Archive for the ‘general dentistry’ Category

Wisdom Teeth And Your Lafayette Dentist

Monday, March 23rd, 2009

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

Wednesday, March 18th, 2009

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

Tuesday, March 17th, 2009

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

Wednesday, February 18th, 2009

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

Monday, February 2nd, 2009

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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