The Benefits of Rotary Endodontics

If you’ve had root canal treatment to save an infected tooth, it probably didn’t occur to you to ask what types of tools your dentist used. But if your dentist used the old, manual file for removing the infected tissue, the procedure may have been pretty nerve wracking. Rotary endodontic tools, however, provide a much smoother, more comfortable experience during root canal procedures, which is why Dr. Aaron Goodman chooses to rely on them to treat infected teeth in Castle Rock, CO.

Rotary endodontics allows the dentist to remove the infected pulp in the inner root canal more quickly, more smoothly and with less chance of complications. These electric instruments prove to be superior to the traditional, stainless steel files in a multitude of ways. This is because they are made of nickel titanium, which is much more flexible than stainless steel. Increased flexibility allows the tool to be inserted into the curved root canal without damaging the passageway.

The tools are also much quieter and do not produce a grinding noise like other tools. This helps to soothe patients’ nerves during the procedure. While the manual method can adequately save teeth during root canals, rotary endodontic tools are easier and preferred by both the dentist and his patients. 

To schedule an appointment at Prairie Hawk Dental, call 720-515-1801. For more information, please visit www.prairiehawkdental.com. 

Veneers at Prairie Hawk Dental

If you’re unhappy with the way your smile looks, you don’t have to live with it. Veneers are an effective method for reshaping and redesigning your smile in Castle Rock, CO. Whether your teeth have gaps, persistent stains, cracks, chips or other issues, these thin, porcelain or ceramic shells can cover the existing tooth structure in your mouth to give you a smile you will be proud to show off.

Having veneers placed usually only takes two to three visits to our office. During the first visit, you will discuss the shape and look of the smile you want to accomplish with Dr. Aaron Goodman. Then the dentist will prepare your teeth for the upcoming veneers.

Once the enamel has been prepared, an impression will be taken of your mouth so that the veneers can be fabricated to fit over your existing teeth. Once they are completed, the veneers are bonded to your teeth to create an attractive smile that both looks good and feels natural. With proper home care and the help of Dr. Goodman, you can enjoy your new smile for 5 to 10 years before the veneers should be replaced. 

To schedule an appointment at Prairie Hawk Dental and see how we can transform your smile, call 720-515-1801. For more information, please visit www.prairiehawkdental.com.   

Dental Bonding with Dr. Aaron Goodman

Of all the cosmetic and restorative procedures we offer at our office in Castle Rock, CO, bonding is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to enhance your smile. Called bonding because tooth-colored resin is bonded to your teeth, the procedure is used to repair teeth that are discolored, unevenly shaped or chipped. At Prairie Hawk Dental, we can even use bonding as an attractive alternative to amalgam fillings.

Bonding is achieved by applying incredibly strong resin to the tooth in need of restoration. The procedure can usually be accomplished in one visit and allows you to keep most of your tooth’s enamel, which makes bonding preferable to veneers in many cosmetic cases. Once the right color resin has been chosen for your smile, Dr. Aaron Goodman will apply an adhesive gel to your tooth or teeth to help the resin adhere. The putty-like resin is then applied to your tooth and molded and smoothed until it is in the proper shape. After it is hardened with an LED light, Dr. Goodmanwill trim and shape it even more and then polish it until shines like a tooth. Altogether, the procedure usually takes between 30 minutes to an hour for one tooth.

If you’re unhappy with your teeth but unwilling to go as far as veneers, bonding can be used to improve your smile quickly and effectively. To schedule an appointment with our office, call us at 720-515-1801. For more information, please visit www.prairiehawkdental.com.

Sinus Augmentation in Castle Rock, CO

If you lose any of your posterior teeth, known as premolars or molars, it can increase the amount of force placed on your remaining teeth and negatively affect your bite and oral health. This makes replacing extracted teeth incredibly important, and dental implants provide a long-lasting solution to these gaps in your smile. However, there isn’t always enough room in the upper jaw for dental implants to be placed. When this lack of space is caused by the position of the sinus or because of bone loss, Dr. Aaron Goodman can perform a sinus augmentation at our office in Castle Rock, CO.

A sinus augmentation—also called a sinus lift—is performed by repositioning the sinus floor and adding bone so that there is enough space for a dental implant to be inserted. A variety of grafting materials are used to encourage bone to grow more quickly into the area and help stabilize the dental implant.

The bone used in a sinus augmentation may come from the patient’s own body (autogenous bone), a donor (allogeneic bone) or from cow bone (xenograft). Dr. Goodman will cut the gum tissue where the missing back teeth used to be in order to expose the bone. Then a small oval window is opened in the bone to gain access to where the sinus meets the jaw, and the sinus floor is pushed up and away from the jaw. Granules of bone-graft material are then packed into the space where the sinus was, adding several millimeters of bone to the jaw.

Once the bone is in place, the tissue is closed with stitches and left to heal. Implants are usually installed four to nine months later after the grafted material meshes with your bone.

Whether you need a sinus augmentation or not, if you are looking to receive dental implants, we can make it happen at Prairie Hawk Dental. To schedule an appointment, call 720-515-1801. For more information, please visit www.prairiehawkdental.com.

Benefits of Digital X-rays at Prairie Hawk Dental

Dental technology has improved greatly over the years, enhancing every step of dental care, from diagnosis to treatment. New technology has even made dental X-rays safer and more convenient, and many dentists have adopted digital radiography to view their patients’ teeth. At Prairie Hawk Dental, we have use many state-of-the-art technologies, including digital X-rays, to provide our patients in Castle Rock, CO with the best dental care available.

Digital X-rays are taken in a similar manner to traditional X-rays that use film, but rather than placing film in the patient’s mouth, a digital sensor is used. This sensor is connected to an imaging program on a computer that projects the image, allowing Dr. Aaron Goodman to view your teeth more closely and with better accuracy than traditional dental X-rays. Better images mean that there is a greater chance that the dentist will spot potential problems and be able to fix them before they become more serious or possibly more painful. In addition to better accuracy, digital radiography produces 90 percent less radiation than regular film X-rays, granting peace of mind to those who take X-rays frequently.

Whichever treatment you’re receiving at our practice, from a regular check-up to dental implants, we will strive to provide you with the best service with the most up-to-date technology.

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

At our practice in Castle Rock, CO, we see many patients who suffer from bruxism, or teeth grinding. While many do this consciously throughout the day, even more grind their teeth at night while sleeping. Bruxism can cause damage to your enamel, as well as jaw pain, headaches and gum irritation, so it is important to treat it. Night guards are usually the best way to prevent grinding’s negative effects.

Similar to mouth guards worn by athletes during sports, night guards provide a barrier between your top and bottom teeth when you sleep. By reducing wear to your teeth and making it harder for you to grind, your teeth will be healthier and you will feel better overall. We custom fit these night guards to make them as comfortable as possible. If you are a night grinder, we will take an impression of your teeth and have a mouth guard created in our dental lab. These guards are very durable and can last for up to 10 years.

If you find yourself frequently waking up with headaches or pain in your jaw, it is very possible that you grind in your sleep. Often those who do not treat their bruxism end up with TMD, which can lead to a change in the appearance of their faces. To diagnose and treat your night grinding, call 720-515-1801 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Aaron Goodman. For more information about Prairie Hawk Dental, visit www.prairiehawkdental.com.

CEREC Crowns at Prairie Hawk Dental

Crowns are used to protect and strengthen teeth that have become extremely weak, decayed or fractured. By covering your affected tooth and restoring it to its original shape and size, dental crowns (sometimes called caps) can help reduce pain, save your tooth from needing to be extracted and keep your smile beautiful and functional. At our office in Castle Rock, CO, we can see if a crown is necessary to save your smile.

Over time, as your teeth begin to weaken, they become more susceptible to problems, including decay, cracks and discoloration. Crowns are usually only necessary if decay has reached the point where the tooth structure is compromised. At Prairie Hawk Dental, we use CEREC restorations, which are made of compressed porcelain and possibly stronger than the layered porcelain crowns created in a laboratory. In addition to being stronger and longer-wearing, CEREC restorations can also be created and installed in only one visit, unlike laboratory restorations, which can take weeks to complete and require a temporary crown or restoration to be placed in the meantime.

The placement procedure for a CEREC restoration is easy and doesn’t require you to bite on any goopy and uncomfortable impression material. First all the decay is removed from your teeth, and then the dentist shapes the tooth in preparation for the digital 3D video impression that is taken with a digital camera. The camera is attached to a computer screen, which displays the 3D image, allowing the dentist to design the restoration in front of you. Then the CEREC machine creates the crown in about 15-30 minutes and the dentist adheres it to the tooth preparation. The entire process, from design to installation, takes around an hour and a half per tooth.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Aaron Goodman, call 720-515-1801. For more information, please visit www.prairiehawkdental.com.