From the Office

Dental crowns are one of the best tools we have to strengthen and protect teeth that have been worn down by dental decay or injury. Like all dental restorations, they have a lifespan and should be replaced. While good dental crowns can last 10 years, the reality is that most will need replacing within 5 – 7 years to ensure the integrity of your tooth.

There are many reasons why a dental crown may not be serving you well: It could be the wrong size or shape for your smile, it could have become worn due to wear and tear, gum disease may affect the gums around the tooth and endanger the root, or it may have become loose and ill-fitting over time, permitting decay to attack the tooth underneath. Many times, we get patients that ask for a crown replacement because they notice a dark line right above the gums, which not only looks bad but also indicates that crown is no longer fitting well. Whatever the issue may be, we can perform a comprehensive dental crown replacement to ensure a strong fit and protect your tooth from needing a root canal.

It is vital to your dental health that you replace old crowns. A loose or compromised crown could make your tooth injury prone and may actually cause bite problems if not addressed.

You should have your dental work checked regularly during semi-annual checkups to see if replacements are necessary. Here at our Boulder dental office, we offer the best materials placed carefully according to your unique anatomy needs. Choose from Empress and IPS e.max ceramic dental crowns for metal-free solutions that are designed for comfort and longevity. We take our time with the design and placement of dental crowns to ensure a perfect, natural fit for your smile.

If you are concerned about a crown, please schedule a visit with us as soon as possible to prevent an emergency situation.

Dr. Ania

Comprehensive & Cosmetic Dentistry

Healthy gums provide a stable foundry for teeth, protecting them from shifting out of place and minimizing the risk of plaque and tartar buildup. However, when factors like poor dental hygiene and aging come into play, gum tissue can gradually pull away from teeth in a process called gum recession.

Gum recession is a common dental problem that can cause your teeth to become unstable, weak, and susceptible to decay as gum tissue diminishes over time. Gum recession can also put the supporting tissue and bone structure of the teeth at risk and is one of the most common indications of gum disease. Causes of recession include aggressive tooth brushing, hormonal changes, and tobacco use. Misaligned bites, clenching and grinding, diabetes, and heart disease can also contribute to gum problems.

People with advanced gum recession will have too much tooth exposed, which not only creates an aesthetically imbalanced smile, but also leaves your teeth vulnerable to decay and tooth loss. The good news is there are treatments to halt the progression of gum recession and restore healthy margins around the teeth. Often, my team and I are able to control mild gum recession with deep cleaning and laser tooth cleaning. By removing the plaque and tartar below the gumline, we are restoring a smooth surface that is less accessible to bacteria, and this also creates a surface that encourages the gum tissue to tighten back up around the tooth. The laser gum reshaping procedure can help restore symmetry to your gums through the use of safe laser light. In some cases, surgery may be the only option to restore the level of gum tissue, but the first line of defense is to prevent the tissue loss in the first place. In cases where there is jawbone damage, we may refer you to an oral surgeon for pocket dept reduction surgery, regeneration surgery, or a soft tissue graft.

Remember, you can prevent serious gum recession by eating a well-balanced diet, avoiding tobacco use, taking good care of your teeth, and visiting us twice a year for personalized checkups. Check your gums regularly and please let us know if you notice any changes in your gum tissue.

If you would like to learn more about the issue of gum recession. please contact our Boulder dental office to set up a personal consultation. 

Dr. Ania

Comprehensive & Cosmetic Dentistry

“Bruxism” is the medical term for the condition marked by repetitive tooth grinding, an activity involving clenching of the jaw and rubbing the teeth together. A good percentage of people grind their teeth as an unconscious habit, most often during sleeping hours. It can be an automatic reaction to stress, or simply a repetitive behavior that is carried over from childhood —like cracking your knuckles or playing with your hair.

In many cases, tooth grinding is mild and harmless. However, people who grind their teeth routinely can experience headaches, jaw pain, earaches, tooth sensitivity, facial pain, and rapid wearing down of teeth. For some, tooth grinding may be a contributing factor in the development of temporomandibular joint disorder, a disorder of the jaw joint that indicates improper positioning of the upper and/or lower jaw. 

Tooth grinding is usually the result of poor alignment of the jaw and jaw muscles. If not addressed it can become a habit, especially as one wears down teeth and further affects the alignment. In childhood, grinding is usually due to airway issues, large tonsils and/or adenoids, but can also be an issue in adults. Studies have shown that people with airway problems will tend to grind slightly which helps them move the tongue out of the way and open up the airway. A specialized neuromuscular X-ray will show the approximate size of the glands in question and provide details that a visual exam cannot produce. It's also crucial to be aware of tooth grinding if you are seeking orthodontic treatment.

If you experience any of the symptoms listed above or have noticed your partner grinding their teeth at night, it’s a good idea to have us take a look to make sure the bruxism is not threatening your dental health. There are several options to help curb tooth grinding, including mouth guards/oral appliances, stress management, dental restoration treatments, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes.

Note: Bruxism is common in early childhood and usually subsides over time, but be sure to mention it to us if your child is grinding their teeth.

If you would like to learn more about the effects and remedies for tooth grinding, please contact our Boulder dental office to set up a personal consultation. 

Thank you for visiting our blog and check back next week when we explore the topic, “What to Do About Receding Gums.”

Dr. Ania

Comprehensive & Cosmetic Dentistry

With so many great dental restoration treatments to choose from, including orthodontics, Invisalign braces, porcelain veneers, porcelain crowns, and dental implants, it’s easy to get the smile you’ve always wanted.And excellent dental care doesn’t have to break your budget. My team and I dedicate a good portion of our time to assisting patients with treatment planning to ensure all of their dental care needs are met.

Treatment planning is more than just choosing the dental options that are perfect for your smile. In addition to making sure you and your family get the optimal cosmetic, general, and neuromuscular dental treatments, we also want to make sure your dental care needs are met in an affordable manner. Although dental treatment for multiple family members can add up, we can help you spread your payments over time with affordable financing options like CareCredit.

From pediatric dental services to dental rehabilitation and wellness care, CareCredit is available for all of your dental treatment needs. And the great thing about this financing program is that you can use your CareCredit card for other healthcare services too, like hearing care, cosmetic surgery, vision care, and even veterinary care for your pets. If you are interested in financing, we’ll help you apply right in the office, with an approval decision in minutes. Also, there’s no upfront cost and monthly payments are easy to manage online.

For more on fitting dental care into your family budge, please visit our previous post, The Affordability of Cosmetic Dentistry.

If you’d like some guidance on figuring out what portions of your dental care are covered, please read Understanding Your Dental Insurance.

Come visit our Boulder dental office for a smile enhancement consultation and we’ll tell help you plan for your dental future.  

Dr. Ania

Comprehensive & Cosmetic Dentistry

It’s not too late to fix those crooked teeth! Braces aren’t just for teenagers; in fact, more adults are wearing braces today thanks to innovative braces systems like Invisalign “invisible” braces.

New braces technology has made smile straightening accessible for adults who want to correct gaps and misaligned teeth but aren’t too fond of the limitations of metal braces. Clear braces like the Invisalign system straighten teeth as effectively as metal, with no need for rubber bands, brackets, wires, or long-term eating restrictions. Invisalign’s aligners are made of a clear plastic, so you can smile all you want without worrying that people are staring at your braces. These aligners are removable, so you can eat whatever you want and brush and floss normally. In some cases, treatment times may even be shorter than with metal braces. There are a number of other benefits, too, that we can describe in person during your visit.

If you want an alternative to braces that produces immediate appearance enhancement but doesn’t actually move teeth, you might want to consider

porcelain veneers, which are affixed to the front surfaces of teeth. Veneers can be placed in just two appointments and are less time-consuming and less costly. However, they are not recommended for patients with crooked teeth that are causing an imbalanced bite.

Come visit our Boulder dental office for a smile enhancement consultation and we’ll tell you about the various options available and help you choose the one that fits your needs best. We can also perform a neuromuscular evaluation to assess just how your crooked teeth are affecting your overall dental health, and then develop a plan to correct bite imbalance through braces or other methods if necessary. Our goal is to give you a beautiful, straight smile that looks great and functions in a way that promotes great dental health.

For more information on smile straightening for kids, please see our blog entitled “Does Your Child Need Braces.” Be sure to check back next week for a special blog called Treatment Planning for Your Family that explores the ways you can fit cosmetic and general dentistry into your budget comfortably.

Dr. Ania

Comprehensive & Cosmetic Dentistry

What do these two things have in common? You may be surprised to know that many physicians, dentists and researchers believe there is a distinct correlation between untreated gum disease and serious cardiac events. I hope that by exploring this topic a little bit, I can help my patients understand the risks and learn more about what they can do to prevent negative health problems that stem from ignoring dental issues.

The issue of gum health and overall wellness has been debated heftily for the past decade. Some say there is no proof that problems in the mouth cause heart trouble, and others can produce ample research that the opposite is very true. So who is right? From my years in practice, I have seen the symbiotic nature of the body and how various illnesses and problems manifest far from where they started. For instance, did you know that a bad bite can actually cause numbness in the hands and fingers? And that having high cholesterol or diabetes can make you more likely to develop gum disease? The body is an amazing thing and the main message here is that you’ve got to do all you can to take care of it, including keeping your dental health in check. If there’s even a chance gum disease can hurt your heart, why take that risk?

High cholesterol, diabetes, and other health issues may make you more susceptible to gum disease, but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer the negative health effects that gum disease can cause. You can protect yourself with preventative checkups and regular deep cleanings. Periodontal therapy and dental cleanings together create a strong defense against the development of dental-related heart complications. And there’s no denying the power of a toothbrush: By brushing consistently, you can keep gum disease from developing and halt the progress of growing decay. So brush and floss religiously, and visit the dentist at least twice a year to keep gum disease from hurting your mouth or your heart. Give my Boulder dental office a call to schedule your checkup — I’m happy to give you more information on the gum disease/heart attack link during your visit.

In the meantime, please check out the following blogs:

How to Reduce Your Risk of Gum Disease

Gum Disease Treatments

Gum Disease Prevention at Home

 Dr. Ania

Comprehensive & Cosmetic Dentistry

In past blogs, I’ve talked a little bit about laser dentistry and how lasers can be used to address a variety of dental health issues. Today I’d like to focus on one particularly helpful treatment for improving the appearance of your smile — laser gum reshaping.

With the use of advanced laser technology, I am able to make significant cosmetic changes to the gum tissue bordering your teeth. First I look closely at how the gum tissue frames each tooth individually, and how the gums appear overall. If there is any asymmetry with the gums, I can apply the laser to safely remove excess tissue. If there are areas where the gums are too high, for example, laser gum reshaping is useful for trimming back those spots so they match the rest of the mouth. If the entire upper or lower half of the mouth is affected by gum overgrowth, I can reshape the full gumline to improve the look of your smile. As an added benefit, laser treatment instantly eliminates harmful bacteria from the treatment areas.

Laser gum reshaping is a great option for people who are self-conscious about their gums but don’t want to undergo actual surgery. The modern diode laser technology is so great because it allows for gum tissue removal without cutting. The laser is so precise that I am able to remove even tiny slivers of gum tissue to create subtle enhancements. Laser therapy is quick and painless, and can be performed with local anesthetic. This treatment method also is far safer than traditional gum removal surgery, with reduced  bleeding risk and no stitches necessary.

If you’d like to learn more about laser technology in my practice and how it can help keep your dental health on track, please come in for a consultation and we’ll explore your needs. Please call my Boulder dental office today to set up your visit. 

Dr. Ania

Comprehensive & Cosmetic Dentistry

With so little time and so much going on, it can be easy to overlook the importance of teaching and enforcing good dental care habits. And even when good brushing and flossing is drilled into kids’ minds, they may still resist. Dental care becomes one of those “have to’s” that kids fight against, and they may even develop the habit of pretending to brush or fibbing about brushing before breakfast or bedtime.

So what can you do as parents to ingrain great dental care habits? The key is to teach kids to brush and floss in a fun, interactive manner that effectively demonstrates exactly how dental hygiene protects their teeth and gums. And it really drives the point home to show them what can happen when brushing and flossing falls by the wayside. The link between dental health and total body health must be drawn to help drive home the point.

I recommend beginning the dental hygiene education as early as possible, so that brushing and flossing become habitual, almost second nature. Many new parents are surprised to learn that we recommend brushing for babies, when they are cutting baby teeth. The truth is that even breast milk can harm new teeth, and a clean mouth can support proper tooth development. You can get a special gentle brush that stimulates the gums and wipes dental caries away.

Two principles you can use to help your child adopt good dental habits are to 1) set a good example and 2) make brushing a special event. Set aside 10 minutes each night to have “tooth time.” You can brush with your little one, use a fun toothpaste flavor, put on music and brush through the whole song, and share a new fact about the teeth and gums every evening.

It's also never too early to introduce flossing. Don't you wish it was as obvious as brushing? No one questions brushing since you've done it ever since you can remember. To ensure that  flossing is ingrained as well, start early, even if all they want to do is their four front teeth.

You can get more ideas for fun dental education when you bring your little one into our Boulder dental office. We’ll be happy to share some ideas with you for making the learning process personal and relevant to your child’s particular age.

To schedule a dental checkup for you or your child, please contact my Boulder dental team today.

Dr. Ania

Comprehensive & Cosmetic Dentistry

In the last few blogs, we stressed the importance of having a neuromuscular dentistry evaluation annually to help protect you from the negative effects of TMJ/TMD. Today, I want to introduce you to some of the nonsurgical ways we can correct a bad bite here in our office.

If you are found to have a malocclusion, or bad bite, there are a number of ways we can work to correct this issue. Each treatment plan is highly individualized and tailored to fit your need. To discover what might work best for your situation, we assess your bite through intricate jaw tracking and mapping technology and perform tests to see how your muscles, ligaments, bone, and other components of jaw movement may be stressed. Based on your results, we recommend a treatment plan that is based on utilizing the most conservative options first. Although oral surgery is an option for some, it is generally recommended as a last resort.

At our Boulder dental office, most of our patients diagnosed with TMJ/TMD are able to achieve a healthy bite through nonsurgical methods. A jaw rehabilitation plan takes into account your specific anatomical structure, the severity of your symptoms, and the results of your jaw mapping and other tests. Here are a few of the treatments that may be recommended to get your upper and lower jaws into a functional and comfortable position.

• Oral appliances/mouthguards to gently encourage realignment
• Cosmetic dentistry to restore proper tooth heights/shape
• Physical therapy to alleviate stress in the jaw
• Orthodontic therapy to restore optimal tooth positioning
• Acupuncture around the head and neck areas
• Heat/cold therapy
• Oral medication
• Chewing/oral habit correction

My team and I will discuss lifestyle habits, fitness, body posture, nutrition, sleep patterns, and other factors to see if any improvements can be made to help encourage bite alignment.

If you’d like to set up a personal TMJ/TMD evaluation, please contact my Boulder dental team.

Dr. Ania

Comprehensive & Cosmetic Dentistry

Last week we talked about how your “bite” contributes to good dental health. This week, I’d like to tell you a little bit about the process we use here in the office to detect bite problems and design personalized treatment to restore alignment.

In many cases, a misaligned bite is the result of a condition called temporomandibular joint disorder, more commonly known as TMJ/TMD. Patients who have a malocclusion (bad bite) can benefit from a state-of-the-art diagnostic assessment to pinpoint the root cause and determine where adjustment is needed to restore the ideal position of the upper and lower jaws. Most of our TMJ/TMD patients come to us because they are experiencing one or more of the many symptoms of TMJ/TMD, such as jaw pain, headaches, earaches, and neck and shoulder pain; however, it is recommended that you have a full neuromuscular dentistry evaluation annually to identify any issues that could progress.

At our Boulder dental center, we apply a variety of diagnostic modalities to examine how the teeth, muscles, ligaments, jaw joints, and jawbone work in concert to make chewing and speaking possible. We use a high-tech jaw tracking instrumentation called the Myotronics K7 Computerized Mandibular Scanning System, which uses magnets to track the movements of the jaw and chart them on a detailed movement graph. We also use sonography, which uses jaw joint vibrations to “hear” the dysfunctions during opening and closing of the jaw, and electromyography, which identifies areas of tension in the jaw using electrical currents.

With these advanced tracking methods, we are able to identify bite issues that may be causing you pain or may eventually lead to dental problems. Once your comprehensive evaluation is complete, we can work on a jaw rehabilitation plan that is customized to your oral anatomy.

If you’d like to set up a TMJ/TMD screening, please contact my Boulder dental team at your convenience, and be sure to check back next week when we discuss nonsurgical solutions for TMJ/TMD.

Dr. Ania

Comprehensive & Cosmetic Dentistry