What Causes Jawbone Atrophy?

Under normal circumstances, the roots of your teeth stimulate growth in the jawbone when you bite and chew. When teeth are lost, these roots are no longer present, and the bone is no longer regularly stimulated. This causes the bone tissue to deteriorate gradually. After many years, the jawbone atrophies enough that it can actually change the shape and appearance of your face. 

Traditional dentures do not help stimulate growth in the jawbone because they rest on top of the gums. Bone growth is stimulated by movement of the roots within the jawbone and by pressure on the chewing surfaces. Dentures do not supply this kind of stimulation, and thus do not help maintain bone mass in the jaw.

How Dental Implants Help Preserve Bone Mass

Dental implants provide an artificial tooth root that is placed directly into the jawbone. This root is made of titanium, which naturally bonds with bone. When you speak, bite and chew, the replacement roots react the same way natural roots would, providing sufficient stimulation to the jawbone to keep its tissues growing and regenerating.

For dental implants to be placed successfully, sufficient bone mass must already exist in the jawbone. In some cases, if teeth have been missing for a long time or if you have been wearing dentures, your implant dentist might recommend bone grafts to provide sufficient support for your implants.

To find out more about dental implants and how they can help you keep a healthy, beautiful smile and a strong jawbone, please contact Grout Family Dentistry serving Highlands Ranch to schedule a consultation.

Why Replace Missing Teeth?

Extra space in the mouth due to missing teeth creates a domino effect that can lead to problems with the rest of the teeth. If there is empty space in the mouth, other teeth will automatically shift over time to fill that space. Teeth move out of proper position into these gaps. This movement can cause your bite to be misaligned or cause teeth to become crooked.

Although some might consider this also to be simply an aesthetic issue, misaligned or crooked teeth can lead to long term problems. Among these are abnormal wear and tear and TMD. TMD is when the joint where the lower jaw meets the upper jaw is shifted out of alignment. Its symptoms can include headaches and earaches that are persistent and difficult to diagnose.

Why Dental Implants?

Replacing your missing teeth with dental implants will reduce the possibility of your remaining teeth moving out of position. Dental implants also help keep your jaw healthy by stimulating bone growth. Dental implants are natural looking and are carefully matched to your remaining teeth for a beautiful, perfect smile.

In addition, dental implants offer advantages that full dentures do not. These include:

• Implants remain stationary and do not shift
• Implants look and feel just like your natural teeth
• Implants do not have to be refitted like dentures do

Implants can be used to replace a single tooth, a few teeth, or even an entire arch of teeth in the upper or lower jaw or both. An implant dentist can consult with you to determine if dental implants are a good option for you.

To find out more about dental implants and how they can keep your jaw, mouth and teeth healthy for years to come, please contact Grout Family Dentistry in Littleton at 303 -730-1222.

Can Invisalign Fix Any Orthodontic Problems?

Invisalign can be used to treat a wide variety of alignment issues, but it works best for minor problems. These can include:

• Minor bite correction
• Misalignment
• Crooked teeth
• Gaps between the teeth

Although Invisalign can be used for bite correction, this application is limited to less extreme bite problems. For more extensive bite correction, traditional braces and other orthodontic procedures tend to be more effective. If you need bite correction, consult with your dentist to determine if Invisalign is a good option for you.

How Does Invisalign Work?

If your dentist recommends Invisalign for you, he/she will begin by taking a mold of your teeth, as well as a selection of digital photographs. The mold and photographs will be used to manufacture a series of clear plastic trays that you will use to gradually move your teeth into the proper position. Each tray will be slightly different from the one before, shifting your teeth a small amount.

A full treatment can take several months, with an average of twelve to eighteen months for a typical Invisalign treatment. Each tray is worn for about two weeks before it is replaced with a new tray.

Invisalign offers a variety of advantages over traditional braces, including:

• The plastic trays are virtually invisible, eliminating self-consciousness about your treatment
• Trays can be removed for special occasions
• Trays can be removed for a more thorough cleaning
• Trays are more comfortable than wires and bands

Only a consultation with your dentist regarding Invisalign can determine if this is the right orthodontic treatment for you. If you need more information about Invisalign, please contact us for an in-depth consultation.

How Porcelain Veneers Work

Porcelain veneers are very thin shells of porcelain that is color-matched to your teeth. When they are placed, they are virtually indistinguishable from natural enamel. The nature of the porcelain also means that they will reflect light much like enamel, because the porcelain is partially translucent.

Although porcelain is thin and delicate, when your cosmetic dentist places them on the surfaces of the teeth, a special bonding agent makes it strong and highly durable. Teeth treated with veneers must be brushed and flossed and cleaned regularly by a dentist. With diligent care, veneers can last many years.

How to Care for Your Veneers

Veneers are strong and durable, but if you take certain precautions, they will last much longer. The edges of veneers can be vulnerable to chipping, and the surfaces can be worn down if they are cleaned too aggressively. To ensure your veneers last as long as possible, follow these guidelines:

• Brush and floss regularly
• Avoid foods and beverages that could stain your veneers
• Avoid biting on hard objects that could chip your veneers
• Be sure your dentist and hygienist know you have veneers
• Use a soft toothbrush as recommended by your dentist
• Visit your dentist regularly for an evaluation and regular treatment

Visiting your dentist for regular cleanings and X-rays is important when you have veneers. In some cases, cavities can develop beneath the veneers or along their edges. These cavities can be difficult to find without regular trips to the dentist. In addition, your dentist can evaluate the condition of your veneers to be sure they are holding up well and remaining properly bonded to your teeth.

To find out more about porcelain veneers, how they can improve your smile, and how to care for them properly, please contact our dental team at 303-730-1222.

Causes of Bleeding Gums

Gums can bleed during brushing for a variety of reasons, some of which are easily treated. Other causes might require more extensive or long-term care.

Some of the most common causes of bleeding gums include:

• Minor injuries in the mouth
• Using a toothbrush that is too hard
• Gingivitis or early stages of gum disease

Foods such as chips or crusty breads can abrade the gums and cause them to bleed during brushing. Minor injuries in the mouth generally resolve within a few days and do not require treatment. 

If your toothbrush is too hard, it can abrade your gums and can also wear down the enamel on the surfaces of your teeth. Consult with your dentist regarding the appropriate type of toothbrush to use.

If you have developed gingivitis, your dentist will recommend treatment to heal your gums over a period of time, which should lead to a reduction in bleeding gums when you brush.

Treatments for Gingivitis

If it is diagnosed in early stages, gingivitis is relatively easy to treat. Your dentist might recommend a special toothpaste, mouthwash, or other topical treatments. Baking soda is often used to treat gingivitis, either in toothpaste or applied in a paste to the gums. However, as gingivitis progresses into gum disease, treatments become more invasive and more complex.

In more advanced stages, gum disease can require deep cleaning of the teeth and the tooth roots to remove plaque and tartar that has build up in these areas, often below the gum line. If these treatments are ineffective, or if your gum disease has become more serious, periodontal surgery might be required.

If you have experienced chronic bleeding of your gums when you brush your teeth, please contact Grout Family Dentistry. We can help determine the root cause and improve your dental health.

A dental implant is suitable for the permanent replacement of one or many teeth. Dental loss due to trauma, infection or any reason may be resolved by this procedure.

During your initial consultation, your implant dentist will explain the procedure from the time commitment involved to the financial investment. But the end result will certainly be warranted as you will come away with the closest substitute for your own natural teeth as possible.

A dental implant is a small device that resembles a screw that is placed by your implant dentist in the gum tissue where your tooth has been lost. The implant is temporarily covered so that it may undergo the transformation of healing and grafting to the bone. Once healed, the implant will act much like the root of your natural tooth giving your final restoration strength and stability.

At the conclusion of the healing process (approximately four to six months), your implant dentist will remove the temporary covering. It is critical during the healing stage that you take great care of the implant area with the proper brushing and flossing prescribed by your dentist. And since smoking or the use of any tobacco products is the leading cause of implant failure, it is essential to give up all tobacco products before embarking on the dental implant process.

At the uncovering of your dental implant, your dentist is ready to complete the procedure by fitting you with a restoration made to match the shape and shade of your natural teeth. You now have a permanent restoration that will be able to perform as well as your natural teeth, and will look so good no one will know it is not your own tooth.

You will be able to resume eating the foods you love, speaking and eating in public without embarrassment and most importantly, you will be able to smile the big confident smile you once enjoyed before your tooth loss.

This permanent solution is merely a dental consultation away, so get started so you can return to the normal life you knew before your tooth loss. Contact Grout Family Dentistry at 303.730.1222 to schedule your visit.

A professional dental cleaning is intended to remove plaque and stain that you have been unable to remove through your own daily oral hygiene routine. And even if you are confident that you do the best job possible on your own, over time bacteria and food particles build up on your teeth and the softer surfaces in your mouth. These form the tartar and plaque build-up, which necessitates those visits to your dentist for a professional cleaning we can’t get at home.

One of the tools available to your dental provider is an ultrasonic cleaner. Your dentist or dental hygienist is able to remove that stubborn plaque below the gum line where it can do the most damage. The ultrasonic cleaning instrument allows for removal of plaque and stains more comfortably and in a much shorter period of time than using the traditional manual hand pieces.

The gentle cleansing action not only does the best job of removing plaque, but since the ultrasonic is used in conjunction with water, the debris removed from your teeth is flushed away immediately. You are able to obtain a deep cleaning while the ultrasonic is blasting away the unwanted plaque.

Another great benefit to the ultrasonic is the ability to get under the gum line to remove plaque. Why is this so important? Plaque build-up at the gum line can lead to gingivitis causing bad breath, decay and the more serious problem of periodontal dental disease.

Periodontal disease may lead to infection, tooth loss and can even do damage to your overall health. In addition, once you are diagnosed with periodontal disease, there are many more dental procedures that might be needed to save your teeth and preserve your good health.

Not all patients need the deep cleaning available by using the ultrasonic cleaner. But if you suffer from excess plaque build-up or stubborn dental stain, on your next visit to our dental office, inquire about ultrasonic cleanings and the benefits you may derive by its use.

Invisalign is the process by which teeth are gently aligned to their correct position by the use of a series of clear, soft plastic aligners.

Invisalign can be used to correct many dental maladies:

• Over bite, cross bite, or under bite due to overcrowding.
• Close gaps and spaces.
• Correct misaligned teeth.

There are many advantages available with Invisalign that you don’t have with traditional braces:

• No more metal bands and brackets.
• No more wires inflicting abrasions in soft mouth tissue.
• With Invisalign the aligners are removable allowing for much better hygiene care than with metal bands. You are able to not only brush all areas of the tooth surface, you are able to floss which you can’t do easily with traditional braces.
• You can eat anything since the aligners are removed during meals.

But probably the number one reason for the popularity of Invisalign is the aesthetic advantage enjoyed by Invisalign wearers. Most report that due to their transparency, the aligners are practically undetectable.

Your Invisalign dentist will take x-rays, photos and diagnostic impressions that through the use of 3-D digital technology will allow the dental lab to develop a series of soft plastic aligners. The aligners are replaced every two to four weeks with the next in the series. Your teeth are gently repositioned through the series of aligners dispensed by your dentist.

It is imperative that the aligners are worn a minimum of twenty-two hours per day in order to achieve the desired result in the time frame allowed.

For most adults, this procedure can take between six months to two years. Young adults and teens can expect the same time frame as with traditional metal bands and brackets.

If you would like to learn more about this innovative orthodontic treatment option, please contact Grout Family Dentistry at 303.730.1222 today.

Causes of Clenching and Grinding

The causes of clenching and grinding can vary. In addition, clenching and grinding can be a symptom of other problems that need to be addressed. Some issues that can cause grinding include:

• Misalignment
• Stress
• Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD)

If clenching or grinding are symptoms of misalignment or TMD (also known as TMJ), your dentist will probably want to investigate the root cause and provide appropriate treatment. In addition, your dentist might recommend a nightguard to reduce the side effects of clenching and grinding.

Using a Nightguard

A nightguard is a latex appliance that is custom-molded to fit your mouth. Your dentist uses a special gel to make a mold of your teeth. The nightguard is then manufactured in an offsite lab. When it returns from the lab, your dentist will have you try it on and make any necessary modifications so that it is comfortable.

For the best results, you should wear your nightguard all night, every night. The hard latex helps protect the surfaces of your teeth from damage when you clench and grind. It won’t stop the actual grinding, but it will greatly reduce the risk that you might inadvertently damage your teeth.

If you do not wear the nightguard every night, not only will your teeth possibly be damaged, but after a couple of weeks the nightguard might not fit properly anymore. This is because your teeth might move in small increments that cause the mold of your bite to no longer be accurate. So, for the best possible results, wear the nightguard regularly.

For more information about clenching and grinding and how a nightguard can help, please contact Grout Family Dentistry at 303 -730-1222.

Advantages of Dental Implants

Dental implants provide several advantages over other options to replace missing teeth. Once implants are placed, they are permanent. They match the size and appearance of your natural teeth, and do not require any adjustment over time. They are also long-lasting. Regular brushing, flossing and dental check-ups will keep your implants looking great for many years.

Other options for tooth replacement require special maintenance over time. For example, dentures typically need to be adjusted or even completely refitted every few years. Because dentures do not stimulate the jawbone to regenerate tissue, the bone can shrink over time. Loss of bone tissue in the jawbone leads to changes in the way your dentures fit as well as changes in the contours of your jaw and face. These changes mean that your dentures might become uncomfortable, requiring them to be adjusted.

The Consequences of Missing Teeth

Dental implants can also help reduce the long-term expenses of correcting problems that can occur when missing teeth are not replaced. If gaps are left unfilled, remaining teeth will shift into the empty spaces. This affects your alignment as well as your bite. If your teeth do not fit together correctly, you might need additional treatment for:

• Misalignment that requires orthodontic correction
• TMD that requires extensive treatment
• Wear and tear that leads to additional lost teeth

Having missing teeth replaced immediately with dental implants will reduce the possibility that you will have these long-term, costly problems. If you have lost teeth, consult with our experienced implant dentistry team to find out how dental implants can help you keep your smile intact and avoid unnecessary long-term discomfort and expenditures.

To find out more about how dental implants can help you keep your smile healthy and attractive, please contact our office at 303 -730-1222 today.