sedation dentistry

Don’t Skip the Dentist! Sedation Dentistry

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Categories: Dental anxiety, Dental Health, sedation dentistry

If you tense up just thinking about going to the dentist, you may benefit from sedation dentistry offered by Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette CO.

Millions of Americans stress out because they have to see the dentist, so if that sounds like you, you aren’t alone. It is referred to as dental anxiety. There is a more severe form, too, called dental phobia. In both, some people would rather skip the dentist altogether than sit down for a checkup. This puts their dental health at risk.

There are lots of reasons why people develop anxiety or phobia over dental care. It often stems from a bad experience they had with a dentist as a kid. Fear of pain of often involved, as well as a fear of anesthesics and possible side effects.

Whatever the cause, sedation dentistry has helped millions of people get through their dentist appointments. Boulder County Smiles offers three types:

  • Anxiety reduction. For this, we use acupressure, music, and a relaxed environment to prepare you for the appointment. This is best in cases of mild to moderate anxiety.
  • Oral conscious sedation. You take a sedative an hour or so before the appointment. You won’t sleep, but will be in a deeply relaxed state. When the appointment is over, someone will have to drive you home.
  • General anesthsia. Usually done in a hospital, this is the highest form. It’s a good option for those with severe dental phobia, or with special needs.

Whatever your issue is, it is essential that you do not compromise your dental health by skipping the dentist. Sedation dentistry from Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette CO may be just for you. Our services also include general and family dentistry. Schedule an appointment 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

 

Countering Anxiety With Sedation Dentistry

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Categories: cosmetic dentistry, Dental anxiety, Dental Health, Family dentistry, sedation dentistry

Does the mere thought of sitting down in a dentist’s chair fill you with dread? Does it make you avoid the dentist altogether? If so, you’re among the millions of Americans coping with dental anxiety. At Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette CO, sedation dentistry may be just what the doctor ordered.

If you have dental anxiety, your first impulse may be to avoid the dentist altogether. That’s a bad idea, because it puts your dental health at risk.

We offer several ways of getting through your dental appointment. General stress and anxiety reduction uses a relaxing environment coupled with acupressure and music. This is good for mild to moderate anxiety.

Oral sedation involves taking a sedative that will put you in a deeply relaxed state. You’ll need someone to drive you home when it’s over.

General anesthesia is usually done in a hospital. It’s the best option for those with extreme dental anxiety or dental phobia.

Sedation dentistry is important, because it can get you to the dentist. Better to have a little help getting through your appointment than getting a mouth full of fillings, or worse.

Don’t let anxiety prevent you from getting the dental treatment you need. Make an appointment with Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette today. We provide general and family 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

 

5 Tips For Treating Mouth Sores

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Categories: cosmetic dentistry, Family dentistry, general dentistry, sedation dentistry

Prevent Mouth Sores Boulder County

When our patients get mouth sores, we advise them to evaluate what they’re eating and make some changes. By following these tips, you too can avoid the discomfort of eating and help to increase the speed of healing.

1. Eat soft or pureed foods. Don’t worry, you won’t have to eat baby food – plenty of adult dishes fit the bill:

cream soups
yogurt
hot cereal
mashed potatoes
puddings

2. Keep your meals bland for a while. It isn’t as tasty, but watch out for overly spicy, tart, salty or acidic foods while you have a mouth sore.

3. Also, keep it cool. Eat only food that is at room temperature or is served chilled.

4. Use a straw so that whatever you are drinking can bypass the mouth sore altogether.

5. Try to moisten dry foods. This can be done by adding sauces, dressings, and gravies to your meals.

We hope that these suggestions will help you the next time you suffer from a mouth sore. If you are looking for a dentist in Boulder County, consider Gordon West DDS in Lafayette. We provide general and family dentistry, and sedation dentistry for those coping with dental anxiety. 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

 

Not The End Of The World – Root Canals in Lafayette CO

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Categories: cosmetic dentistry, Family dentistry, general dentistry, Root Canal, sedation dentistry, Toothache

root canal sedation Lafayette

Root canal. These are among the most ominous words in dentistry. But at Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette CO, they don’t have to be.

A successful root canal (known formally as endodontic treatment) can save a tooth and prevent the need for an extraction. During the procedure, the nerve and pulp of the affected tooth are removed. What remains is the tooth’s interior – the canal – which is cleaned and disinfected. The next step is filling and sealing the cleaned area with a special rubbery material, and then protecting the restored tooth with a crown or filling.

The most common reason to need one is that a tooth’s roots have become inflamed or infected. Root canals can be a straightforward procedure, not much different than having a cavity filled. The area where the treatment is taking place is numbed beforehand. Even so, some of our patients have anxiety at thought of most procedures. If you’re one of them, ask us about sedation dentistry.

If you have a tooth that is bothering you, don’t put off calling us, because it won’t get better on its own. In addition to root canals, Boulder County Smiles in Lafayette CO provides general and family dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and treatment for gum disease. Schedule an appointment 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

 

Why You Shouldn’t Dread Going To The Dentist

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Categories: sedation dentistry

Boulder County gentle dentist

If you are afraid of the dentist and have not had a check-up in years, today’s post is for you. Good news! Dentistry in the Lafayette area and around Colorado is nothing like it was when you were a kid. (Even if you’re still a kid, we invite you to keep reading.)

There Is No Reason to Avoid Dental Visits
First off, if you need dental treatment, oral sedation dentistry allows you to sleep during the procedure. There are several levels of sedation – you can remain conscious or take a trip to la-la land. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Gordon West for more critical details about sleep dentistry.

If you have a bad memory of hurting for days after a procedure, relax. Improved painkillers, lasers, and advanced techniques have reduced the pain experienced by Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry patients. If you need extensive treatment, we will create a pain management plan to ensure that you remain comfortable.

You Won’t Be Here All Day
Dr. West can perform procedures much quicker with today’s extremely precise dental instruments. Healing times for oral surgery are also much shorter.

You don’t have to live with gaps in your smile, sore gums, stained teeth, or a toothache. We can take care of all your dental problems. We will help restore your oral health to improve your quality of life and prevent dental problems from affecting other parts of your body.

Today’s Lafayette dentistry is not your father’s dentistry. We invite you to discover why you shouldn’t avoid the dentist any longer.

We look forward to meeting you. Call Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry today at 720-862-3630.

6 Ways to Prepare for Your Dental Procedure

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Categories: general dentistry, sedation dentistry

Some Steps To Prepare For Your Boulder Sedation Dentistry Visit

Perhaps dental sedation can be scary or the drilling of a cavity or even cosmetic dentistry. Let Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry offer 6 ways to prepare yourself mentally, emotionally and physically before your big dental day.

First, remember Dr. Gordon West is trained to provide the best care and comfort possible.

Second, take some time to relax and consider what you are anxious about. Take deep breaths in and slowly let them out as you weigh the reasons for and against taking these steps to a better you. Remember that many folks have been in your shoes and everything worked out fine. Especially all of our visitors who came in for porcelain veneers, our most popular service.

Third, know your medical history. You may be asked to fill out a medical history and medications form, so be sure you know what medications and supplements you are currently taking and review past hospitalizations and illnesses.

Fourth, have a dental plan. Come in for a thorough consultation. If we know all the dental work or cosmetic dentistry you want to get done, then we’ll know if combining any of it can save you time and money. We offer sedation dentistry, prepless veneers, dental crowns, Invisalign clear braces, and teeth whitening to name just a few.

Fifth, trust the outstanding staff at Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry to guide you through the before, during and after process. We’ve been doing this since 1998.

Sixth, our final and most important suggestion! Ask all the questions that you actually want answered before you have dental tools and gloved hands in your mouth!

Gordon West
Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry
1140 W South Boulder Rd, Ste 201
Lafayette, Colorado zip code 80026
720-862-3630
https://www.bouldercountysmiles.com/services/

Tooth Ache Pain The Size of Boulder

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Categories: Dental Health, sedation dentistry

Boulder Sedation Dentistry Patients often come into our Lafayette Colorado dental practice and complain about ‘a toothache the size of Boulder’. I understand this kind of pain, and realize that when you describe it like that, it really hurts. I can help.

Tooth ache pain for anyone in Lafayette can be unbearable. At the very least, toothache pain can cause you to avoid eating certain foods, certain temperatures, and even talking. Severe toothache pain can be downright debilitating, forcing patients to go to extreme measures to alleviate the pain.  Sometimes the infection can be so advanced that not even the anesthetics will function, that is why sedation dentistry is so handy.

Around Lafayette, the most common causes of a tooth ache include tooth infection, decay, injury, and loss of a tooth. Tooth pain can also occur after a tooth has been extracted, or after an oral surgery involving anything from a tooth or your jawbone.

I can help you better understand the source of your tooth ache pain, and in most cases can provide a nearly immediate remedy. In severe cases, we are equipped to council you on a variety of resolutions.

Of course, the best way to avoid tooth ache pain is to visit your Lafayette dentist often, and to care properly for your teeth including the regular regimen of brushing and flossing.

If you are experiencing tooth ache pain, and just can’t stand it any more, please give me a call; I am standing by to help.

-Gordon West, DDS

720-862-3630

Sedation Dentistry In Boulder County For Kids And Parents

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Categories: general dentistry, sedation dentistry

Sedation Dentistry Boulder County

At Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry we know that many Boulder County children fear going to the cosmetic dentist. I am Dr. Gordon West and my staff and I at Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry want to make your child’s first visit to my Boulder County practice a positive experience. Regular dental check-ups from toddler age are an essential part of oral hygiene.

Parents can follow these guidelines to help prepare their child for a dental visit.

1. Talk about the exam with your child. Answer any questions with uncomplicated answers.
2. Don’t share your bad dental experiences with your child.
3. Don’t imply that the exam will be painful.
4. Help your child understand that this is an important part of staying healthy.
5. Don’t offer a reward for visiting the dentist.

It is important for parents to make sure they aren’t anxious about Boulder County dental visits because children can sense their stress.

At Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry we have been treating children and adults since 1998. Our professional, friendly staff can calm the nerves of a fearful child and help them have a gentle dental experience.

If you or your Boulder County child has had a bad dental experience or is unable to stay calm while visiting the dentist, ask us about sedation dentistry. We want all of our patients to feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible while receiving excellent dental care.

For simple dental procedures topical anesthetics are applied to the gums and other tissues reducing oral sensation. If you require more sedation, nitrous oxide and general anesthesia are safe solutions.

Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry also offers complete smile makeovers which may include dental implants, teeth whitening, dental veneers, or any other cosmetic dental procedures required. All of these can be done with some type of sedation if required.

Don’t let your fears or your child’s fears keep your child from having a beautiful, healthy smile. Contact Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry today!

Keeping Dental Patients Comfortable in Lafayette

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Categories: Dental Health, sedation dentistry

Sedation Dentistry Keeps Patients Comfortable in Lafayette, CO

Pain isn’t fun. Your Lafayette, CO dentist knows this, and that is why the dental team at Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry have made patient comfort a top priority. In conjunction with creating a relaxing environment, your dentist has various medications that can reduce and even eliminate pain associated with different cosmetic dentistry procedures to give you a more enjoyable experience.

Some of the most common pain-relieving medications used in Lafayette, CO dentist offices and around the country are topical anesthetics. These are swabbed directly onto mouth tissue so they only numb the very surface layers. Topical anesthetics can reduce the pain of mouth sores, or they can be applied to prepare the mouth for an injection.

Local anesthetics are injected into mouth tissue (usually the gums) to block the nerve sensations to specific areas of the mouth. Lafayette, CO area dentists numb the mouth in this way before filling cavities, treating gum disease, or before certain cosmetic dentistry procedures.

More involved dental procedures may necessitate the need for nitrous oxide or even general anesthesia. Ask us about sedation dentistry and oral conscious sedation.

It is very common for your dentist to recommend an over the counter analgesic to relieve pain after a dental visit. These medications include aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen.

Because your Lafayette, CO cosmetic and sedation dentist will most likely use a pain reliever during the dental visit or prescribe something for you to take after the treatment, make sure you jot down a complete list of medications you are taking, including herbal supplements, before each appointment.

I’m Dr. Gordon West and I want Lafayette, CO residents to be informed about their dental care, especially as it pertains to pain relief during dental treatment. If you are in the Lafayette area and are looking for quality dental care, please contact my office today at 720-862-3630. Our state-of-the-art dental care in a comfortable environment staff would be happy to talk to you about porcelain veneers, dental implants, dental crowns, and the other services we offer.

Dr. Gordon West
Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry
1140 W South Boulder Rd, Ste 201
Lafayette, CO 80026
720-862-3630
https://www.bouldercountysmiles.com/services/

Ignoring It Won’t Make It Go Away

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Categories: Dental Health, sedation dentistry

Dental Fear Boulder

Are you a busy Boulder resident suffering with a toothache, but ignoring the pain? Have you started chewing on one side of your mouth to avoid your sensitive teeth? Have you stopped drinking hot and cold beverages to alleviate the discomfort? Dental pain is like an unpaid speeding ticket, ignoring it won’t make it go away.

Many Boulder adults and children dread seeking relief from a dentist because they fear the treatment will hurt worse than the pain they are experiencing. Waiting too long to care for your teeth can cause serious health problems–and not just in your mouth.

My name is Dr. Gordon West and I have been calming the anxious feelings of my Boulder patients since 1998. At Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry, we help you relax and ease any discomfort you may have. We create a pleasant dental experience for all of our Boulder patients. If you have dental anxiety, Dr. Gordon West offers several solutions including sedation dentistry. We can also use anti-anxiety agents to quiet your fears and make your dental visit as safe and comfortable as possible.

In addition to sedation dentistry, Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry offers cosmetic dentistry, teeth whitening, and oral cancer screenings for Boulder residents.

Your smile can and should be your most attractive feature. Don’t let dental distress keep you from gaining and maintaining a dazzling smile. Let the professional and caring dental team at Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry help restore and preserve your oral health. Call today to schedule a cosmetic dentistry appointment. Our phone number is 720-862-3630. At Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry we want your smile to last a lifetime.

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