Dr. West's Boulder Dental Blog

Q: For Boulder residents: When is the least expensive tooth replacement method really the most expensive?

A: When it ends up costing far more in the long run.

Many dentistry clients who lose a tooth do not understand the importance of replacing it with a dental implant. They wrongly believe that one missing tooth is not a significant problem. In fact, some people in Louisville, Lafayette, and Boulder who have an abscessed tooth extracted are so glad the pain is gone that they forget that the extraction is not the solution. When a tooth is lost, the risk of losing the adjacent teeth increases dramatically.

Dr. David Scharf, a Board Certified Periodontist and Dental Implant Surgeon and a Clinical Assistant Professor at New York University College of Dentistry says:

“Many times consumers will choose to replace a missing tooth with a removable partial denture because it is the least expensive option. In the long run however, removable partial dentures may be more costly due the loss of adjacent teeth and the need for future replacements. Many people opt to replace teeth with dental implants because they do not compromise the survival of the adjacent teeth.”

Dr. Scharf notes…

“With the price of gasoline and food soaring people try to cut back wherever they can. Unfortunately choosing the least expensive options for tooth replacement can have some very costly ramifications down the road.”

If you are missing a tooth, you may still be able to save the adjacent teeth if you receive a dental implant soon. A dental implant bonds chemically with the jaw bone and helps maintain its stability.

To schedule a dental implant consultation, call Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry at 720-862-3630. In addition to cosmetic dentistry, we provide comprehensive general dentistry for families in the Boulder, Colorado area.

When you meet someone in Boulder who is missing a front tooth, what does that say to you? Do you wonder if they were in an accident? Do you automatically start making assumptions about their income, level of education and overall physical health?

Though it is extremely unfair, we are often judged (and misjudged) by our appearance. Even if a person is impeccably dressed and groomed, a missing front tooth detracts from the overall pleasing impression.

Here is a personal story from a woman who lost a tooth:

I lost my job and along with it my dental insurance, then a month later, one of my front teeth. It has been very hard to find work…. and I know the missing tooth has cost me several jobs.”

A missing tooth can be a big deal.

Dental implants not only restore oral health, they restore self-confidence. Dental implants are a permanent solution for missing teeth. Studies have shown that after more than 20 years, the vast majority of dental implants placed by oral and maxillofacial surgeons continue to function at peak performance. If properly cared for, dental implants can last a lifetime.

Dental implants are one of the procedures we routinely perform at Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry to help our Boulder clients regain the beautiful smile they once had. Not all cosmetic dental procedures are as extreme as teeth implants. There are many minimally-invasive remedies for unattractive smiles.

Porcelain veneers instantly provide a perfect, gleaming tooth surface for Boulder clients with broken or discolored teeth. Tooth whitening is a quick and affordable dentistry procedure in Longmont that achieves dramatic results without requiring the removal of any tooth structure. Call Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry at 720-862-3630 for more information about smile design and restorative dentistry.

-Dr. Gordon West

Perhaps you have heard or seen the Boulder dental industry’s advertising about dental implants. Most Lafayette dentists claim that dental implant dentures can change your life. Does this sound like hype? Exaggeration?

Let’s look at the facts about dental implant anchored dentures in Boulder:

Chewing: An oral implant denture can restore up to 95 percent of normal chewing function. How important is chewing? Can you chew easily with your current full or partial denture? Can you bite apples? When was the last time you ate a raw carrot?

Fit: Implant anchored dentures stay in place. An implant denture doesn’t slide around in your mouth and cause sores. Louisville implant denture wearers who exercise regularly especially appreciate this benefit.

Appearance: How does your smile look? Can you smile confidently? How many Broomfield denture wearers love their smile? Implant anchored dentures look like natural teeth. They don’t move when you smile, eat, talk, bike, swim, dance, golf, ski; you get the idea.

Bone health: When teeth are extracted, bone recession can occur over time (in fact, this happens in almost every case). Because a titanium implant is an artificial ‘tooth root’ inserted into your jaw bone, your bone has a better chance of staying healthy. If there are no other adverse conditions present, your jaw bone should remain strong and dense, just as if the original tooth root were there.

If you hate your dentures and live in Louisville or Broomfield, why don’t you come in for a consultation about dental implants and mini-implants? We can discuss all the particulars including procedure specifics, healing time and dental implant cost. Then you can decide for yourself if Implant dentures will, as promised, change your life.

Here is our contact information:

Dr. Gordon West DDS
Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry
1140 West S. Boulder Rd, Suite 201
Lafayette, Colorado 80026

http://www.BoulderCountySmiles.com

720-862-3630

Ill-fitting dentures cause more problems for Boulder denture wearers than they solve. If you live with loose dentures, you probably regard them as a necessary evil. Though they certainly look better than a toothless mouth, in practical terms they leave much to be desired because they affect two essential activities: eating and talking.

Unfortunately, many frustrated Longmont denture wearers have quit dining in restaurants or engaging in social activities because they are afraid their dentures will slip.

Implant dental procedures at Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry in Lafayette are allowing former Louisville denture patients to re-engage in life.

Consider the advantages of implant anchored dentures:

• They are stable because the implant is anchored in the bone.
• Your denture is fixed, it will not move around in your mouth.
• They prevent bone loss that typically occurs when teeth are removed.
• They eliminate the necessity of regular denture relines.
• They do not irritate gums.
• No denture adhesive is required.

Our Louisville dental implant bone clients who have replaced their traditional dentures with implant overdentures enthusiastically say that the dental implant cost was more than worth it.

Do you want to eat normally again? What is the value of maintaining your facial shape? Can you put a price on confidence?

If you want more information about dental implants, call 720-862-3630 to schedule an implant tooth consultation with Dr. Gordon West. Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry is located at 1140 West S. Boulder Rd, Suite 201 in Lafayette. We have been providing advanced Boulder dental care since 1998.

Center for Advanced Dental Care

How do celebrities obtain brilliant white smiles always ready for the red carpet or a close-up? Do they avoid coffee? Not likely. Every star-watching magazine is full of pictures of famous people holding Starbucks cups. Do they avoid tobacco? Some probably do, but many actors and fashion models with dazzling white smiles are smokers.

Very few people (famous and non-famous alike) with perfect teeth were born with them. (…Sure, no one is born with teeth, but you know what I mean.) Celebrities have perfect smiles because they have undergone cosmetic dentistry.

Guess what? You can also have a smile like a supermodel or television news anchor because Dr. Gordon West at Gordon West DDS has as much experience and training in advanced cosmetic dentistry as any Hollywood cosmetic dentist.

Dr. West has been providing smile makeovers for Lafayette and Boulder, CO dental clients for years. Tooth whitening is the most affordable cosmetic dentistry procedure in the Lafayette area. Tooth bleaching quickly perks up your teeth and makes you feel like smiling all the time!

Porcelain veneers are used often in Longmont and Boulder cosmetic dental offices because they correct myriad problems. Veneers remedy misshapen teeth, cracks and chips, and discolored teeth. Teeth that have been worn down extensively can also be repaired with veneers. Preparing a tooth for a porcelain veneer is minimally invasive. The latest veneers do not require the removal of healthy enamel. Another plus: veneers are usually less expensive than complete crowns!

Tooth bleaching and veneers are just two of the many cosmetic dental procedures performed at Gordon West DDS. Schedule a Lafayette cosmetic dental consultation today by calling 720-862-3630. At our office, you will always receive VIP treatment, without the annoying paparazzi!

We look forward to helping you achieve a celebrity smile.

(Note that the celebrities pictured above are not affiliated with our site; they just have great smiles!)

You can probably imagine why I look at smiles everywhere I go in the Colorado area. Whether I am working with a Lafayette or Boulder dental patient, having dinner at a Longmont restaurant, or attending a Broomfield sporting event, I notice whether the people around me smile. Whenever I encounter someone with obvious tooth problems, I want to tell them about the procedures that can completely transform their frown into a healthy and beautiful smile.

Are you one of those people who don’t want to show their teeth? I would love to talk to you about a smile makeover. Whatever your excuse is for not seeking dental treatment, I can discuss all of your concerns with you during a free consultation.

Perhaps you are afraid of dental work. Have you ever considered oral conscious sedation? With sedation dentistry, even extensive treatment is virtually pain free. Sedation will calm your mind as well as the nerves in your mouth.

Perhaps the cost of Lafayette cosmetic dentistry is holding you back. My very comfortable and friendly staff will be happy to talk to you about financing plans. It is important to remember that if your teeth are decayed, postponing treatment will cost more money in the long run. Filling a cavity is far more affordable dentistry than a root canal procedure or, in the case of an extracted tooth, a dental implant.

You can contact my office at 720-862-3630 or online at http://www.bouldercountysmiles.com. My Boulder family dental website contains information about all the general, restorative and aesthetic services we provide.

I can transform your smile into one that you will want to show all the time!

Dr. Gordon West

The American Dental Association offers some welcome advice for choosing a dentist in Lafayette. We have already talked about how word of mouth is an important factor in how many people find a dentist. Here are some things you should look for in an Lafayette dentist:

Location is always a factor when choosing a dentist in Lafayette. If you live in the Lafayette Colorado area, there are many options, and most Lafayette locations are not too far out of the way. While location plays an important role in convenience, many people are willing to drive a little farther for a better experience with their Lafayette dentist.

Relationship is a strong factor. Your Lafayette dentist should be approachable, and should make you feel comfortable when you are in the dentist chair. After all, your Lafayette dentist will be working very close with you to help you achieve a high level of oral hygiene; you most certainly will want to have a good, professional, comfortable relationship with your Lafayette dentist and the dental office staff.

Specialty is another important factor in choosing a dentist in Lafayette. Some dentists specialize in cosmetic dentistry. Others specialize in implant dentistry with dental implants. Depending on your need, you may select a local Lafayette dentist who can solve your immediate concern. Bare in mind, however, that it is good to have a general dentist who can maintain your dental history and work with you to through the years.

If you are looking for a dentist in Lafayette, please come by and speak with me. I can address your interest in any of these critical areas, and will be happy to introduce you to Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry.

I look forward to meeting you.

-Dr. Gordon West, DDS

720-862-3630

Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry, is a family dentistry practice in Lafayette Colorado.

You can find your family dentist at 1140 West S. Boulder Rd, Suite 201, in Lafayette Colorado. We serve the 80026 zip code with family dentistry.

Our specialties include cosmetic dentistry. We often perform porcelain veneers and dental implants.

Family dentistry requires a state-of-the-art dental care in a comfortable environment staff. Our commitment is to provide the most comfortable care for your family. Our staff is state-of-the-art dental care in a comfortable environment, and ready to greet your family with a friendly smile and home town care.

We look forward to meeting you and your family.

Cosmetic dentistry has really taken off lately, and many of our Lafayette, Colorado dentistry customers are asking us how cosmetic dentistry might work for them. When you ask a dentist about cosmetic dentistry, you’ll get good advice because your Lafayette dentist is here to help, experienced, and familiar with the pros and cons of cosmetic dentistry.
If you live in the Lafayette area and have questions about cosmetic dentistry, please give me a call. My name is Dr. Gordon West, I am a Lafayette dentist providing dental services in the Lafayette area. I can help you with your cosmetic dentistry questions.
I will be happy to review your dental history, answer your questions about cosmetic dentistry in Lafayette, and help you determine if cosmetic dentistry can provide the results you want.
Along with an understanding of cosmetic dentistry, Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry can help you with a host of Lafayette dental services related to cosmetic dentistry. We specialize in porcelain veneers, and perform dental implants, too. We can also help you with teeth whitening, prepless veneers, and dental crowns in addition to answering your questions about cosmetic dentistry.
I look forward to answering any questions you have about cosmetic dentistry. Our Lafayette office is located at 1140 West S. Boulder Rd, Suite 201 in Lafayette, Colorado. Give us a call or stop by and meet our state-of-the-art dental care in a comfortable environment staff.

I’m Dr. Gordon West, a dental implant dentist in the 80026 area. In a recent post, I explained how traditional dental implants are used to dramatically improve the lives of my Boulder denture and cosmetic dentistry clients. Today’s topic is mini dental implants, sometimes called ‘immediate implants’.

Though they are not as well known as traditional tooth implants, mini implants are also being used successfully in the 80026 postal code area to improve smiles. Like their larger diameter counterparts, mini implants can support a restoration for one or more missing teeth or replace a bridge or fixed denture. Broomfield tooth restoration clients and denture wearers benefit greatly from these slip free dental implants that are anchored securely in the jaw bone.

In some cases, a patient is unable to receive traditional full-size dental implants due to insufficient bone thickness. There are also Boulder mini implant patients who are not able to undergo dental implant surgery due to health issues. These Lafayette over-denture patients in the 80026 postal code area are often excellent candidates for the mini version.

The placement of toothpick-size mini dental implants can usually be done in one dental visit. The placement usually requires no incisions or stitches. Recovery time, if necessary, is usually very short. Most patients are able to eat dinner that evening.

Many Lafayette aesthetic dentistry clients are happy to learn that mini implants are a lower cost dental implants option. Don’t let the word ‘mini’ fool you; Your smile can receive a maximum upgrade with mini dental implants.

Call Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry at 720-862-3630 to schedule a consultation.