Boulder Implants and Periodontics

Bolder, Colorado, US

About Us

While at our office, we make sure that you receive the highest level of service and ensure that our dental work is of the highest quality. To ensure that you maintain great oral health, this level of quality needs to extend into your personal oral hygiene routine. We can help you establish a dental hygiene routine that will keep your teeth healthy and white. If you have any questions about your current hygiene plan please ask us.

Your teeth are not the only important part of your mouth. Your gums are essential to oral hygiene as well. We can provide periodontal cleanings and treatment, or refer you to one of our recommended specialists. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Oral cancer screenings

Oral cancer screenings are a very important part of the dental visit for the patient. With the advances in modern technology, we are now able to pinpoint the start of a potential problem much earlier in its evolution. The ability to do so is extremely important in being able to treat any issues prior to them becoming a major irreversible problem.

The oral cancer screening is often completed with an ultraviolet light or similar device that allows us to view issues that can't always be detected by the human eye under normal conditions.

Certain lifestyle choices can have a great impact on the health of tissues and your overall health in the mouth. If you are a smoker or heavy drinker, make sure to get regular screenings when you visit the dentist.

Root Planing

Often there is plaque and tartar that accumulates below the gum line. In this scenario, we will clean and smooth this area with special instruments to ensure that the area is completely spotless. If this area is not kept clean the entire area can become irritated with the bacteria that resides in the tartar and plaque. It's very important to have your dentist check this area if you have bleeding during brushing.
WHAT IS PERIODONTAL DISEASE?
Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection of the gums and bone surrounding the teeth that is most destructive in individuals that have a genetic susceptibility to the disease process. It is responsible for more tooth loss in adults than any other type of dental disease. Data acquired by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that 50% of American adults suffer from periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease is chronic in nature and usually does not hurt until the disease has become advanced and tooth loss is inevitable. Early diagnosis and treatment can help you maintain your teeth for a lifetime.

Signs of periodontal disease include:
Deep pockets around teeth
Bad breath
Inflamed gums
Spaces that develop between teeth
Loose or sensitive teeth
Receding gums or longer-appearing teeth
Non-Surgical Treatment
Scaling and root planning is a non-surgical treatment of periodontal disease that is sometimes referred to as a “deep cleaning.” It is often the first line of treatment for people who suffer from periodontal disease, and for many people, is an adequate treatment for establishing periodontal health.

Surgical Treatment
Surgery may be necessary if inflammation and deep pockets remain following scaling and root planning treatment. Traditional periodontal surgery involves reflecting the gum tissue away from the teeth in order to gain access to the root of the teeth so they can be adequately cleaned.

During periodontal surgery it is often appropriate to treat the bone defects that have formed during the disease process. This may involve the placement of a bone graft to regenerate the bone that supports the teeth.
Dental implants are a permanent and appealing solution to replace missing or extracted teeth. They are better than other alternatives like bridges because no additional teeth need to be altered to place the new tooth.

The entire implant process is performed over the course of a few months. The first part of the process is to install the implant itself, where a screw is placed into the jaw bone. An incision is made in the gum so that the implant can be inserted. Multiple implants can be placed at once if necessary. After the implants are placed the gums are sutured.

The implant must be allowed about 3-6 months to heal, and during this time the jaw bone will form around the implant in a process called osseointegration. During this healing time you can have temporary crowns installed so that you can eat and speak normally and maintain a proper aesthetic appearance for your smile.

After the implant has healed it is time to place an abutment on the implant. The abutment serves as the base for your new tooth. One this is placed an impression of the abutment is taken and is used to create your permanent restoration. Some offices have an onsite lab to create the crown, but others will have to send it to an outside lab. Once the restoration is completed you can return to the office to attach the restoration permanently. Your smile will look just like it used to, and after a short period of getting used to the implant it will feel just like one of your own teeth.
EXTRACTIONS
A tooth that is severely damaged or infected may need to be removed. A surgeon who specializes in surgeries of the mouth or your dentist can remove (extract) a tooth.

Depending on the severity or complexity of the procedure or patient anxiety, the tooth removal can be performed with either local anesthesia or IV Sedation.

Once the tooth and surrounding area are anesthetized, the tooth is loosened by gripping it tightly and wiggling back and forth until it can be lifted out of the socket. Sometimes a tooth may be impacted so tightly that it cannot be simply lifted out of the gums. In cases like this, the tooth will be sectioned before being removed. Depending on the severity of infection and treatment goal, the socket may be grafted with “powder” bone at the time of removal and stitches may be needed to close and protect the area.

After the surgery, you can expect some bleeding. Gauze will be applied at the completion of the surgery, and you will need to change it when it becomes soaked. If bleeding continues for longer than 48 hours you should call your surgeon or dentist who performed the surgery. Rest when you return home and ice the area to reduce inflammation and discomfort. Do not lie flat as this could prolong the bleeding, instead prop your head up on a pillow when lying down. Your surgeon or dentist will prescribe a pain medication, be sure to take as directed.

For the first few days following the surgery, favor eating on the opposite side of your mouth and eat only soft foods. Do not use a straw following the extraction of upper molars. The sucking motion can loosen your sutures and slow the clotting process. Avoid smoking.

Some recommended foods are:

Gelatin
Pudding
Yogurt
Mashed Potatoes
Ice Cream
Soup
...and other food you can eat without chewing.

If you have prolonged discomfort, bleeding, fever, or feel that the surgical site is not healing properly call your surgeon or dentist.