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When to Worry About Gum Disease
February 1, 2023

Did you know your gums tell you a lot about the health of your smile? The health of your gums gives you lots of signs about the health of your teeth and whole mouth. Let’s talk about when to worry about gum disease so you’ll know when to take action.

Why Gum Health is Important

When people think of dental health, many often only think of their teeth, but gum health is also very important. When your gums aren’t healthy, it can impact the health of your teeth, but if you keep them healthy, it will go a long way toward keeping your smile healthy and happy.

Important Signs to Watch For

You’re probably wondering how to know if your gums are healthy and when to worry about gum disease. Gum disease starts with inflammation of the gums or the tissue surrounding your teeth. Inflammation can be caused by lack of dental hygiene and plaque or tartar build-up. Signs of gum disease include red, swollen, tender, or bleeding gums. If you notice red on your toothbrush or floss, your gums are likely experiencing inflammation.

If gum disease goes untreated for a prolonged period, your gums can become infected or progress to a more serious form of gum disease called periodontitis. Periodontitis can lead to receding gums, serious damage to your teeth and jaw, and dental loss.

Periodontitis isn’t curable, but proper treatment can help slow or stop its progression and limit its effects on your smile. That’s why it’s important to recognize the signs of gum disease early and get treatment as soon as possible!

Talking With Your Dentist About Gum Health

If you have concerns about your gum health, you should call your dentist as soon as possible! Having a dentist specializing in common conditions for seniors, such as periodontitis, can be helpful to ensure that you get advice tailored to your specific needs and challenges.

Knowing when to worry about gum disease and taking the necessary steps to get your gum health on track can go a long way to keeping your smile healthy and strong, so don’t hesitate to talk with your dentist at the first sign of gum inflammation!

Call our Greenwood Village Dental Office to make an appointment with a dentist who may be able to help you find out more about this topic, and improve your oral health.

January 2, 2023

Trying to decide between implants, bridges, and dentures? It’s a big decision and weighing your options can feel overwhelming. How do you know which one to choose? Here are 5 reasons to choose implants to help you decide if they are the right choice.

1. Restore Your Smile

One of our top reasons to choose dental implants is that they can restore your smile to wholeness in a way that no other solution can! Since dental implants look just like your natural teeth, you’ll feel like you have your beautiful natural smile back!

2. Easily Care for Your Dental Health

Dental implants don’t just look like your natural teeth – they also feel and function just like them, too! This makes caring for your implants easier than caring for your teeth before implants. No need to remove them for soaking overnight or use special tools to clean around the tricky nooks and crannies of a dental appliance!

3. Improve Your Confidence

When you experience the benefits of dental implants, you’ll be surprised by how much your confidence improves! This is another one of our favorite reasons to choose implants – we love to watch our patience experience newfound confidence in their smiles.

4. Enjoy Your Favorite Food

Options like dentures and bridges can help restore the look of your smile, but they don’t fully restore the function of your natural smile. They often hold you back with a long list of foods you should avoid. Dentures can also fall out at the most inopportune times!

Implants, however, look, feel, and function just like natural teeth, so you can eat your favorite foods without restrictions or fear of embarrassing mishaps!

5. Experience Long-Lasting Results

Trying to figure out the right dental loss solution can feel overwhelming – there are a lot of things to consider! When you choose implants, they are designed to last a lifetime, so it’s not unusual to never have to worry about figuring out a solution again! You can simply enjoy your beautiful new smile for all of the golden years ahead!

Call our Greenwood Village Dental Office to make an appointment with a dentist who may be able to help you find out more about this topic, and improve your oral health.

December 1, 2022

If you’ve seen a regular dentist for years, why would you need to see a specialist? That’s a great question! Seeing a specialist can have many benefits, especially for those who suffer from ongoing conditions. Read on to learn about the difference specialty dental care can make for you.

Senior Dental Care

When you’ve seen the same dentist for years, it can be difficult to think about seeing someone new. But it’s not uncommon for regular dentists to recommend that their patients see a specialist when they know how much they can benefit from specialized care.

As we age, certain health challenges become more common. Your dental health is no exception. If you’ve begun to experience age-related dental issues, a dentist who specializes in senior dental care can offer the unique experience and advice required to help slow the progress of your dental conditions and minimize your discomfort.

Senior patients are also more likely to be at risk for interactions with existing medications. A dentist who specializes in senior dentistry knows this and can help mitigate the risks by asking you the right questions to ensure your safety before treating your dental conditions. The difference specialty dental care can make is immeasurably important when it involves your well-being.

Finding a Specialist

If you believe it might be time to find a specialist dentist, there are a few ways you can go about your search. If you have friends or neighbors who see a specialist dentist, asking for a recommendation can be a great place to start. You can also ask your doctors for a recommendation. Another great way to find a specialist dentist is by calling your insurance company for a list of dentists in your area who specialize in senior dental care.

Call a Specialist Dentist Today

The difference specialty dental care can make for you can feel like night and day once you’ve experienced it. Call today to make an appointment with a dentist who specializes in senior dental care so that you can see the difference for yourself.

Call our Greenwood Village Dental Office to make an appointment with a dentist who may be able to help you find out more about this topic, and improve your oral health.

Caring for Your Dentures
November 1, 2022

Dentures have lots of benefits, but they also come with their own set of challenges. We’ve got lots of tips and tools to make life with dentures easier and more enjoyable! Here’s what you should know about caring for your dentures.

Benefits of Dentures

Thanks to modern advancements in dentistry, today’s dentures are designed to fit comfortably and perform much like natural teeth. Available in various materials, from porcelain to plastic, your dentist can help you find the right dentures to suit your lifestyle and budget. Dentures can truly be a cost-effective way to restore your smile.

If you want a natural-looking solution to help renew your confidence in your smile when eating and socializing, dentures can be the perfect fit for your dental restoration needs.

Denture Maintenance

Another advantage of dentures is how easy they are to care for. Caring for your dentures is simple because they are removable. All dentures typically require is to be brushed daily with a gentle, denture-specific brush and to be soaked overnight in a gentle denture-cleansing solution. Your dentist can give you tips on the best tools and cleansing solutions for the type of dentures you have.

Your dentist can also advise you on the best foods to eat and which ones should be enjoyed in moderation or avoided to help your dentures continue to look their best and last the longest. Caring for your dentures is easy when you’re armed with the expertise of an expert in caring for your dentures.

Senior Dental Care

If you’re considering whether you should get dentures or not, it’s important to talk with a dentist who understands all your options as well as the unique advantages and challenges of each.

Having a dentist who specializes in dental care for seniors can make a world of difference. While regular dentists might work with patients of all ages, specialists have chosen to focus their practice on the specific needs of a select set of patients so that they can provide the best care for their patient’s unique needs.

Call our Greenwood Village Dental Office to make an appointment with a dentist who may be able to help you find out more about this topic, and improve your oral health.

October 3, 2022

If you’ve had restorative dental work done, you might be wondering, do implants or bridges need dental cleanings? Let’s talk about when this is necessary so that you can make sure your new smile is cared for properly.

What is a Dental Cleaning?

Before we answer the question, “Do implants and bridges need dental cleanings?” let’s start by talking about what a dental cleaning is. A dental cleaning is a professional cleaning of your teeth that is performed by a dental hygienist who works alongside your dentist to help you keep your smile healthy.

Regular daily brushing at home is always important, but a dental hygienist has special tools and the expertise to clean areas that a regular toothbrush and at-home dental care routine won’t be able to reach such as between your teeth, along your gum line, or around dental appliances like bridges.

Do I Need a Dental Cleaning?

If you’ve had restorative dental work done, you’re probably wondering, “Do implants or bridges need dental cleanings like natural teeth?” The short answer is, “Yes, they do.”

Implants and bridges are made to function just like natural teeth, so they’re also susceptible to buildup of plaque that needs to be cleaned regularly by a dental professional. Dental cleanings are also important to keep your gums healthy, too, because if bacteria buildup occurs along the gum line, it can lead to gum disease.

How Often Should You Get a Dental Cleaning?

Dental cleanings are recommended every 6 months for healthy individuals with no history of dental problems or health conditions that impact their dental health. If you have health conditions that might affect your teeth or gums or, a history of dental health issues, talk with your dentist to find out how often you should visit for a dental cleaning to help ensure that your dental health stays in top shape.

Call our Greenwood Village Dental Office to make an appointment with a dentist who may be able to help you find out more about this topic, and improve your oral health.

September 1, 2022

Loving your smile doesn’t have to stop as you age or experience dental health issues. You may even love your smile more! Here’s how to love your smile no matter what challenges you face.

Dental Challenges are Normal

Many people feel self-conscious when they experience dental health issues or challenges, but that’s often because they don’t know how common they are, especially when they are age-related. Recognizing that you’re not the only one suffering from challenges can help you to love your smile with confidence and feel less alone as you seek ways to resolve those challenges.

How Your Dentist Can Help

Thanks to modern dental technology, dentists can do amazing things to help maintain and restore your beautiful smile. There are so many options now, you might find it hard to choose! From dentures and bridges to implants and crowns, you’re sure to find a solution that works for you! Let’s examine some of the pros and cons of each option.

The Best Solution for You

Dentures can be a great cost-effective solution for people who want a simple and affordable solution, but it also has some downsides. Dentures aren’t as strong as some of the other options available, might become loose at inopportune times, require dietary restrictions, and need to be removed for soaking overnight.

Bridges and implants with crowns, on the other hand, can provide a more permanent solution because they are fixed in place like your natural teeth and made of stronger material. Because of this, they also function more like your natural teeth, reducing or eliminating the need for dietary restrictions. They can also be cleaned by brushing and flossing, just like you’re used to!

Schedule a Consultation

The best solution for someone else might not be the best solution for you, so it’s important to talk with a dentist you trust about which options are available to fit your specific dental needs, budget, and lifestyle. Our goal is for each of our patients to truly love their smile, so don’t hesitate to ask any questions you have!

Call our Greenwood Village Dental Office to make an appointment with a dentist who may be able to help you find out more about this topic, and improve your oral health.

Better Dental Care for Seniors
August 1, 2022

Quality dental care knows no age limit! Better dental care for seniors starts with having the right tools and support. Here’s what you should know to keep your dental health in top shape and feel confident about your care.

Caring for Your Teeth at Home

Age can bring its own set of challenges and sometimes they catch us by surprise. But better dental care for seniors often starts with having the right tools. When it comes to dental care, we have lots of tips that we’ve found to be helpful.

If you suffer from arthritis or dexterity-related conditions, it can feel extra challenging to maneuver a regular toothbrush with a slim handle. Using a toothbrush with a larger handle — or an electric toothbrush — can help make it easier to grip and control the toothbrush. Your toothpaste container should also have a large, easy-grip, easy-open cap that doesn’t require twisting for greatest ease of use!

If flossing also feels challenging, floss picks can be useful because they can help eliminate the need to wind a long strand of floss around and between your fingers. Floss picks are essentially plastic handles with a small section of floss stretched across one end, so you simply hold the handle to floss.

Caring for Your Teeth at the Dentist Office

Visiting the dentist regularly is important, too. Getting a regular exam is helpful to catch problems early before they cause discomfort and so that they are more easily treatable. When you visit the dentist, ask how often you should visit to keep your teeth in optimum health.

It’s also important to see the right dentist who has experience with the challenges and conditions you face. Better dental care for seniors starts with having a dentist who is as compassionate as they are passionate about dental care.

Your Dental Care Team

When choosing your dentist, make a list of questions so that you can get to know your dentist and what they specialize in. You deserve a dental care team that cares about your comfort, understands the unique conditions you face, and works with you to solve any challenges.

Call our Greenwood Village Dental Office to make an appointment with a dentist who may be able to help you find out more about this topic, and improve your oral health.

July 1, 2022

When you move to a new town or your favorite dentist retires, searching for a new dentist can be overwhelming. You’re not alone! We’re here to help. Here’s a handy guide to help you with finding a new dentist that meets your needs.

Make a List of Questions

When beginning the journey of finding a new dentist, it can be helpful to start by making a list of questions. Does the dental care provider you’re looking at accept your insurance? Do they specialize in the conditions or treatment you’ll need? Are their office hours and location convenient?

Having a list written down for reference can help you to clarify what you’re looking for so that you can more easily find a new dentist who meets all of your dental care needs.

Ask Your Insurance

If you have insurance that covers dental care, you can start by calling your insurance company to ask for a list of local dentists that are within your plan’s coverage. Seeing a dentist within your insurance network can help to save you a lot of money.

If you don’t have dental insurance, don’t worry! We’ve got more tips ahead to help you with finding a new dentist!

Ask Friends, Family, and Neighbors

Whether you’re looking for a new dentist in the same town or you’ve moved to a new town, one of the easiest ways to find a new dentist with a great reputation is to ask people in your social circle.

Ask your friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, and other doctors or medical providers if there’s a dentist they’d recommend. If you have special dental care needs, ask people you know who might have the same needs as you which dentist they visit. If people are happy with their dentist, they’ll be more than glad to recommend them to you!

Visit a Few!

Once you have a recommendation (or a few!), make an appointment for a consultation! Just because you visit a dental office doesn’t mean you need to stay with them, but it’s always best to visit in person so that you can choose the dental care team that makes you feel truly comfortable and confident in their care.

Call our Greenwood Village Dental Office to make an appointment with a dentist who may be able to help you find out more about this topic, and improve your oral health.

3 Signs of Dry Mouth
June 1, 2022

Dental discomfort is often a sign that your dental health needs some extra attention. Dry mouth can be uncomfortable and it can also lead to more serious issues. Let’s talk about 3 signs of dry mouth you shouldn’t ignore and what to do about it.

1. Bad Breath

Bad breath is one of the most common signs of dry mouth, but many people don’t realize that the root cause is dry mouth. Since saliva is your body’s natural way of keeping your mouth in balance and your teeth protected, reduced saliva flow can lead to many problems, such as an overgrowth in bacteria that causes bad breath. This isn’t just bad news for your social life, it can also turn into cavities and gum disease if left untreated.

2. Sore Throat or Hoarse Voice

Another common sign that you’re suffering from dry mouth is if you regularly experience a sore throat when swallowing or a hoarse voice when speaking. While these symptoms can seem like a mild annoyance, it’s important not to ignore them because dry mouth can cause a lot of problems for your dental health.

3. Difficulty Chewing, Speaking, or Swallowing

Other signs of dry mouth can include difficulty chewing thoroughly, difficulty speaking without coughing or clearing your throat, and difficulty swallowing. If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to talk to your dentist about a treatment plan.

What to Do About Dry Mouth

If you believe you may be suffering from dry mouth, it’s a good idea to make an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible before it leads to other conditions that may be more serious or difficult to treat.

Dry mouth can be caused by many factors, such as dehydration, anxiety, side effects from medications, and other medical conditions. It’s important to find out what’s causing dry mouth for you so that your dentist can recommend a treatment plan that can help provide quick, effective, and lasting relief.

Call our Greenwood Village Dental Office to make an appointment with a dentist who may be able to help you find out more about this topic, and improve your oral health.

May 2, 2022

If you’re facing dental loss, you’re not alone. Dental loss happens to a lot of people. We know that facing dental loss can feel like a big deal, but dental implants can be a great, long-lasting solution. Here are 5 things we love about implants.

1. Dental Implants Look like Natural Teeth

One of the top things we love about implants is that they look just like natural teeth! If the idea of dental loss makes you feel anxious about losing your beautiful smile, talk with your dentist about what dental implants can do for you.

2. Dental Implants Feel and Function like Natural Teeth

Not only do dental implants look like natural teeth, they also feel and function just like natural teeth! Unlike dentures, you won’t have to worry about them falling out at inopportune times. There’s also no need to restrict your diet as you would with dentures. With dental implants, you may even forget that you ever suffered from dental loss!

3. Dental Implants are Easy to Care For

Another great advantage to dental implants is that they are easy to care for! No need for removing or soaking overnight with special solutions. Simply care for them just like you’d care for your natural teeth!

4. Dental Implants Help Protect Your Smile

Another one of the great things we love about implants is how they help to protect your surrounding teeth. If a lost tooth is left untreated, the resulting gap can allow the surrounding teeth to shift and the jaw bone to lose its structure. But when you replace a lost tooth with a dental implant, it can help to maintain your beautiful smile long-term.

5. Dental Implants are Long-lasting

Dental implants are also incredibly long-lasting. In fact, they are designed to last for the lifetime of the patient! Imagine not having to worry about your missing tooth ever again. With dental implants, you’re not just choosing a temporary solution, but one that can help to ensure a beautiful smile for many years to come.

Call our Greenwood Village Dental Office to make an appointment with a dentist who may be able to help you find out more about this topic, and improve your oral health.

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