Blog – Dentist Parker CO | Green Dental Care

Jun 03 0

Solutions for Missing Teeth

3 Incredible Solutions for Missing Teeth

Every dentist spends the greatest portion of their career doing everything possible to prevent their patients from losing their natural teeth. However, it may not always be possible to save a tooth, especially one that is severely decayed or damaged. At this point, your Parker, CO dentist will recommend the most suitable tooth replacement option. The team at Green Dental Care shares the following overview of the tooth replacement options available should you ever lose one or more of your natural teeth.

Replacement Option #1: Dental Implants

In an ideal world, everyone who loses a tooth would replace it with a dental implant. Only because this is the best replacement option that can work as well as, or even better, than natural teeth. Dr. Chris Green explains that a dental implant is a titanium rod or screw that is surgically placed in the jaw.

After this rod fuses with the surrounding bone tissue, a dental crown is placed on it using a “peg” referred to as an abutment. This complete system is what is collectively referred to as a dental implant.

Our friends at ThoroughDent Smiles, a dental office in Georgetown KY, also point out that dental implants aren’t only used to replace a single missing tooth. Implants can also be used to make dental bridges or to make fixed dentures.

The Advantages of Dental Implants

Very high success rates among patients with healthy dental structures
Implants are comfortable, stable, strong and functional
No preparation is done to nearby teeth when implants are to be placed
No special maintenance requirements (you can brush and floss normally, for example)
Visually appealing

The Drawbacks of Dental Implants

Dental implants are the most expensive tooth replacement option
Getting dental implants can be time-consuming
The process involves undergoing minor surgery
Patients with certain medical histories, such as diabetes and smokers, have low success rates with this option
The option comes with minimum requirements, such as on bone density and health of nearby teeth, which a patient must have before getting the implants. Otherwise, other procedures, such as bone grafting, may have to be performed before the implants are placed.

Replacement Option #2: Dental Bridges

If you lose just one tooth, Dr. Ionescu says the next best thing if you can’t get an implant is a dental bridge.

As you may have guessed from the name of this replacement option, a dental bridge refers to a restoration in which two teeth on each side of a gap have crowns placed on them and then a “pontic” or false tooth is supported by these surrounding teeth to fill the gap left.

The Advantages of Dental Bridges

The restoration is fixed, so you won’t have to keep removing it
Visually appealing
Faster and more affordable when compared to getting implants
Fewer anatomical requirements when compared to implants
Patients of any age and any medical history can get bridges

The Drawbacks of Dental Bridges

Patients must have teeth adjacent to the gap to be filled by a bridge
Adjacent teeth have to be prepped (for crown placement)
They are harder to maintain since it isn’t easy to clean underneath the pontic
Failure rates are high, especially when compared to implants
Bone loss occurs since the jawbone beneath the pontic isn’t stimulated

Replacement Option #3: Removable Dentures

In an ideal situation, your Parker CO dentist will recommend removable dentures as a last resort. Removable dentures are worn during the day and then removed at night. While they are made from different materials, Dr. Green asserts that they all have the same basic attributes.

The Advantages of Removable Dentures

They are the cheapest replacement option
Removable dentures don’t require surgery
Existing teeth are rarely prepped before fitting dentures

The Drawbacks of Removable Dentures

Less visually appealing
Less functional
Harder to clean and maintain
Less stable
They are removable

Which Option is the Best to Replace Your Missing Teeth?

Every patient is different, and the experts at Green Dental Care say that a variety of factors comes into play when selecting the best option. For example, your finances and how many missing teeth you have could determine which replacement option you choose.

If finances aren’t a problem and you don’t have any medical/anatomical contraindications, then dental implants would be the option of choice to replace your missing teeth. If, on the other hand, you have a limited budget, then your Parker, CO dental clinic may recommend a bridge or removable dentures.

Dr. Green and Dr. Ionescu are happy to see you for a consultation and recommend the best option to replace your missing teeth. Why wait to get your smile back? Contact Green Dental Care today.

May 27 0

Handling a Dental Emergency

Posted by Alex

Handling a Dental Emergency

If you’ve experienced a dental emergency, then you understand how frightening and painful the ordeal can be. Knowing who to call and when to call is crucial information when handling a dental emergency. Green Dental Care, the best dental clinic in Parker, CO, recommends that you keep the following guide to manage how a dental emergency occurs.

Assess the Gravity of the Situation Correctly

Some dental emergencies can be categorized as urgent, while others don’t require immediate attention. It is important for you to know which situation falls under the urgent category and which ones can wait. This distinction will help you to make the right decisions if the emergency occurs at night or over the weekend when dental offices aren’t open for business. Here are some dental emergencies that Dr. Chris Green, the best emergency dentist in Parker, CO, advises you to regard as urgent:

Endless bleeding in your gums
A loose or avulsed (knocked-out) tooth
An injury to your jaw
A painful swelling
A persistent painful toothache that shows no sign of subsiding
A swollen face and cheeks accompanied by a toothache
Severe tooth sensitivity

These urgent dental emergencies need to be addressed immediately by your dentist in Parker, CO. You should, therefore, contact Green Dental Care as soon as any of those problems arise. Ask a staff member at Green Dental Care to give you a number that you can call during out-of-office hours.

If you are unable to reach your dentist when an urgent dental emergency occurs, go to the nearest emergency room immediately.

Some dental emergencies aren’t urgent, and you can wait a day or two before visiting your Parker CO dentist. The non-urgent emergencies include:

A lost bridge, crown or filling
A cracked or broken tooth that isn’t causing intense pain
A damaged or broken retainer or bite guard
Food particles stuck between your teeth
A small chip to your tooth
Dull tooth pain
Mild tooth sensitivity

While we have categorized the examples above as non-urgent, they still require prompt attention, so you should bring them to the attention of Dr. Chris Green as soon as you can. He will advise you on the steps to take while you wait for your appointment at Green Dental Care or with any other dentist near where you live.

Who to Contact When Handling a Dental Emergency

As already mentioned, your dentist in Parker, CO, should be the first professional that you contact during a dental emergency. Give Dr. Chris Green as much information as you can about the dental emergency so that he can recommend the best course of action for you to take. If you are unable to reach your dentist and the dental emergency qualifies as one needing urgent attention, then head straight to the emergency room and contact your dentist as soon as possible. Talking to your dentist is necessary because while you may feel that a given dental situation requires immediate attention, the experienced professional will give you an objective opinion regarding the gravity of the emergency and what needs to be done to address the situation.

At-Home Steps when Handling a Dental Emergency

Regardless of the dental emergency that arises while you are at home, you can do something to keep the situation from escalating. The following are some of the things Georgetown, KY dentist, Dr. Jordan Smith, recommends.

Stay calm. This may be easier said than done in the heat of the moment, but staying calm is one of the best things that you can do in the circumstances. Staying calm helps you to think clearly and make the best decisions.
Prepare a warm salt water rinse using a teaspoon of salt and a mug of warm water. This solution will reduce any swelling and relieve the irritation in your mouth.
If one of your teeth is knocked out of its socket, pick it up gently and place it in a containing having milk in it. Keep it there until you reach Green Dental Care.
Floss if you are experiencing pain in the vicinity of one particular tooth. Dr. Chris Green explains that such pain could be the result of a food particle stuck there.
Use a cold compress to numb irritation, reduce swelling, and stop any bleeding that may be occurring.
Swish a dilute hydrogen peroxide solution in your mouth to kill any germs that can cause an infection.
Take appropriate over-the-counter pain medication to manage the pain you are experiencing. Avoid aspirin as it could prevent a clot from forming at the injury site.

This year should mark a turning point for the better regarding your dental health. Dr. Chris Green and the entire team at Green Dental Care is ready to support you on this journey, especially when a dental emergency occurs. If you have any concerns about your dental health or our dental services, contact Dr. Green today!

May 21 0

Experience with Dental Veneers

Posted by Alex

My Experience with Veneers

As you may know, dental veneering is one of the cosmetic procedures that Parker, CO cosmetic dentist, Dr. Chris Green, performs routinely at Green Dental Care. Christie is one of the hundreds of patients who have dental veneers from Green Dental Care in Parker, CO.

Christie’s Experience with Veneers

Christie shared her experience with veneers that were placed on her teeth by Dr. Christopher Green, a cosmetic dentist in Parker, CO. “I came with very poor crowns on the front and my teeth were a distinct yellowish color that I was really uncomfortable with,” says Christie. She adds that she was unable to whiten them because of the color of her dental crowns. Once dental crowns are stained, it’s hard to whiten them.

She continues, “So, I got these beautiful new veneers made by Dr. Green and the practice here, and I am just absolutely thrilled with them! I went home last night and unveiled my new veneers in front of my husband and kids…My kids and husband were over the moon on seeing my veneers and I just couldn’t be happier! I’m absolutely thrilled with the treatment plan!”

You can watch Christie express how ecstatic she is here:

We at Green Dental Care have been at this for quite some time, but each patient like Christie who cannot hold back their joy once they look at their new veneers gives us renewed strength to keep doing what we do, and even look for better ways to serve the community that calls our dental office their home.

Preparing for Veneers

The process starts with a consultation. During the consultation, Dr. Chris Green examines you to confirm that dental veneers are the right procedure to address your needs. Dental x-rays will also be taken during this consultation. Once Dr. Green confirms that you are a suitable candidate for veneers, he will explain the treatment plan to you. You will decide whether to proceed immediately or scheduled the procedure for later. If you decide to start the process immediately, Dr. Chris Green will prepare the teeth. He will use manual and electric tools to remove material from the surface of your teeth to make room for the veneers. Dr. Kacos, a cosmetic dentist in Shreveport, LA, agreest that this preparatory step ensures that your teeth will not look larger or wider than they normally look (unless your teeth are small and you want to enlarge them using the veneers).

Placing the Veneers

Once the teeth are prepped, the cosmetic dentist in Parker, CO will create a mold of the teeth and also select a color from the shade guide. This information is sent to the external lab that will make your veneers. It may take a week or two for your permanent veneers to be ready, so Dr. Green will fit you with temporary veneers in the meantime.

During your second visit to Green Dental Care, the temporary veneers will be removed and replaced with the permanent ones. Dr. Green will check the veneers to confirm that they are the right dimensions. If everything is in order, Dr. Green will use a special light to harden the veneers. Thereafter, he will polish them until they are indistinguishable from your natural teeth.

Follow-up Experience with Veneers

You can expect to make a follow-up visit to Green Dental Care a few weeks later. This visit helps the Parker, CO dentist make sure the veneers are properly placed and your bite is as it should be.

If the follow-up visit doesn’t uncover any complications, proceed with your normal oral hygiene routine. This should entail brushing your teeth twice each day and flossing once a day. Your veneers will last anywhere from 5-10 years before you will need to replace them.

If you are interested in getting veneers, contact Green Dental Care. Dr. Chris Green and the entire team are waiting to provide all the dental care you need to enjoy peak oral health.

May 19 0

What is the Dental Bonding Procedure?

Posted by Alex

What is Dental Bonding?

Bonding refers to the application of a plastic composite resin on a tooth in order to repair decay, chipping, discoloration, or a fracture. While veneers require more than one dental office visit, the dental bonding procedure can be completed in one visit. Dr. Chris Green, a cosmetic dentist in Parker, CO explains that the procedure is referred to as “bonding” because the composite resin adheres or bonds directly onto the tooth it is applied.

What is Dental Bonding Used For?

Our friend and the best cosmetic dentist in Shreveport, LA, Dr. Ben Kacos, explains that dental bonding is commonly used for cosmetic purposes. For example, your chipped or discolored tooth can undergo bonding in order to improve its appearance. Bonding can also be used to make your teeth look longer, smaller, larger, or closer together. The resin used is polished and shaped so that it resembles the nearby teeth. Oftentimes, dental bonding can be used as an alternative to amalgam fillings or for purposes of protecting roots once gum recession exposes them.

Preparation

Dental bonding doesn’t require any tooth preparation, No need to worry about Dr. Chris Green drilling or shaving material from your teeth before bonding is done!

Dental Bonding Procedure

First, Dr. Chris Green will refer to a shade guide in order to select a color of composite resin that closely resembles the color of your natural teeth. Once the cosmetic dentist has picked the color, he will lightly etch the surface of the tooth in order to roughen it. Thereafter, he will apply a conditioning liquid that is intended to make the composite resin adhere to your tooth. After this, he will apply one layer of the bonding resin at a time and mold this resin until it is smooth and has the desired shape. Once Dr. Chris Green is satisfied with the shape and smoothness, he will use a laser or UV light to harden the resin. After the resin is hard, your dentist will again shape and polish the composite resin before polishing it to a fine sheen similar to the rest of your tooth.

Post-Procedure

The dental bonding procedure takes half an hour to an hour, but you may need more than one visit. This will be the case if more than one tooth needs to undergo the dental bonding procedure. Your newly bonded teeth are susceptible to being stained by coffee, cigarette smoke, tea, and other pigmented substances. For this reason, Dr. O’Grady, a Denver Highlands dentist, recommends that you refrain from consuming these substances the first 48 hours after your procedure. Additionally, you need to brush regularly and have your teeth cleaned every six months by a dental hygienist at Green Dental Care. This will protect your teeth from being stained.

Potential Risks of the Dental Bonding Procedure

Dr. Chris Green explains the material that is used during dental bonding isn’t as strong as your natural teeth. Consequently, chewing ice, biting your fingernails, or abnormally using your teeth could cause the composite resin to chip or crack. Dr. Chris Green points out that dental bonding will last, but this durability will be strongly influenced by your oral habits. If you notice sharp edges on the composite resin days after you have undergone dental bonding, contact Dr. Chris Green immediately. You also need to talk to your cosmetic dentist if the resin chips or cracks, or if you feel that your bite isn’t right. Our experienced professionals at Green Dental Care will evaluate the bonded teeth and take the necessary steps to rectify the situation.

If you are interested in dental bonding or think previous work needs to be re-done, contact Green Dental Care for our the best cosmetic dentistry in town.

May 05 0

Benefits of Our Dental Savings Plan

Posted by Alex

Benefits of Our Dental Savings Plan

At Green Dental Care in Parker, CO, we strongly believe that quality dental care should be within financial reach for everyone. For this reason, we have a Dental Savings Plan that is aimed at helping people who don’t have dental insurance to access the best dental services in Parker, CO without the risk of being crippled financially.

The Benefits of Our Dental Savings Plan

The Dental Savings Plan offered by Green Dental Care includes the following:

Comprehensive Dental Exam (1)
Annual dental Exam (1)
Dental Emergency Exam (1)
Dental Cleanings by a Hygienist (2)
Screenings for Oral Cancer (2)
Fluoride Treatments (2)
The X-Rays You Need During the Year
Many other discounted dental services

The package has offers a service for nearly every situation that can arise regarding your dental health.

Solution for Patients Without Insurance

The Green Dental Care Dental Savings Plan is intended to make access to great dental care affordable. Especially, for patients without insurance. This one-of-a-kind dental savings plan. It features a fee schedule that is heavily discounted in order to address the needs of families of various sizes. With this Dental Savings Plan, you can be sure that you and the other members of your family will have the best possible dental care throughout the year, all at an affordable cost. The following are the highlights of the plans we offer:

Single Person: Only pay $365 and enjoy savings of at least $362 from the cost you would incur to access the covered services without the savings plan.

Dual (2 People): Invest $714 and the two of you will save at least $740 from the fees that people without the benefit of this savings plan incur for similar services.

A Family of 3: For an investment of $1,038, you get to save $1,143 off the fees we normally charge for the services included in the package.

A Family of 4: Invest $1,338 and your family will collectively save $1,570 from the normal fees for the covered dental services.

Each Additional Family Member: Pay $199 for each additional family member beyond the 4 members covered in the plan above. For a single person, you will be cutting that sum nearly in half.

Why Join the Green Dental Care Dental Savings Plan?

Immediate benefits. As soon as you sign up for the Dental Savings Plan, you will immediately start enjoying the benefits included in your plan. For example, you can undergo your annual dental exam minutes after you sign up for the Dental Savings Plan.

Additional discounts. The savings indicated for each plan in the Dental Savings Plan only capture the monetary savings that you will make from the services included in your plan. You are eligible to enjoy a lot more savings from other discounted services that you may need.

Peace of mind. Dr. O’Grady, a Denver Highlands dentist, adds that dental saving plans are worth it. Not having dental insurance can rob you of many a peaceful night’s sleep because you may stay awake wondering where you will get the money to pay for a needed dental procedure should the need arise. With our Dental Savings Plan, you can rest assured that your family will access the best dental care from experienced professionals at an affordable cost.

Regardless of whether you are a family of one or more than five, you can never lose when you sign up for our Dental Savings Plan at Green Dental Care. To start enjoying the benefits of this plan, contact Green Dental Care, a dental office in Parker, CO, or any member of our staff today if you reside in Parker, CO.

Mar 25 0

Regular Visits Can Save You Money

Posted by Claire

A lot goes on during a regular dental visit beyond poking around inside your mouth and delivering the bad news that your brushing and flossing techniques don’t cut it. The truth is, regular visits to your dentist in Parker CO can not only save you money, but they can also literally save your life! Here are some of the key ways in which regular visits to Green Dental Care can save you money.

Catching Problems Early

Routine dental visits to your Parker CO dentist normally have two main parts. First is the dental cleaning usually performed by a dental hygienist. Second, is a dental exam by the best dentist in Parker CO.

During each of those activities, there is more than ample opportunity to spot any anomaly, such as a cavity or crack. This gives our doctors a chance to spot if before it becomes a major problem. When these defects are treated promptly, the cost you incur is much less than what you would have incurred if you had skipped the routine visit. The contrary would be waiting to visit Green Dental Care when you have a dental health problem that is keeping you awake, which could cost more as an emergency service.

In this regard, regular visits to can save you money in the long run. It could eliminate the need to undergo complicated and costly procedures if every emerging problem is consistently nipped in the bud.

Receiving Customized Dental Health Advice

Regular dental visits also make it possible for you to get dental health advice that is tailored to meet your specific needs. For example, if the hygienist notices a particular arch has a lot more plaque and tartar than other parts of your mouth, he or she will recommend the best way to tweak your flossing and brushing technique in order to address the problem area.

Similarly, the best dentist in Parker CO may also recommend dietary changes. This would be to suit the new threats that your dental health faces in the light of any medication you are currently taking. For example, you may be on medication that causes dry mouth.

As you may know, dry mouth increases your risk for gum disease and other dental health problems. Our dentists could recommend that you chew sugar-free gum or chewy vegetables to boost saliva production. Such advice can save you money because you will be in a position to prevent dental health challenges.

Professional Cleanings Safeguard You from Gum Infections

As already mentioned, dental cleanings are an integral part of your routine visit. Plaque (a bacterial film) is constantly building up on the teeth. Despite your best efforts at oral hygiene, some of this plaque eventually hardens into calculus (tartar).

Tartar results in the destruction of your teeth and bone beneath the gum line. By having your teeth cleaned by a professional, all that tartar and plaque is removed before it can cause harm. Needless to say, this early intervention stops major problems in their tracks. You will save the money that would have been spent to treat those problems down the road.

Dispelling Potentially Harmful Misinformation and Myths

Dr. O’Grady, a Denver Highlands Dentist, points out that the advent of the internet has been a blessing and a curse at the same time. A blessing in the sense that you can get great information on almost any topic under the sun. It is a curse in the sense that some of the information online is false and potentially dangerous.

For example, many people have been taking up DIY toothpastes. These can be made from a variety of ingredients, such as charcoal, baking soda, and apple cider vinegar. However, our dentists will tell you that ACV (apple cider vinegar), charcoal and baking soda pose a huge risk to your enamel. The prolonged use of those substances could result in teeth sensitivity due to eroded enamel.

Without those regular visits, you can easily fall for all the hype. Years later, you’ll learn that all your costly dental problems could have been avoided. When you see your Parker CO dentist regularly, you are likely to bring up anything you have heard or read. Then, he will give you a considered opinion on the usefulness of that information you got online. This can save you lots of money that would have gone to fixing the damage caused by implementing some of the advice picked from non-professionals. For instance, the cost of a routine dental visit pales in comparison to the cost of dental implants needed to replace teeth lost to overly abrasive DIY toothpastes.

As you can see, one of the best decisions that you can make for your dental health is to make regular visits to Green Dental Care. Not only will you save money in the long run, but you will also maintain your pearly whites for a lifetime. Give us a call today!

Mar 18 0

Types of Pain to Bring Up To Your Dentist

Posted by Claire

People who have ever experienced severe tooth pain will agree that it is hard to find any experience that is as bad as a painful tooth. The pain just constantly bothers you. Even worse, it makes eating and sleeping near-impossible. While some forms of pain may not amount to much, other types could point to a more serious issue. Therefore, it is important for you to alert your Parker CO dentist at Green Dental Care if you experience any of the following kinds of pain.

Pain After You Undergo a Dental Procedure

You may be surprised to hear that there is usually no cause for alarm when you experience some discomfort or even pain after you have undergone an invasive dental procedure, such as oral surgery or tooth extraction.

However, Dr. Christopher Green, explains that there is nothing usual about severe pain in the aftermath of your procedure. After all, dental services are primarily intended to make you enjoy better oral health rather than cause you pain. Such severe or persistent pain could be a pointer to a post-procedure complication.

It is therefore crucial that you talk to the Parker CO dentist about what sort of discomfort or pain is associated with the procedure that you are about to undergo. It also important to talk about the typical recovery time for such dental treatments.

Once you experience pain that differs in severity and duration from what you were told to expect, immediately get in touch with Green Dental Care so that our doctors can examine you for dental infections or any other anomalies that could be the cause.

Jaw Pain When You Awaken

Fact: Many people suffer from bruxism and they remain unaware of this problem until they share a room with someone who notices the habit and alerts the sufferer. Over time, teeth grinding has the potential to create serious problems. One problem is making your teeth wear out prematurely. Jaw problems, such as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, and pain can also result when teeth grinding isn’t addressed.

If you have problems having a good night’s sleep or you get up feeling jaw pain, speak to your dentist in Parker CO. Teeth grinding may be responsible for your symptoms.

Note that not everyone who has difficulty sleeping or wakes up with a painful jaw grinds their teeth. Therefore, don’t rush to any conclusions until a professional at Green Dental Care has assessed and confirmed the underlying cause of your symptoms. Only then will a lasting remedy be recommended.

Chronic Tooth Pain

The human body has an astounding ability to acclimate or get used to abnormalities that persist. For example, people soon forget that the persistent mild pain they feel is unusual. Eventually, that pain soon becomes an integral part of them. When this happens, they don’t see it as abnormal or even notice it at the conscious level of their mind.

Don’t let pain become a part of you. If you experience persisting tooth pain, tell your dental care professional at Green Dental Care. Many factors could trigger ongoing tooth pain. These include tooth abscess, foreign items between your teeth or in your gum, tooth decay, tooth fractures, and many other defects. The only way to be certain about the cause of your chronic tooth pain is by seeing the best dentist in Parker CO for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Are you concerned about pain whose cause you are unable to pinpoint? Our dentists have the necessary skills and experience to quickly get to the bottom of that pain. Contact Green Dental Care today and schedule an appointment to prevent worsening the problem. This way your situation doesn’t get to the point of costing you your tooth or compromising the quality of your life.

Mar 11 0

What Fluoride Can Do For Your Teeth

Posted by Claire

Fluoride treatments are one of the dental tools that have been used for decades by dentists to help people enjoy peak dental health. So, what are fluoride treatments and how does this mineral work? Read on and learn what the experts at Green Dental Care in Parker CO have shared about fluoride and dental health.

What is Fluoride?

Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in the earth’s crust. It can be found in oceans, soil and other water bodies. This mineral can occur in a gaseous, solid or liquid form. Our doctors explain that nearly a century ago, it was observed that fluoride could help rebuild the enamel on teeth once demineralization occurred. This discovery was so profound that dentists started offering fluoride treatments to their patients as a way of increasing resistance to tooth decay and strengthening teeth.

What is a Fluoride Treatment?

Your Parker CO dentist is likely to give you a fluoride treatment when you visit for your routine dental cleanings. The treatment is applied as a highly concentrated foam, rinse, gel or even varnish.

Dr. Green and Dr. Ionescu can use a swab, tray, mouthwash or brush to apply the fluoride on your teeth.

This quick treatment delivers a lot more fluoride to your teeth than what is typically found in your toothpaste or in the municipal water supply. Fluoride treatments need just a few minutes to be applied. However, the dentist at Green Dental Care is likely to advise you to refrain from eating or drinking anything for at least 30 minutes after the fluoride treatment. This interval is intended to allow your teeth to absorb the fluoride sufficiently so that you can enjoy its protective benefits.

When you visit Green Dental Care, reveal your full history (medications you are taking and dental issues you have been facing, for example) so that the dental care professional can select the most appropriate fluoride treatment for your needs.

How Fluoride Protects Your Teeth

While some people may think that fluoride treatments are primarily intended for children, this is far from the truth. Everyone, including adults, can benefit from getting periodic fluoride treatments.

For kids whose teeth are still developing, Dr. Green explains that fluoride helps harden the enamel during the formative stages. This is when the teeth are most susceptible to decay due to weak enamel. The fluoride hardens the teeth and makes them better able to resist acid damage.

Dr. Lesson, a dentist in St. Petersburg FL, adds that fluoride boosts remineralization. This is a process through which leached minerals are restored to the structure of the teeth. Demineralization (the loss of minerals like calcium from the teeth) is normally accelerated by the action of plaque-causing bacteria. Fluoride helps to accelerate the remineralization process.

Fluoride also helps reduce the size of tiny holes in your teeth called fissures. By filling most of those gaps, fluoride prevents food particles and oral bacteria from lodging in those fissures. In this way, the experts at Green Dental Care assert that you will be less prone to cavities and other dental issues.

Using Fluoride at Home

The fluoride treatments administered our doctors need to be supplemented by adequate fluoride use at home. This can take the form of using fluoride toothpaste to brush your teeth at least twice each day. Another way is by drinking fluoridated water (instead of bottled water that may not have any fluoride in it).

There is only one place to seek help if you aren’t sure whether you are getting as much fluoride as you need. Your Parker CO dentist at Green Dental Care is best to advise you on your fluoride intake since he knows your dental health and the risks you face as you seek to maintain peak oral health. Contact Green Dental Care today for answers to all your questions about fluoride or any other aspect of your oral health.

Mar 04 0

Interesting Facts About Chipped Teeth

Posted by Claire

If you have ever had your tooth chip or fracture, then are very aware of the pain that comes along with it. However, there is no need to overly worry when you chip a tooth because the professionals at Green Dental Care in Parker CO can get it fixed in one quick visit. Here are three interesting facts about chipped teeth.

Interesting Fact One: Causes of a Chipped Tooth

Each person is different, but the best dentist Parker CO has observed that most causes of chipped teeth can be traced to poor oral hygiene. Poor oral hygiene can make your dental health worsen and this will predispose your teeth to chipping or cracking.

For example, the Parker CO dentist points out that someone who is irregular at brushing their teeth could develop tooth decay and one or more teeth could chip the moment that person bites down hard on a hard food substance, such as hard candy.

The Parker CO dental implant providers at Green Dental Care have also observed that other circumstances, such as old fillings that fail and drop out, can also cause your teeth to chip or fracture. Severe tooth decay, trauma to the face and using your teeth in unusual ways (cracking nut kernels, for example) can also cause one or more teeth to chip.

Interesting Fact Two: Teeth Can Be Chipped Without Warning

Cosmetic dentists in Parker CO aren’t surprised to hear patients say that they cannot recall when their tooth was chipped. This lack of recall is largely because a tooth may chip when you are unaware until months later when you start feeling pain.

When that pain sets in, patients rush to see a Parker CO dentist for an urgent fix to their problem. Other patients immediately notice that a tooth has chipped. For such people, the chip may have caused noticeable symptoms, such as rough edges on the surface of the tooth or a visible indentation on the front of the tooth.

When you chip a tooth, it is best to contact Green Dental Care so that a solution can be implemented promptly. Luckily, most cases of chipped teeth can be treated on the very day that you see the dentist at Green Dental Care.

If you are unable to see the cosmetic dentist in Parker CO immediately, take some steps to safeguard yourself in the interim. These include taking an OTC painkiller to deal with the pain, placing paraffin wax or gum over the sharp edges of the chipped tooth, and rinsing your mouth using a saltwater solution. You might also want to restrict yourself to just soft foods to avoid aggravating the damage as you wait to see the dentist.

Interesting Fact Three: Several Treatment Options Exist

Depending on your specific circumstances, our doctors will recommend the most appropriate treatment option to fix your chipped or fractured tooth. For example, dental veneers may be recommended to restore the beauty of your smile if you chipped a front tooth.

Replacing old metal fillings with white fillings could also be part of your treatment if failed fillings contributed to the chip. However, if the damage is extensive, then dental implants may be best.

Dr. Farhart, a dentist in Sterling Heights MI, adds that dental bonding may also be a viable option if a front tooth was chipped on the visible front surface. Dental crowns, bridges or even implants can all be considered depending on the specific circumstances surrounding your chipped or fractured teeth.

As you can see, chips can develop on your teeth without being aware of this problem. The best way to catch this anomaly early is by visiting Green Dental Care every six months or as often as recommended by your Parker CO dentist. Such regular visits will allow our professionals to examine your teeth and identify any chip or other defects. Many possible remedies exist, so you will have your beautiful and functional smile back once you put your dental health in the hands of the capable professionals at Green Dental Care.

Feb 26 0

The Best Dental Tools for Seniors

Posted by Claire

After age 50, your dental care needs change and the tools you used during your younger years may no longer cut it. For this reason, the doctors at Green Dental Care in Parker CO have come up with the following recommendations of appropriate dental-care tools to use once you enter your fifties.

Teeth Whitening Products

The passage of time takes its toll on your teeth leading you to notice that they aren’t as bright as they once were. Whether it is those cups of coffee you sipped on the daily or the wearing down of your tooth enamel, discoloration is likely going to occur. However, the right whitening products can help you to have a brighter smile.

Dr. Andrei Ionescu, a dentist in Parker CO, suggests that you get toothpaste that contains hydrogen peroxide. This toothpaste will gradually whiten your teeth. Alternatively, you can opt for a mouthwash whose ingredients list includes hydrogen peroxide. This mouthwash will also slowly whiten your teeth and prevent new stains from setting.

Your Manual Toothbrush

You should never use a toothbrush for more than three months. More than replacing it quarterly, pay attention to two key attributes of any manual toothbrush that you buy. First, Dr. Christopher Green recommends that you only buy a toothbrush if its bristles are soft or extra soft. These will do a good job of cleaning your teeth without harming your gums and enamel. Secondly, select a toothbrush whose bristles are angled or multileveled. These do a better job of removing plaque when compared to flat bristles.

Electric Toothbrushes

Various clinical studies have confirmed that electric toothbrushes are better than manual toothbrushes at removing plaque. Green Dental Care also recommends that you select an electric toothbrush that has an oscillating head rather than one with a vibrating head. The oscillating version does a superior job of preventing gingivitis and getting rid of plaque.

Mouthwash

Selecting the best mouthwash from the huge variety available can be daunting. To ease this task, Dr. Beth Herko, an experienced dentist in New Providence NJ, recommends that you pick a mouthwash that has chlorine dioxide, chlorhexidine, menthol, essential oils, and thymol among its ingredients. These ingredients will help kill oral bacteria decrease the chance of bad breath.

If plaque and gingivitis have been giving you the runaround, then Dr. Andrea Ionescu recommends that you select a mouthwash having chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride among its ingredients. Fluoride also increases the germ-killing power of the mouthwash.

Toothpaste

Not any toothpaste will do if you are a senior, says Dr. Christopher Green. He recommends that if you have noticed bleeding from your gums, then a toothpaste with stannous fluoride is the best for you. If your main concern is tooth sensitivity, then a toothpaste having potassium nitrate will ease your symptoms over time.

You may have heard about charcoal toothpaste or different forms of natural toothpaste. The experts at Green Dental Care warn against these products since they may be either too abrasive or ineffective at removing plaque from your teeth.

Dental Floss

Dental floss sticks have become increasingly common, but Dr. Andrei Ionescu warns against them saying that they are less effective than traditional string floss. This is because the sticks don’t wrap around your teeth well. Additionally, the floss sticks aren’t eco-friendly because they increase the amount of plastic discarded in the environment.

When shopping, select thicker floss strings rather than thinner ones. The thin ones can easily slip between your teeth, but they don’t do a good job of removing the plaque and food particles trapped in those gaps.

If you would like to use a water flosser, find one that can deliver water at a pressure between 50 and 90 psi. This amount of pressure is sufficient to clean between your teeth without putting undue stress on your gum tissue.

With those six tips for selecting the basic dental hygiene products, most of your bases will be covered. All that is left is for you to pay Green Dental Care a visit. One of our exceptional Parker CO dentists will assess your oral health periodically so that timely treatment can be provided should anything go wrong. Like fine wine that gets better with age, you too can enjoy superb dental health for a lifetime!

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