Dental Implants And Smile Makeovers

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Categories: Cosmetic dentistry, Dental Implants, Smile design

smile makeovers Fort Collins

Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but a great smile is always going to get attention! A cosmetic dentistry smile makeover from The Fort Collins Dentist can give you the smile of your dreams!

A smile makeover is a combination of cosmetic dentistry procedures, aimed at improving your smile. There is a range of options: whiten your smile with professional teeth whitening, cover up gaps with porcelain veneers, or even replace missing teeth with dental implants!

  • Teeth whitening. Professional-strength whitening materials will transform your smile beyond any over-the-counter whitening product. Must be seen to be believed!
  • Porcelain veneers. Veneers are medical-grade ceramic shells affixed to the fronts of your teeth to cover gaps, chips, cracks, and other flaws.
  • Dental implants. Implants may be the ultimate restortion! We can replaced a missing tooth with an artificial one that looks and functions like the real thing.

A cosmetic dentistry smile makeover from The Fort Collins Dentist can transform your smile from dull to dazzling. We’ve improved the smiles of people from Loveland, Timnath, Wellington, and Windsor, who also come to our practice for complete general and family dentistry. Call for an appointment today!

Contact The Fort Collins Dentist Family & Implant Dentistry:

970-221-5115

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

2001 S Shields St Bldg L
Fort Collins, Colorado
80526

ArticleID 8097

Dental Questions? The Fort Collins Dentist Has Answers

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Categories: Dental health, General dentistry

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At The Fort Collins Dentist we strive for excellence in dentistry every day. Providing the best possible dental care goes beyond cleanings and exams. We like patients who ask a lot of questions, because that tells us they are taking a strong interest in their dental health.

Frequently Asked Questions

One of the questions we’re often asked is whether it’s really necessary to have a cleaning and checkup every six months. Our short answer is, yes! But a better answer would include the time-honored truth that prevention is the best medicine.

Every appointment includes a thorough cleaning by a hygienist. Then the dentist examines your teeth and gums, looking for any new cavities and signs of gum disease. Every checkup also includes a screening for oral cancer.

Sometimes we need to see patients more frequently. Someone with gum disease, or who is undergoing orthodontic treatment, should have appointments more often than twice a year. We determine that on a case-by-case basis.

More Questions

Patients often wonder how long a filling will last. Some people think they’ll last a lifetime, but unfortunately that is not usually the case. Fillings can break down or become loose over time. If that happens, decay can get into the area around it and cause problems. You can extend the life of any restoration with good oral hygiene at home. If you have any questions about what that means, don’t hesitate to ask.

What kind of toothbrush is best? This is among the most-asked questions for any dentist. Manual and electric toothbrushes, used properly, both do an excellent job. We recommend soft bristles, with mixed bristle heights and angles. They do a better job getting between the teeth.

To really get between the teeth, we also recommend daily flossing. String floss is best, but whether it’s waxed or unwaxed, flavored or not, or wide dental tape is up to you.

And More!

When it comes to toothpaste, we recommend one that has the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance. That means it contains fluoride, which strengthens and protects your teeth.

These are just some of the common questions we get from our patients at The Fort Collins Dentist. Have we missed anything you’ve wondered about? Never hesitate to bring your questions to your checkup. People from Loveland, Timnath, Wellington, and Windsor come to us for general and family dentistry, and to improve their smiles with cosmetic dentistry. Schedule your next appointment today.

Contact The Fort Collins Dentist Family & Implant Dentistry:

970-221-5115

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

2001 S Shields St Bldg L
Fort Collins, Colorado
80526

ArticleID 4950

Keeping Patients Calm

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Categories: Dental health, General dentistry, Sedation Dentistry

sleep dentistry Fort Collins

If you tense up just thinking about going to the dentist, you may benefit from sedation dentistry offered by The Fort Collins Dentist.

Millions of Americans stress out when they have to see the dentist. It is referred to as dental anxiety. There is a more severe form, too, called dental phobia. In both, some people would rather skip the dentist altogether than sit down for a checkup. The problem with that, of course, is it puts their dental health at risk.

There are lots of reasons why people develop anxiety or phobia over dental care. It often stems from a bad experience they had with a dentist as a kid. Fear of pain may be involved, as well as a fear of anesthesics and possible side effects.

Whatever the cause, sedation dentistry has helped millions of people get through their appointments.

We offer three types:

Nitrous Oxide. You also know this as laughing gas. Nitrous oxide has been used in dentistry for more than a century and is highly effective.

Oral conscious sedation. You take a sedative an hour or so before the appointment. You won’t sleep, but will be in a deeply relaxed state. When the appointment is over, someone will have to drive you home.

IV Sedation. As the name suggests, this is a sedative that is administered intravenously. You won’t sleep with this one, either, but will be in a deeply relaxed state. You’ll need an escort for a ride here and back.

Whatever your issue is, it is essential that you do not compromise your dental health by skipping the dentist. Sedation dentistry from The Fort Collins Dentist has helped patients throughout Loveland, Timnath, Wellington, and Windsor. Our services include general and family dentistry. Schedule an appointment today!

Contact The Fort Collins Dentist Family & Implant Dentistry:

970-221-5115

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

2001 S Shields St Bldg L
Fort Collins, Colorado
80526

ArticleID 7041

Get Your Teeth In Shape!

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Categories: Dental health, General dentistry, Oral Health

Get Your Teeth In Shape, Loveland!

Regular exercise is essential to good health. When you’re physically fit then you look better, and more important, you feel better! And as we remind our patients here at The Fort Collins Dentist, that goes for keeping your teeth in good shape, too!

If your eyes are the window to the soul, then your mouth may well be the window to your overall health. Research has shown there is a clear link between your dental health and general health. It is safe to say that good dental health is necessary to your physical well-being throughout your life.

Here’s just one example: bacteria that starts in the mouth can cause infection in other parts of the body, especially if your immune system has been weakened by illness.

When you take good care of your teeth, you’re doing more for your well-being than you may ever have realized. So brush and floss every day, without fail, and see us for regular cleanings and checkups.

At The Fort Collins Dentist we want you keep yourself in shape with plenty of exercise. But never underestimate the importance of good dental health! People from Loveland, Timnath, Wellington, and Windsor come to our practice for general and cosmetic dentistry. Call to schedule an appointment with us today!

Contact The Fort Collins Dentist Family & Implant Dentistry:

970-221-5115

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

2001 S Shields St Bldg L
Fort Collins, Colorado
80526

ArticleID 4111

Smile Makeovers: First Things First

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Categories: Cosmetic dentistry, Smile design

smile design Fort Collins

A smile makeover from The Fort Collins Dentist will give you a brilliant new smile that leads to greater self-confidence and improved dental health. We take a very methodical approach to make sure you’re thrilled with the results.

A smile makeover means combining different cosmetic dentistry techqniues to improve the appearance of your smile. These may include:

  • Teeth whitening
  • Porcelain veneers
  • Dental implants
  • Bonding

Before moving forward with any of the actual procedures, though, we schedule a consultation to evaluate your overall dental health, and to determine what it is about your smile you’d like to improve. We’ll check the state of your teeth and gums, as well as the underlying structure.

We’ll also check to see that your bite is good: that is, the way your upper and lower teeth come together. If we discover any problems we’ll need to address those first.

Some of the evaluations may surprise you. We’ll consider the color and shape of your face, including lips and cheeks, and even your hair. The goal is to find just the right balance between these features and the proposed smile improvements.

From there we’ll develop a plan to address the smile improvements you want to make.

At The Fort Collins Dentist we’re committed to excellence in cosmetic dentistry. Please visit our smile gallery to see what we can do! Patients throughout Loveland, Timnath, Wellington, and Windsor appreciate our orderly approach, and we’re confident you will too! Call our office to schedule an appointment today!

Contact The Fort Collins Dentist Family & Implant Dentistry:

970-221-5115

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

2001 S Shields St Bldg L
Fort Collins, Colorado
80526

ArticleID 6808

Hiding Your Smile?

Posted on
Categories: Dental health, General dentistry

cost of dental crowns Loveland

At The Fort Collins Dentist we strive for excellence in dentistry every day. Providing the best possible dental care goes beyond cleanings and exams. We like patients who ask a lot of questions, because that tells us they are taking a strong interest in their dental health.

Frequently Asked Questions

One of the questions we’re often asked is whether it’s really necessary to have a cleaning and checkup every six months. Our short answer is, yes! But a better answer would include the time-honored truth that prevention is the best medicine.

Every appointment includes a thorough cleaning by a hygienist. Then the dentist examines your teeth and gums, looking for any new cavities and signs of gum disease. Every checkup also includes a screening for oral cancer.

Sometimes we need to see patients more frequently. Someone with gum disease, or who is undergoing orthodontic treatment, should have appointments more often than twice a year. We determine that on a case-by-case basis.

More Questions

Patients often wonder how long a filling will last. Some people think they’ll last a lifetime, but unfortunately that is not usually the case. Fillings can break down or become loose over time. If that happens, decay can get into the area around it and cause problems. You can extend the life of any restoration with good oral hygiene at home. If you have any questions about what that means, don’t hesitate to ask.

What kind of toothbrush is best? This is among the most-asked questions for any dentist. Manual and electric toothbrushes, used properly, both do an excellent job. We recommend soft bristles, with mixed bristle heights and angles. They do a better job getting between the teeth.

To really get between the teeth, we also recommend daily flossing. String floss is best, but whether it’s waxed or unwaxed, flavored or not, or wide dental tape is up to you.

And More!

When it comes to toothpaste, we recommend one that has the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance. That means it contains fluoride, which strengthens and protects your teeth.

These are just some of the common questions we get from our patients at The Fort Collins Dentist. Have we missed anything you’ve wondered about? Never hesitate to bring your questions to your checkup. People from Loveland, Timnath, Wellington, and Windsor come to us for cosmetic dentistry, and for complete general and family dentistry. Schedule your next appointment today.

Contact The Fort Collins Dentist Family & Implant Dentistry:

970-221-5115

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

2001 S Shields St Bldg L
Fort Collins, Colorado
80526

ArticleID 5146

Your Unique Smile, Only Better!

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Categories: Cosmetic dentistry, Smile design

Loveland Extreme Smile Makeover

If you’re not happy with your smile, you can improve it with cosmetic dentistry from The Fort Collins Dentist.

Cosmetic dentistry is all about using sound dental techniques to make positive changes to your smile. Even a tiny change can make a big difference!

General and family dentistry addresses the health of your teeth and gums, and we’ll never overlook that. Cosmetic dentistry improves smiles as a complement  to your dental health.

There are procedures like teeth whitening and porcelain veneers that can transform your smile. But before proceeding we consider the shape, alignment, color and condition of the teeth, and the facial shape and coloring of each patient.

Available procedures include:

  • Veneers. Thin shells are affixed to the front of your teeth to cover gaps, cracks, and discoloration. We offer standard porcelain or prepless.
  • Teeth whitening. Professional whitening surpasses any whitening product you’ll find at the grocery store.
  • Dental implants. One or more titanium posts inserted in your jaw can support one or more replacement teeth.

We can combine two or more of these into a smile design, so you’ll get the smile of your dreams!

Cosmetic dentistry from The Fort Collins Dentist can transform your smile from dull to dazzling! People from Loveland, Timnath, Wellington, and Windsor have come to us for smile design, and also for complete general and family dentistry. Schedule an appointment with us today!

Contact The Fort Collins Dentist Family & Implant Dentistry:

970-221-5115

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

2001 S Shields St Bldg L
Fort Collins, Colorado
80526

ArticleID 4599

Canadian City Sees Effects of Removing Fluoride

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Categories: Oral Health, Pediatric Dentistry

Known for its contribution to the Canadian auto industry, the mid-sized city of Windsor, Ontario, sits directly across the Detroit River from another major automotive hub: Detroit. But Windsor made headlines of its own back in 2013, when the city voted to stop adding fluoride to its public water supply.

Fluoridated water has long been shown to be a safe and effective way to reduce cavities and strengthen teeth and bones, but many still do not trust the additive and lobbied against it. In the case of those in Windsor, that lobbying was successful – or so they thought.

Fast forward to 2018, when the data from the city’s Oral Health Report revealed some startling numbers. According to the report, the city experienced a shocking 51 percent increase in Windsor children who required urgent dental care in the years following the fluoride removal. What’s worse, with only one in four Windsor families having dental insurance, the cost to treat these children – if they were fortunate enough to receive treatment at all – was passed along to their families and to taxpayers in the city.

And it just got worse from there. Because Windsor removed the equipment necessary to disperse fluoride, the city will now have to spend around $850,000 to replace the equipment, another expense passed along to taxpayers.

So, what does this mean for us here in America? While this story doesn’t directly affect us, it does go to show why fluoride and fluoridated water are so important for our oral health – and what can happen when that fluoride is taken away.

Contact The Fort Collins Dentist Family & Implant Dentistry:

970-221-5115

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

2001 S Shields St Bldg L
Fort Collins, Colorado
80526

Tooth Sensitivity Causes and Effective Treatment Options

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Categories: Oral Health, Root Canals

More than 3 million Americans suffer from tooth sensitivity. While some are sensitive to cold, many are equally sensitive to sweets and may even cringe at the thought of sugary foods and drinks. As it turns out, you can treat your tooth sensitivity. Your success at this will, however, depend on how you’re able to identify and tackle the cause.

While this blog will provide some useful information, your dentist is still the first person you should talk to about how to treat your tooth sensitivity.

Tooth Sensitivity Causes

Your tooth sensitivity may come and go. Or it could be constant.

It’s often caused by the exposure of the dentin on the root areas of your teeth. This, in turn, is usually caused by gum recession, gum disease or erosion of the enamel or top layer of your tooth.

While the crown of the tooth is adequately protected by enamel, the root is not. Rather, it is covered by cementum. When this cementum erodes, the nerves underneath are exposed. This is why people react sensitively to cold, hot or sweet substances.

Common tooth sensitivity causes include:

  • Teeth grinding
  • Aggressive or overzealous brushing
  • Abrasive toothpaste
  • Bulimia
  • Excess acidity of the diet
  • Acid reflux disease
  • Dry mouth
  • Excess whitening of the teeth

Tooth Sensitivity Treatment

To start with, talk to your dentist about your tooth pain or sensitivity to cold, hot, sweet or acidic substances.

Rule out or treat underlying cases of cavities or tooth decay. Your dentist will let you know whether you’ll need an ADA-approved desensitizing toothpaste, fluoride gel, gum graft, filling or root canal depending on the cause and severity of your sensitivity.

Getting completely over your tooth sensitivity causes may also require changes to your diet as well as maintaining adequate oral hygiene.

Those who have experienced it know how frustrating tooth sensitivity can be. As frustrating as it can be, booking an appointment with your dentist is the first step to overcoming it quickly and easily.

For more information on tooth sensitivity causes and treatment options available to you, schedule a visit or contact us today at 970-812-0355.

Contact The Fort Collins Dentist Family & Implant Dentistry:

970-221-5115

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

2001 S Shields St Bldg L
Fort Collins, Colorado
80526

Sleep Apnea Could Raise Cancer Risk

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Categories: Sleep Apnea

sleep apnea treatment in Fort Collins, COA serious sleep disorder, sleep apnea affects an estimated 22 million Americans, many of whom don’t even realize they have it. What’s more, of those with sleep apnea, nearly 80 percent have what is considered moderate to severe sleep apnea, and most of those cases are considered obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea occurs when the affected person lies down and pressure on their throat causes a blockage that prevents breathing. This can cause the affected person to wake repeatedly, toss and turn, and stop and restart breathing throughout the night. Persons with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea often wake feeling tired and remain sluggish and fatigued throughout the day. But now, a recent study from the May 20 issue of the European Respiratory Journal has presented more bad news for sufferers of obstructive sleep apnea, and doctors are hoping patients pay attention.

The report, which follows a study by Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece, found that women who suffer from severe obstructive sleep apnea are more likely than their male counterparts, and those without severe obstructive sleep apnea, to develop cancer.

“The study did not specify a type of cancer these patients are at an increased risk of developing,” says Dr. Allison Lesko, a dentist who treats sleep apnea in her Fort Collins, Colorado, practice. “Just that patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea are at an increased risk of developing any cancer.”

That’s because researchers theorize that low blood oxygen levels caused by the obstructive breathing may encourage the growth of certain types of cancers.
But don’t panic just yet, says Lesko. There is help.

“If you have sleep apnea, or you or a partner thinks you may have sleep apnea, you owe it to yourself to get evaluated by a dentist or doctor who specializes in sleep apnea treatment,” Lesko says.

Lesko says treatment is easier than many people realize.

“There are many different types of sleep apnea therapy,” she says. “You may have already heard of continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, therapy, which constantly ventilates air into your airways as you sleep. But there are also other options such as sleep orthotics your dentist can customize for you that reposition the jaw and essentially prop the airway open.”

According to Lesko, these treatments can help keep your oxygen levels high and hopefully reduce your risk of developing those cancers identified in the study.

“The researchers were not able to definitively say whether or not sleep apnea was responsible for the cancer, but just knowing the risk could be there will hopefully be motivation enough to seek treatment,” she says.

Contact The Fort Collins Dentist Family & Implant Dentistry:

970-221-5115

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

2001 S Shields St Bldg L
Fort Collins, Colorado
80526