Blog | Boulder Dentist | Family & Cosmetic Dentistry

Color Changes to Your Gums

Healthy gums are pink and firm to the touch. If yours have changed color recently, it could be that normal hormonal changes or harmless side effects of oral procedures are to blame. On the other hand, you could have an underlying health condition. You’ll need a diagnosis from your dentist or doctor to be sure. Then, you can begin treatment if necessary. In the meantime, here are some possible causes of color changes to your gums.

Red Gums

It’s common for red gums to be swollen and tender and bleed when you floss. They may also pull away from your teeth, leaving pockets for food particles and bacteria to hide. Other symptoms include mouth sores, bad breath, or a persistent bad taste in your mouth.

If this describes your condition, you could be in the beginning stages of gum disease, or periodontal disease. This condition develops if you have poor dental hygiene, allowing plaque to form on your teeth. This sticky film contains bacteria that release irritating toxins, which is what causes your gums to become red and inflamed. If you don’t see a dentist and begin periodontal treatment, you risk damage to tooth-supporting bone and tissue, possibly leading to tooth loss.

While gum disease is a likely cause of red gums, it’s not the only possibility. Hormonal changes can cause gums to turn red, but only temporarily. For instance, during puberty, boys and girls may notice color changes to their gums. Then, women may experience tender, swollen, red gums around their menstrual cycle, during pregnancy, at menopause, and while taking contraceptives. Regular dentist visits and good oral hygiene at home are important to protect your mouth during all of life’s stages.

Pale or White Gums

Usually, pale-colored gums signal an underlying health condition. A variety of problems may be to blame, so if you have white gums, you should talk to your dentist followed by a doctor to help you pinpoint the cause. Here are some possible reasons you have noticed these color changes to your gums:

Gingivitis, a bacterial infection of the gums that can cause them to turn white and recede

Canker sores, which can develop at the bottom of your gums and make them appear white

Oral candidiasis, or thrush, a yeast infection of the mouth that appears white or red

Leukoplakia, or smoker’s keratosis, thickened white patches that form on the gums, inside of the cheeks, and bottom of the mouth

Anemia, a medical condition causing a low red blood cell count that can make your skin and gums look pale

Oral cancer, which may cause small white, red, or flesh-colored bumps to form on your gums, tongue, and the roof of your mouth

In addition to these health concerns, white gums can also be the result of dental procedures. If you have a tooth extracted, the gums near the affected site may turn pale for a while as a result of the trauma. The color should return to normal after a few days. Gums may also lighten temporarily after in-office teeth whitening. They should return to their usual color after several hours.

Black Gums

As with other color changes to your gums, darkening or blackening may be totally harmless, or it may be a cause for concern. First, if your gums have always been dark, you probably have a higher concentration of melanin. This skin-darkening pigment causes some people’s gums to naturally appear black or brown, which is most likely if you also have dark skin.

It’s possible for hormonal changes during pregnancy to cause gums to darken as well, which is harmless. An amalgam tattoo—or the appearance of black, blue, or grey gums surrounding an amalgam tooth filling or crown—also requires no treatment because it poses no health risks.

However, there are several other reasons for gums to turn black that require medical attention. Here are some potential underlying causes for these color changes to your gums:

Smoking, which can cause smoker’s melanosis, a condition that causes the gums, inside of the cheeks, and lower lip to develop dark patches

Acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, or trench mouth, a gum infection that causes black or grey gums

Addison’s disease, a hormonal problem that can lead to darkened gums and lips

Minocycline, a medication with an uncommon side effect of causing gum discoloration

Sudden or patchy color changes to your gums are always worth addressing. See your dentist right away to determine a diagnosis and treatment.

Call Our Boulder Dentist to Diagnosis Color Changes to Your Gums

Clearly, you should always be on the lookout for unusual changes in your mouth. They could be totally harmless, but they could also signal gum disease, anemia, oral cancer, or other problems. The next time you notice color changes to your gums, or if you have any other oral health concerns, please call Dr. Ania’s dentist office in Boulder, CO at 303-443-0998.

Posted: May 30, 2019 By: content.team Comment: 0

Hiding Tooth Flaws with Veneers

Veneers

Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you. If you have tooth flaws, you may be all too aware of this, doing everything you can to hide your teeth whenever you meet someone new. What if you could smile confidently? With porcelain veneers, you can!

How Do Porcelain Veneers Hide Tooth Flaws?

A veneer is a thin, custom-made porcelain shell that bonds to the front of your tooth. It’s made of tooth-colored materials, which are carefully matched to your existing teeth for a completely natural finished look. The veneer can be a different size, color, or shape than the tooth it’s bonded to, which allows it to hide tooth flaws very effectively.

Create a Beautiful, Customizable Smile with Veneers

Here are five tooth flaws that all but disappear when you hide them behind veneers.

Gaps in Your Smile

You want your teeth to sit snugly against one another. If there are gaps between some of your teeth, your mouth may appear neglected. Large openings in your smile also provide nooks and crannies for food particles to hide and bacteria to multiply. As a result, you’re more likely to develop cavities and gum disease if you don’t address the gaps between your teeth.

You could invest in a retainer to bring your teeth together manually, but veneers are a faster, more convenient option if the gaps are caused by small teeth rather than poor alignment. Veneers can be crafted to increase the width of your existing teeth slightly, closing the gaps and making your smile look even and more beautiful.

Discoloration

Have you tried to remove severe stains with teeth whitening? While professional in-office bleaching can usually remove such intrinsic stains, others are too deep to touch. Traumatic injury from a sporting incident or fall can also cause a tooth to “die,” cutting off the blood supply and causing the tooth to darken.

Whitening can’t always fix deep stains or dead teeth—but veneers can! As long as the tooth in question isn’t rotting or infected and doesn’t need to be removed, you can simply cover it up with a custom-made porcelain veneer.

Crooked Teeth

Veneers aren’t meant to replace orthodontic treatment, but if you have crooked teeth that don’t need to be moved into better alignment, veneers could be an option. Meeting with your dentist is the best way to determine which option will help your smile the most. A thorough oral exam and X-rays should reveal whether braces or veneers are the ideal choice.

Uneven, Worn, or Oddly Shaped Teeth

Is one of your front teeth longer than the other? Do you have a scraggly tooth that resembles a vampire fang? Maybe one or two of your teeth are smaller than the rest. Whatever the case, veneers can almost certainly help.

Your dentist will take a good look at your teeth and determine the best route to take. For instance, to improve the appearance of uneven front teeth, it may be simpler to file down the longer one rather than lengthen the shorter one. Whatever cosmetic restoration you require, a qualified dentist can facilitate your needs.

Chipped Teeth

Tooth enamel is hardy, but it’s not impervious to cracking or chipping. Indeed, it’s surprisingly easy to damage a tooth while playing contact sports. Other injuries such as falling down, getting in a car accident, or being struck in the mouth can also cause bits of teeth to break off.

Veneers restore your appearance by smoothing out chips and cracks, making them invisible. Anyone who sees your smile after having this restoration work performed will only notice beautiful, healthy-looking teeth.

How Do Porcelain Veneers Work?

When you set an appointment to discuss your cosmetic dentistry needs, we’ll show you how veneers can help you hide the tooth flaws you feel most self-conscious about. If you decide to move forward, your dentist will take an impression of your teeth. The mold is sent to the lab, where your veneers are custom-made to fit your teeth and improve your smile. Before you leave, you’ll set a second appointment to have your veneers put on.

To ensure the most desirable results, your dentist prepares your teeth by shaving them down slightly. This prevents the veneers from protruding unnaturally. Next, dental cement is used to bond the veneers to your teeth. A curing laser speeds up the drying process and ensures a permanent bond. Finally, your dentist removes any excess cement, followed by cleaning and polishing your teeth. When the process is complete, you’ll have the beautiful smile you’ve always dreamed of!

To learn more about hiding tooth flaws with porcelain veneers, or to schedule a consultation with our Boulder, CO dentist, please call Dr. Ania’s office at 303-443-0998.

Posted: May 22, 2019 By: content.team Comment: 0

Teeth Whitening for Your Graduation Photos

You’ve worked hard the past four years, and now you’re eager to walk across that stage, accept your diploma, and turn to the camera for a photo on one of the most important days of your life. To help you smile with confidence when the shutter goes off, consider having teeth whitening performed before graduation day.

Facts About Teeth Whitening

If you’re interested in making your teeth a few shades whiter, there are a few things you should know first.

Whitening is effective for both extrinsic and intrinsic stains

Extrinsic stains are caused by eating and drinking highly staining foods. Intrinsic stains describe discoloration that occurs beneath the enamel. This may be caused by aging, taking antibiotics, developing cavities, ingesting excess fluoride, and more.

Simply brushing your teeth can reduce extrinsic stains, but you need a “bleaching” product to address intrinsic stains. Both over-the-counter and professional bleaching products are available.

Whiteners can make your teeth sensitive

Temporary sensitivity is normal after having your teeth whitened. Your gums may also become irritated for a time, causing mild discomfort. In most cases, these side effects dissipate quickly and don’t return. However, in rare instances, bleaching products can cause severe pain or even permanent damage. Speak with your dentist before whitening your teeth to ensure you understand the risks involved.

Whitening only works on natural tooth enamel

If you have tooth-colored restorations—including fillings, crowns, and veneers—whitening will fail to brighten them. You probably did a color match to help these additions blend with your natural teeth, but after you have whitening done, your fillings, crowns, and veneers will look discolored. Therefore, this might not be the right option if you have had extensive dental renovation work.

Whiteners can be abrasive

The next time you visit the oral care aisle at the drug store, check out how many teeth whitening products are available. You’ll come across dozens of options, all of which claim to deliver pearly white teeth. However, some can be overly abrasive. If you go with this over-the-counter route, read labels carefully and only choose products with the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance.

Using more than directed may damage your teeth and gums

When it comes to whitening your smile, less is more. You could damage your teeth and gums if you use too much whitener or leave products in your mouth longer than intended. Always follow the directions carefully, and don’t attempt to get more from a product than it was designed for.

Teeth Whitening Options

You know you want a brighter smile, but you’re not sure which whitening products work the best. Your three main options include whitening toothpaste, over-the-counter strips and trays, and in-office whitening. Each one has its benefits, but for the fastest, most noticeable, and longest-lasting results, nothing beats in-office whitening.

Whitening toothpaste

You can find toothpaste with bleaching ingredients, including hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide, without a prescription. These can slightly whiten your teeth over several months and years of use, but they can’t provide improvement beyond a shade or two. Still, whitening toothpaste is a good way to maintain a bright smile after having professional teeth bleaching performed.

Over-the-counter products

Beyond toothpaste, you can find other whitening products in the oral care aisle. These are inexpensive compared to in-office whitening, but they have some serious drawbacks.

For instance, trays are offered as a one-size-fits-all solution, which isn’t practical. Strips also tend to move easily, causing uneven whitening unless you adjust them constantly. There’s also no gum protection, which can lead to sensitivity or even burns in severe cases. Then, the whitening process is slow, taking a few days or even weeks to be complete.

In-office whitening

When graduation day is coming up, and you want drastically whiter teeth for your photos, opt for in-office whitening. Not only can this be completed in a single session, but it whitens your teeth by several shades at once thanks to higher concentrations of professional bleaching agents. Gum and eye protection ensure the laser-activated whitening agents only target your teeth, removing years of intrinsic and extrinsic stains in mere minutes.

Keep Your Teeth White

After graduation day is over, you still want your teeth to be sparkling white. Help the effects of in-office whitening last longer with these tips.

Avoid staining foods and drinks

Soda, red wine, coffee, tea, and berries are known for staining teeth. Then, acidic foods including citrus fruit and pickles wear away your enamel, making your teeth appear yellow. Limit how much you eat and drink these things. If you must indulge, rinse your mouth with water immediately after to help avoid staining.

Don’t smoke or use tobacco

You already know these habits are bad for your health. They also stain your teeth, so if you’ve been looking for a good excuse to quit, the perfect time is right after whitening your teeth.

Practice good oral hygiene

Remember to brush morning and night—preferably with whitening toothpaste to help maintain your recently bleached teeth. Floss once a day as well, and get regular checkups at the dentist to ensure an overall healthy mouth.

It feels good to smile with confidence, especially on graduation day, but be smart about how you whiten your teeth. Talk to your dentist before trying any over-the-counter products, and seriously consider in-office whitening for its higher degree of safety and superior results. To learn more about professional teeth whitening in Boulder, CO, please call Dr. Ania’s office today at 303-443-0998.

Posted: May 14, 2019 By: content.team Comment: 0

National Root Canal Appreciation Day

Root canal Today—the second Wednesday in May—is National Root Canal Appreciation Day! While it’s not exactly a mainstream holiday, it’s the perfect chance to give extra thought to your oral health. Consider how far root canals have come and how you can commemorate National Root Canal Appreciation Day.

What is a Root Canal?

Your teeth are hard on the outside, but the core contains soft tissue filled with nerves and blood vessels. If this tissue, known as the pulp, becomes swollen in response to an infection or irritant, you could experience severe pain. Left untreated, a tooth in this condition is likely to fall out. Damage could also be done to the bone surrounding the tooth.

A root canal, also known as endodontic treatment, is a procedure that involves removing infected dental pulp, filling the tooth, and capping it with a crown. Root canals save teeth and preserve smiles. In fact, the American Association of Endodontists estimates that 15.1 million root canal treatments are performed each year by general dentists and endodontists, or root canal specialists.

When you visit the dentist for your root canal appointment, first your tooth is thoroughly cleaned out to remove the pulp. This is done using tiny, specially designed dental brushes. X-rays assist with this process to ensure all infected pulp is gone.

Next, your tooth is flushed with antibacterial fluid and filled to prevent a repeat infection. Finally, the tooth is sealed permanently with a dental crown to protect it from fracturing. This rigid, tooth-shaped covering is stronger than enamel, ensuring the structural integrity of your tooth is preserved. X-rays are taken at future appointments to ensure your tooth is still healthy and free of infection.

How Technology has Improved Root Canals

Root canals have a reputation for being frightening, painful procedures that you want to avoid at all costs. While you should always take steps to promote good oral health and prevent needing a root canal, getting one is not as unpleasant as you think.

Modern numbing agents mean you can’t feel a thing as your dentist cleans out your infected tooth. An apex locator also makes it possible to detect the precise depth of the canal. This ensures that no pockets of infection are left behind, and it also prevents the cleaning from going too deep. Finally, advancements in rubber technology allow the empty tooth to be filled thoroughly, thus helping to avoid re-infection of the treated tooth.

When is a Root Canal Needed?

Do you have a dull toothache or constant, throbbing pain? Have you struggled with sensitivity to hot and cold drinks for a long time now? Do you experience stinging pain when you chew in a particular spot? Have you noticed a bad taste in your mouth lately?

These are all signs that you might have a tooth infection and need a root canal. Even if you don’t, it doesn’t hurt to see your dentist. After all, an untreated infection could cause an abscess, damage to your jaw bone, and tooth loss. It’s much easier—and more affordable—to treat your toothache early.

How to Prevent Needing a Root Canal

The best preventative measure is to exercise good oral hygiene. This includes brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, flossing once a day, and avoiding sugary foods and drinks.

If you grind your teeth when you sleep, wearing a night guard can help prevent putting undue stress on your teeth that could cause an infection. You can also avoid damaging your teeth by wearing a mouthguard when you play contact sports.

Most importantly of all, schedule routine visits to the dentist. A thorough oral exam and X-ray can reveal problems in their early stages. This allows you to increase your preventative efforts and address dental issues before they cause severe pain or permanent damage.

Commemorating National Root Canal Appreciation Day

The best ways to celebrate National Root Canal Appreciation Day are to purchase a new toothbrush, resupply your stock of dental floss, and schedule your next dentist appointment. If you’re concerned about the health of your teeth and gums, you can always call your dentist for personalized tips to prevent infections that lead to a root canal.

Call Dr. Ania for an Oral Health Consultation

Now that you appreciate root canals a little more, you may be prepared to address your lingering toothache. The quicker you act, the easier it is to treat the problem before it escalates into something larger.

Dr. Ania uses state-of-the-art technology and tools to perform quick, effective root canals that treat your pain and put your mind at ease. Call Dr. Ania’s Boulder, CO dentist office today at 303-443-0998 to schedule an oral health consultation and find out if you need a root canal.

Posted: May 8, 2019 By: content.team Comment: 0

How to Shop for Toothpaste

Everyone wants a sparkling white smile. One way to accomplish this is by brushing your teeth morning and night. The toothpaste you use makes a difference, so give some thought to your selection. Here are the features to look for and what to avoid the next time you shop for toothpaste.

Qualities of Good Toothpaste

Fluoride

The American Dental Association (ADA) says it’s important to brush with toothpaste that contains fluoride. Often called nature’s cavity fighter, fluoride makes the outer layer of your teeth, known as enamel, more resistant against acids that cause tooth decay. When reading toothpaste labels, look for ingredients such as sodium fluoride, stannous fluoride, or monofluoride phosphate (MFP). As long as any one of these fluoride-based ingredients is present, you can trust the toothpaste to help you maintain your beautiful smile.

The ADA Seal of Acceptance

The ADA awards its Seal of Acceptance to products that have been scientifically evaluated to be safe and effective at delivering the promises on the label. Toothpaste companies must exceed legal requirements to earn the seal. TIP: You can find the ADA Seal of Acceptance on all sorts of oral hygiene products, including electric toothbrushes, water flossers, white strips, and even mouthguards and water filters.

Tartar-fighting abilities

Tartar, also known as calculus, is a hardened form of dental plaque that contributes to tooth decay. All toothpastes achieve some degree of tartar prevention by including abrasive agents, such as calcium carbonate or silica, to remove the food particles and bacteria that cause tartar to form.

Enamel protection

Enamel is the thin, hard coating over your teeth that prevents sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures. Since enamel erodes over time, and your body can’t regenerate it, it’s important to shop for toothpaste that strengthens and protects your enamel from acids in certain foods.

Safe ingredients

All reliable toothpaste products only contain ingredients that have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To ensure this is the case with the product you buy, we recommend that you shop for toothpaste from recognized name brands, such as Crest, Colgate, Sensodyne, and Tom’s of Maine.

A pleasant taste and texture

This quality is based purely on preference. Different types of mint flavoring are found in various brands of toothpaste, and color and consistency vary as well. If the last toothpaste you bought was goopy or tasted funny to you, throw it away and try something new. If you hold onto products you don’t enjoy using, you’re more likely to skip important dental hygiene tasks.

Other Features to Look For

Tartar control

As mentioned above, tartar-fighting qualities are inherent in all toothpastes. However, active tartar control is an additional feature of some products. The ingredient tetrasodium pyrophosphate is a proven tartar preventer, but it can’t remove tartar that has already formed—only a professional cleaning can do that. We recommend only using tartar control toothpaste if you are extremely tartar-prone. Otherwise, the irritation it causes some patients may not be worth the extra prevention it provides.

Whitening

When it comes to whitening your teeth, toothpaste is the least effective method available. You might be able to whiten by a single shade over a long period of time, but you won’t be able to restore a white color to yellow teeth. Still, if you recently had in-office whitening done, using whitening toothpaste afterward can help you maintain your sparkle.

Sensitive formula

If you have sensitive teeth or receding gums that expose the unprotected roots, shop for toothpaste designed to treat this. Ingredients such as strontium chloride and potassium nitrate reduce the ability of nerves in your teeth to transmit pain. Be aware that it may take four to six weeks of twice daily use to feel any results. Also, sensitive formula toothpaste won’t counteract pain caused by cavities.

Things to Keep in Mind

Avoid sodium lauryl sulfate

This ingredient is a foaming agent that creates the illusion of achieving a better clean. However, SLS can irritate sensitive teeth and gums and cause canker sores in people prone to them. Just realize that despite the similarity of their names, sodium lauryl sulfate is not the same as sodium lauroyl sarcosinate. The latter is a milder cleansing agent and an excellent alternative to sodium lauryl sulfate.

Consider the abrasiveness

All toothpaste contains some sort of abrasive to remove plaque and surface stains, but if it’s too harsh, you could damage the very enamel you’re trying to protect. All ADA-approved products fall within a certain range, but this varies quite a bit. We recommend that you shop for toothpaste with low abrasiveness.

Don’t use too much

Toothpaste ads tend to show people loading up their toothbrushes, but just a pea-sized amount will do. Using more than this doesn’t help your teeth get any cleaner—it simply wastes the product and means you’ll run out faster. When assisting a child with brushing their teeth, put an even smaller amount on their toothbrush.

The next time you shop for toothpaste, remember that your final choice comes down to personal preference, as well as the unique needs of your mouth. Find a product you like, and stick with it. For help choosing the right toothpaste for you, or for tips to get more from your at-home dental hygiene routine, please call Dr. Ania’s Boulder, CO dentist office today at 303-443-0998.

Posted: May 2, 2019 By: content.team Comment: 0

How Can Ultrasonic Cleaning Help Your Teeth?

The American Dental Association recommends that all patients visit the dentist biannually for dental cleanings and comprehensive exams. In the past, metal scraping tools were the objects used to clean the teeth. However, we prefer to use ultrasonic tools to give your teeth a more thorough clean. This cleaning method involves vibrating hand tools using water, mouthwash and tiny bubbles to provide your teeth and gums with a deeper clean.

Do You Visit the Dentist?

Do you see your dentist at least twice a year? If not, you may leave yourself at risk for oral health diseases. The American Dental Association recommends that every person visit the dentist at least twice a year for comprehensive exams and dental cleanings.

Studies show that only about 65% of people are visiting the dentist each year. Many of those are only getting to a dental office once a year instead of the recommended twice a year as well, which raises their risk significantly for cavities and oral issues growing severe. If you do the math, that 35% that doesn’t go to the dentist is about 30-40 million Americans each year that skip this part of taking care of their oral health.

That could be why oral hygiene issues are so common among Americans. Let’s take a look at the statistics:

Tooth decay is the most “prevalent, chronic disease” according to the National Institutes of Health.
Gum disease affects more than 64.7 million Americans, and that is only counting the adults it affects.
A large majority of adults, teens and children have gingivitis (the first stage of gum disease) without knowing it.
More than 120 million Americans are missing at least one tooth due to oral health problems.
More than 36 million Americans have no more teeth left in their mouth.
92% of Americans have had cavities—often more than one—by adulthood.

Dental Cleanings: What Are They?

When you come into our office for a dental cleaning, Dr. Ania or one of her dental hygienists will provide your teeth with one of the best cleanings they will get all year. This isn’t your ordinary brushing and flossing. Our hygienists will brush your teeth with our brushing and polishing tools. They will remove tartar (mineralized plaque) with ultrasonic treatments or fine hand tools. We will remove all plaque from your teeth and polish them. Thorough flossing will remove stuck food and will determine if your flossing habits are good or not. We will also provide you a flouride treatment that will protect your teeth from decay and strengthen them. A dental hygienist will clean every part of your tooth meticulously and Dr. Ania will evaluate your oral health.

Dental Cleanings generally go hand-in-hand with comprehensive exams. This is a time for Dr. Ania to check your mouth for oral cancer. She will do a thorough examination of your tongue, lips, cheeks, throat and more, and will check for any abnormalities. She will check your biting, chewing and swallowing patterns and see if you need orthodontic treatment in the future. If you have tooth decay, we will set up an appointment to remove your decay and restore your tooth health. For gum problems, she can prescribe you antibiotics for gum infections or bacteria problems. If your oral health needs improvement, she will teach you what needs to be done at home to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

How Ultrasonic Teeth Cleaning Is Different

Your dental cleaning is one of the best dental office services that helps you avoid oral health diseases and helps to treat any dental issues you already have. When you have oral health issues, you may want to consider a deeper oral cleaning that can come through ultrasonic teeth cleaning. Instead of just a regular tooth cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning will get deeper into your gums to clean them, while removing dental plaque better. Plaque on your teeth is made when you eat sugars. That sugar mixes with mouth bacteria, creating plaque, which is a naturally-occuring biofilm on the teeth.

Over time, dental calculus—which you know by the name of “tartar”—builds up without good oral hygiene practices. This will create very hard deposits on your teeth that may look gray, yellow, or brown. The tricky part is that you can’t remove it without powerful dental tools. Generally, a dentist will use a metal scaling tool, which is a dental instrument that will scrape deposits and plaque from your teeth. However, this is insufficient to remove the amount of deposits some people have.

Ultrasonic cleaning is a newer technology that uses electromagnetic forces in an ultrasonic scaler to clean the teeth. Instead of a metal scaler, a hand-held “wand” is used for cleaning. This ultrasonic cleaning scaler vibrates faster than the speed of sound, carrying enough force that it blasts away plaque and calculus buildup on the teeth. To avoid problems with the vibration, the wand also carries a stream of water (lavage) that sprays as it blasts.

What to Expect

Ultrasonic teeth cleanings take less time (about 1/3rd less time) than a normal teeth cleaning. Because of the vibrations through the ultrasonic cleaning wand, you can get a more gentle clean than what is done with the metal scraper or with other dental procedures to counteract tartar, gingivitis and gum disease. Our wand also helps patients with coffee or tobacco stains on the teeth that can discolor the teeth. At your next dental cleaning, ask about ultrasonic teeth cleaning and what it can do for your mouth.

So many people have tooth decay and gum disease—both of which are avoidable with proper oral health habits. Investing in a dental cleaning can help eliminate your chance of other oral health issues. Trying out ultrasonic teeth cleaning can help you more quickly correct tooth decay and gum disease problems. Win the battle against tooth decay by having your ultrasonic teeth cleaning at our dental office today. Simply call Dr. Ania’s office at 303-443-0998 to schedule your appointment!

Posted: April 23, 2019 By: content.team Comment: 0

How Can Orthodontics Help Your Smile?

Many adults don’t realize that orthodontics isn’t just for children and teens. In fact, at least 1/4th of all people wearing braces in the U.S. each year are adults. You may not even realize when these patients wear braces because there are various invisible options available to patients to straighten their smiles. We do both one- and two-phase orthodontic treatment for patients. Find out how this treatment works and how your smile can benefit from straighter teeth!

The Power of a Healthy, Straight Smile

Did you know that people with straighter, more beautiful smiles tend to exude more confidence than those who don’t? In studies done by companies such as Invisalign, they found that those with straighter teeth were perceived as more confident, attractive, and even more trustworthy than those who had crooked teeth. Applicants that have straight teeth have a better chance at landing the jobs they apply for than those with crooked teeth. Plus, a more beautiful smile boosts confidence almost instantaneously.

We always recommend that patients work on the basics to getting a more beautiful—not to mention healthy—smile. The American Dental Association recommends that all people visit a dentist at least twice a year for comprehensive exams and dental cleanings. However, only 65% of people in the U.S. are visiting the dentist each year. This may be one reason why tooth decay (known as “cavities”) is such a chronic problem in the U.S. Gum disease is also at an all-time high, affecting more than 64.7 million adults.

If you want a better smile, start by seeing a dentist regularly. Most patients only need to see a dentist for about 30-60 minutes, twice a year to keep oral health issues in check. We also urge all our patients to:

Brush their teeth at least twice a day, for 2 minutes at a time, as recommended by the ADA.
Floss the teeth 1-2 times a day, especially before bedtime. Floss all the way up in the gumline, gently scraping the teeth as you go.
Using mouthwash to kill decay-causing bacteria.
Using fluoride treatments and receiving dental sealants, if suggested by your dentist.
Investing in orthodontics to fix a crooked smile.

Quick Facts About Orthodontics

There are only a few ways to get a better smile, and most come through your oral health habits and help from professionals like dentists and orthodontics. We want to focus on the last point—investing in orthodontics to fix a crooked smile—and why this is important. Tons of people will never need orthodontic treatment, but millions will. In fact, there are at least 4 million people every single year that have some type of braces on their teeth. You can know if you need to be one of those 4 million by having an orthodontic exam or by speaking to your dentist (that’s us!).

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every person see an orthodontist for an evaluation around age 7 or 8. This is a time when bite and alignment issues with the teeth and jaws can be found. When we do find patients with misaligned jaws and bites, or crooked teeth, we can work with them to set up an orthodontic treatment plan. If you have frequent cavities or issues with gingivitis—or the first stage of gum disease—you may need orthodontics.

If you notice that you or your child’s teeth are crooked, orthodontics can help. When children start to show signs of speech impediments or problems with biting, chewing or eating, orthodontic treatment can help correct the issues. Children, teens and adults can all benefit immensely from orthodontics.

How You Benefit from Orthodontics

Studies show that those who receive orthodontic care and teeth straightening through braces have a reduced risk for tooth decay and gum disease. Why? Straighter teeth are much easier to clean than teeth that are crooked. They are easier to brush and floss and the teeth also have a lower risk for breaking. When the teeth are crooked, it may be hard to get floss in between the teeth. When brushing, there could be areas where the brush can’t reach well, which could cause plaque to sit on the teeth and erode them over time. The uneven pressure placed on crooked teeth when chewing and biting can also lead to a tooth fracture or break. When it comes to the health of your teeth, straightening them is one of the ways to keep them healthy.

Studies show that you can benefit from getting braces at any age. For adults, they can improve their success and confidence by receiving adult orthodontics. Many studies have shown that straightening your smile makes you appear more attractive, successful, wealthy, healthy and more. In studies, people even perceived others as 73% more trustworthy if their teeth were straight. You are more likely to land a job over your competition as well if you have straight teeth. The benefits of adult orthodontics are endless, and so are your possibilities if you choose to receive this life-changing treatment.

Why Invisalign?

One popular treatment that has changed dentistry and orthodontics alike is Invisalign treatment. Orthodontics generally consists of the options of lingual braces, ceramic (white) braces, traditional metal braces and Invisalign treatment. However, we think the last option is the best, as you change your

We love Invisalign treatment for our patients, especially when it comes to adult orthodontics! Invisalign is the most discreet way to straighten your teeth. This is a series of custom-made transparent aligners you switch out every week. Over time, these clear trays gradually shift your teeth straight. The best part is that no one will even know you are wearing an orthodontic appliance. Plus, you can remove your aligners for eating, drinking, sports, physical activity, and cleaning your teeth like normal. For adults and teens alike, Invisalign is a great orthodontics choice. If you or your loved ones would love a more beautiful smile through orthodontics like Invisalign treatment, call Dr. Ania’s office today at 303-443-0998!

Posted: April 18, 2019 By: content.team Comment: 0

Protect Your Teeth during National Facial Protection Month

A young adult woman boxer that is striking a boxing pose and bearing her teeth to show her mouthguard.

Spring sports are starting soon, which means fun, sun and dental injuries. Reports show that at least 5 million teeth are broken, fractured or injured in some way because of sports or exercise. Mouthguards can prevent these dental injuries the majority of times. Your daily oral health habits can prevent injuries as well. Use these tips to protect your mouth during National Facial Protection Month and the months to follow!

April is Sports Safety Month

Spring is here and that means that spring sports are in full swing. Along with fun and being outside that many sports bring, patients must also be cautious of dental injuries. These send millions of people to the dentist or hospital each year. The Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) reports that dental emergencies happen 13-39% of the time during sports activities. The percentage varies from year to year. The most common dental injuries are tooth or crown fractures, tooth intrusions, extrusions and avulsions.

An intrusion or avulsion is when a tooth is hit upwards or downwards into the gums until it alveolar bone. This is a serious dental emergency that generally happens due to a lack of facial protection via a mouthguard. Sadly, children are the ones that generally sustain these injuries because parents or guardians don’t realize contact sports with young ones can be risky. The National Youth Sports Foundation for Safety reports that the most common type of sports injuries in youth are dental injuries more than anything else.

The main reason for these injuries is a lack of facial protection. Studies show that 3-5 million people in the U.S. will break or knock out a tooth during a sport each year. A participant is 60 times more likely to sustain a dental injury as well when they don’t wear facial protection or a mouth guard. With sports that suggest mouthguards or facial gear, you can be smart during sports safety month (and all year long) by getting your child or teen what they need to protect their smile.

A white background that has two different mouthguards. One is black and the other is multicolored.

Facial Protection with a Mouthguard

If you play a sport, you definitely want to consider getting a mouthguard, especially if your sport is a contact sport. There are three different types of mouthguards you can get, but not all are the best quality. Here are the main facial protection guards and their differences:

Stock Mouth Protectors – These are your cheapest option for a mouthguard, but they are cheap for a reason. These protectors can be worn by anyone and can be found in grocery stores, department stores, and sporting goods stores. They are cheap because they are one-size-fits-all and cannot be customized for you. Dentists do not recommend these protectors because they are generally bulky, make talking (and sometimes breathing) difficult, and actually provide little protection. If a mouthguard does not fit snug with the teeth and gums, you can still receive injuries. Avoid these types of guards.
Boil and Bite Protectors – These are guards that you can buy in many sporting goods stores. They are similar to stock protectors, but can at least be fit to your mouth. They are called “boil and bite” guards because you place the guard in hot water to soften the thermoplastic material. Then you place it in your mouth, bite down, and try to mold it to your teeth. They generally provide a much better grip on your teeth than stock protectors, but don’t fit perfectly.
Custom-Fitted Protectors – The best way to ensure your mouthguard is snug with your teeth and gums is to have one custom made for your mouth. A custom-fit guard is individually designed to fit your mouth and no one else’s. For example, Dr. Ania would take a mold of your teeth and form a custom mouthguard from the mold. This guard should fit your teeth perfectly and will provide all the protection you need without any wiggle room for injury.

A close-up view of a young adult male that is wearing football gear and a mouthpiece that protects his teeth.

Dental Consultations

If you know you or your child are going to compete in a contact sport, make a dental consultation. This will help you find the right facial protection gear. No parent wants their child to suffer a broken or avulsed tooth because of simply not having a mouthguard. Children are the ones most often injured in contact sports with their mouths because many don’t think children are rough enough to warrant proper facial protection. Statistics show that’s not the case.

We make the agility guard, which is a custom-made mouthguard created for our active patients that want to protect their mouth. The agility guard is popular with teens and adults in contact sports such as football, boxing, basketball and more. However, because these facial protection guards are custom-made, we can provide your young child with one as well. Some studies show that the right mouth guard can actually help improve athletic performance because of the comfort (both physically and mentally) it gives athletes. Focus improves because there is less of a risk of getting injured.

April is National Facial Protection Month as well as Sports Safety Month. Practice great sports safety on and off the field and then invest in a facial protection agility guard for you or your little one. Call Dr. Ania’s office today at 303-443-0998 for your dental consultation and for other tips for facial protection through oral hygiene, lifestyle and food choices!

Posted: April 11, 2019 By: content.team Comment: 0

Protect Your Teeth with Dental Sealants

A young adult woman that is having her dental sealants set in place in a dental office with a UV dental light.

The month of April is both Sports Safety Month and National Facial Protection Month. Protecting the teeth is top priority when it comes to sports, exercise and other activities. However, your teeth are exposed to the most damage from the things you eat each day. Sugars, acids and other materials constantly erode, thin or decay the teeth without protection. You can get that protection through dental sealants. Find out what dental sealants are and how they can help protect your teeth!

How Your Teeth Decay

When you think of chronic diseases, you may not think of tooth decay—or “cavities”—as one. However, the National Institutes of Health has found that tooth decay is the #1 most “prevalent chronic disease” Americans face. Gum disease is a close second even though this disease affects 64.7 million American adults. Both of these conditions affect the hard (teeth) and soft (gums) tissues of the mouth and they all lead back to sugar and mouth bacteria.

When you eat, sugars in your foods (and even drinks) will mix with your mouth bacteria to create an acidic substance called plaque. You may even have some of that plaque on your teeth right now if you look in the mirror. Plaque is a sticky and transparent film that likes to stick to your tooth enamel. It collects along your gum line and will build up the longer you go without brushing and flossing. These are the best two habits to have if you want to avoid cavities. The recommendation is to brush your teeth at least twice a day for two minutes at a time. Floss 1-2 times a day, making sure to get up into your gum line to remove plaque and food particles.

When plaque stays on the teeth, the acidic content in it will break up the hard-packed minerals in your teeth. That break up is the decay of your teeth, and it will start to spread to the inside of the tooth over time. Think of it as a black ink stain spreading out on a solid surface. That is what tooth decay is doing to your tooth, only it’s killing the tooth as it spreads. You know tooth decay by the term “cavities”. That’s because it creates cavities of space in your teeth where healthy minerals used to be. Once a tooth area decays, you can’t get it back. It must be removed and filled once more by a dentist. Prevention is always the best option, and you can help prevent cavities with good oral health habits and dental sealants.

Two tooth models sitting side by side that have frowning faces on their faces. The top of the teeth models are black and decayed and there are pieces of candies behind the teeth.

Preventing Tooth Decay with Dental Sealants

Investing in dental sealants is an excellent way to avoid dental decay. Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings that Dr. Ania puts all over your teeth. The molars and premolars are the teeth that most need a dental sealant, as these are the ones that do most of the chewing and are most prone to decay. Your front teeth are more for biting and ripping food, while the back teeth are used to chew. Because of deeper grooves and the position in the mouth, your molars get cavities easier than the front teeth. According to the American Dental Association, a dental sealant can reduce your risk for cavities by up to 80%.

When you receive dental sealants, they will bond to your teeth and seal away all the grooves and cracks on the surface. This will prevent plaque and other acidic substances from eroding away your tooth enamel. These are areas where food can more easily become trapped, and where a toothbrush may have a harder time cleaning. Dental sealants will also help prevent tooth decay from happening inside the tooth that commonly leads to root canals and more extensive procedures. Your dental sealant can last you up to 10 years if you take care of your teeth properly.

A digital rendition of the teeth that shows a layer of dental sealants on top of the teeth.

What Else Can You Do?

You can brush and floss your teeth and still get cavities. When this is happening, you want to ask your dentist about dental sealants and other oral health steps you can take to prevent dental decay. This is important because once a part of your tooth has died, that part is always gone, even if it is replaced by dental material.

Here are a few suggestions to reduce your risk for cavities even more:

Limit your sugar intake! If you’re not eating tons of sugar, then mouth bacteria doesn’t have the food it needs to make the plaque that decays your teeth. The more sugar you eat, the more cavities you can get and vice versa.
Add mouthwash to your routine. Mouthwash is a mouth rinse that has antiseptic and cleansing qualities, while still being gentle for soft tissues in the mouth. All brands are a bit different, but the goal is to minimize mouth bacteria that would decay your teeth.
Use fluoride products. Originally discovered in 1930, fluoride is a substance that has been shown to strengthen the teeth against acids and bacteria. It’s found in U.S. public water sources and in ADA-approved oral health products. Using fluoride toothpaste and other products can prevent demineralization of your teeth.

Seeing your dentist is perhaps the most important habit you can establish besides brushing and flossing your teeth. That’s because only a dentist is qualified to find the presence of tooth decay, gum disease and other oral diseases and treat them properly. The American Dental Association recommends visiting your dentist at least twice a year for comprehensive exams and dental cleanings. You can schedule your own dental visit today by calling Dr. Ania’s office at 303-443-0998!

Posted: April 3, 2019 By: content.team Comment: 0

Root Canal Awareness Week

root canal

About 15 million root canals are performed each year by dentists and endodontists in the United States. The last week of March is “Root Canal Awareness Week”, and we want to show you why root canals are done and how they benefit you. Learn about the root canal process, why you would need one and how it helps keep you healthier!

What is Root Canal Awareness Week?

The American Association of Endodontists (AAE) established Root Canal Awareness Week in an effort to educate the public about the benefits of modern root canal treatment and endodontists as the specialists in treating tooth pain and saving teeth.

“In a recent survey of the public, 48 percent of respondents would make an appointment to see their dentist if they experienced tooth pain. Roughly half of respondents said if they were to feel tooth pain, they would only wait between two and six days to seek treatment. Another 23 percent said they would seek treatment that same day. Clearly, most people wish to resolve tooth pain very quickly, and that’s exactly what endodontists are trained to do,” the AAE said.

Why Are Root Canals Necessary?

Root canal procedures help you avoid having a diseased tooth pulled. Your teeth are meant to last a lifetime. Diseased or injured teeth can undergo a root canal procedure to save them from extraction.

Root canal treatment can be necessary if a tooth nerve is severely damaged following injury or if an untreated cavity reaches all the way to the pulp of the tooth. Once the pulp becomes infected, it threatens the health of the surrounding bone and begins to eat away at it (this is known as a tooth abscess).

The pulp of your tooth contains many blood vessels and nerves. When the pulp becomes inflamed or infected, you know it because the pain is impossible to ignore. This condition cannot heal on its own.

Ignoring the pain from a tooth infection, or hitting it with daily doses of painkillers will not resolve your condition. In fact, if you delay too long, the infection can spread and even damage the bone that holds the jaw. At this point, you will most likely lose the tooth entirely–don’t delay treatment. If you are in pain, there is a reason. Call Dr. Ania to schedule an appointment.

What Does a Root Canal Do for You?

The term “root canal” refers to a couple different things: 1) the root canal itself (the passages between the pulp and tooth roots) and; 2) the procedure where the nerve and infected pulp is removed.

The root canal passages of your teeth contain nerves and blood vessels. These nerves sense heat, cold, and other stimuli. When the pulp of a tooth becomes infected, the nerve and the infected pulp are taken out the Dr. Ania thoroughly cleans/disinfects the inside canals of the tooth from bacteria/infection before sealing it. This multi-step procedure is referred to as a root canal.

What is the Root Canal Process?

Once the tooth infection is resolved from removing the bacteria, infected pulp and the nerve, the canal is filled in to prevent any further infection. Your tooth has been saved, but is no longer considered a living tooth now that the pulp, nerves and blood vessels are absent. It can be prone to fracture and can become more brittle so to avoid breakage, the final step of a root canal is the crown placed over the tooth.

A crown will work to further protect your tooth from injury or infection. (A crown is a rigid tooth-colored covering that is stronger than enamel that preserves the structural integrity of the tooth and prevents it from breaking.)

“If you’ve got a tooth that has been seriously weakened or damaged, a strong dental crown is a highly effective and attractive cosmetic dentistry solution. A crown, also called a “cap,” serves as protective armor for a tooth and allows you to use full biting force without worry,” reads Dr.Ania.com.

How is Laser Dentistry Used to Help with Treatment?

Laser dentistry is an incredible advancement in the field that allows Dr. Ania to use diode laser energy to deep clean and remove gum tissue that has been diseased by bacteria. Laser dentistry is just one way we use technology to improve results for our patients, and to make treatments safer and more comfortable.

Call for a Root Canal and Oral Health Consultation

If you are experiencing oral pain, it is important to act quickly. Teeth that are sending pain signals do so because something is affecting the nerve of the tooth–it is important to find out what before a small issue becomes a larger one.

While root canals have a reputation for being fearsome, new technology and tools that Dr. Ania employs will put you at ease. Call Dr. Ania’s office at 303-443-0998 for your comprehensive examination and consultation!

Posted: March 28, 2019 By: content.team Comment: 0

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