Teeth becomer more brittle with age Denver dentistry

Teeth become more brittle with age

Mazaari et al in the Journal of Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials (2009) found that the dentin of the tooth becomes brittle and will fracture more easily as we age leading to a variety of dental problems.  Denver Dentists Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp are seeing more and more fractures of otherwise health teeth as their patients age. These dental problems result in a variety of dental work including extraction of the tooth.

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Denver dentists practice video

Case study 

One of the doctors patient in his late 80's presented to the office with a molar (back tooth) fractured off at the gum line.  The tooth was not sensitive and the nerve of the tooth was not exposed due to its shrinkage as the patient aged.  The options available to this patient included but are not limited to:

• No treatment... it was not sore or sensitive
• Extraction of the tooth
• Extraction of the tooth and no treatment ...or a dental bridge or partial denture
• Extraction of the tooth... dental implant and dental implant crown
  
• Gum lengthening (periodontist)... a crown build up and a crown.
  

In this case the patient wants to keep the tooth but costs and prognosis need to be evaluated by the patient.  The tooth would need the following in order to be kept.

• Crown lengthening by a periodontist $ 1,000 or more
• A dental crown build up to help hold the crown on Approx $400
• A dental crown either porcelain fused to metal or gold $1200- 1500

As you can see in a short period of time this patient can spend a lot of money quickly.  The key is "he" needs to make a decision that fits his life's situation.  Our Denver Dentists will support any decision this patient makes. The key is to explore your options and make a decision based in the information we are able to provide  you.

Call our Denver dentists and make an appointment today

Please feel free to call our office at (303) 694-9740 for an appointment.  If you would like to send us an e-mail click the following link Dentistry in Denver.

Thanks to Matt and Scott of US Web Central for their help with our Blogs.  The can be reached by clicking on the following link Denver web desing and SEO.

Denver Delta Dental Premire dental office

Delta Dental Premire Denver dental office

Our Denver dentist is a Delta dental Premire provider. Many different companies carry this dental insurance for their employees as part of their compensation plan. Every company has limitations and exclusions in their policies but we have found this plan to be standard for the industry. You should be pleased your company has chosen this plan.


Annual Maximum Dental benefit Denver Delta Dental

Each policy that we know of has some type of yearly benefit maximum. Most of the plans maximum benefit runs between $1,000 and $1500. Some provide services at 100% of a scheduled fee. Most plans for "major" work (dental crowns e.g.) there may be a deductible "and" a 50% co-pay. When you combine the deductible and the co-pay your reimbursement may be closer to 40%. Each policy is different and you should check to see what is covers so there are no surprises or disappointments.


Denver Delta Dental Policy types

There are certain products offered by Delta Dental of Colorado that our office does not participate in. One of the policies is the Delta PPO plan. On this plan you need to pick a provider on the list in order to maximize your benefits.

"Other" dental insurance companies PPO's and DMO's

Delta dental is the only plan our office subscribes to and we only offer the Premiere Plan. If you have any questions on your plan you might wish to check with your benefits office or go online at by clicking on the following link Denver Delta Dental or by typing www.deltadental.com

Please feel to contact our office

Please feel free to contact our office and ask about your dental plan at (303) 694-9740.

Loose Dental Implant Crown

Loose Dental Implant Crown

There are "many" reasons why a dental crown may get loose (a cemented crown). The first thing our Denver dentist examines is to make sure it is the dental crown and not the entire dental implant that was fused to the bone is loose. Dental implants fuse to the bone through a process of osseointegration and verifying that this is still intact is important. "assuming" that the implant is still securely fused to the bone... other technical elements may be causing the crown to be loose.

to view our dental practice video click the following link

Dentist Denver

The most common cause of loose dental implant crowns

Our Denver dentist have found over the years that the most common reason why dental crown appear loose is that the "abutment" screw has become loose. The abutment screw is the screw that fixes the abutment on top of the dental implant. The dental crown is fabricated to fit on top of this abutment.

The "easy" fix

There may not be an easy fix but if it exists the easiest would be to loosen the cement used to cement the dental crown to the abutment. This "most of the time" is the weak link in this chain. "If" our Denver dentist is able to remove the crown from the abutment then they can simply tighten the screw down and re-cement the crown back on. In some cases a new a abutment screw is needed and has to be ordered from the manufacturer.

More complex solution to a loose dental crown over an implant

The above scenario at times does not work. The next solution would be to drill through the dental crown to the access the abutment screw. "If" the abutment screw can be found relatively easy then tightening or replacing the screw is in order. In the worst case scenario the crown... abutment or dental implant can be damaged and starting over is the only solution.

The good news

The good news is complex crown removal is an uncommon occurrence. A vast majority of dental implant crowns need no maintenance and our Denver dentist have many dental implant crowns out 20+ years that have had no maintenance issue. In addition, dental implants help preserve bone that would melt away from the extraction site in time if the implant was not place.

Delta Dental Premiere Provider

In addition our dental office is a Delta Dental Premiere Provider. Check with your benefits manager to confirm your eligibility or call our office if you have questions.

Please feel free to call

Please call our office today and schedule an appointment today at (303) 694-9740. If you are thinking about a dental implant our office can determine which implant would fit your needs the best. There are so many choices from which to pick from and our goal is to provide you with as much information as you need.

Thanks to Matt and Scott of US Web Central for their help with our Blogs. The can be reached by clicking on the following link Denver SEO

Free "initial" Invisalign Consultation Denver Dentist

Free initial Invisalign Consultation Denver Dentist

Please feel free to schedule a no-charge initial Invisalign consultation. We do this because our Denver dentists know that not every patient is a candidate for Invisalign orthodontics. As a general rule, Invisalign work well for smaller mis-alignments of teeth. Very complex orthodontics or surgical orthodontia is generally not considered good candidates to Invisalign treatment. If this is the case... traditional orthodontics is indicated.

What cases work well with Invisalign? Denver Dentist

Cases that work well for Invisalign typically are the post orthodontic crowding. Today our Denver dentist know that patients need to be in some type of retainer for the rest of their life if they wish to maintain their orthodontia. The fact is for the vast majority of patients teeth move as they age. It is described as the mesial migration (forward movement) of you teeth. The result of this movement is the crowding of the front teeth.

to view our Denver dentist dental practice video click the following link

Denver dentist

Clear... nearly invisible retainers Denver dentist

Invisalign uses clear retainer called aligners that move your teeth. Each movement is programmed by a computer to move your teeth in 0.25mm increments or less. It is not easy to see if you are wearing Invisalign retainers. This makes this procedure more appealing to patients of every age. Traditional orthodontics uses metal brackets and wires that many patients just do not want to wear. Invisalign offers an alternative to many (not all) patients to traditional orthodontics.

FreeTeeth whitening with Invisalign Treatment Denver Dentist

When you complete Invisalign orthodontics we offer teeth bleaching to finish off your case. Bright... straight teeth are a wonderful thing.

For more information of Invisalign or other dental topics please feel free to visit our companion website. This can be reached by clicking on the following link Denver dentist dental care library

Call our Denver Dentist today

Call our Denver dentist today at (303) 694-9740

Denver dentist dental practice video

Denver Dentist dental practice video

Denver dentists Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp dental practice video is up and running

This video describes our dental practice and the services it offers. It can be found by clicking on the following link Denver dental practice video

Denver dentist White dental fillings (303) 694-9740

White Dental fillings Denver Dentist

White dental fillings are becoming the staple of this Denver dentists dental office. It is replacing in many (but not all) instances the old silver amalgam restorations. The amalgam restoration was composed of two metals mercury and silver plus some other trace elements. Since mercury was combined with silver it does not have the same toxic effects that mercury would have by itself. The current ADA opinion is that is that it is save to use with patients. Denver Dentists Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp provide a variety of dental services to their patients in the Highlands Ranch, Castle Pines, Parker. Ken Caryl, Lone Tree, and Greenwood Village areas of Colorado.

Please feel free to contact their office at (303) 694-9740.to view our dental practice video please click the following link Denver Dentist

Old amalgam fillings turn black in time

Our Denver Dentist has seen many examples of silver amalgam restorations breaking down and turning black in time. This blackness in part is due to corrosion of the silver in the amalgam formula. As the filling breaks away bacteria can percolate down between the silver filling and the tooth structure resulting in a cavity (decay) under the dental filling. Most of the time we cannot tell how much cavity is under the dental filling until we remove it . What we hope for is none to minimal but at times the decay can be substantial.

For further information on a variety of dental topics please feel free to visit our companion web site dental care library by clicking on the following link Denver Dentist

I would like to thank Scott Carvin of US Web Central for his help with my blogs and websites. He can be reached by clicking on the following link Denver SEO

Denver dentist and Twitter

Denver Dentist

Our Denver Dentist have recently subscribed to the micro-Blog Twitter. Not that their lives are that exciting but it is short updates on a variety of topics from Dentistry to swimming to the world in general.

Twitter allows short amounts of information around 160 characters to be written. The good news is Dr. Jim Can't go on... and on.... and on.

If you would like to contact our office for an appointment please feel to contact us at (303) 694-9740

Denver Dentist Ice-cream Headaches

Denver Dentist Ice Cream headaches (what a pain!)

Denver Dentists Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp like others have wondered why we occasionally get headaches (brain freeze) when we eat ice cream or a very cold drink. The number of terms used to describe this phenomena is vast and includes Brain Freeze to name a few.

to view our practice video click Denver Dentist

Sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia (Brain freeze)

The above name is a mouth full but is means nerve pain of the phenopalatine ganglion. It has been described a a form of brief cranial pain associated with fast cold beverages or food (ice-cream e.g.). It symptoms is a brief headache that goes away as the area warms and gets used to the cold.

The British Medical Journal reported the effect as when cold touches the top palate in the mouth. The blood vessels constrict due to the cold and this nerve causes the brain too pen blood vessels. This vasodilation makes the fluid back up in the tissues and will not drain for a short period of time typically one minute or less. This causes a swelling the the forehead which causes the pain.

Treatment of brain freeze....what to do!

Wait it will go away in a minute or so or it has been reported that taking rapid short breaths may help.

Denver Dentists Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp provide dental services to their patients in Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Castle Pines, Parker, Greenwood Village, and Ken Caryl areas of Denver. They can be reached at (303) 694-9740.

Dental care Library

Additional information on a variety of dental topics can be found by clicking on the following link Denver Dentist dental care library.

Thanks to

Thanks to Scot Carvin of US Web Central. Scott help our office with our web site and blogs. He can be reached by clicking on the following link Denver Web Design

Dental Implants Denver Dentistry Nobel Procera dental crowns

Denver Dental Implants Nobel Procera

In March of 2009 Nobel Biocare announced that Procers Zirconia comes in an assortment of four colors. Our Denver Implant dentist believe this allow us to better match the color of your surrounding teeth. Our office serves the Highlands Ranch, Castle Pines, Centennial, Parker, Douglas County, Greenwood Village and the Lone Tree Colorado area

to view our dental practice video please click the following Denver Dentist


What is unique about this product is that the coping have different shades. The coping is the base upon which the crown is fabricated. Picking a coping that is a similar shade to the final crown color makes for a more predictable color match. Nobel Biocare states that the coloring technique has more consistent color throughout the coping (framework) and at the same time is very strong. Having worked with zirconia we know this to be true.

Currently Nobel Biocare is one of the leaders in the dental implant field. They offer a variety of dental implant solutions ranging from cemented or screw retained implants and products for natural teeth.

Please feel free to contact our Denver Dentist office at (303) 694-9740 to schedule an appointment today. If you would prefer to contact by e-mail please click the following link Denver Implant Dentistry

I would like to thank Scott Carvin of US Web Central for his help on our web blogs. He can be reached by clicking on the following link Denver Web Design

Immediate loaded dental implants, Denver Dentist (303) 694-9740

Dental Implants Denver Dentist

Denver Dentists Dr. H. Candace DeLapp and Dr. James DeLapp attended the Denver Implant Study Club meeting this February 2009. The course involved the direct loading of dental implants indications and contraindications. What was reviewed in this course there are a few instances in which dental implants "may" be loaded right away. Courses like this helps all dentists an idea of which cases may be handled in this manner. These Denver dentists serve the , Lone Tree, Castle Pines, Parker, Centennial Greenwood Village, and Ken Caryl area.

Ankylos by DentsplyInternational is a particular type of dental implant that whose design is made to be loaded immediately (in some... not all cases). Each manufacturer dental implants have pluses and minuses and no one dental implant system seems works for all cases. Getting a broad spectrum of dental implant systems information gives our Denver dentists the best opportunity to select the best implant system for our patients.

In this course it was discussed that four (4) Ankylos dental implants "may" allow for immediate placement and loading of the denture. The taper of the abutment increases or decreases the retention of the removable denture. These abutments can be changed our as needed in each individual case.

Denver dentists Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp provide general and family dental services for their patients living in the Denver, Douglas County, Ken Caryl, Lone Tree, Castle Pines, Parker, Greenwood Village and the Centennial Colorado area. If you would like to send them an e-mail with a question please click on the following link Denver dentist. To schedule an appointment please call (303) 694-9740. Additional dental implant information can be referenced by clicking on the following link Denver dental library.

White dental Crowns Denver Dentist

Types of Dental Crowns Porcelain Crowns Denver Dentist

Dental crowns can be made from metal (gold or metal alloy's) or ceramic substrates (porcelain). Depending upon your your teeth fit together or individual needs, our Denver Dentist will work with you in deciding which material is best for you. Each material has its positives and negatives and we will decide together which will work best for you. As a general rule, metal substrates are used with powerful bites while porcelain works best with less powerful occlusions. Denver dentists, Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp invite you to make an appointment to discuss your dental needs. These Denver Dentists can be reached at (303) 694-9740.

If you would like to send them an e-mail please click the following link Denver Dentist

Metal Dental Crowns

Metallic dental crowns (gold or silver colored) makes them a poor choice for the esthetic zone in your mouth. However, metallic dental crowns work well in the back teeth where esthestic in not much of a concern. These dental crowns are exceedingly durable a more of your tooth structure can be preserved as compared to porcelain crowns. Metal crowns may consist of various materials including gold, platinum palladium, nickle or similar such metals.

All Ceramic Crowns (Porcelain)

When our discuss All -porcelain- dental- crowns we include those crowns made of porcelain, resins, or other dental ceramic materials. Natural-looking appearance is the advantage of these types of materials and are typically used from the premolars forward. The tooth-colored porcelain or ceramic material can be made to duplicate the opaque and translucent areas of your natural teeth. The downside of this is that ceramic materials are more brittle and do not function in some patients as well as metal on posterior teeth. Dental patients who clench and grind "may not" be candidates for all porcelain crowns on posterior teeth.

Porcelain Fused to Metal Dental Crowns PFM)

Porcelain fused to metal crowns (PFM) "may" be more durable and less likely to fracture under heavy occlusal loads than all-ceramic crowns. The underlying metal substructure can give PFM's a less lifelike appearance. This is due to the opaquing porcelain that is needed to block out the metal substructure before the more esthetic porcelain is applied as a veneeer. Another downside may be that in time... a thin metal edge of the restoration may be visible along the gum line.

Our Denver dentist, Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp provide dental crowns on patient living in Denver, Parker, Douglas County, One Tree, Castle Pines, and Ken Caryl. They can be reached at (303)694-9740.

Denver Dentist

• Family Dentistry
• Dental cleanings and peridontal services
• White dental filling, composite restoration
• Porcelain dental crowns
• Dental veneers
• Cosmetic dentistry
• Teeth whitening with Luma one-hour teeth whitening
• Teeth whitening with take home dental trays
• Invisalign nearly invisable orthodontic treatment
• Root canal treatment (Endodontics)
• Dentures
• Partial dentures
• Dentures with dental implants

Our office if a fee for service dental office and Cottonwood Dental Group P.C. does not participate in any PPO or HMO with the exception of Delta Premiere. As long as you are free to choose any dentist your dental insurance "most likely" will provide some type of reimbursement. Our office does not participate in any plan that has a restricted number of dentists to pick from.

Our office philosophy is to see one patient at a time and not have a typical dental clinic. We have a reception room not a waiting room as an example. With this philosophy we can offer customized dental services. Contact our office at (303) 694-9740 Monday - Thursday 7:00 -6:00 p.m. Both Dr. James DeLapp and Dr. H. Candace DeLapp teach at the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine on Fridays.

Denver Dentist

The following will be posts for Denver Dentist blog. Information will be updated