Dr. West's Boulder Dental Blog

No one likes to settle for less than the best, especially with something as important as your smile. Dr. Gordon West DDS  in Lafayette has the solutions for your smile problems.

You don’t have to live with crooked or chipped teeth. Porcelain veneers are an affordable and non-invasive way to correct misshapen or damaged teeth that are otherwise structurally sound. If you have a tooth that is beyond repair, don’t despair. A dental implant may be the answer. Call 720-862-3630 for a tooth implant consultation in our local Lafayette office.

You don’t have to watch your teeth become duller and more discolored every year, either. Whether you are young, older or somewhere in the middle, teeth whitening works wonders to perk up your smile.

The latest restorative and cosmetic dental procedures are performed right here at Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry.

I have been practicing dentistry since 1998. I have noticed that my Boulder patients who receive dental makeovers have only one regret; they wish they would have done it sooner! Our clients with dazzling new smiles are surprised by how much confidence they gain. Because they love their smile, they smile more often.

Come in and see us at Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry.

• Dr. Gordon West DDS
• Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry
• 1140 W. South Boulder Rd, Suite 201
• Lafayette, Colorado 80026
• 720-862-3630
• http://www.bouldercountysmiles.com/

Most Boulder residents have plenty of things to smile about.

However, there are some folks who avoid smiling at all costs. Are you one of those people who cover their mouth when they laugh? Do you keep your mouth closed when someone takes a picture of you? Have you been hiding unsightly teeth for years?

It’s time to take care of those tooth problems and get a new lease on life.

Dr. Gordon West at Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry in Lafayette can make it happen!

If you are missing one or more teeth, talk to us about dental implants. A dental implant is a permanent tooth replacement that includes both root and crown. Because it is anchored into the jawbone, it looks and feels like a natural tooth.

Are your teeth yellow or gray? Have your teeth whitened at our dental practice and experience an instant transformation.

Many of your friends and neighbors have benefited from porcelain veneers. They correct several types of imperfections and can be applied in just one visit to our Lafayette dental office.

Dr. Gordon West
Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry
http://www.BoulderCountySmiles.com

To remain dense, your jaw bone requires the continual stimulation and pressure of chewing, biting and talking. Each of your teeth has a root structure attached to the surrounding bone material. As each tooth absorbs the forces of everyday mouth function, it stimulates the bone to which the root is attached.

When a tooth is extracted, the jaw bone that previously surrounded the root structure begins to recede. Though  tooth extraction is often the only possible treatment for our patients with tooth damage beyond repair, every effort should be made to preserve the root structure.

Fortunately, tooth implants provide a new root which keeps the surrounding bone healthy and strong. A dental implant consists of a titanium post which is placed in the jaw bone. It replaces the original root and eventually integrates into the surrounding bone. After the implant has been placed and the surrounding bone has healed and meshed with the implant, a post is inserted into the implant. The new artificial tooth, or crown, is then attached to the post. Implant restoration is a safe and effective treatment for tooth loss.

To learn more about dental implants, call Dr. Gordon West at 720-862-3630. The friendly professionals at Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry in Boulder provide world-class dental treatment.

Center for Advanced Dental Care

I’m Dr. Gordon West of Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry. My office is located at 1140 West S. Boulder Rd, Suite 201 in Lafayette. One of the best things about being a Boulder area dentist is interacting with my patients. During initial dental consultations, I listen carefully to my patient’s short and long term dental goals.

I enjoy discussing options and developing effective treatment plans tailored specifically to each person. Some of my clients desire a total smile makeover. I explain in detail the treatments available including teeth whitening, dental veneers, orthodontia, crown restoration, and dental implants.

If a client is nervous about undergoing treatment, we discuss oral conscious sedation. Oral conscious sedation, sometimes called oral sedation dentistry, is a great option for anxious patients. Dental visits do not have to be painful!

After the treatment has been completed, it is very gratifying for me to see my patient’s reaction to their new smile.

I never get tired of creating dramatic smile transformations for the best clients in Colorado!

If you have been considering a smile makeover, let’s talk about your smile. Call Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry at 720-862-3630 to schedule a cosmetic dentistry consultation.

Dental crowns have been used in dentistry for over 2000 years. There is evidence that the Etruscans experimented with crowns on teeth using ivory and bone as early as 700 B.C. By 200 A.D., they began using gold crowns to construct artificial teeth. Ancient Egyptians fashioned tooth replacements out of seashells and then hammered them into their gums (Oral sedation, anyone?).

Porcelain crowns were first used in the 1800s. With the refining of metal casting methods in the 1900s, crown dentistry advanced significantly.

Today, crowns are strong, comfortable and are made to match your surrounding teeth.

Dental crowns (also called caps) cover the entire visible portion of the tooth and are cemented in place. Crowns are used to strengthen teeth that have been worn down or weakened by decay or injury. Crowns are also used to restore the original shape of a tooth or solely to improve the appearance of a tooth.

The most common types of crowns are:

• All-porcelain (ceramic)
• Porcelain-fused-to-metal
• Gold

The material used is determined by several factors. If you suspect you need a crown, want to replace an old crown, or want to learn about other cosmetic dentistry procedures, call dentist Dr. Gordon West at 720-862-3630. Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry is located at 1140 West S. Boulder Rd, Suite 201 in Lafayette. We have been serving clients in the Boulder area since 1998. We can recommend the best tooth restoration or cosmetic dentistry option for you.

Your face is always on display for others to see. You can’t hide it behind long sleeves or baggy jeans, and a hat won’t hide it away on a sleep-in Saturday.

Many lucky Lafayette residents who have received smile makeovers at Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry believe their dazzling new smile brightens their whole face. Some Boulder professionals have corrected tooth problems prior to beginning a search for new employment.

A beautiful smile is essential to a polished appearance. Longmont cosmetic dentistry is not just for people in the public eye, it is for anyone who desires a youthful looking smile.

Louisville teeth whitening is quicker and more popular than ever. Some of our Lafayette cosmetic dental clients invest in total teeth restoration because they have always been self-conscious about chips, gaps or crooked teeth.

Cosmetic dental treatment may consist of dental bonding, dental implants, dental bridges, orthodontics, porcelain veneers, teeth whitening or a combination.

If you are unfamiliar with the latest materials and procedures, see smile makeover expert Dr. Gordon West for a cosmetic dental consultation. Some transformations are completed in just one visit! And don’t forego a new smile because you are afraid of dental treatment. Nervous Lafayette cosmetic dental clients can wake up to a new smile with oral conscious sedation.

It is never too late to get a movie-star smile!

Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry
1140 West S. Boulder Rd, Suite 201
Lafayette, Colorado 80026
720-862-3630

Have you thought about upgrading your smile? Cosmetic dentistry offers many exciting possibilities.

The quickest and least invasive procedure is light teeth whitening. The results are dramatic and teeth whitening side effects are minimal.

If your teeth are slightly crooked, but require no orthodontic work, porcelain veneers could be the answer. Porcelain teeth veneers are translucent, wafer-thin covers that are permanently attached to the front of teeth, correcting chips and stains. Prepless veneers do not require the removal of tooth structure.

If your teeth are more than slightly crooked, it’s not too late for braces. Patients of all ages are undergoing orthodontic treatment and achieving fantastic results. The newest braces are less noticeable, more comfortable and bring teeth into alignment much faster than old-school metal braces.

Has gum recession caused the metal base of an old crown to be visible? Soft tissue grafts and crown replacement can correct this problem.

Are you missing one or more teeth? One of the best tooth replacement options is a dental implant. A dental implant consists of a titanium post surgically inserted into the jaw bone to replace the root of the missing tooth. The post integrates with the bone to provide a stable foundation for the replacement tooth.

Can you envision yourself with a dental makeover?
Call Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry at 720-862-3630 to discuss your cosmetic dentistry options.

Dr. Gordon West, DDS
http://www.BoulderCountySmiles.com

Wisdom teeth are the last of the molars (grinding teeth) to erupt from the gum. They usually appear in the late teens and early twenties. Not all people develop these teeth while others have from one to four.

Though some people never experience any problems with these extra molars, many times Wisdom teeth can create serious dental complications. If the wisdom teeth do not have the room to develop and erupt normally, they are referred to as impacted wisdom teeth. An impacted tooth may never emerge from the bone and gum, emerge only partially, or come in sideways.

Impacted teeth can damage the adjacent molar, cause infection or trigger gum disease. Sometimes these problems cause no noticeable symptoms for a period of time. To prevent these serious complications, wisdom teeth are often removed.

Wisdom teeth symptoms include pain when opening mouth, gum swelling, bad breath, and pain when chewing. These indicators can be constant or intermittent.

To learn more about wisdom teeth extraction, call 720-862-3630 to schedule an exam at Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry. We provide state-of-the-art dental care in a comfortable environment.  Our dental team can recommend the best course of treatment.

Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry

Providing comprehensive dental care for Lafayette and Boulder area families since 1998.

When the upper part of the jaw and the lower part of the jaw are not the same size, bite problems can occur. When the lower jaw is smaller than the upper jaw, it is called an overbite. When the reverse is true, it is called an underbite. Another related alignment disorder is called a crossbite. Crossbites occur when lower teeth are in the wrong position. They may be incorrectly positioned sideways, forward or backward.

Malocclusion (literally ‘bad bite’) is the term used for all types of bite problems including overbites, underbites and crossbites. Jaw alignment disorders can cause a range of problems and often prohibit proper chewing and/or swallowing. Teeth can shift around in the mouth, causing even more discomfort or difficulty. Gum disease and tooth decay are also harder to prevent because proper oral hygiene can be difficult with a malocclusion. TMJ disorder can develop over time. Distorted facial shape and unattractive teeth are often the most noticeable and troubling issues for those affected.

Fortunately, there are a variety of effective treatments for bite problems. If you suspect your child has a bite misalignment, it is especially important to have them examined as early as possible. By starting early, you can make sure they avoid years of pain and self-consciousness.

Call Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry at 720-862-3630. Dentist Dr. Gordon West, DDS is experienced in diagnosing bite disorders in patients of all ages. We can create a successful treatment plan for you. We also perform porcelain veneers and dental implants for Boulder area dental clients.

Some people experience severe anxiety when undergoing dental treatment. With oral conscious sedation, it is possible to relax during dental procedures instead of being tense and fearful. Oral sedation dentistry, relaxation dentistry, conscious sedation and anxiety-free dentistry are all terms used to describe this type of treatment. In addition to alleviating anxiety, oral conscious sedation can help patients with a variety of conditions.

You may want to consider oral conscious sedation if you have any of the following issues:

• Strong gag reflex
• Fear of needles
• Sensitive teeth
• Fear and anxiety associated with dental treatment
• Difficulty getting numb
• A history of negative dental experiences
• Trouble controlling body movement due to Parkinson’s disease, Cerebral Palsy or related condition
• Need extensive dental treatment requiring lengthy dental visits

If you have avoided dental treatment due to any of these factors, give us a call at 720-862-3630. We can give you more information about sedation options and help you determine which one is right for you. At Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry we do all we can to make your visit as comfortable as possible. We look forward to discussing your oral health and dental goals.

Serving Lafayette dental patients since 1998. Center for Advanced Dental Care.