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Bleeding gums may be not be due to gum disease

For the vast majority of situations when our Highlands Ranch dentists see bleeding gums they associate this with some type of gum disease.  While being a disproportionate differential diagnosis there are “rare” instances where bleeding gums are not dentally related.  Certain medical problems can be associated with bleeding gums. In addition certain medication can increase the risk of gum disease most notably Dilantin used to control seizures. Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp  provide general and cosmetic dentistry for their patients in the Denver, Lone Tree, Castle Pines, Parker, Ken Caryl, Castle Rock, and Denver Tech Center areas of Colorado

Cancer and bleeding gums Denver Dentistry

Now before everyone gets worried about bleeding gums ….you should know that this is an uncommon but “possible” finding.  As an example Dr. James DeLapp has seen one case of this in his twenty-five (25)years of practice. In this case the patient presented with a chief complaint of bleeding gums that was progressively getting worse. The “look” of the gums was “odd” and she was referred to her physician.  Blood work subsequently revealed leukemia as a diagnosis.

Most common causes of Bleeding Gums

Bleeding upon brushing or flossing while common indicates that an active infective disease process is going on.  Chronic bleeding gums can affect your overall health and can “contribute” to a variety of medical problems including heart and kidney problems.

No matter what the “cause” … get your gums treated properly

Scheduling an exam …x-rays and cleaning is the first best step in disease prevention.  We can’t treat what we do not know about.  Please feel free to contact our Highlands Ranch dentists and make an appointment today.  The can be reached at (303) 694-9740

Cavities more prevalent in cleft lip and palate patients

In the September 2009 The Palate-Craniofacial Journal describes a study that evaluated the decay or cavities increase risk in patients with cleft lip or palate. Denver dentists Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp have speculated as to why they have seen an increase in cavities in this population.  This study did not speculate as to the cause but only looked showed there was a difference.

The population they studied

The population they studied consisted of 53 patient with cleft lip or palate and 53 age related siblings without cleft lip. In this study 85% of patient with cleft exhibited a moderate or high dental cavity rate compared to 43% in the control group. This study done in Syria did not state if these cleft palate patient had undergone any type of repair of the defect. The position of the teeth in clefting can vary and may pose (as a guess) more difficulty in brushing and flossing.  In addition, how does this study compare to U.S. rates of decay were not discussed or speculated on.

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

Everyone benefits from good oral hygiene …fluoride and professional dental cleanings

Good/great home care combined with fluoride and seeing your dentist on a regular basis is the hallmark of preventive dentistry. The key is keeping the bacteria that causes tooth decay and periodontal disease (gum disease) in managable numbers.  If these bacteria which are found in plaque are allowed to multiply in great numbers their bacterial by-product is an acid which demineralizes the tooth and causes a cavity or gum disease!

For an appointment call our Denver area dentists today!

Please feel free to call our office and schedule an appointment today at (303) 694-9740

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.

Dental Emergencies in Denver and Lone Tree Colorado

Avoiding dental emergencies we should think would be the goal of most dental patients. Recently a patient of another dentist contacted our Lone Tree dental office over the weekend with a tooth that had become infected. Their chief complaint was pain and… difficulty in swallowing.  Any dental infection can progress and when it progresses to the point where there is difficulty in swallowing it ends up out the the treatment of general dentists and becomes something an endodontist or oral surgeon should handle. Dr. James deLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp see patients in the Highlands Ranch, Castle Pines, Castle Rock, Ken Caryl, Greenwood Village and Centennital Colorado

Significant swelling my involve going to the emergency room

Significant tooth swelling may need to be treated in the emergency room. While rare in the United States dental  infection have the potiental to cause significant medical problems and should be addressed at their earliest presentations. Regular dental examination can significantly reduce (not eliminate) unexpected dental infections.  Seeing your Lone Tree and Denver dentist on a regular basis is best medicine.

Dental emergencies rarely occur at convienient times

It seems like dental emergencies never occur at good times.  They occur late at night or on the weekends or holidays. Delaying dental treatment increases your risks of and unintended dental emergencies. 

Call our Lone Tree and Denver Dentist today

Please feel free to call our office at (303) 694-9740 for an appointment today.

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

Tartar or Calculus Development on Teeth

Tartar or calculus is a mineral deposit that can form on teeth.  In a way it is “similar” to a stalagtite and stalagmite that form in caves. Highlands Ranch dentists Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp are called on at times to remove these deposits from their patients teeth. The doctors DeLapp also see patients in Lone Tree, Castle Pines, Parker, Castle Rock and Denver Metro area

How calculus is formed Highlands Ranch dentistry

Calculus is formed when “plaque” (that film on your teeth) has not been removed for a while.  The plaque is calcified in areas that are difficult to brush and by glands that secrete calcium heavy saliva.  The most typical areas for calculus to form is on the cheek side of the upper molars and behind the from teeth.

Case study

One of our Highlands Ranch dental patients who had never missed his 6-month cleaning schedule was delayed in returning to our office.  Despite his best efforts the calculus formed and can be seen below.  Obviously, the only one that can removed this deposit is a hygienist or a dentist.  It was successfully removed and the before and after pictures below.

Please call our Highland Ranch dentist today

Call our dental office today for an appointment at (303) 694-9740

What can be done about tetracycline staining on teeth Highlands Ranch

A question came up at at birthday party our Denver Dentists Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp attended this weekend. This individual had had several does of tetracycline administered as a child for various reasons.  The unintended result was a significant darkening of their teeth and the question posed was… what can be done for this?

Will teeth whitening work?

Teeth whiten may or … may not work!  It depends upon the severity of the staining.  Our Dentists in Denver have not found a predictable way to determine how effective teeth whitening will be. The key is to whiten teeth and monitor the results.  In most instances it involves combining one-hour Luma teeth whitening with custom made take home whitening trays. Carbamide peroxide is the most common whitening solution that is used.  I comes in different concentrations an is responsible for whitening.

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

Dental Veneers

Dental veneers may be the most effective method of improving your smile if you have significant staining of your teeth due to tetracycline staining.  There are many methods and material uses to treat this.  In many instances pressed ceramic veneers may be most effective of blocking out the dark teeth.

Call today

Please call our Highlands Ranch and Denver dentists today and schedule an appointment today.  An appointment can be made at (303) 694-9740

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

Clinical Research on tooth sensitivity

Teeth sensitivity is a common affliction that many patients report.  Causes of the tooth sensitivity can range from something as simple as root sensitivity to something as complex as dental decay of fracture of the tooth.  Highlands Ranch dentists Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp want to evaluate the “cause” of the sensitivity in order to render appropriate treatment. For tooth fracture the treatment could range from something as simple as a dental filling to something as complex as having a tooth extracted.

Simple tooth sensitivity in Highlands Ranch

There actually may not be anything that can truly be call simple sensitivity.  However…  if it does exist… in most instances it is caused by exposure of the root to the environment. Having the root exposed may be caused by periodontal disease or by “simple” gum recession.  What ever the cause… our Highlands Ranch dentist want to keep the “cause” from progressing.

New research in tooth sensitivity

Schiff et al (2009) in the American Journal of Dentistry found that combining 8% arginine and calcium carbonate provides significant  relief in tooth sensitivity. The double blind study used 68 volunteers and found significant improvement with the arginine/calciium carbonate combination.  As in all new research there is currently no product available with this combination but in the “future” on is expected to be produced.

Call our Dentist in Highlands Ranch for an appointment today!

Please feel free to call our office today at (303) 694-9740

Crown lengthening

A recent article in the ADA News discusses the thinking process dentist should go through when determining whether to do crown lengthening. Highlands Ranch dentists Dr. James DeLapp and H. Candace DeLapp look for cases where crown lengthening would be appropriate. In a review of the lecture and article of  Dr. Suzuki an Associate Dean at Temple University School of Dentistry stressed the importance of a review of the patients medical history and what is seen clinically.

to view our dental practice video click the following link

Dentistry in Highlands Ranch

Medical history of our Highlands Ranch Dental Patients

A review of your pertinent medical history is important before any crown lengthening is undertaken.  The procedure is a gum surgery in which more of the tooth root is exposed by removing a “little” of the bone around it. Medical history elements to consider include but are not limited to:

• History of smoking
• Drug or alcohol use
• Blood pressure
• Liver health
• Lung health
• Diabetes
• arthritis
• Other

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