From the Office

The successful management of your dental health takes a commitment on your part to make this aspect of your total wellness a priority in your life — and that includes following through with treatments recommended by your dentist.

As my team and I have seen firsthand, people who neglect their dental health and forego dental checkups or good dental hygiene pay for it in the long run. Avoiding necessary care can lead to comprehensive plaque build-up, bacteria collection and early stage gum disease, weakened tooth structures due to decay and degraded old dental work, and even jaw joint issues.

Here at my Boulder dental clinic, we try to convey the importance of early treatment and curbing the damage that cavities and other threats may cause. The link between dental health and total health is undeniable, and we urge patients to consider the consequences of ignoring issues that can put their dental health in danger. For instance, high bacteria levels in the mouth have been shown to directly correspond to narrowing of the arteries. With methods like professional dental cleanings and periodontal treatment, bacteria can be significantly reduced.

Dental restorations like dental crowns, veneers, and implants are performed to strengthen and protect your dental health, to make your smile more resistant to future health issues. We practice minimally-invasive dentistry, which means we prefer to use the most conservative treatments possible to address dental problems.

Of course we understand that cost is often an issue and that adding an unexpected dental treatment expense to your budget can be tricky to do. We offer a variety of payment options to help our patients afford care and we also accept dental financing for those who wish to spread payments out over several months.  

To learn more about the treatments we offer and talk to our team about ways you can be proactive about your dental health, please schedule an appointment. We look forward to working with you to keep your smile beautiful and healthy.

Dr. Ania

Comprehensive & Cosmetic Dentistry

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

If you are in the process of looking for a Colorado dental center that is just right for you and your family’s needs, we have a few suggestions on how you can get acquainted with the dentists in your area that are up for consideration.

It is easy to get valuable insight into what a dental practice is like from the very first phone call. Notice how you are treated and how accommodating the patient coordinator comes across. Do they answer your questions thoroughly? Focused attention on the phone is a sign that the team truly cares about building patient relationships.

At my dental practice in Boulder, we make it effortless for our patients to get to know our staff upfront, before any actual dental work is performed. During your first visit, our patient coordinator will sit down with you and ask you a series of questions about what you are looking for in a dental practice. We also take this opportunity to get to know you as a person — your lifestyle, goals, hobbies, and motivations. At this time, you can feel free to ask us anything at all regarding our philosophy of care, experience, technology, insurance, financing, and anything else that may be on your mind.

If you are unsure about what to ask, here are a few suggestions:

Do you offer special amenities to make the dental visits more enjoyable?

What happens during the dental wellness checks?

Do you have photos of cosmetic dentistry results available to view?

What is your dental education and background?

How long have you been in practice?

How do you make visits fun for kids?

How important is technology in your practice?

This initial meet-and-greet is integral in understanding each patient’s unique needs so that we may provide exceptional personalized care.

If you are ready to find a dentist you can trust for years to come, please schedule an appointment to meet with our team and find out what we have to offer. 

Dr. Ania

Comprehensive & Cosmetic Dentistry

Tooth gaps are a sore spot for some people and a trait that they’d rather give up. While small gaps may add character to a smile, a sizable gap can make you self-conscious about your smile.

At my Boulder, Colorado dental practice, we offer several solutions for fixing gapped teeth. Depending on the size and position of your gap, and how it affects your neighboring teeth and gums, cosmetic dentistry can be very effective for improving both the appearance and function of your teeth.

• Invisalign braces — These clear, plastic aligners work to gently realign teeth in order to close gaps and relax overcrowding. Once treatment is finished, your teeth will be in a more advantageous position, giving you the ability to use them more effectively and creating a more attractive appearance.

• Porcelain veneers — Porcelain veneers are thin shells of porcelain that sit on the front surfaces of teeth. They can cover several teeth at once, effectively masking small gaps and other physical issues. While veneers do create a natural-looking solution, they are recommended for appearance improvement only and should not be used in instances where a gap is causing chewing or speaking problems.

• Dental implants — If you have large gaps that exist due to lost teeth, a dental implant is the cosmetic dentistry option that comes closest to having a real tooth. Dental implants are anchored to the jawbone and shaped to look just like your natural teeth. If you fill in a gap with an implant, you can minimize jawbone loss, regain full chewing power, and stop neighboring teeth from shifting out of place.

If you’d like to see how cosmetic dentistry can help with tooth gaps and other smile problems, please visit our Smile Gallery for before and after images.

To discuss your solutions for filling in tooth gaps, please contact my Boulder, Colorado dental practice today.

Dr. Ania

Comprehensive & Cosmetic Dentistry

Invisalign® braces are one example of new cosmetic dentistry technology that is changing the face of dentistry as we know it. With all the buzz lately about this smile-straightening innovation, I wanted to take this opportunity to address some of the most common questions I hear from my patients.

What benefits do Invisalign braces offer over metal braces?

The plastic aligners offer a subtle method of smile straightening, far less obvious than metal brackets. They’re also removable, so you can eat what you want and clean your teeth with ease. Office visits are required less frequently, too, only every 4 to 6 weeks. No brackets, no wires, no food restrictions, and no need to hide your smile for the duration of treatment.

 How do I know if Invisalign braces will work for me?

When you visit our Boulder, Colorado dental office, my team and I will evaluate your teeth and gums and suggest the smile makeover options that can improve the look and function of your teeth. If you have noticeable tooth gaps, a crossbite, an underbite, or unevenly-spaced teeth, you may be a good candidate for clear braces. Invisalign is also often recommended when neuromuscular problems cause a bad bite. Invisalign offers an online self-assesment tool at http://www.invisalign.com/Pages/Adult-Self-Assessment-Tool.aspx.

Do Invisalign braces hurt?

Invisalign is such a popular option today due in large part to the comfort aspect. The clear, plastic aligners are far less obtrusive than metal brackets, and they are not connected to each other by wires that can poke or irritate the mouth.

Is there a quicker way to get straighter teeth?

If your tooth misalignment issues are cosmetic in nature and aren’t causing any bite or dental health issues, you might consider porcelain veneers instead of braces. Please consult with our team to get an accurate recommendation as to what method of treatment can help you accomplish your goals.

Are Invisalign braces as effective as metal braces?

Most patients are able to get results that are comparable to metal braces within the same timeframe. We also offer traditional braces — after a an evaluation, we can make a recommendation and come to a mutual decision regarding your best straightening option.   

If you have always dreamed of a straighter smile and you’d like to find out more about the benefits of Invisalign, please contact my Boulder, Colorado dental practice today.

Dr. Ania

Comprehensive & Cosmetic Dentistry

Whether you have obvious tooth and gum issues or you simply feel your smile isn’t very dynamic, a smile makeover may be just what you need to revitalize your facial appearance, enhance your self-confidence, and improve your dental health.

As we discussed in our previous blog, Smile Restoration Tailored Just For You, each patient’s cosmetic dentistry journey is a collaboration of professionals who combine their expertise with each individual’s ideals to create beautiful, natural-looking smile enhancements.

Of course, the first step is providing you, the patient, with a detailed list of our capabilities as a smile makeover team. We begin by educating you on the many opportunities for improvement, including discussions of cost-effectiveness and healing time. We’ll present a realistic overview of what is possible with your smile and touch on the technology involved. Here are a few of our cosmetic dentistry procedures that can address a variety of smile issues.

• Yellow teeth may become brighter with advanced professional tooth whitening.
• Small cracks and chips can be repaired with tooth-colored fillings, dental bonding, or porcelain veneers.
• Missing teeth can be replaced with dental implants, dentures, or dental bridges.
• An uneven bite can be corrected with neuromuscular therapy.
• Misaligned teeth can be straightened with Invisalign® braces.
• Severely damaged teeth may be reinforced with tooth-colored dental crowns.
• Prominent gums can be reduced with laser gum reshaping.

As we mentioned in our earlier blog, Social Benefits of a Smile Enhancement, investing in your smile has many long-term benefits. If you’re considering a personalized smile makeover, we encourage you to let us help you do it right by combining multiple treatments for stunning results. Factors like your personality, attitude, and overall image will be taken into account as we chose the optimal procedures together.

When you choose my Boulder, Colorado dental practice, you can trust that your final result will accurately reflect your true self and appear very natural, as well.

If you are ready to learn more about the customized smile design process and review our extensive smile makeover before and after photos, please contact us today.

Dr. Ania

Comprehensive & Cosmetic Dentistry