There is no doubt that a healthy, pleasing smile positively affects one’s life. It lets us convey confidence and friendliness in business and social settings. A beautiful healthy smile also affects our personal relationships. When we smile, we appear (and feel!) younger and more attractive. Research has shown that smiling also helps reduce stress, increase…

Healthy teeth that work as nature intended are indispensable for a high quality of life and overall health. Folks who notice dentures know what I’m talking about. There is no question that dentures are preferable to a completely toothless mouth, but they are not trouble free. Your mouth provides several basic functions, each of which…

Too-small teeth. Misshapen teeth. Cracked teeth. Chipped teeth. Spacing irregularities. These issues are all-too-common, but you don’t have to live with them thanks to advancements in cosmetic dentistry technology. 1. Veneers. (Also called dental laminates or porcelain veneers). These extremely thin shells are custom-made so the size, shape, and color are perfectly matched to your…

Malocclusion is dental-speak for crooked teeth. When you consider all the different ways numerous 3-dimensional objects can be positioned, it is not surprising that malocclusion presents itself in numerous forms. The number of configurations may surprise you: When teeth slant forward, it is called upper protrusion, but you may have heard this abnormality referred to…

When individuals seek cosmetic dentistry to improve their smile, porcelain veneers are a celebrated option. Unlike a crown that completely covers the tooth, a veneer is a super thin layer of a very heavy-duty porcelain, composite bonding, or ceramic. When bonded to a tooth, the veneer creates a natural, translucent, and new surface. It improves…

When you suddenly have to juggle extra balls, some are bound to get dropped. Perhaps you are going through a divorce or became the caregiver for an ailing parent. Perhaps you took on a second job or started night school to earn an advanced degree. Not every stressor is negative. A new baby, marriage, career,…

Bite down hard, but not on Dr. West’s hand! Do you find that biting down hard is painful or awkward? There are ways to find the source of the trouble and there are ways to make it right. Let Gordon West DDS – Aesthetic & General Dentistry in Lafayette, Colorado help you with that everyday…

Remember what your teeth looked like before you had your first cavity? When you opened your mouth to laugh or yawn, those with you could see only pearly white molar surfaces. (Unless, of course, you had been munching Oreos.) If you are like many adults, you started developing cavities fairly young and started receiving the…

In today’s post, we will veer a bit off the beaten path, so to speak, and review a distinguished dental specialty; forensic dentistry. The official term for the use of dentistry in criminal cases and post mortem identification is forensic odontology. These specialists are rarely recognized but play a vital role in crime and disaster…