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Why titanium for dental implants? Highlands Ranch dentist, Denver Dentistry

Our Highlands Ranch cosmetic dental office uses titanium implants for their patients. Over the years there had been several types of metal and metal alloys have been tried for dental implants.  Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp, Highlands Ranch cosmetic dentists use Nobel Bio-Care dental implants for their dental patients. Their office sees dental patients from Parker, Lone Tree, Castle Pines, Ken Caryl, Douglas County and Denver Colorado. Click here for Denver Implants Dentistry.

Nobel Biocare advanced the use of titanium for dental implants. Dr. Branemark was an orthopedic surgeon that noticed that titanium screws appears to fuse to the bone when compared to stainless steel screws.  His observations revolutionized the field of dental implants in cosmetic dentistry as well as in restorative dentistry.

What happens when a titanium dental implant is placed into the bone?

When placed in bone… it appears that titanium fuses or bonds to the bone.  The cells of your bone grow into the irregularities of the dental implant and become what dentists have termed osseointegrated (fuses to the bone).

Osseointegration takes between three (3) and six (6) months to complete.  What is noticed is that when osseointegration occurs…there is no mobility of the implant and most of the time (with some exceptions) we can proceed to placing the crown or appliance on top of the implant.

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Dental principle of central dominance and proportion in cosmetic dentistry Highlands Ranch dentistry, Denver Dentistry

Highlands Ranch dentists Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp provide cosmetic dental services to their patients in metro Denver area. Smile design is a process that uses certain principles to develop a balanced for a pleasing smile.  The principles of Central dominance and proportions will be described as they relate to cosmetic dentistry.

Central dominancein cosmetic dentistry

The principle of central dominance is best described in cosmetic dentistry as the central incisors should be the dominant teeth in the smile.  We all can recognize when this principle is violated and our attention is drawn to it immediately.

Principle of Proportions in cosmetic dentistry

In addition to central dominance, the principle of proportion of the central incisors  is  critical in Highlands Ranch cosmetic dentistry. This principle of proportion is that the teeth must be esthetically correct by obeying a mathematical formula for proportions.  That proportions formula is … the width to length ratio of the centrals should be 4: 5.  That is …if a tooth is 5 units long it should be only 4 units wide.  Another way to look at it is that the width should be 75-80% of its length.

Teeth with a 5:5 ratio (1:1) looks square and squatty while teeth widths of 60-75% of their length look long and out of proportion.

Highlands Ranch dentists Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp provide cosmetic dental services for their dental patients in Denver, Parker, Ken Caryl, Lone Tree and Castle Pines Colorado.  Smile design is one of the many factors that go into give you’re a pleasing and balanced smile. Their practice can be reached at (303) 694-9740

 Lights used to whiten teeth… they are not a laser

There is some misconceptions about what is needed to whiten teeth is it the light or is it the bleach?  Highlands Ranch dentists, Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp provide cosmetic dentistry including dental whitening for their patients.  The question revolves around the light used to activated the whitening solution.  Is it a laser?

The light systems are generally of two different types. One is a blue wavelength light and is NOT a laser.  It is a mercury vapor plasma arc lamp that emits almost no heat or UV radiation.  It is considered very save but it is not a laser.  The second type of light is a mercury metal halide lamp which is filtered to emit light in wavelength of 350 nm.  This light uses an infrared filter to reduce the heat to the tooth surface and may emit UVB  emissions. It also is not a laser.

The most significant key is the bleaching solutions with are generally peroxide in the bleaching solution.  The key to whitening the teeth is the concentration of the solution and the time the solutions spends on the tooth. The whitening light may speed up the process but there is a misconception (by some advertising) that it is a laser. Our Highland Ranch cosmetic dentists use Luma whitening which also has a light that may speed up the process but also is not a laser.

Highlands Ranch dentists Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp provide cosmetic dentistry to their Denver area patients. If you have any questions about one hour whitening… please feel free to contact our office at (303) 694-9740.

What is the process for dental veneers if I wish to proceed?

Highlands Ranch dentists Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp provide cosmetic dentistry services for their patients in the Denver Metro area. The steps for dental veneers depend upon the complexity of your case. Getting the most optimum outcome is our goal and we” never” recommend starting a veneer case without the following homework to customize your case.

• A traditional dental examination This is where everything begins, the foundation.
• Diagnostic Radiographs-.This allows us to evaluate the health of your teeth and gums to see if you are eligible to have dental veneers placed.

Extra-oral Digital Dental Photographs.

These photographs of your teeth and smile evaluation gives us very important information. It shows the following information:

1. How much tooth exposure you show at rest (repose).
2. Your smile line and how much gum do you show.
3. The shape of your existing teeth… straight… oval… rounded.

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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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Cost of Veneers Highlands Ranch Dentist, Denver Dentistry

Each dental patient cosmetic needs are so different that to give one fee would be misleading at best. Obviously, there are routine cases, moderate cases and complex cases and each has it own level of complexity and corresponding costs. Our Highlands Ranch cosmetic dental office will customize your treatment plan.  If you would just like to talk to the doctors to get and idea of what is possible please feel free to contact our office.

 As a guide only, (circa 2008),  eight (8) dental veneers on a “routine case runs “around” twelve thousand dollars. Each year cost are likely to go up so check with our office. Certainly your veneers could run more to… substantially more… there is just no way to predict without seeing where you are at without an evaluation and customized treatment plan.

Dental financing is available.

Care Credit and Capital One are financing companies that we work with. The better your credit score the more favorable the rates. Depending upon your credit you could finance the twelve thousand dollars. eight (8) veneer case for as little as $250 – $350 (e.g. but can vary) per month for Capital One and similar with Care Credit.

Capital One dental financing (click here)

Care Credit dental financing (click here)

Highlands Ranch Dentists Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp provide cosmetic dentistry including dental veneers.  Cost of dental veneers can be a barrier to treatment and we try to provide our patients with options should they choose to do so. Please feel free to contact us at (303) 694-9740 to schedule an appointment today.

• Why Dental Veneers Highlands Ranch dentistry, Denver Dentistry 

Dental veneers may be for patients who need more that tooth bleaching, our Highlands Ranch Cosmetic Dentists- serving Lone Tree, Castle Pines, Douglas County, Ken Caryl, Parker and the Greater Denver area, offer “porcelain veneers”. Dental veneers are one of many options for the patient who wants to change the appearance of their smile. Dental veneers may “correct” uneven, crowded or discolored teeth or all porcelain crowns used in conjunction with veneers can replace missing teeth and fill in gaps in your smile.

 Why do patient choose to do dental porcelain veneers?.

There are many reasons why patients choose to have porcelain veneers placed that to list all the reasons would be an unmanageable number. Truly, everyone is different but as you are aware, the smile is the gateway to the soul. If your teeth are crooked, crowded stained, or chipped you are less likely to smile and others perception of you can be affected. Some of the reasons we have seen include:

•  I dislike the color of my teeth.
• My teeth are getting shorter as I age
• My teeth make me look older than I feel
• My teeth are stained from antibiotics  (tetracycline) or minerals in the water.
• I have contact with the public and my teeth give a poor
  impression of me.

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Types of tooth whitening Highlands Ranch Dentistry, Denver Dentistry

There are many different types of procedures used to bleach or whiten your teeth. Our Highlands Ranch dentists, Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp provide Denver cosmetic dentistry for their patients.  Tooth whitening has been around for many years and it is safe and effective for most dental patients.

Our Highlands Ranch cosmetic dentist have found that the base color of your tooth is what determines your outcome.  In general, teeth bleaching works best on teeth that have a yellow base color and worst on grays and brown combinations.  The gray (tetracycline e.g.) either will lighten very slowly or not at all.  If you have whitened your teeth with Crest bleaching strips (e.g.) your color change may not be as dramatic.

Whitening toothpastes.

We have found very little change with this type of product.  Whitening is determined by concentration of the tooth bleaching product and time on contact.  The whitening toothpastes are neither concentrated nor stay on your tooth very long.  We have noticed is …more tooth sensitivity with their use.

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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
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Dental bridges: Denver Dentistry, Highlands Ranch Dentistry

When you have a tooth extracted a dental bridge may be a good choice for replacing this tooth. The overall requirement is that you have teeth on either side of the missing space so the bridge can span over the space. Highlands Ranch Dentists, Dr. H. Candace DeLapp and Dr. James DeLapp provide dental bridges for their patients.

Definitions of Dental Bridges- Highlands Ranch Dentistry

There are three parts to a dental bridge.  The easiest to describe is the spanning structure called the pontic.  Attached to both ends of the pontic and attached to the tooth are the abutments.  The abutments are like thimbles that fit over the reduced tooth structure called the crown or bridge preparation.The teeth on either side of the spaces are what hold the bridge in place.

Procedure for a dental bridge first visit

The procedures for a dental bridge include but are not limited to:

• Getting the area numb
• Shaping your tooth so a crown (abutment) can fit over it

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