dental crowns

Schedule Your Coronation

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Categories: cosmetic dentistry, dental crowns, Dental Health, dental implants, general dentistry

dentist crowns Lafayette

We treat all of our patients royally here at Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette CO, but some of them receive actual crowns. Not what a king or queen wears, but crowns for your teeth!

Crowns are a therapy for a host of problems:

  • To protect a weak tooth from decay, breaking, or to hold together a cracked tooth.
  • To cover and provide strength to a tooth with a large filling and little tooth structure remaining.
  • To restore a broken tooth or a tooth that has been severely worn down.
  • To improve a tooth that is too small or misshapen.
  • To cover a tooth with severe discoloration.
  • To add strength to a tooth following a root canal procedure.

If you feel like you have a need for a crown, don’t look any further than Gordon West DDS – Aesthetic & General Dentistry. Our dentists and lab techs have the experience, training, and expertise to make sure your crowns are constructed and placed accurately. There are many different kinds of crowns that serve different purposes. We complete an extensive examination to ensure the crown you get is perfect for you and your smile.

We then prepare your tooth so that the crown will fit the way that it should. Once the tooth is prepared and ready, we use state-of-the-art tools to fit the crown on your tooth. When done properly, crowns can last many years.

Crowns are wonderful way to safeguard and beautify your smile. Schedule a coronation today! Boulder County Smiles also provides dental implants, and sedation dentistry.

Contact Gordon West DDS – Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

720-862-3630

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

1140 W South Boulder Rd Ste 201
Lafayette, Colorado
80026

 

Restore Or Replace: New Life For Your Damaged Tooth

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Categories: cosmetic dentistry, dental crowns, dental implants, Family dentistry, general dentistry, porcelain veneers

As the saying goes, there is more than one way to skin a cat (although we don’t know anyone who has actually tried). And with cosmetic dentistry at Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette CO, there is more than one way to fix a tooth.

If you are the lucky owner of a set of perfectly healthy teeth, you may never need any of these procedures. However, if you are like most of us, you will probably need to restore a tooth eventually. Today’s post looks at six restoration procedures that are used routinely to repair damaged teeth:

A Porcelain Veneer
These wafer-thin covers can hide a chip or crack or fix the alignment of a tooth that is slightly crooked.

A Filling, Inlay, or Onlay
This procedure has been used to restore teeth for over a century though the materials and techniques have advanced. One fairly new option is white filling replacement for metal fillings. A traditional filling is shaped and molded after it is applied to the tooth. Because inlays and onlays are created in a dental lab, they are frequently called indirect fillings. Inlays are applied to just the center of the biting surface of a tooth (not to a cusp or point) and are frequently smaller than onlays. An onlay restores one or more cusps of a tooth.

Dental Bonding
Bonding, officially called direct composite veneers, is used to correct chips, cracks, stains, and make teeth longer. It is also sometimes used to fill cavities. A skilled cosmetic dentist applies pliable composite resin and molds it to the specific shape needed. The resin is then hardenend with a special curing light.

A Dental Crown
A crown replaces the entire visible portion of the tooth, restoring appearance, strength, and function. Crowns are used for teeth that have had a root canal, teeth with acute decay, the replacement tooth in a dental bridge, and the visible portion of a dental implant. Crowns can be made of all metal (such as gold), porcelain-fused-to-metal, all ceramic, or all resin.

Dental Implants
Many dentists consider a tooth implant to be the ultimate restoration because it restores the entire tooth – both root and crown. Most dental implant recipients report that the implant is indistinguishable from a natural tooth. Another boon is the fact that an implant can prevent bone recession which is common at an extraction site. Dental implants are used in a variety of applications such as anchoring dentures and dental bridges.

For more information about any of these cosmetic dentistry procedures, call Boulder County Smiles. We also treat sleep apnea and other conditions. Make an appointment with us today.

Contact Gordon West DDS – Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

720-862-3630

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

1140 W South Boulder Rd Ste 201
Lafayette, Colorado
80026

 

Is Your Smile In A World Of Hurt?

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Categories: cosmetic dentistry, dental crowns, dental implants, Family dentistry, restorative dentistry

full mouth reconstruction Boulder

Do you have acute tooth damage, bone loss, or few or no teeth still intact? Restorative dentistry from Boulder County Smiles can help those whose mouths are in a world of hurt.

First off, we feel for you. We understand how severe dental issues influence you every day of your life.

Whatever the cause of the condition – chemotherapy, recreational drug use, eating disorder, extreme mouth injury, disability, inadequate oral hygiene, or simply poor overall health – there is hope.

Full mouth reconstruction can restore your previously healthy, beautiful smile or give you the brilliant smile you never had. Patients who undergo full mouth reconstruction regain their confidence to smile, eat, and speak normally. How would that influence your life?

Replacing missing teeth and adding bone through grafting restores underlying facial structure, improving or preventing that “sunk-in” look that ensues when teeth are gone and the jawbone recedes.

Full mouth reconstruction (sometimes called full mouth restoration) is a term which refers to a combination of dental procedures that restore a smile for people with multiple damaged or missing teeth. Treatment may include any combination of the following procedures: crowns, inlays/onlays, dental bonding, white filling replacement, tooth implants, porcelain veneers, implant-anchored dentures, gum contouring, soft tissue grafts, bone grafts, and tooth whitening.

Dental implants are generally the best tooth replacement for those with missing teeth. A dental implant consists of a titanium post surgically inserted into the jaw bone to replace the root of the missing tooth. If there is not enough bone to anchor an implant, bone grafting may be performed to augment existing bone.

If you currently have dentures, ask us about implant-anchored full or partial dentures. Significant improvements can be made even if you only get two or three tooth implants.

Crowns (sometimes called caps) are used when there is enough viable tooth structure that the tooth doesn’t need to be extracted. A crown adds strength to a tooth that has a large filling or has been injured. A crown can repair a bite misalignment and is usually necessary after a root canal. In a dental implant procedure, attaching the crown to the abutment is the final step.

At Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette CO, we offer a full range of restorative dentistry procedures. Restoring a healthy smile may be the best investment you ever make. Make an appointment with us today.

Contact Gordon West DDS – Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

720-862-3630

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

1140 W South Boulder Rd Ste 201
Lafayette, Colorado
80026

 

Help! My Crown Came Off!

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Categories: cosmetic dentistry, dental crowns, restorative dentistry

repair broken dental crown Lafayette

You’re chewing an apple and hear a wierd sound, then something in your mouth feels wrong. One of your crowns has come off. Call us at Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette CO right away. Chances are, the crown (which cost you hundreds of dollars) can be re-cemented.

What do you do when your dental crown comes off? It’s vital that you take the following steps:

Don’t Swallow It!
This may seem like a no-brainer, but we are mentioning it because it is indispensable. Carefully take it out of your mouth. If you accidentally swallow it, you will have some extra issues that aren’t pleasant.

Look Carefully
Inspect the crown and your tooth. If there is damage to either, we will need that information. Which brings us to number 3:

Call Gordon West DDS – Aesthetic & General Dentistry
We will schedule you an appointment right away and guide you on whether you should use temporary cement to re-attach the crown until you can get into our office.

Clean Gently
Use a toothbrush to cautiously clean the crown and the exposed partial tooth.

Handle With Care
While waiting for the crown to be re-cemented, avoid substances that are chewy, sticky, or crunchy.

Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette CO provides dental crowns, and also provides emergency dentistry. Schedule an appointment with us today.

Contact Gordon West DDS – Aesthetic & General Dentistry:

720-862-3630

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

1140 W South Boulder Rd Ste 201
Lafayette, Colorado
80026

 

What Is Necessary For A Dental Crown?

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Categories: dental crowns

dental crowns Lafayette

Dental crowns have been around for millennia and are still used to restore smiles today. Ancient dentists used ivory, bone, and seashells to make crowns for teeth. Evidence of gold crowns dates from 200 A.D. Porcelain crowns appeared in the 1800s. With the advancement of metal casting techniques in the 1900s, crown technology took a big leap forward.

A dental crown procedure includes:

Tooth Preparation
Your dentist will anesthetize the tooth to be crowned and then prepare it. All decay is removed and the tooth is shaped. Usually, the dentist files off tooth structure to reduce the size and create the proper shape. Sometimes, the tooth is too small to begin with; in that case, the dentist builds up the core of the tooth with filling material to construct a strong base for the crown. All-metal crowns – as opposed to porcelain crowns – have thinner sides, requiring less removal of tooth structure.

Creating a Good Impression
The dentist will use a putty-like substance to make an impression of the tooth and surrounding teeth. An impression will also be made of the teeth that oppose the crown. This ensures that the crown does not adversely affect the bite.

The Temporary Crown
A temporary crown is used to guard the tooth and be sure it doesn’t move in the mouth while the permanent crown is being fabricated. Patient need to be careful with their temporary crown. It is not as strong as the permanent crown and is attached only with temporary cement. Avoid chewing gum and eating sticky foods. Be aware that the tooth may be sensitive to hot and cold.

Choosing a Color
If the new crown will be created with porcelain, you and your dentist will use a shade guide to elect a shade for the restoration. Most people don’t have teeth that are exactly the same color. You will need to ascertain the most appropriate shade to blend in with the surrounding teeth.

The Lab Team Works Its Magic
The dentist or a laboratory technician then uses the model to form the crown. Some dentists have the equipment needed to manufacture crowns right in their office. Same day restorations are created with a machine that mills a crown from a small block of ceramic in the correct shade.

Your Crown Is Put In Place
When the new crown is ready, your dentist places it in your mouth and makes any needed adjustment to realize a great fit. This process shouldn’t be rushed. Sometimes less than a millimeter of drilling can make the difference between an ill-fitting crown that makes irregular contact with the opposing teeth and a crown that is accurately fitted.

I’m Dr. Gordon West. My practice, Gordon West DDS – Aesthetic & General Dentistry, offers dental crowns, teeth whitening, sedation dentistry, Invisalign clear braces, and prepless veneers.

 

Contact Gordon West DDS – Aesthetic & General Dentistry: 720-862-3630

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

1140 W South Boulder Rd Ste 201
Lafayette, Colorado
80026

 

6 Ways Dental Crowns Restore Smiles

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Categories: cosmetic dentistry, dental crowns

cost of dental crowns Boulder

Dental crowns have been around a long time, but they continue to play an important role in Lafayette cosmetic dentistry. A dental crown, often called a cap, covers the visible part of the tooth.

Dental crowns are used for several problems common among Boulder cosmetic dentistry patients:

An old crown that is damaged or ill-fitting
A broken tooth
A tooth with extreme decay
A tooth that has had a root canal
A tooth that is too small or misshapen
A tooth that prevents a proper bite

A dental crown serves both structural and aesthetic purposes. It protects a natural tooth from additional decay and damage while permitting normal function. In addition, a dental crown often prevents the need for an extraction and the bone loss that can occur with a missing tooth.

Boulder cosmetic dentistry patients who get a dental crown should not assume that the tooth is now invincible. Crowns need daily cleaning and flossing just like natural teeth. The remaining tooth structure just around the gumline could still become decayed and the soft tissue around the crown is susceptible to gum disease. Chewing hard foods or using your teeth as a tool can cause a crown to crack or break. (Use scissors to open a stubborn plastic package – don’t bite and pull!) Your Lafayette cosmetic dentist can advise you on caring for your new crown so that it will last as long as possible. Some of our Louisville patients have crowns that are still looking beautiful after ten years.

For information on Boulder dental crown prices, invisible braces, conscious sedation, or teeth whitening, call Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry today at 720-862-3630 or visit https://www.bouldercountysmiles.com/services/.

 

Contact Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry:

720-862-3630

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

1140 W South Boulder Rd, Ste 201
Lafayette, CO
80026

 

Crown Or Veneer?

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Categories: cosmetic dentistry, dental crowns

cosmetic dentistry Lafayette

I am Gordon West of Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry in Lafayette. Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry offers multiple cosmetic dental procedures for creating dazzling smiles. Two of the most popular procedures are dental crowns and porcelain veneers. Many patients don’t understand the difference between the two. Generally, a crown strengthens a compromised tooth while a veneer is used mainly for cosmetic improvements.

A dental crown covers the entire visible part of the tooth. A veneer is an ultra-thin layer for the front of a tooth. Veneers are made with several layers of extremely strong ceramic laminate. Crowns can be made of all porcelain (ceramic), porcelain fused to metal, or gold. Both crowns and veneers are affixed to the tooth with special adhesive. Crowns and veneers are durable and can last many years if properly cared for, though they are not stronger than natural enamel.

Both of these procedures improve the tooth aesthetically, but dental crowns are ordinarily a better solution for a tooth that has been compromised by decay, damage, or a root canal. Veneers can fix the shape of a tooth, repair a minor crack, cover stains, or straighten the appearance of teeth that are slightly misaligned.

The success of a crown or veneer procedure depends on proficient professionals at the lab and in the dentist’s office. Your cosmetic dentist must prep the tooth, create a precision mold, and submit an accurate order to the lab.

The role of the Lafayette dental lab technician is equally important.  Highly skilled lab technicians fabricate custom dental crowns and veneers to the specifications of the cosmetic dentist. They must have the ability to meet the precise standards necessary for successful restorations.

Consider the myriad characteristics of a restoration: the precise shape, the exact size, the precise color, and the proper placement in the mouth. This is a case of all or nothing – each variable must be right on the mark or it must be redone.

The team at Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry and the terrific staff at our dental lab work together to provide the highest quality dental restorations for our valued patients.

If you would like more helpful information about crowns, veneers, and other cosmetic dental procedures, I invite you to connect with us to schedule a cosmetic dental consultation. I can help you achieve a smile that is both healthy and brilliant. Call 720-862-3630 today!

My name is Dr. Gordon West and I provide quality dental care in Lafayette. My practice, Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry, offers the following services:

sedation dentistry
prepless veneers
dental crowns
gum disease treatment

 

Contact Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry:

720-862-3630

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

1140 W South Boulder Rd, Ste 201
Lafayette, CO
80026

 

Cost of a Dental Crown In Lafayette

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Categories: dental crowns

Lafayette affordable family dentist

Preparing to pay for critical dental work can be a daunting undertaking. The good news is that the cost may be far less than you anticipate. Knowing your needs is crucial to planning your budget for dental work.

Trying to Compare
Comparing the price of a dental crown for molars versus the price of a dental crown for smaller teeth or versus a root canal or double root canal can be difficult to extract from many dental facilities in and around Lafayette, Colorado. Get the current pricing and understand the role insurance will play in the out-of-pocket-expense for your dental visit by calling Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry at 720-862-3630 at your convenience. Our understanding staff can explain pricing and schedule initial consultation appointments.

Identify Affordable Quality

Gordon West DDS has been here at 1140 W South Boulder Rd, Ste 201 in Lafayette since 1998. While procedure fees can fluctuate up and down depending on the price of supplies, equipment, and staffing overhead, Dr. West works very hard to maintain affordable, quality care for our unique community in three ways:

  1. Through state-of-the-art training and up-to-date education for key staff members.
  2. Through precision work and personal dental care for each and every patient.
  3. Through business management best practices to keep costs down.

The Responsible Investment
Take the responsible step for your comfort, health and confidence. Don’t be afraid to schedule work for dental crowns, teeth whitening, sedation dentistry, Invisalign clear braces, or prepless veneers. We want you to be confident that affordable, quality dental care is easy and accessible. We want you to understand the importance of immediate care rather than putting it off until it gets worse. Review our website at https://www.bouldercountysmiles.com/services/ and build that confidence. We want you to be confident in our office’s commitment to you.

Cost of a Dental Crown In Lafayette

Posted on
Categories: dental crowns

Lafayette affordable family dentist

Preparing to pay for critical dental work can be a daunting undertaking. The good news is that the cost may be far less than you anticipate. Knowing your needs is crucial to planning your budget for dental work.

Trying to Compare
Comparing the price of a dental crown for molars versus the price of a dental crown for smaller teeth or versus a root canal or double root canal can be difficult to extract from many dental facilities in and around Lafayette, Colorado. Get the current pricing and understand the role insurance will play in the out-of-pocket-expense for your dental visit by calling Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry at 720-862-3630 at your convenience. Our understanding staff can explain pricing and schedule initial consultation appointments.

Identify Affordable Quality

Gordon West DDS has been here at 1140 W South Boulder Rd, Ste 201 in Lafayette since 1998. While procedure fees can fluctuate up and down depending on the price of supplies, equipment, and staffing overhead, Dr. West works very hard to maintain affordable, quality care for our unique community in three ways:

  1. Through state-of-the-art training and up-to-date education for key staff members.
  2. Through precision work and personal dental care for each and every patient.
  3. Through business management best practices to keep costs down.

The Responsible Investment
Take the responsible step for your comfort, health and confidence. Don’t be afraid to schedule work for dental crowns, teeth whitening, sedation dentistry, Invisalign clear braces, or prepless veneers. We want you to be confident that affordable, quality dental care is easy and accessible. We want you to understand the importance of immediate care rather than putting it off until it gets worse. Review our website at https://www.bouldercountysmiles.com/services/ and build that confidence. We want you to be confident in our office’s commitment to you.

3 Tooth Problems Which May Require A Root Canal

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Categories: dental crowns

Fortify Your Root Canal Investment With A Boulder Dental Crown

Hello Colorado, let’s talk about the root canal procedure (“endodontic therapy” in dentist – speak). The root canal may the most cringe-worthy dental treatment commonly done today, but it is important that dental patients in the Boulder, Boulder County, and Lafayette, CO areas know what is happening during this anxiety – inducing, though routine, procedure.

At the center of each tooth is a very small tissue called the pulp. This thread-like tissue can become damaged due to a:

An injury to a tooth
A very deep cavity
A crack in the tooth

If this tissue becomes damaged or infected, it can build up at the root tip inside the jawbone and form an abscess. If left untreated, this can actually destroy the bone around the tooth and cause serious discomfort.

When an endodontist, oral surgeon, or general dentist in Boulder or Lafayette performs a root canal, the dead or diseased pulp is taken out, the space that is left is cleaned and then it is shaped and filled. This eliminates the need for a diseased tooth to be pulled and continued cosmetic dentistry to fill in the gap.

Hi. I’m Dr. Gordon West of Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry in Lafayette. I hope that today’s Boulder dental blog post has helped you to better understand root canals. I want my patients to have the best oral health possible and accurate dental information. I also want them to look their best, so if you have any questions about a smile makeover, dental implants, or teeth whitening, please give us a call at 720-862-3630.

At Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry we offer:

porcelain veneers
dental implants
prepless veneers
dental crowns

We hope to hear from you soon!

Dr. Gordon West
Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry
1140 W South Boulder Rd, Ste 201
Lafayette, Colorado
720-862-3630
https://www.bouldercountysmiles.com/services/