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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

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.

Composite dental filling as an alternative to gum surgery

A Dental materials company VOCO has produced an dental filling material that can be placed on root surfaces of teeth that is pink in color.  Highlands Ranch dentists Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp see a potential use in situations where gingival recession or abfractions have exposed the root surface.   Placing a typical “white dental filling” makes the tooth look very long. Their office served the Denver, Lone Tree, Castle Rock, Castle Pines,Parker, Centennial, Greenwood Village and Highlands Ranch areas of Colorado.

to view our dental practice video click the following link Dentist Highlands Ranch Colorado

Alternative to the long tooth look

Being “long in tooth“  is a term used years ago to describe someone who was older.  The long tooth seen was from gingival recession and was frequently seen in older individuals. There are certain situations where some type of gum surgery may “mitigate” this look of being long in tooth. Adding gum back to a receded  area has not been perfected.

Prevention of the long tooth may be the key

While treating the long tooth with either a pink filling material or gum surgery… the key may be in prevention. Two of several causes of the long tooth relate to gum disease and occlusal disease or abfraction.  Early detection and treatment of gum disease is the best medicine.  Occlusal guards and orthodontics “may” help with the occlusal disease.

Please feel free to call our Highlands Ranch and Denver Dentist today

You can schedule an appointment by calling (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.

Gum disease and Tissue Destruction

Denver Dentists Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp council their patients on the silent destruction that happens with periodontal disease. Periodontal disease (gum disease)causes the following:

• Frequent loss of gum tissue exposing more of your root surface
• Erosion of the bone holding the tooth in the jaw
• Tooth mobility (teeth wiggle back and forth)
• Loss of tooth
• Bad breath
• General fatigue or not feeling well
• Other….

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

Tissue Destructive Enzymes

Tissue destructive enzymes has been the focus of researchers for many years in the development of periodontal disease. Essentially what happens is enzymes degrade the collagen  (fibrous) network in the gum tissue. Dental researchers Fullmer and Gibson (Nature 1966) revealed that collagenase is present in the gum tissue of the patient.  It is this enzyme collagenase that destroys the gum tissue.

Antibiotic use in Periodontal disease

The knowledge on how tissue is destroyed led the Food and Drug Administration to approve the use of a tetracycline class of antibiotic in the treatment of periodontal disease. Doxyxycline is a collagenase-inhibiting antibiotic and  helps preserve the architecture  and form of the gum tissue. This drug combined with brushing, flossing, diet control and quitting smoking are effective in “most” patients with periodontal disease.

Schedule an appointment today

Please feel free to schedule an appointment today at our office at (303) 694-9740.  If your prefer to send us an e-mail please click the following link contact Denver dentist.

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 SEO.

 Smoking and Periodontal Disease Highlands Ranch Dentistry, Denver Dentistry.

It is generally assumed that everyone knows that smoking is hazardous to your health.  The risks of cancer, heart disease and premature death are well established in the medical community. Dental implications of smoking are also significant. Today, one of my long-term patients had another tooth extracted for periodontal reasons. Yes, he had been a long-term smoker. In my Highlands Ranch dental office patients, who smoke have the greatest number of teeth lost due to periodontal disease.  Highlands Ranch Dentists Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp treat patients with periodontal disease. Dr’s DeLapp also see dental patients from Parker, Denver, Castle Pines, Lone Tree, Douglas County, and Ken Caryl areas of Colorado.

Periodontal disease (gum idsease) is an infection of the gums and bone and it is the bone that holds your teeth in.  It is caused by the bacteria that are responsible for plaque and calculus (see our other blog postings).  Your body tries to fight this foreign body (plaque and calculus) and in doing so… ends up destroying itself (the bone).

Smoking and periodontal disease (gum disease)

Smoking helps cause periodontal disease several ways and include but is not limited to:

• Reduces your body’s ability to fight infection
• Reduces the production of saliva (see our Blog on dry-mouth destruction posting)
• Increases staining, which allows plaque to adhere more easily to the teeth and under the gums.
• Causes a micro-circulatory problem (the gums become less oxygenated e.g).
• If combined with other systemic diseases can cause gum disease to worsen.
• Combining with high sugar intake can be devastating
• Smoking reduces the success of dental implants
• Smoking increases the risks of dry socket infections after surgery
• … and much more. (more…)

Bad Breath, Highlands Ranch Dentist, Denver Dentist

Bad breath may be from dental problems or…it may be due from other causes. Bad breath  (a.k.a. halitosis) is often treatable. Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp Highlands Ranch dentists work with their patients to help them eliminate this.

There are several causes of bad breath including dental and non dental causes and include but is not limited to:

• Gum disease (periodontal disease)
• Cavities and other oral infections
• Smoking
• Aromatic foods like garlic and onions
• Milk and milk by products
• Stomach or intestinal problems
• Poor home care
• Other medical problems

Dental treatment of bad breath

Reducing or eliminating bad breath includes reducing the bacterial count found on your tongue, teeth and gums. Because of its large surface area with numerous grooves and places for bacteria to hide…. the tongue is a good place to start. Bacteria and fermenting food can hide in the fissures on your tongue and decompose creating that “special” odor.  In most instances these are anaerobic bacteria (grow without oxygen). The key is mechanically removing them and getting rid of the anaerobic bacteria.  For the tongue our Highlands Ranch dental office recommends using a tongue scraper combining with glyoxide or a diluted hydrogen peroxide mix as a rinse.  Your tongue should be pink and the white film on it is this plaque that may be contributing to your bad breath.

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3 month reared (recall) Highlands Ranch Dentist, Denver Dentist

If you have some form of periodontal disease or form plaque and calculus easily our Highlands Ranch Dental office recommends that we examine and clean your teeth every three (3) months.  Similar to weight gain… or diabetes… gum disease can only be controlled and not “cured”.  If it is not closely monitored it can quickly worsen and destroy bone and is one of the leading causes of tooth loss in the adult population.  Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp, Highlands Ranch Dentists, provide periodontal services for their dental patients living and working in Denver Castle Pines, Lone Tree, Parker, Douglas County and Ken Caryl Colorado areas.

Why is three (3) month schedule recommended?

The three (3) month re-care schedule is recommended because of how bacteria colonies develop under your gum line.  It takes approximately 90 days (3 months) for exceedingly destructive bacteria to repopulate your mouth. Aerobic bacteria colonies (needing oxygen) are replaced by anaerobic bacteria colonies (growing with out oxygen).  These types of bacteria are very destructive to your body and destroy the bone that holds your teeth in place.

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Arestin Highlands Ranch Dentist, Denver Dentist.

Arestin is a powder from of an antibiotic that is used to treat various forms of periodontal disease.  Dr. H. Candace DeLapp and Dr. James DeLapp, (Highlands Ranch Dentist) use Arestin on gum sites that are having difficulty in healing or have persistent bleeding.  This Highlands Ranch dental office also sees dental patients living in Douglas County, Denver, Ken Caryl, Lone Tree, Parker, and Castle Pines Colorado.  There are a number of ways to treat (or delay progression) gum disease and this is just one of many fine methods.

Our Highlands Ranch dentists use Arestin with scaling and root planing (deep cleaning) to try to reduce the depth of the pockets seen in periodontal disease and to reduce (hopefully) the progression of the disease.

Arestin is a powder form of minocycline (tetracycline like) material that is placed in your gum pocket.  When exposed to moisture in your mouth, it adheres to the tissue where it can be released slowly over a period of 21 days.  Arestin helps reduce the bacterial count that is responsible for the various forms of periodontal disease.

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• Periodontal disease

Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums and bone that holds the teeth in your mouth.  It is the leading cause of tooth loss in the adult population in the United States.  What makes this disease difficult to diagnose and treat is that there are few symptoms of periodontal disease and sometimes it appears to be getting better when in fact it is getting worse. Highland Ranch Dentists, Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp provide periodontal services for their dental patients in Denver, Ken Caryl Douglas County, Lone Tree and Castle Pines Colorado.

Causes of Periodontal disease Highlands Ranch Dentist

The main cause of periodontal disease is the bacteria found in plaque.  Bacteria can migrate under your gum and begin forming toxins that your body tries to reject As your body tries to defend itself from the plaque it has an unintended consequence of destroying the bone around the teeth.  At this point in time, once the bone is lost around the tooth it will not grow back.  Work with lasers may provide a solution to this problem but as of yet, it is still being researched.

When enough bone is lost around your teeth your teeth become mobile and eventually will fall out on their own.  Bone loss greater that 50% is considered advanced periodontal disease.

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 Scaling and root planing Highlands Ranch Dentist

Highlands Ranch dentists, Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp offer phase I periodontal therapy (root planing) in their dental office.  Scaling and root planing is the first stage of periodontal therapy.  Once this form of therapy has been completed, our Highlands Ranch dentist allow time for your body to heal and re-evaluate your periodontal tissues and see if any additional therapy is needed. Our Highlands Ranch dentist also serves dental patients in Parker, Denver, Douglas County, Castle Pine and Lone Tree Colorado.

What is scaling and root planing?

Scaling and root plaining is performed to eliminate or reduce the source of your gum infection by removing the plaque and tartar (calculus) and well as the bacteria and the bacterial toxins from below your gum line (and on the surfaces of the teeth and exposed roots).

What makes this termed… “deep cleaning” is the dentist or hygienist removes this debris deep under your gum line.  Almost universally… patients need to be numb in order to accomplish scaling and root planing (deep cleaning).  Frequently we employ scalers and well as ultrasonic instruments to help in this removal.  Frequently we irrigate the area with antimicrobials or paste forms of antibiotics to assist in the healing process.

Typically this treatment takes between 2 and 4 visits in order to complete.  Rarely acute (fast acting) gum infections after scaling and root planing and further treatment would be needed. The chronic nature of gum infections may require other forms of treatment including surgery and possibly loss of a tooth (teeth).

Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp (Highlands Ranch Dentists) provide periodontal therapy for their dental patients living in Denver, Parker, Douglas County, Ken Caryl, Castle Pine and Lone Tree Colorado.  Please feel free to contact their office at (303) 694-9740 for an appointment today.