth structure in order to get the filling  to be placed.  Amalgam restoration have certain widths and depths that need to be made otherwise the restoration will fracture. With white dental filling we can tooth bank or preserve more of your tooth structure.

Insurance companies downgrade the payment of white dental fillings to silver fillings

Dental insurance companies including Delta Dental of Colorado downgrade the reimbursement of white dental fillings to silver dental fillings.  Amalgam restorations are much faster to place and less expensive to offer. This means there WILL me more out of pocket expense to the insured.  In time this “may” change but for now count on the out of pocket expenses being greater.

Please call our Highlands Ranch and Denver dentists today

Please cal our office today and make an appointment.  We can be reached at (303) 694-9740

Options for dental sedation in Denver and Highlands Ranch

You have many diffferentl options in order to make your dental visit more comfortable. Highlands Ranch dentists Dr. James DeLapp, Dr. H. Candace DeLapp and Dr. Sarah Parsons want to make you dental visit with us as comfortable as possible. What is unfortunate is dental anxiety can be so much that patients choose not to see the dentist even for routine dental care.  Addressing dental concerns when they are small is much easier for everyone involved. Our Highlands Ranch dental office also sees patients form the Ken Caryl, Parker, Greenwood Village, Lone Tree, Castle Pines and the Greater Denver area.

Your comfort is our greatest concern

One of the many things our Highlands Ranch dentist provide is our massaging dental chairin the doctors treatment rooms. The pneumatic massagers provide a gentle motion that can help relieve the strss so many patients bring to the appointment,

Ask questions about other types of dental sedation

Oral premeditation is just one of the many different options available.  The medication can help provide some degree of relief for many but not all patients. On occasion, nitrous oxide may be able to add some degree of additional sedation or anxiety relief. Still other patients may need more complex types of sedation if this type of sedation does not provide sufficient relief.

Call our Highlands Ranch dental office today

Please feel free to call our office today and make an appointment at (303) 694-9740. When you call ask our staff about our free custom tray whitening for new patients who find us from the Internet. Please call for details of the offer.

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

Sedation dentistry in Highlands Ranch and Denver

Denver Sedation Dentists Dr. James DeLapp, Dr. H. Candace DeLapp andDr. Sarah Parsions have been attending Moderate Sedation Courses at the University of Southern California (USC) dental school.  The course director is Dr. Stanley Malamed who has written the definitive textbooks on Sedation in dentistry.  Dr. James DeLapp had offered I.V. sedation for a decade in the 80’s and has offered Nitrous oxide/oxygen sedation and anxiolysis since in practice. If dentistry is not the most thrilling prospect for you… please call our Denver sedation dentists and make an appointment to see is sedation dentistry is for you. Their number is (303) 694-9740. Our address is 6660 timberloine Road Highlands Ranch Colorado 80130.

Types of Dental Sedation Possible

There are several types of dental sedation that are available to dental patients in Highlands Ranch area of Colorado.  Some are simple and others are complex.  As the complexity increases the cost and level of training increases. Something as simple as distraction with over the chair televisions or headphones are the simplest. Other types of sedation include but is not limited to:

• Nitrous oxide/oxygen sedation.  This sedation has several advantages including is its simplicity and ease of administration.  Nitrous oxide sedation is commonly termed “laughing gas” and works on about  70% of the dental population.  For the remaining 30% other forms of sedation may be available.
• Anxiolysis with oral medicine.  This involves a pill patients take approximately one hour prior to the appointment.  By definition it really does not sedate you… it just makes you less anxious about your appointment.  Typically this may involve a table of Valium.  You MUST have a driver to and from your appointment
• Minimal Sedation.  Minimal sedation is one step further in the continuum of sedation which by definition provide minimal level of sedation and work on “many” but not all dental patients.  The dosage of the medicine increases and Nitrous oxide/oxygen “may” be added to deepen the sedation to a minimal level.  Amnesic effect of the dental appointment occurs for some patients but definitely not all. You MUST have a driver and have nothing to eat for 6 hours prior to this type of sedation
• Moderate Sedation or Conscious Sedation.  Moderate sedation can occur through several routes of administration but typically administered through an I.V. Again this works on patients who have experienced minimal sedation which has proven to be ineffective. You MUST have a driver and not have anything to eat for 6 hours with this type of sedation
• Deep Sedation. Deep sedation is more profound sedation on the anesthetic continuum.  Very special training of either an anesthesia residency of two years of oral surgeons are allowed to provide this sedation.  Typically this sedation is provided by a nurse anesthetist.  You must have a driver and nothing to eat or drink for 6 hours prior to this sedation
• General anesthesia. Typically provide by a medical doctor and nurse anesthetist in a out-patient clinic.  This is the anesthesia in which you could work on teeth or take out your appendix. Again… you MUST have a driver and nithing to eat or drink for 6  hour prior to the procedured.

Call our Denver an Highlands Ranch dentists today

Please feel free to call out office an make an appointment today at (303) 694-9740

Our Office is closed Memorial Day

Our Denver and Highlands Ranch dental office is closed today… Memorial Day.  The office will be open Tuesday June 1st at 7:00 a.m. The day has started off beautiful with little wind and moderated temperatures.  Most area pools are open and everyone seems to enjoying the weekend.

Remember those who have served…

Memorial Day is just not a day off for most of us.  Take time to that those individuals who have served their country and think about those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Dr. H. Candace DeLapp elected to the MDDS Board of Directors

Denver dentist Dr. H. Candace DeLapp was elected to the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Denver Dental Society (MDDS) this past month.  Organized dentistry is a tripartite system consisting of the American Dental Association, the Colorado Dental Association and MDDS. This component society is the largest grouping of dentists in Colorado and is responsible for many functions of organized dentistry.

Yearly MDDS Mid-Winter Dental Convention

One of the many responsibilities of MDDS is the continuing education of dentists throughout  the state and the surrounding states. Keeping current of dental treatment options is the responsibilities of all dentists and their continuing education programs help fulfill this need. In addition MDDS provides several programs that help those who cannot afford dentistry and will be the topic of upcoming Blogs.

Call our Highlands Ranch and Denver dentists today

Please feel free to call our Denver dental office today for an appointment at your earliest convenience. Dr.’s DeLapp’s daughter Sarah Parsons will be graduating from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine this Friday May 28th and is planning on joining their Highlands Ranch Dental office once he license is issued from the State Board. For an appointment please call (303) 694-9740.

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

What causes one tooth to darken?

There can be several reasons why a single tooth could darken.  Denver and Highlands Ranch dentists Dr. James DeLapp an Dr. H. Candace DeLapp investigate the “most likely” reason why a tooth darkens and then apply appropriate treatment. Types of treatment could range from something as simple and teeth whitening to something as complex as a root canal. Our Highlands Ranch and Denver dentists treat patients from the Lone Tree, Castle Pines, Parker, Centennial, Englewood, Parker and the Denver Tech Center of Colorado.

Trauma to the tooth can cause discoloration

Trauma to the tooth may cause the pulp to degenerate and darker the tooth.  The trauma can cause hemolysis (micro bleeding of the tooth). When this occurs the Iron in hemoglobin reacts with tissue in the tooth (hydrogen sulfide) to form Iron sulfide.  The Iron Sulfide has a strong color that stains the tooth from inside out

Tooth discolored by age or trauma Denver Dentistry

Teeth can discolor due to trauma and age.  In the first instance the bleeding causes the discoloration and in this case the primary or secondary dentin (yellow color) propagates.  This dentin gives the tooth a yellow color. This process is called calcific metamophhosis.

Old silver filling on the back side of the tooth makes the tooth darker

Old silver/mercury fillings turn black with age.  This color give the tooth a gray color.  Replacing it with a white filling can significantly whiten the tooth. Cosmetic dentistry can give you many different options on how to handle dark teeth and tooth whitening is just one of your options.

Internal bleaching of a tooth

After a root canal in some instances the tooth may continue to darken with time.  A walking bleach “may” whiten the tooth from the inside out.  A bleaching solution is placed in the pulp chamber and the patient is dismissed for one week (hence the term walking).  Once the tooth is lightened a composite filling (white) is place

Free bleaching consult at our Highlands Ranch and Denver area Cosmetic Dental Office.

Please feel free to contact our office and ask for the free bleaching consultation at (303) 694-9740.

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

Dr’s DeLapp attending the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry 26th Annual Scientific Session.

From April 27 – May 1st 2010 Denver and Highlands Ranch Dentists Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp will be attending the 26 annual Session of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) in Grapevine Texas.  The AACD is the worlds largest international dental academy dedicated to the art and science of Cosmetic dentistry of which both doctors DeLapp are active members.

Information on Cosmetic dentistry expands each year.

Information in cosmetic dentistry is ever expanding and each year (month) something new is described or used.  At the Annual Session of the AACD the world’s premier dental educators gather to offer an depth training that proves information necessary to stay up to date in cosmetic dentistry. Ultimately… it is this commitment  that allows the Doctors DeLapp to provide the best care to their Highlands Ranch and Denver area dental patients.

AACD Combining both lecture and hands on course work

While attending the AACD the Dr’s DeLapp will attend both lecture and hands on course work.  The lectures consist of  world renowned speakers discussing  diagnosis and performance of cosmetic dentistry. The hands on course work occurs in small groups in which procedures are actually performed and evaluated by course directors and other participants. These small group hands-on course work is critical for our Denver area dentist to maintain their artistic skills..  Some of the course work the doctors will be taking include:

• Creating conservative composite restorations
• Composite artistry workshop
• The Epitome of Composite art
• Mastering composite artistry
• In office model preparation for cosmetic smile enhancement
• Artistry of dental veneers

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

Please feel free to call our Highlands Ranch dental office and make an appointment today at (303) 694-9740. Obviously our office will be closed during the last week in April so feel free to leave a message.  If you prefer to send us an e-mail please click the following link e-mail Highlands Ranch dentists

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

Dry Mouth can cause significant cavities

Xerostomia or dry mouth can cause rampant decay or cavities.  There are a variety of situations that cause xerostomia or dry mouth. As we age… our saliva becomes more viscus or less “watery” and… in addition…. medicines our patients  take can cause dryness.  Highlands Ranch  and Denver Dentists, Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp work to reduce the the risks of this rampant dental decay by rapid identification and treatment.  Their office serves patients from the South Denver Metro area including Lone Tree, Castle Pines, Centennial, Parker, Ken Caryl, and Denver Tech Center.

Why dry mouth matters

Saliva functions to wash away bacteria from the gums and teeth. When you have dry mouth this beneficial washing away of bacteria does not occur.  Bacteria then sticks to the tooth surface and acts like bacterial napalm.  Our Denver and Highlands Ranch dentists have seen rapid onset of dry mouth and the resulting decay occur over a period on “months” 

What are some of the causes of dry mouth occuring rapidly?

In most instances rapidly occuring dry mouth’s cause is a change in medicine or some type radiation treatment. There are so many types of medicine that can cause xerostomia as a side effect that the list could go on for pages.  General categories include medications to treat high blood pressure and Parkinson’s Disease to name a few.

How is dry mouth treated?

Dry mouth is treated by miticulous home care, fluoride treatment, frequent rinces with baking soda bicorbonate( to neutralized the acids) to name a few. The Blog sited earlier will give a more complete list.

Call and make an appointemtn with our Highlands Ranch and Denver dentists today

Please feel free to call our offce today and make an appointment at (303) 694-9740.

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

Dentistry above the gum line (Supragingival Dentistry)

With the advent of new dental materials our Denver and Highlands Ranch dentists are able to place tooth filling margins above the gums.  In the past … most of the materials dentists worked with were cemented rather than bonded to the tooth.  Cementing a dental restoration requires more tooth surface area. Denver Dentists Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp provide family and cosmetic dental services for patients in the Lone Tree, Highlands Ranch, Castle Pines, Parker, Centennial, Greenwood Village and Denver Tech Center areas of Colorado.

Esthetic advantages of all ceramic (tooth colored) materials

Our Highlands Ranch and Denver area dentists use all ceramic materials expecially in the front part of the mouth.  On occasion  they may choose to use ceramic material on first molars is esthetics dictates. Circa (2010) their office tends to use more traditional metal based material on the second molars (the very back tooth for many patients).

Why traditional metal restorations are usefull for back teeth

One of the elements that is difficult to predict with certainity is how much force the patient exerts on their back teeth. For many it is readily apparent and for other it is less apparent.  For these patients we have found that a traditional PFM  or full metal dental crown “may” work best.

Bonded restorations leave more of your tooth left

In order to do a traditional crown more tooth structure is removed when compared to a bonded inlay or onlay.  In this manner we are able to “tooth bank” this virgin tooth structure that may be needed to a traditional dental crown at a later date.

Call our Denver and Highlands Ranch dentists for an appointment today

Please feel free to call our office for an appointment today at (303) 694-9740. If you would like to send us an e-mail click the following link e-mail Denver and Highlands Ranch dentists

Thanks to Matt and Scott of

Denverfor their help with our websites and Blogs.  They can be reached by clicking on the following link Denver web design and SEO.