dental implants

This message from Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette focuses on missing teeth and bone health, and how dental implants can make a difference.

Our teeth have many important functions. We need them to chew our food, talk, and smile. But have you ever considered their role in holding up your face? When we lose teeth, the bone around the site of the extraction begins to shrink. This, in turn, causes our facial muscles to sink in and collapse.

Bone Metabolism

We sometimes think of bone as a solid mass, unlike the softer tissues in our body. In reality, below the seemingly rock-hard surface, bone tissue is full of small holes – kind of like a sponge.

In the interior bone tissue, the bone is constantly regenerating itself. This process is called “bone metabolism.” The movement of the teeth stimulate this process of rebuilding. When the tooth is gone, the bone starts to shrink as blood flow is reduced.

People with missing teeth not only have an unattractive gap in their smile, they begin to look older because of the bone recession and eventual facial sagging.  It can become difficult to chew food, too, making it harder to get adequate nutrition.

Dental Implants Can Prevent Bone Recession

Modern dentistry to the rescue! Dental implant technology provides a tooth restoration solution that maintains healthy bone metabolism while providing near-normal tooth function.

One dental implant can support an artificial tooth. Several, usually four, can support a full dental arch.

Even if you have lost jaw bone mass, bone grafting can promote new bone growth, enough for an implant.

At Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette we offer dental implants, as well as a full range of general and family dentistry. Call for an appointment today!

Contact Boulder County Smiles:

720-862-3630

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

1140 W South Boulder Rd Ste 201
Lafayette, Colorado
80026

In this post from Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette, we take a look at the pricing of dental implants. Looking into the cost and getting an easy answer can be frustrating. But there is a reason for that.

Let’s take a moment to explain why most dental practice sites don’t publish the cost of tooth implants.

1. The Math Might Come Out Higher Than it Should
The number of teeth being replaced may be more than the number of implants needed to cover that section of the mouth. Implant dentists want to offer accurate pricing rather than scare you away with higher estimates. It takes a quick consultation to review dental history, analyze needs and construct a treatment plan. This could mean a more efficient surgery with fewer implants.

2. There Might Be Something Better For Your Mouth
While dental implants are the state of the art in tooth replacement, sometimes the technique won’t be what you thought it was going to be, or maybe you aren’t a good candidate.

3. Supply Costs and Lab Costs Change
A ballpark number might be possible to post on the Internet but the changing cost of supplies and lab fees make it impossible to guarantee an accurate price for full mouth dental implants. Dentists who offer implants can correctly calculate dental implant surgery costs based on current prices when you come in for a consultation.

At Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette, we are committed to excellence in dentistry and in service. We offer dental implants, along with a full range of general and family dentistry. Schedule an appointment with us today!

Contact Boulder County Smiles:

720-862-3630

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

1140 W South Boulder Rd Ste 201
Lafayette, Colorado
80026

Even if you think your smile is beyond repair,  it may not be true. At Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette CO we perform dental miracles every day. Here are some tough dental problems we routinely solve:

Tough Problem 1: Insufficient Bone for Dental Implant
Solution: Bone Grafting

As a replacement for a missing tooth, a dental implant has many merits as compared to a dental bridge. However, there must be sufficient bone to support the titanium post (screw) that is surgically implanted.

Many implant patients need some level of bone grafting and the procedure has a high success rate. Disinfected, processed donor bone is placed at the implant location where the bone needs structural strengthening. The grafting material is in granular form that can be packed into the contours. It generates growth, and eventually the patient’s newly-produced bone replaces the donor bone material.

If you have had another dentist tell you that you don’t have enough bone to place an implant post, talk to Dr. West. The team at Boulder County Smiles has carried out many bone grafting procedures for dental implant placement.

Tough Problem 2: Severe Tooth Loss
Solution: Full Mouth Restoration

If it feels like your dental troubles are beyond repair because you have few or no teeth left, take heart. Regardless of the cause—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 remarkable smile you never had. Patients who receive full mouth restoration regain their confidence to smile, eat, and speak normally.

Full mouth restoration is comprised of a combination of dental procedures as necessary according to the patient’s particular situation. These can include dental implants, implant-supported bridges, orthodontia, crowns, inlays/onlays, dental bonding, gum contouring, soft tissue grafts, and teeth whitening.

At Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette CO, we are committed to the dental health of each patient. Services include dental implants and sleep apnea treatment. Schedule an appointment today.

Contact Boulder County Smiles:

720-862-3630

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

1140 W South Boulder Rd Ste 201
Lafayette, Colorado
80026

Dental implants have been hailed as one of the truly great advances in the field of dentistry, and with good reason. Implants are an artificial tooth root that is surgically implanted into the jaw of a patient, to replace a missing root. The implant, in turn, can support an artificial tooth; multiple implants can anchor a set of dentures. Dental implants are available from Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette CO.

But first, there are times when we have to take a moment and marvel at human ingenuity. The idea of dental implants actually goes back at least a thousand years. Ancient implants were a far cry from what we know today: sea shells, pieces of metal, and even bits of bone were placed in the patient’s jaw. We don’t know if any of them were any good, but the idea was there.

Implants as we know them today date back to the early 1950s. The implant is most often made from titanium. One of their great benefits is that they help to prevent bone loss, which is common in people who have lost one of their natural teeth.

In practical terms, the great thing about single implants is that they function like a natural tooth. The titanium post fuses to the patient’s jaw, and integrates with the bone so well that the body seldom recognizes them as a foreign object. Rejection is rare.

Conventional dentures may be more affordable than implant-anchored dentures. But because they are removable, most patients find that traditional dentures can be unreliably loose. They can also affect the ability to enjoy food. These are not issues with implant-supported dentures.

Dental implants from Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette are the closest thing to getting back a natural tooth. Find out more by scheduling a consultation today. We also provide general and family dentistry, and pediatric 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