Wisdom Teeth And Your Lafayette Dentist

March 23rd, 2009 by admin

Wisdom Teeth And Your Lafayette Dentist 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 303-665-5335 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.

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Overbites And Underbites in Lafayette

March 18th, 2009 by admin

Overbites And Underbites 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 303-665-5335. 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.

-Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry

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Oral Conscious Sedation

March 17th, 2009 by admin

Oral Conscious Sedation 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 303-665-5335. 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.

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Porcelain Veneers

March 10th, 2009 by admin

Porcelain Veneers With porcelain veneers, you can revamp your smile without significant restorative dental work.

Porcelain veneers are glass-like, wafer-thin covers that are attached to the front of your teeth. Porcelain has been used in dentistry for many years because no other restorative material is such an excellent match for natural tooth enamel. Porcelain is translucent and can be matched to the color of any tooth. It is stronger than enamel and resists stains. Dental ceramists who fabricate porcelain veneers are both artists and technicians. They create beautiful paper-thin wafers that adhere to teeth, correcting chips and stains. Porcelain veneers can also straighten crooked teeth for patients who don’t need orthodontic work.

Patients who receive porcelain veneers appreciate the less-invasive process of enhancing their smile. Newer techniques require no removal of healthy tooth enamel.

We would be happy to show you what dental veneers can do for your smile at our Lafayette dental office.

Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry is located at 1140 West S. Boulder Rd, Suite 201 in Lafayette. We provide skilled dental care for patients in the greater Boulder area. Our phone number is 303-665-5335. You can visit http://www.bouldercountysmiles.com/site.cfm/Services-16 for information about our practice and our state-of-the-art dental care in a comfortable environment team.

Smile – sunshine is good for your teeth!

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Professional Teeth Whitening

March 2nd, 2009 by admin

Professional Teeth Whitening at Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry A brilliant smile leaves a lasting impression. Professional teeth whitening in our Lafayette office can dramatically improve your overall appearance and give you a boost in self-confidence.

Our teeth often turn yellow or gray as we age. The things we eat and drink continually such as colored sodas, coffee and red wine contribute to the staining. Most of us are aware that smoking is not only bad for your lungs; it is an enemy to beautiful teeth. If you are considering having your teeth whitened, you must first decide which method to use. At Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry, we enjoy discussing treatment options with our clients. To schedule a consultation to talk about teeth whitening or any other dental procedure, call 303-665-5335.

At-home tooth whitening treatments usually consist of trays filled with whitening solution. It takes 7-14 days to achieve 3-6 shades lighter. Brush-on teeth gels and whitening strips take up to 30 days to achieve barely noticeable results. Whitening toothpaste may lighten superficial stains but often provides no change in appearance of teeth.

Professional teeth whitening procedures performed by a dental professional achieve dramatic results that last far longer than other treatments.

All of the whitening methods may cause tooth pain or sensitivity, but this usually goes away in a few days. If you have dental crowns, porcelain veneers or bonding, it is important to talk to your dentist before choosing a whitening method.

We do smile makeovers!

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Creating Beautiful Smiles At Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry in Lafayette

February 18th, 2009 by admin

Creating beautiful Lafayette smiles at Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry I am glad you found our blog! I’m Dr. Gordon West, DDS, of Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry, a full-service dental practice in Lafayette. I am a proud member of The Crown Council. My profession is dentistry, but my passion is providing superior and affordable Lafayette dental care for my patients. I began serving Colorado dental clients in the Boulder area back in 1998. Since that time, my profession has undergone dramatic changes which have benefited my teeth whitening and tooth restoration patients in Longmont and Louisville.

My specialty in Lafayette is cosmetic dentistry, but I also perform many porcelain veneers and dental implants for my Longmont and Louisville patients.

I know my Lafayette dentistry patients have many choices for their dentistry care and work hard every day to surpass expectations.

I build long-term relationships with my Broomfield and Louisville cosmetic dentistry patients. I constantly educate myself on the latest procedures to determine what is truly innovative and what is merely a gimmick. My cosmetic and general dentistry patients appreciate the time I take to thoroughly analyze their total oral health. My staff enjoys keeping my Lafayette family dentistry practice running smoothly so I can concentrate on what I do best—serving my patients!

Dr. Gordon West, DDS

303-665-5335

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Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry in Lafayette Cares For Teeth

February 2nd, 2009 by admin

Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry in Lafayette Cares For Teeth Dentists in Lafayette are concerned with your oral health and thus care about the condition of your mouth and all of your many teeth. At Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry we recognize that your teeth help you both eat and speak. You use your teeth to tear, scrape, and chew food, as well as to form words with your tongue. Teeth are an important part of your oral health and Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry located in Lafayette, Colorado wants to help keep your mouth and teeth healthy.

We humans have two sets of teeth in our lifetime. The first set are your ‘primary teeth’, which many folks around Lafayette often call ‘baby teeth’. Baby teeth typically start to come in at about 6 months old. An average healthy mouth for a Lafayette resident has a total of 20 primary teeth by about age 5.

Your primary teeth will eventually fall out and new teeth known as ‘permanent teeth’ will grow in. Permanent teeth typically begin to come in around age 6 for most Lafayette residents, but every person is unique and it could be a little earlier or later. By about age 13 an average healthy mouth should have 28 of the total 32 permanent teeth. The last four permanent teeth may or may not come, but typically come in between the ages of 17 and 21 if they do. Because of the late age that these last teeth come in they are commonly called ‘wisdom teeth’.

Many adults in the city of Lafayette have their wisdom teeth pulled out because these teeth can be problematic to your oral health, such as crowding a mouth. Other adults in the Lafayette area may not have these teeth pulled out because they are not causing problems. If you are concerned about the state of your wisdom teeth you can visit our local Lafayette dental office and we can help you make a decision.

Caring for all of your teeth whether you are young and have 20 primary teeth or are an adult and have 28 to 32 permanent teeth is important for your overall health. Visiting your Lafayette dentist regularly, and brushing and flossing daily are great ways to care for your many teeth. Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry located in Lafayette, cares about your oral health and teeth and can be reached by phone at, 303-665-5335.

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Common Myths about Lafayette Family Cosmetic Dentistry

January 19th, 2009 by admin

Common Myths about Lafayette Family Cosmetic Dentistry Myth #1: Cosmetic Dentistry is Never Necessary for a Healthy Smile

Many so-called Boulder cosmetic dental procedures are not solely cosmetic. Longmont dental procedures such as tooth replacement are smile-enhancing and, more importantly, prevent many potential problems such as tooth movement, bone loss and difficulty chewing and speaking.

Myth #2: A Louisville Dental Bridge is the Only Way to Replace a Missing Tooth

Dental bridges are a Lafayette dental cosmetic procedure that have been used for many years with success. However, dental implants are often a better choice for replacing one or more missing teeth. Dental implants have many advantages for Broomfield dental patients. They feel like natural teeth, they are stronger, and they are easier to clean than dental bridges. Colorado tooth implants can also be used to anchor dentures or partial dentures.

Myth #3: At-Home Kits are as Effective for Louisville Tooth Whitening Than a Professional Dental Solution

At Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry, we offer our Boulder dental patients teeth whitening treatments that provide a much greater level of whiteness than at-home kits. At-home kits may remove surface stains, but they do not provide optimum results and can often lead to uneven coloring.

Myth #4: Dental Bonding is the Best Way to Fix a Chipped Tooth.

Dental bonding can restore the shape of a tooth, but may not be the best long-term solution. If you have a damaged tooth, you may be a good candidate for porcelain veneers. Call us at 303-665-5335 to set up an appointment so we can determine the best solution for you.

Myth #5: Longmont Braces are the Only Way to Straighten Teeth

Braces are often part of a transforming dental makeover for our Boulder teens and adults alike. However, if your teeth are only slightly crooked, Invisalign invisible braces can dramatically improve your smile.

dentist Dr. Gordon West DDS
excellent patient care
Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry
1140 West S. Boulder Rd, Suite 201
Lafayette Colorado 80026
http://www.BoulderCountySmiles.com
303-665-5335

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Questions To Ask Your Lafayette Dentist

January 13th, 2009 by admin

Questions To Ask Your Lafayette Dentist Sometimes we research our Lafayette mechanic or Longmont hairdresser more thoroughly than our Lafayette dental professional. Shouldn’t your dental care be far more important than the condition of your car or the style of your hair? At Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry, we love to answer questions about your teeth. You should be asking your Colorado dentist any question you have about the care and status of your teeth.

For instance, you may have questions about the school of dentistry he or she attended and the dental specialties studied. Though important, dentistry school is not the only place to gain dental experience. Dr. Gordon West has been performing complex dental procedures in Colorado since 1998.

You should also be asking about the dentistry specialties your Longmont dentist offers such as tooth restoration and Invisalign invisible braces. These services may not be important to you now, but it is a good idea to have an understanding of your options, and to know what your Longmont dentist has to offer.

If you are contemplating smile restoration, tooth implants, or tooth whitening, evaluate cosmetic dentistry options with your Longmont dentist. Look at before and after pictures, and ask your Longmont dentist what procedures may be right for you.

General dentists in Boulder offer a variety of dental services such as tooth extractions and tooth fillings, and can treat every member of the family. At Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry, we specialize in cosmetic dentistry, porcelain veneers and dental implants.

You have many choices for your Lafayette family dentistry. We welcome questions about all aspects of our Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry practice. Visit us at 1140 West S. Boulder Rd, Suite 201 in Lafayette and talk to a member of our state-of-the-art dental care in a comfortable environment team.

Visit our Lafayette dentistry website at http://www.BoulderCountySmiles.com

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Colorado Dentist: Calming Root Canal Fears

January 12th, 2009 by admin

Colorado Dentist Calms Root Canal Fears A dentist’s office is sometimes seen as a painful and scary place. Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry located at 1140 West S. Boulder Rd, Suite 201 Lafayette, Colorado 80026 tries to discourage that image with state-of-the-art dental care in a comfortable environment with qualified dentists and staff. However, endodontic therapy, a dental procedure commonly known as a root canal, still carries a strong association with pain that sometimes keeps people from regularly visiting the dentist and optimally tending to their oral health.

When a tooth becomes badly infected or decayed, a qualified dentist in Boulder can clean the inside of the tooth by removing the bacteria, soft tissue (called pulp), decayed nerve tissue, and any debris that may be causing the tooth infection from the inside of the tooth. Your qualified Boulder dentist will then seal the tooth to prevent further decay and finish by applying a dental crown or filling. This is the process and purpose of a root canal. The process can be completed, typically, in just a few visits to your Boulder dental practice. In many cases, a root canal procedure is a better option than removing the infected tooth since it allows you to keep your natural tooth.

Teeth that are more prone to requiring a root canal procedure are cracked or chipped, have received repeated dental procedures, have been damaged by trauma to the face, or are suffering from deep tooth decay. Wearing a mouth guard can help prevent damage sustained to teeth and practicing good oral hygiene habits, such as daily flossing and brushing, coupled with regular dental visits, can reduce the possibility of needing a dental root canal.

Though a root canal can be intimidating or scary, educating yourself and talking to your local dentist in the Lafayette, Colorado area can relieve much of your anxiety. Root canals are often not painful, and for many people the pain of the infection experienced beforehand is worse than any pain that might be experienced during the procedure, and the relief is well worth the trouble.

If you are in the Colorado area you can give Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry a call at 303-665-5335 to see what we can do for your oral health.

Center for Advanced Dental Care

Don’t forget to visit us at our online dentistry website at: http://www.BoulderCountySmiles.com

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