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Two “reasons” for dental sedation

Highlands Ranch dentists, Dr James DeLapp, H. Candace DeLapp and Dr. Sarah Parsons have recently taken almost 250 combined hours of continuing dental education on sedation dentistry this year.  What is demonstrated time and again is dental sedation use can be broken down into two categories.

• Stress reduction protocols for a healthy patient with significant stress and…
• Stress reduction protocols for patients with some type of medical risk

Why dental sedation for Medical risk in Highlands Ranch

Everyone understands using dental sedation for high anxiety but what constitutes “medical risk”? Everyone thinks about significant medical risk but the need for dental sedation for a dental appointment is appropriate for high blood pressure. Stress from a dental appointment can exacerbate mild medical problems.  While medical emergencies in the dental office are unlikely… they do occur on rare occasions.  every attempt to mitigate the risk is appropriate.

Review of your medical history

Review of medical history is appropriate.  Sometimes delaying treatment until uncontrolled high blood pressure is the best dental treatment we can deliver (or not deliver).Taking your blood pressure and oxygen saturation give our Highlands Ranch dentist and idea of your medical status.  If your blood pressure is high is might be appropriate for you to have some nitrous oxide and oxygen with your dental procedure.

Call our Highlands Ranch office today

Please call our office today for an appointment at (303) 694-9740

I.V. access for I.V. Sedation

When starting I.V.’s a cannula is frequently used to start the I.V.  Other methods to start and I.V. include the use of a butterfly needle but it is not as stable as a cannula.  Doctors… to view the insertion of a cannula please click the following link http://www.archive.org/details/ImedrxTV-PeripheralIntravenousCannulation168?start=539.5

2 This is a second video on starting an I.V..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDK4YNPWu2Q&feature=related

3.  When you start an I.V. it is recommended that you use gloves.  In this example the operator does not use gloves. This is a large risk for the operator http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7FVhO33aOE&feature=related

4.. One of the nicest videos I have found includ this one from the New England Journal of Medicine.  It describes the how to.  Peripheral veins can be difficult before sedation because of the NPO status of the patients http://vodpod.com/watch/3644287-peripheral-intravenous-cannulation

Dr. Berry the Armadillo racer

Little did any know renowned academician Dr. Tom Berry Professor at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine had a double life. Not only is he know for his academic prowess but also for racing armadillo’s.  To view an updated version of Dr. Berry please click on the following link Dr. Tom Berry Armadillo Racer.  The race was a benefit for the Give back a smile program at the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry AACD.

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.

Our Dental office will be closed for Spring Break

The Highlands Ranch and Denver area dental office of Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp will be closed this next week during spring break.  The University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine is on break and the Dr.’s DeLapp coordinate their breaks with the School.  Both doctors teach at the University in the Department of Operative Dentistry and try to optimize their teaching duties. Dr. Jeff Kaes and classmate of Dr. James DeLapp will be taking dental emergency call for all their existing patients of record  Monday through Friday of this week.

Call our Highlands Ranch dental office today

Please feel free to call our office and leave a message and we will return you call when we get back into the office.  Please call (303) 694-9740

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.

Western American Indian Art

A patient and friend who has been in my practice for many years just got up a web site for Western and Cowboy art.  This is one site you should link to Please check it out by clicking on the following link Western American Indian Art

The following is web sites or blogs that we link to.Please feel free to look at this list

BlogRankings.com

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/health/medicine