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Dentist Highlands Ranch

Our Highlands Ranch dentists, Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp have been very strong advocates of fluoride treatment for the past 25 years. Fluoride treatments in children has been the standard of care for children but fluoride treatment of the adult population if “finally” gaining acceptance. Our Highlands Ranch dentists have been providing fluoride treatment for their adult patients free of charge since 1982.Dr’s DeLapp serve patients in the Denver, Lone Tree, Castle Pines. Ken Caryl, Parker, and Greenwood Village areas.

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

Dentist Highlands Ranch

Root decay in the adult population Dentist Highlands Ranch

Decay in the traditional locations are still possible in the adult population.  However, adults are at risk for decay on the root surfaces of teeth.  Age… prescription medications can contribute to a decrease in saliva.  Decreasing saliva increases your risk of decay. Fluoride treatment can reduce your risk.

For more information of a variety Highlands Ranch dental care subjects please consult our dental care library by clicking on the following link Dentist Highlands Ranch

Please feel free to contact our Highlands Ranch dentist for an appointment today at (303) 694-9740.

Thanks to Scott and Matt of US Web Central an can be reached by clicking on the following link Denver SEO

No Drill or Prep-less Veneers… sounds too good to be true…. it “may” be!

There has been a lot of information on dental veneers that can be placed on your teeth simply with no reduction of tooth structure. This technique is a resurfacing of a technique from the 1980’s and it works in a few cases… maybe less that you are lead to believe. The question is… how useful is it?

Highlands Ranch dentists Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H, Candace DeLapp provide cosmetic dentistry to their patients in Denver, Ken Caryl, Lone Tree, Castle Pines, and the Parker Colorado area.

Indications for using the no drill prep-less veneers include:

• The shade/color of the natural teeth must be close to the desired shade. These dental veneers are so thin that the underlying dark color may show through.
• The “profile” (the lateral view… from the side) of the teeth must be ideal. This means that the teeth cannot be flared out and should be tilted inwards for this technique to work.
• The arch form must be in perfect alignment, i.e. one or more teeth cannot stick out further than the rest of the teeth in the arch.
• Simple closing of spaces between your teeth combined with the above indications.
• In our opinion, less than 10% fall into this category.

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 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…)

The American Dental Association (ADA) Oral Longevity Web Site

Highlands Ranch Dentist, Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp are pleased to announce a web site developed by the American Dental Association for seniors.

It is hoped this site is easy to navigate and is responsible for distributing oral health information to the adult maturing population.  This web site is divided into several sections described as:

• The oral longevity landing page with useful information
• A professional section for dentist
• A Resource center for our aging population to “empower seniors to take control of their oral health.”
• Commonly asked senior dental questions and answers (click here)
• Program outlines for presenting the DVD to dental professionals, patients, allied health care providers and care-givers.
• Clinical articles and other dental publications for dentist and patients.

This site can be reached at: www.orallongevity.ada.org

Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp (Highlands Ranch Dentists) also serve dental patients living and working in Denver, Ken Caryl, Castle Pines, Douglas County, Lone Tree and Parker Colorado area.  They can be reached at (303) 694-9740.

Regular denta exams… Highlands Ranch Dentist… Denver Dentist

View our practice video (click here)

Because our Highlands Ranch dentists are committed to your best care, we recommend an examination and dental prophylaxis (cleaning) at least every six months. For many, we recommend seeing you every 3-4 months to promote a healthy mouth. Most dental problems start small, but then go through a rapidly worsening stage i.e. small problems can get worse fast!. Have you ever experienced coming in for an exam after just a year and found something had worsened quickly? Regular dental checkups enable us to catch these small (hopefully) dental  problems before they become significant.

Serious dental conditions begin as small treatable problems. Plaque (a sticky film of food and bacteria form constantly on your teeth) can harden in as little as 24 hours to become calculus (tartar). Even with proper brushing and flossing, most dental patients are unable to remove all the plaque every day. This results in tartar (calculus) buildup.

The bacteria in plaque and tartar (calculus) are the main causes of gingivitis (an inflammation that makes your gums enlarge and bleed and causes bad breath). Gingivitis is reversible, but if left untreated can lead to periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease

Periodontal disease is an infection, which causes:

•  Receding gums
•  Bone loss-bone supports your tooth
• Tooth loss. (nothing left to hold your teeth in)
• Periodontal disease requires much  more complex treatment than gingivitis.

to contact us (click here)

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Cottonwood Dental Group’s High Risk Dental Decay Protocol.

This protocol was taken in part from the California Dental Associations November 2007 report on caries risk assessment. Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp, Highlands Ranch Dentists, have seen rampant decay that has occured over a few months and has been most frustrating for the dentist and the dental patients. Most of the literature in the past has not had such a good protocols as this. Certainly, home fluoride and diet control have been the mainstay in the past but now we are turning up the heat and adding significantly more therapies Until rampant decay can be shown to be under control “complex” dental treatment is not recommended. Once the environment shows a low caries (decay) risk then complex dental treatment can proceed. Ultimately if not controlled you can lose you teeth!

Our dental practice video (click here)

Cottonwood Dental Group P.C. has begun using the assessment tools listed below and are working with our patients to reduce their caries risk. Our example is listed below:

Our assessment reveals you are at Extreme risk of having new dental decay (cavities) in the near future because you have several significant risks factors listed below:

1. Medical history
2. Low salivary flow
3. Age related
4. Prescription related
5. Visible decay/root decay
6. Radiographic decay/restorations
7. Periodontal disease
8. Diet (simple sugars etc)
9. Sodas
10. Brushing
11. Flossing
12. Other

Contact us (double click here)

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“Dry Mouth” Destruction- Xerostomia Dental Patients in Highlands Ranch

Over the past several years our Highlands Ranch and Denver dentists  have noticed an increase in the number of dental patients who have a “complaint of dry mouth” and we are seeing the devastating effects on their oral health. Dentists term this “xerostomia”, which literally means dry mouth. Its causes are many and its consequences can include rampant decay and gum disease.

Our dental practice video (click here) 

What are Denver dentists are seeing that concerns us

What we are seeing that concerns us is in the last few months, several of our dental patients have come into the office with rampant decay and gum disease. In one of our Dental Patients, the decay had become so significant that extracting many teeth was our only option. In a new Dental  Patient, decay had worked its way down the root surface and under a crown that had been done only a few years ago. In another Denture Patient who wears dentures, sore spots and lack of fit had become very bothersome. This problem is not new, it is a problem that every dentist understands but patients may or may not be aware of the devastating effects on oral health. Dentists see it as a problem that is worsening as patients in general are keeping their natural teeth for a much longer period of time and also are living longer. As we will discuss later, age and prescriptions can be the two main culprits for causing xerostomia.

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