Are You Considering Dentures?

Many of our patients at Prairie Hawk Dental have chosen dentures as a replacement for their missing teeth. A popular option, these removable restorations are available as both full sets and partials.  

If you choose to receive conventional full dentures, Dr. Aaron Goodman will remove all the teeth from your mouth first. Then your gums will be given time to heal before dentures are placed, which means that you will not have any teeth or dentures for several months if you choose this type.

With immediate dentures, you would forgo this healing process with no teeth. Prior to having your teeth removed, the dentist would take measurements of your mouth and have the dentures created. Then when your teeth are removed, they would be placed immediately in your mouth. While more popular, this type of full dentures requires a follow up appointment to refit the dentures since the jaw bone will slightly change shape as your mouth heals.  

Partial dentures are another option for those who do not need all their teeth to be removed. They are similar to bridges, but are removable.  

Whichever type our patients receive, dentures take time getting used to, and even though they are not real teeth, dentures should still be cared for as if they were. They should be brushed before removal and then placed in room temperature water or cleaning solution overnight.

To find out if dentures are the right choice for you, schedule an appointment with in Castle Rock, CO by calling 720-515-1801. For more information, visit www.PrairieHawkDental.com.

Sedation Dentistry

If just the thought of going to the dentist for a procedure brings on fear and anxiety, there is no need to suffer. Between 5 and 8 percent of American avoid going to the dentist due to dental phobia, but you don’t need to let your oral health suffer because of fear. At our office in Castle Rock, CO, we offer a safe environment where we can comfort anxious patients through various sedation methods.

Sedation is mainly used when a patient has a high level of anxiety or dental phobia, not necessarily because of pain. At Prairie Hawk Dental, we can sedate our patients through intravenous sedation, anxiolysis or nitrous oxide. These methods will not put you in an unconscious state, but it will put you in a deep state of relaxation for your procedure.

A common sedation method utilized in the dental industry is nitrous oxide (N20). Nitrous oxide works very rapidly, reaching the brain within 20 seconds. With this method, Dr. Aaron Goodman will place a small mask over your nose and ask you to breathe normally. Within a few short minutes, you will begin to feel the effects. Nitrous oxide wears off quickly, and there is no “hangover” effect.

IV administration is also becoming a popular option for dentists. This type of sedation is administered through the veins, which allows for quicker effects and less recovery time. Anxiolysis is also used by our practice. Because some patients have trouble with needles and gas, Dr. Meyers provides them with an oral sedative, such as valium. This is utilized for patients with mild to moderate anxiety as it is not as powerful as other sedation methods.

To schedule an appointment, call 720-515-1801. For more information, visit www.PrairieHawkDental.com.

Intraoral Camera

Advancements in technology have dramatically improved the way that dentists practice, enhancing every step of dental care, from diagnosis to treatment. New technology has even improved the way that dentists view and diagnose patients’ teeth, with digital intraoral cameras quickly becoming an industry standard. At Prairie Hawk Dental, we use an intraoral camera to provide our patients dental care worth smiling about.

The intraoral camera is an effective tool for viewing patients’ teeth and mouths from different angles. This allows us to see the mouth from angles that were not available even a couple years ago. The camera connects to a monitor that allows the dentist to view the structures of your teeth more closely and with better accuracy than traditional methods. More views for our Dr. Aaron Goodman mean there is a greater chance he will spot any problems sooner and be able to fix them before they can become more serious or painful.

These digital images also allow the patient and insurance companies to see what the doctor has seen which lets you understand your oral health better and gain procedures acceptance from your insurance company more easily. In addition, by using digital intraoral cameras and digital X-rays, instead of traditional dental X-rays, you dentist can limit your exposure to radiation.

To schedule an appointment with us in Castle Rock, CO, call 720-515-1801. For more information, visit www.PrairieHawkDental.com.

Invisalign

At Prairie Hawk Dental, we offer Invisalign aligners so that you can straighten your teeth without a mouth full of metal. Using a series of clear plastic aligners, our doctors will guide your teeth into a smile you will be proud of.

While regular braces are still best for more serious cases of teeth straightening, Invisalign is great for cases of mild to moderate spacing or crowding. For these cases, Invisalign provides teeth correction that bypasses the discomfort, soreness and restrictive diet that those who have traditional braces must face.

With a computer program that generates a series of aligners with small changes in each, Invisalign will allow you to straighten your teeth without anyone even knowing. Virtually invisible, the aligners are made of thin, comfortable plastic, and unlike traditional braces, they are removable. Therefore, your teeth will not experience the same discoloration and plaque buildup that can normally occur with metal brackets and wire. In addition, you will be able to eat all the foods you like, such as popcorn, chips, pretzels, nuts, apples, carrots and corn.

If you think Invisalign might be the best option for you to achieve the smile you’ve been dreaming of, call us at 720-515-1801 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Aaron Goodman. For more information, visitwww.PrairieHawkDental.com.

Gum Disease

Caring for your teeth is an essential part of maintaining good oral health, but your gums also play an important role in your health, and proper care is crucial. Gum disease can be a serious detriment to your oral health and overall wellness, and Dr. Aaron Goodman provides the type of regular periodontal care and checkups you need to maintain peak health and prevent gum disease.

With periodontal disease responsible for 75 percent of all adult tooth loss cases in the United States, it is critical to check for and treat periodontal issues when they first arise. Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums that starts when a build-up of plaque on your teeth hardens surrounding gums. In its early stages, this gum disease is gingivitis, but if it is left untreated, it becomes periodontis. Periodontis can destroy your gums tissue and lead to tooth loss. Periodontis can even result in a loss of bone mass in your jawbone, and heart disease, diabetes and stroke have also been linked to poor periodontal health.

The state of your gums affects the health of your entire body, so come to Prairie Hawk Dental for periodontal cleanings and treatment. We will make sure your gums are well cared for. Call 720-515-1801. For more information, visit www.PrairieHawkDental.com.

Oral Cancer Screenings

Being screened for oral cancer is an important part of maintaining your oral health and should be a regular part of your oral hygiene routine. At our practice in Castle Rock, CO, we take oral cancer seriously and are dedicated to keeping our patients safe with thorough screenings.

While everyone is at risk for oral cancer, certain factors can increase your risk in developing the disease. Lifestyle choices, such as heavy drinking or smoking, can greatly affect the health of tissues in the mouth, so it is especially important for you to receive regular screenings if you partake in these activities. If oral abnormalities are caught early, it will not only expand your treatment options, including less invasive and less radical treatments, but it will also increase your chances of beating oral cancer.

Screening for oral cancer can be done during routine checkups by Dr. Aaron Goodman, who uses ultraviolet light to help him spot abnormal tissue in your mouth. Abnormal tissue can then be tested to see if it is cancerous or not.

Oral cancer is a serious issue, and at Prairie Hawk Dental, we strive to protect all our patients. To schedule an appointment, call 720-515-1801. For more information, visit www.PrairieHawkDental.com.

Mouth guards

If you play contact sports, mouth guards are a necessary piece of equipment. From football, soccer and basketball to hockey, lacrosse, wrestling and even baseball, if you play a sport where contact is possible, you should wear a mouth guard to protect your teeth. Here at Prairie Hawk Dental, Dr. Aaron Goodman can provide you with a custom mouth guard to protect your jaw, cheeks, teeth, tongue and lips.

 

Mouth guards are essential for protecting your teeth and jaw against structural damage and your tongue and lips against lacerations. They have also been known to decrease the risk of concussions during sports.

 

While you can buy mouth guards in most sporting goods stores, you should be wary of these. They can be ill-fitting and uncomfortable and unlikely to offer you the best level of protection. If you want to protect your mouth during sports, a custom mouth guard from Dr. Goodman offers the highest level of protection. Created specifically for you the mouth guard is made with a thin plastic that is hardened after being custom fit to your mouth. Its thinness allows you to breathe easier, which is important when playing team sports.

 

To ensure that you perform at your best and are protected on the field, rink or court, schedule an appointment at our office in Castle Rock, CO by calling 720-515-1801. For more information, visit www.PrairieHawkDental.com.