Dental Veneers

If you are not happy with your current smile because your teeth are discolored, misaligned, or misshapen, did you know that you can get veneers right here at Prairie Hawk Dental? Well, you can! Dental veneers are made from thin pieces of ceramic or porcelain that cover your teeth. They can fix anything from decay and discoloration to gaps between the teeth or misshapen teeth.

Veneers are made to match the patient’s other teeth in color and general size and shape, so they don’t stand out. They look, feel, and function just like natural teeth. Here in Castle Rock, CO, we provide veneers to any patient that wants to improve their smile without orthodontic treatment or other procedures.

The process of veneers begins when our dentist, Dr. Aaron Goodman, files down the tooth to be corrected, followed by getting impressions. He must make room for the veneer, which is why some filing down is necessary. Once the impressions are sent to the lab, it takes about two weeks before the patient returns to our office. Next, the dentist bonds the veneer to the tooth, and polishes it.

The procedure is then done, and the veneers last for about 10-15 years on average. If you want to improve your smile with veneers, contact us at Prairie Hawk Dental.

Teeth Whitening

Having whiter teeth is on the minds of many of our Castle Rock, CO patients here at Prairie Hawk Dental. Even patients that take very good care of their teeth by brushing twice a day and flossing regularly, can develop staining and discoloration over time. Things like decay, eating foods with sugar, or drinking dark beverages like coffee and red wine, can stain the teeth. Our dental practice understands the desire for whitening the teeth, which is why we offer three different methods of teeth whitening.

The first type of teeth whitening is through semi-custom trays that we provide our patients and have them take them home for whitening their teeth. This is the easiest and most cost-effective way for teeth whitening. These semi-custom trays are of higher quality and get better results than store-bought trays, but are not quite as effective as our fully custom trays. The next option is custom whitening trays, which are made from impressions of the patient’s teeth. We start the whitening procedure in our office, then send them home for our patient to continue using trays over several days.

Lastly, our dentist Dr. Aaron Goodman offers a whitening mouthpiece that whitens the teeth with a bleaching gel in the office. This is done entirely in our office in a single visit.

If you would like to try any of these teeth whitening options, call us at 720-515-1801.

Mini Implants

If you have a missing tooth, there are options for replacing it. But among the options, dental implants are the only everlasting option. With implants, a titanium metal post is implanted into your jawbone, which then heals around the post, holding it in place. The crown on top of the implant is replaced after 10-15 years, but the post lasts forever. Mini implants are simply a shorter version of the implant, benefiting patients with less healing time and less bone needed to hold in the post.

Here at Prairie Hawk Dental, we offer mini implants to our patients who either want to save money on the implant, want it completed faster, or who have less jaw bone to work with. The titanium post is about half the size of a traditional implant, so it heals faster. In most cases, the implant is complete the same day as the crown, instead of waiting three months like with a traditional implant. There are many benefits to choosing mini implants for replacing missing teeth, including their permanency, convenience, and likeness to natural teeth.

Call Dr. Aaron Goodman at 720-515-1801 to discuss mini implants.

LightWalker Laser

LightWalker lasers were designed for dental perfectionists and forward-thinking professionals who try to keep their practice stocked with the best technology on the market. This is why Dr. Aaron Goodman has adopted the technology to improve his patients dental experience in Castle Rock, CO. Using patented QSP (quantum square pulse) mode, the LaserWalker laser has superior interaction with tissues, increasing the speed of procedures, their results and patient comfort.

The LightWalker laser’s state-of-the-art design, engineering and technologies have made it the fastest-cutting Erbium laser in the world. Not only does it outperform rotary burs in both speed and precision, the laser also offers a wide-range of highly-effective treatments for both hard and soft tissues.

Whether you are receiving fillings, root canal therapy, dental implants, a frenectomy or other soft-tissue surgery at Prairie Hawk Dental, the LightWalker laser offers the most comprehensive list of applications of any other dental laser. Perfect for cosmetic and restorative dental procedures, this laser will ensure that you receive the oral care you need at our practice with less pain and with less healing time than conventional treatments.

Dr. Goodman and the rest of our staff is deeply dedicated to providing top-of-the-line dental care in a comfortable setting, and the LightWalker laser allows us to provide the type of care we can be proud of. To schedule an appointment, call 720-515-1801. For more information, visit www.prairiehawkdental.com.

Panorex

At Prairie Hawk Dental, we use panoramic digital radiography to provide high-quality care to our patients in Castle Rock, CO and surrounding areas. Panorex is an X-ray machine that is capable of capturing more of the mouth structure than a traditional, dental X-ray and can, therefore, identify many issues.

To take the X-ray you will sit in a chair with your chin on a small ledge. Once positioned, the machine will rotate 360 degrees around your head, capturing X-rays of your teeth, head, sinuses and bone, which allows Dr. Aaron Goodman to see any potential problems and ensure that everything is functioning properly. The Panorex can also view specific types of structural problems, including infections or asymmetry.

In addition to clearer and more comprehensive images, the Panorex and other digital X-rays also produce up to 90 percent less radiation that traditional dental X-rays. This is because the digital sensor is much more sensitive to radiation than film so less is needed to form an accurate image. While traditional X-rays are considered safe by professionals, those who receive X-rays frequently or who are concerned about radiation will feel more comfortable with digital radiography.

To schedule an appointment with our office, call 720-515-1801. For more information, visit www.prairiehawkdental.com.

Invisalign or Clear Braces?

Straight teeth go a long way toward creating a beautiful smile, but they also play an important role in maintaining your overall oral health. If you have crooked, crowded or misaligned teeth, correcting them can prevent dental issues from developing in the future. We offer several options at Prairie Hawk Dental in Castle Rock, CO, and both our Invisalign and clear braces options offer correction without the noticeable appearance of tradition metal brackets and wire.

While metallic, contemporary braces offer some customization with different colored bands that can be added, if a mouth full of metal doesn’t appeal to you, Dr. Aaron Goodman offers both Invisalign and clear braces. Clear braces are as effective as metal braces but less eye-catching. They are made of translucent ceramic and are specifically designed to not stain or wear over time.

If you are in need of a mild to moderate correction, Invisalign may be a great option for you. Using a series of virtually invisible aligners, Invisalign adjusts your teeth bit by bit with a new aligner used approximately every two weeks. Made of a thin, comfortable plastic, unlike traditional braces, Invisalign aligners are removable, which allows for convenient cleaning and eating. Because the aligners are removable, your teeth will not experience the same discoloration and plaque buildup that can occur with brackets and wire. In addition, you will not have the same diet restrictions that you would have with traditional braces. You will still be able to eat all the foods you like, including popcorn, chips, pretzels, apples, nuts and corn.

To schedule a consultation on orthodontic options at our office, call 720-515-1801. For more information, visit www.prairiehawkdental.com.

What Is a Frenectomy and Do You Need One?

A frenulum is a small fold or ridge of tissue that either supports or prevents the motion of that to which it is attached. In the mouth, there are two frenulums: the one that connects the upper lip to the gums above your two front teeth and the one that connects the tongue to the base of your mouth. If a frenulum is too short or thick, it can cause speech impediments and gaps between teeth, so corrective action is necessary to resolve the situation.

At Prairie Hawk Dental in Castle Rock, CO, Dr. Aaron Goodman performs frenectomies to resolve frenulums that have proven troublesome. A frenectomy is a safe and effective surgical procedure to remove this fold of skin. Frenectomies are performed with either a scalpel or a laser, but at our office, we use a laser, which causes very little bleeding and doesn’t require stiches. The laser is also preferable to the scalpel method because there is less discomfort and healing time after the procedure. If performed on a young child, a conscious anesthesia is used to relax and numb the child, while adults receive just a local anesthesia numb the area while the fold is removed. A typical frenectomy takes less than 15 minutes.

If your frenulum is causing problems for your smile, schedule an appointment with our office by calling 720-515-1801. For more information, visit www.prairiehawkdental.com.