From the Office

When you take a trip to the dentist’s office, the dentist, dental hygienist, and dental assistants assess your dental health, provide recommendations, and treat various problems affecting your teeth and gums. What you don’t see is the behind the scenes team, the lab technicians, who design state-of-the-art restorations and dental appliances to accomplish the objectives set by your dentist.

At my Boulder dental clinic, I use a variety of different local laboratories to provide the best range of services. One for dentures, one for standard ceramic crowns, and another one for bridges, and yet another for handcrafted, ceramic onlays and inlays. Cases involving full mouth rehabilitation are sent to a local lab with specialized knowledge of neuromuscular principles.

I’ve found that each lab has unique strengths, and by using multiple labs I am able to customize the benefits according to each patient’s needs.

The technicians working in dental laboratories are responsible for creating dental appliances and restorations according to the specifications for each patient as directed by Dr. Ania. Many have received certification through the National Board for Certification and Dental Laboratory Technology as well as LVI (Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies) training.

Here’s a brief description of how a ceramic onlay or inlay is created by a lab technician:

• The lab technician starts with the physical mouth mold or digital impression sent over by Dr. Ania.
• A model is made of the patient’s mouth, followed by a wax model of the teeth, which is then used in creation of a metal framework.
• Ceramic resin material is applied to the metal to match the size, shape and color of the tooth.
• Finally, the finished restoration is hardened using a baking process, sealed, and sent over to Dr. Ania’s office for permanent placement.

Our dental restoration team will choose the lab that we feel is strongest in your particular area of need and can meet the treatment requirements with exceptional results. .

If you’d like to replace old dental restorations or simply want a wellness evaluation, please schedule an appointment with my Boulder team today.

Dr. Ania

Comprehensive & Cosmetic Dentistry

Your teeth and gums are precious resources that should be protected, through both diligent home care and respectful dental care alike. At my Boulder dental clinic, my team and I prefer to practice a conservative style called minimally-invasive dentistry. This means we realize that your one set of teeth are irreplaceable and recommend the least-invasive methods first. If there are ways we can solve your problem with less risk, less discomfort, less removal of enamel, etc, we will search for the solution that has the least impact.

Conservative treatments allow us to preserve more of your natural teeth and involve less pain and tooth or gum trauma than more invasive measures. Most of the time this guiding principle is successful and our patients are able to find relief with minor tooth treatment like tooth-colored dental fillings, laser bacterial removal, and other procedures that are easy to undergo and recover from. In cases where additional reinforcement is needed, only then will we recommend the more invasive options such as ceramic crowns, dental implants, and endodontics (root canals).

The principle of minimally-invasive dentistry also translates to the equipment and technology used daily in our office. For instance, our digital X-ray services allow for optimal evaluation of teeth and gums with less hassle, risk and discomfort for our patients. Our dental restoration procedures are performed in the most efficient manner, with advanced equipment, in order to maximize your time and improve comfort while you are here.

If you are not happy with your current dentist and want to find out more about my practice and our minimally invasive style of dentistry, please schedule an appointment today.

Dr. Ania

The temporomandibular joint (nicknamed “TMJ”) refers to the joint responsible for jaw movement. Contrary to previous theories, problems with the TMJs are now believed to most often originate elsewhere in the bite system, instead of within the joint itself. In my practice, I frequently find that joint problems result from a misalignment of the teeth, referred to as a “malocclusion” or “bad bite.”

Jaw Joints and Your Body

The body is a mystery, but the more we uncover about the effects of the temporomandibular joints on the rest of the body, the more we are able to help patients escape the symptoms of a bad bite. Before the field of neuromuscular dentistry developed, jaw joint problems were misdiagnosed or overlooked. Even today, there are many dentists who aren’t trained to identify TMJ issues. As a neuromuscular dentist, I use state-of-the-art equipment to diagnose and treat jaw joint issues that are causing my patients distress. The one overlying lesson I’ve learned from specialized jaw joint training is that TMJ problems can cause even the most seemingly unrelated symptoms. Who would think that numbness in the fingers, shoulder pain and back pain could indicate a bad bite? More obvious symptoms include jaw pain, headaches, and clicking or popping sounds when opening and closing the jaw.

Treatment for Jaw Joint Problems

At our Boulder dental clinic, my neuromuscular dentistry team treats TMJ problems with conservative TMJ therapy first. Misalignment of temporomandibular joints is often resolved as a result of correcting a malocclusion, meaning that we align the bite correctly and the pain and other problems disappear. In most cases, our approach is non-surgical and may indicate wearing what we call an orthotic appliance to temporarily change the bite. If symptoms are resolved successfully, then a second phase of treatment may be indicated to permanently change the bite and hold the alignment of the joints and muscles.

We may prescribe certain anti-inflammatories or pain control medications, but use them sparingly so as not to mask important indicators that may help us find a solution. 

Things like sports injuries, arthritis, underbites, and uneven dental work are often found to cause jaw joint problems.  In many cases, anatomic abnormalities passed on through genetics create the uneven bite that causes TMJ symptoms. Whatever the cause, we can try a number of therapies designed to restore a healthy, harmonious bite and alleviate jaw joint pain.

Whether you are experiencing jaw pain or simply want to ensure your jaw joints are functioning optimally, we invite you to schedule an appointment to meet the team and learn more about how we care for your comprehensive dental health.

Dr. Ania

Comprehensive & Cosmetic Dentistry

Finding a new dentist doesn’t have to be stressful, especially if you know what you’re looking for before you begin. Here we make some suggestions as to the qualities and characteristics you might consider as you conduct your search. And, while it is great to have the finer points checked off paper, you should also trust your instincts when looking for a Boulder dental team to trust with your comprehensive dental health. If you get a good (or not so good) feeling about a practice, we encocurage you to ask many questions as you can and then move on if they don’t meet your expectations.

Technology

Ask your potential dental practices how they integrate technology and what types of advanced treatments or features are available currently. For example, laser dentistry and digital X-rays are two technological advancements that provide benefits like improved safety and early cavity detection.

Results

You can tell a lot about a dentist’s abilities from before and after photos of cosmetic dentistry treatments.

Personal Service

The way you are treated both over the phone and in person is a good indication of how the practice regards patients.

Attentiveness

Attentiveness is one thing that is missing from many medical and dental practices, especially when patients are scheduled back-to-back.

Education/Experience

Don’t be afraid to ask the dentist about his or her background and training, and to research the educational facilities and check for accreditation. 

Patient Education

A dentist who truly cares about the long-term health of patients will empower them through educational efforts, such as a dental blog, engaging visual aids, and fun educational models for kids. 

Amenities

A practice that offers amenities is likely one that will put forth extra effort to improve the whole patient experience.

Dental Treatments

Find out if the practice offers a wide variety of treatment types, so that you can have all of your dental needs met through one strong team. Ask about Invisalign® braces, porcelain veneers, or other dental restoration options, as well as dental rehabilitation services such as TMD treatment and periodontal therapy.

If you’re shopping for a new dentist, my team and I would be honored to have you come in for a dental wellness visit or a cosmetic dentistry consultation. Please schedule an appointment to meet with my Boulder dental team at your convenience and we’ll show you all we have to offer.

Dr. Ania

Comprehensive & Cosmetic Dentistry