When you look in the mirror do you like what you see smiling back at you or do you see room for improvement? With the technology of today’s cosmetic dentistry there’s no need to live with an imperfection that is affecting your self esteem.

If you do decide to consult with your dentist about a cosmetic procedure to improve your smile the first thing he will want to know is how you see yourself. What kind of new image do you want to promote? Maybe you just want to look younger or it may be that you are tired of putting up with your overbite or trying to hide the dingy color of your teeth. Whatever it is there is more than likely a cosmetic dental strategy that can be applied to it.

After consulting with your dentist he can show you a kind of catalog of the various smiles that might interest you. You can see a portfolio of the work he has created for previous patients complete with personal reviews. Or, you may already have an idea in mind. Bring a picture of a smile that you have admired so that your dentist can tell if it will actually fit your facial structure.

Dr. Looze of Southlands Dental in Aurora is available to consult with you about any kind of cosmetic procedure you may be considering. Call his office @ 720-886-0606 and start planning today for your brand new smile.

We all try to put our best foot forward to insure that the people we meet and greet come away with a good opinion of us. Whether we’re meeting new people in a social setting or when we are trying to impress a business contact, that first impression is important.

One of the first things that others may notice about you is your smile. A genuinely warm smile along with a firm handshake shows that you are truly happy to see the other person and that he has your undivided attention. But a healthy smile can be compromised by unsightly tooth stains.

Extrinsic stains are caused by the foods and drinks that we expose our teeth to. Some of the worst culprits are coffee, tea and red wine. These kinds of stains can best be prevented by brushing every day and having regular professional cleanings. Your dental hygienist may suggest that you rinse with water after drinking that morning cup of java or the glass of wine that you enjoy with dinner.

Intrinsic stains originate beneath the surface in the dentin of the tooth. This type of staining is not as preventable since it is usually the result of an overexposure to fluoride during our childhood years or trauma to the tooth from a previous injury, things beyond our control. If you’re concerned about the discoloration of your teeth see your dentist for a complete evaluation.

Southlands Dental in Aurora offers options for stain removal or professional whitening. Call 720-886-0606 for an appointment.

A porcelain veneer can be made to successfully simulate the look of natural tooth enamel. Porcelain is often associated with fine china and so may be thought of as something so delicate that it must be protected from breakage. The fact is that porcelain can be quite resilient and it is stain resistant as well, making it excellent veneer material.

If a preliminary consultation with your dentist determines that a veneer is the best solution for your issue the next step will be to describe the procedure and discuss your expectations. Your dentist may use “cosmetic imaging” to actually show you a picture of what your veneer will look like.

A dental veneer is composed of several thin layers of porcelain that are fitted over the tooth. In order to make room for the layers and make them look more natural, a small part of the tooth’s enamel will need to be removed. The porcelain is then bonded to the tooth with a coat of resin which is set with a finishing light.

A porcelain veneer can be used in many ways. It can improve the shape or situation of a tooth. It can also close the gap between your two front teeth or cover up a cracked one. A typical whitening solution may not work on some teeth. A veneer can be a successful alternative.

If you can identify with the situations described on the “patient transformations” page of the Southlands Dental website, call the office @ 720-886-0606 to consult with Dr. Looze.

If you are interested in having one or more dental implants installed to replace lost teeth and improve your smile one of the first things your cosmetic dentist will want to evaluate is the structure of your jawbone.

The foundation of a dental implant is surgically placed directly into the bone. If the bone matter has deteriorated to the point that there is not enough left to receive the titanium base of the implant you may need to have a bone graft.

The first step in the grafting process will be to take a scan of your jawbone to see the extent of the structural decline and exactly where reconstruction is needed.

The ideal grafting method involves using a portion of the patient’s own bone mass but only if it can be harvested from another part of the jaw so that the entire procedure involves the one site. If the bone has to be taken from a different part of the body it will necessitate a second surgery that the patient will have to undergo.

If an autograft is not possible the necessary bone matter may come from a donor bank. This type of graft is known as an allograft. Xenografts are taken from animal bone and alloplastic grafts are manufactured.

Southlands Dental provides extensive information to all their patients about any kind of cosmetic procedure they may have questions on. Call 720-886-0606 to arrange a consultation with Dr. Looze.

The more accurate term for tooth sensitivity is “dentin hypersensitivity,” but whatever we choose to call it the condition can interfere with an everyday lifestyle. A lot of adults for instance, like to start their day with a hot cup of tea or coffee but for those with sensitive teeth this morning routine may have to be sacrificed.

The most common complaints heard by dentists who have patients dealing with sensitivity include the pain that they experience when their teeth come in contact with an extremely hot or cold drink. Some people are also susceptible to sweet or acidic foods. Even a sudden intake of cold air can have an effect on highly sensitive teeth.

Years of exposure to the acids in some foods and drinks will take a toll on the protective coating of enamel around the teeth. When the hard enamel is compromised the softer inner layers of the tooth are exposed to pain producing stimuli.

One of the repercussions of gum disease is that the gum tissue will start to pull away from the teeth leaving them susceptible to infection causing bacteria and leading to an increased level of tooth sensitivity.

There are in-office dental treatments that can be used to seal off the areas of the teeth that have been opened to exposure and relieve the symptoms of sensitivity. At home treatment can include a prescription fluoride varnish to be applied directly onto the teeth.

Treat yourself to the personalized patient care that Southlands Dental in Aurora provides. Call the office @ 720-886-0606.

You don’t make an appointment specifically to see your dental hygienist, she doesn’t have her own office or a staff of assistants, but don’t underestimate her capabilities. She does a lot more than clean your teeth.

A dental hygienist is trained to assess the condition of your teeth and gums so that your dentist will have a starting off place from which to make his diagnosis. The hygienist is the one who will take the x-rays that are so important to see underlying problems in the bone structure or identify tooth decay that can’t be seen by the naked eye.

Most people experience some degree of nervousness about seeing the dentist. The hygienist acts as a kind of buffer. She’s the one who eases the patient into the environment so that by the time he sees the dentist he is relaxed and ready for the exam.

Your dentist is on a tight schedule. He relies on his hygienist to gather the necessary preliminary information form the patients and listen to the symptoms that they may have. It may take some prodding to get a patient to concede that he has been feeling any discomfort for fear that he will need treatment. That may sound unusual but it is often the case. A dental hygienist will know how to draw this patient out and get to the heart of the matter.

The hygienists at Southlands Dental in Aurora have had years of experience and are dedicated to making their patients feel at ease in the dental environment. Call the office @ 720-886-0606.

A PRR, short for Preventive Resin Restoration is the application of a pasty adhesive, or resin onto the surface of the back molars. These are the teeth that we use mostly to chew our food. They are full of little crater type fissures that make them susceptible to decay. A PPR placed over the teeth can smooth out the surface and seal off the fissures.

Older children and adults are both good candidates for a PPR. Adolescents because they are naturally prone to decay and older people because their fissures may have become larger and deeper over time. Younger children who have been diagnosed as being predisposed to cavities may also benefit from the treatment. PPR is advised for use on teeth that have not yet been infected with decay.

The procedure is simple and quick. Once the dentist has thoroughly cleaned the teeth he will protect the area and keep it dry. A preliminary coating is then directed over the teeth in readiness for the resin compound. Then the compound is applied and left to harden. Some resins will require the use of a laser type light to complete the bonding process.

If you or your child does receive PPR therapy be sure to follow recommended home care procedures and see your dentist regularly so that he can check for any chips or cracks in the sealant.

Southlands Dental has been designed for the care and comfort of the patients who come here for counsel and treatment. Call the offices @ 720-886-0606.

When the salivary glands fail to produce enough saliva we are said to have “dry mouth.” The more professional term for this condition is xerostomia and even though the word sounds ominous, the condition is actually a common one that dentists see every day, but the it can have a detrimental effect on the patient’s lifestyle.

Saliva is important for the prevention of cavities. It rinses away left behind food particles which can mix with the natural bacteria that lives in our mouths to create destructive acids.

When you’re hungry you get the sensation that your mouth is “watering.” That is your saliva whetting your appetite for the food that you are about to eat. Not only does your saliva help you enjoy the taste of your food but it also assists the digestive system in processing it.

You may notice some other symptoms along with a conspicuous feeling of dryness in your mouth that may signal dry mouth. Eating certain foods may cause bad breath, but if you notice it more frequently with no apparent trigger it may be a sign of dry mouth. As the condition progresses you may find it hard to swallow or to speak as clearly as you normally do.

If xerostomia persists it can lead to tooth decay and gum disease, so make sure to mention any change in the way your food tastes or any suspicion that you may have dry mouth to your dentist.

Get the personalized service that you deserve at Southlands Dental in Aurora. Call the office @ 720-886-0606.

There are so many procedures that cosmetic dentists can perform these days that just about any flaw in your smile can be corrected. The most commonly called for treatment might be one of the various types of tooth whitening systems, but other options include bonding, veneers or crowns. Today’s technology can even reshape or size your teeth so that they will appear more symmetrical when you smile.

The overall condition of your teeth will have a lot to do with which procedure will be the right one for the particular improvement that you are looking for. Following his examination your cosmetic dentist will discuss all the possibilities with you. This is the time for you to make yourself clear as to exactly what you anticipate the results of the procedure to be so that your dentist has a clear picture of your expectations.

At the preliminary consultation your dentist will explain everything about the procedure before it ever begins. He may show you a portfolio depicting the outcome that some other patients have achieved so you can see an example of his work and read their personal reviews. If your procedure is to be done over an extended period of time your dentist will go through each and every step and answer any questions you may think of. He will also talk to you about what you will need to do after the procedure in order to maintain your new look.

Call Southlands Dental today at 720-886-0606 in Aurora to arrange for your consultation.

A licensed and certified hygienist is a great asset to a dental practice. Because of the highly qualified assistance that a dental hygienist provides, the dentist is free to concentrate on the more intricate procedures that he has studied for and trained to perform.

Depending on how advanced the course of study that a hygienist has fulfilled, or the additional training she has received since then, she may be approved to administer local anesthetics. If this is the case, it can increase the flow of operations of the dental facility substantially.

There is more than one patient undergoing treatment at the same time on any given day in a busy dental office. If every patient had to wait until a dentist was available to give an injection things would get backed up in a hurry. Even after the initial dose of pain medication it takes some time to take effect. If the hygienist can go ahead and prepare the patient for a procedure the waiting time could be minimized and we all know that the longer we have to anticipate any discomfort the more anxious we can become.

Any time a syringe is used to administer an injection the flow of medication can be sporadic. A sudden increase in the stream may cause the patient to feel some pain. A hygienist who is qualified to do the injection will be able to take the time to make sure that the flow is controlled.

The hygienists at Southlands Dental in Aurora are highly qualified and accredited. Call 720-886-0606 to schedule your next cleaning.