Dental Implants or Dentures?

At Periodontal Associates in Denver - Aurora, CO, Dr. Versman, Dr. Heller and our hygiene team are often questioned about the option of dentures and dental implants. We offer this fact finding as the first step to exploring the option of dental implants. We welcome your call to our office at 303-755-4500 for more information and a free, no-cost, no-obligation dental implant consultation.


Replacing a Missing Tooth

A natural tooth is anchored into the jawbone by its tooth root. Tooth roots attach firmly to the jawbone and keep your teeth stable when chewing solid foods.

Traditionally, if you were missing a tooth (or one needed to be extracted), the healthy teeth on either side of the missing tooth would have the enamel removed and the whole thing replaced with a three-crown “bridge”.

Dental Implants are the modern alternative. Instead of shaving down two perfectly good teeth, a dental post (Dental Implant) is inserted into the jawbone to replace your missing tooth root with very little discomfort. This post becomes fixed in your jaw (like a natural tooth root). A crown is then placed onto this artificial tooth root that looks, feels, and functions just like your natural teeth.

Quite simply, Dental Implants are the most natural replacement for missing teeth.

Replacing Several Missing Teeth

Traditionally, several missing teeth would have been replaced with a removable partial or full set of dentures.
One of the drawbacks of dentures is that dentures need to be taken out, soaked and cleaned nightly. During the day, dentures can also look unnatural and rub which can cause pain and discomfort. Dentures and partials make it difficult or impossible to eat certain foods such as steak and corn on the cob. Often times, many people will remove their dentures before eating a meal so that they can "taste" the full flavor of the food.

Dental Implants can now be used to anchor partial and full dentures.

Dentures can be well retained with as few as 2 implants. This prevents the slipping, irritation, and pain associated with “floating” partials and dentures. It also prevents the tedious removal of dentures for overnight soaking and cleaning. With Dental Implants, these restorations are anchored firmly into the jawbone becoming much more like natural teeth.

Natural tooth roots and dental implant posts are fixed firmly in your jawbone. When you chew, these tooth roots and posts stimulate the jawbone and prevent it from shrinking. You may have noticed a person who looked prematurely old because of wearing floating dentures and having their jawbone "shrink". Dental Implants help preserve your jawbone and your appearance.

The Success Rate of Dental Implants

After their healing period, the success rate of Dental Implants is close to 96%. If you are a non-smoker with good oral hygiene, the success rate rises closer to 98%!

Does the Procedure Hurt?

Placing a Dental Implant is usually like getting a cavity filled or even easier. It is done under local anesthesia (novocaine) and patients generally experience little discomfort after the procedure. Read a few of the comments that we have received from our patients:

The implant was painless and an easy experience.  --Walter

I had a great experience. I felt comfortable having the surgery done and the staff was incredible. Dr. Heller really made the process easy and I am very happy with the results.  --Sergiane Hendrix

It was the easiest experience I've had....and I had 7 children! --Millie

How Long Will Dental Implants Last?

Dental Implants become fixed to the jawbone. Dental Implants have successfully been in patients' mouths for over 30 years without needing replacement. With good oral hygiene and regular cleanings, Dental Implants should last a lifetime. In contrast, the average life span of a traditional fixed bridge is between 8-10 years.

What is the cost of Dental Implants? Is it expensive?

It is difficult to define the value of dental implants. Dental implants are NOT expensive, when one factors in the life long use and the benefits that come from having secure, functional, attractive teeth and a winning smile. A winning smile surely adds great value to your professional image not to mention your social life! For some who prioritize dental health, the concept of eating well until death is a very significant motivation for implant treatment. We offer many payment options and for those who qualify, an interest free payment plan.

Am I a Candidate for Dental Implants?

Dental Implant treatment begins with a FREE evaluation by Dr. Versman or Dr. Heller of Periodontal Associates in the Denver - Aurora, Colorado area. They will determine if you are a good candidate for this procedure and discuss your options.

Call us today for your free evaluation at 303-755-4500. Our office is conveniently located near I-225 and Parker Road at 2900 South Peoria Street in the Aspens Dental Park, Building D in Aurora, CO. We serve Aurora and the surrounding cities of Denver, Centennial, Parker, Lone Tree, Bennett, Strasburg, Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Englewood and Lakewood, CO.

The Value of a Smile

At Periodontal Associates in Denver - Aurora, CO, we never underestimate the value of a healthy and beautiful smile. I spoke with one of Dr. Heller's patients today who had previously undergone connective tissue grafting surgery due to gum recession. Jenny, a daughter of an orthodontist, was quick to flash me her lower gums and tell me how happy she was with the results. I immediately thought she was speaking of the health benefits and comfort of no longer being 'long in the tooth'. After all, the lower gum area is seldom seen by anyone, right? Wrong! Jenny was just as pleased with being able to correct the gum issue as she was with being able to look in the mirror and see a beautiful and healthy set of gums. It continually gives Jenny a reason to smile.

The Value of a Smile

 by Francie Baltazar-Schwartz

“The value of a smile is priceless, yet it is the cheapest, easiest, most rewarding and most sincere gift to anyone that crosses your path. A smile makes a person’s day, anybody’s day even a stranger’s day. A smile is infectious. Start infecting people with your smile today. 

A smile is nature’s best antidote for discouragement. It brings rest to the weary, sunshine to those who are sad, and hope to those who are hopeless and defeated.

A smile is so valuable that it can’t be bought, begged, borrowed, or taken away against your will. You have to be willing to give a smile away before it can do anyone else any good.

So if someone is too tired or grumpy to flash you a smile, let him have one of yours anyway. Nobody needs a smile as much as the person who has none to give.” 

 Dr. Versman and Dr. Heller find great satisfaction in keeping our patients at or returning them to the highest level of dental health in which they desire. At Periodontal Associates, it is our belief that better oral health enhances self-esteem, growth, and rewards you with a better quality of life. Our goal is quality--in comfort, service, and dental care. It's a goal to which we are committed and a standard which our patients have come to expect. If you would like to schedule a periodontal exam to assess the health of your teeth and gums, please contact Periodontal Associates in Aurora, CO at 303-755-4500. Dr Ken Versman & Dr. Doug Heller proudly serve the greater Denver metro area and are Colorado's Premier Provider of Dental Implants and Periodontics.

Top 10 Strangest Dental Requests in Denver & Aurora CO heard by Drs. Versman & Heller

Here at Periodontal Associates in Denver - Aurora, CO we receive many interesting questions in regards to dental implants, replacing lost or broken teeth and how to keep smiles healthy and bright. Dr. Versman and Dr. Heller have heard many stories including how one patient cleaned his teeth most of his life using burnt tortillas instead of a toothbrush and floss. We, of course, don't recommend using tortillas for home care. Apparently we are not the only dentists hearing interesting dental stories, questions and requests.

According to drbicuspid.com the Chicago Dental Society surveyed more than 300 members to find out the strangest dental requests they'd  ever received from patients.  
Here are their responses:

10. "Can you extract my tooth without anesthesia?"
9. "Please wire my mouth shut to aid in my diet."
8. "Can you ID this set of dentures left in the bathroom of the bar I work at?"
7. "I will pay you or your hygienist to floss my teeth at my office every day."
6. "Pull all my teeth and just give me dentures."
5. "I just broke off my engagement. Can you prepare my tooth so that I can keep the diamond in it?"
4. "Will you give me local anesthesia in my lips? I'm going in for permanent "lipstick" tattoos on my lips and would like to avoid the pain."
3. "May I have an emergency cleaning visit? It's my high school reunion and I need a bright, white smile to face my old boyfriend."
2. "Can I keep the teeth you pull out of my mouth? I'd like to make a necklace out of them."

And the No. 1 strangest dental request ever received according to those dentists surveyed?

1. "Can you give my dog braces?"

The survey also included examples of how patients attempt self-treatment. It found that nearly 70% of the dentists surveyed have taken care of a patient who tried to treat their own dental problem before visiting the dentist. The most common home treatment among patients, dentists said, is Super Glue for broken crowns and dentures. Using an emery board to file chipped teeth or overusing topical painkillers, such as teething gels, to deaden pain also were common. Remarkably, several dentists had treated patients who attempted to give themselves a root canal using power tools. OUCH!


If you have any questions or concerns regarding dental hygiene or care, dental implants and replacement procedures for a missing tooth or teeth...or whether we recommend using power tools for a do-it-yourself root canal (No!), please feel free to contact our office by phone at 303-755-4500 or email. Periodontal Associates (Drs. Versman & Heller) are happy to serve the Denver Metro area and are conveniently located in Aurora, CO. We serve the surrounding cities of Denver, Centennial, Parker, Lone Tree, Bennett, Strasburg, Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Englewood and Lakewood, CO.

Periodontal Prognosis - Hygiene Study Club

Calling all Denver area Dental Hygienists and Assistants

If you missed attending the 2011 Rocky Mountain Dental Convention recently held in Denver, CO...

then plan on attending Periodontal Associates' Hygiene Study Club on February 16th! You will experience Dr. Paul Glick present "Periodontal Prognosis". Included in the evening of networking and education (that you won't want to miss!): expanded information that was not provided at the Rocky Mountain Dental Convention including twin studies and the correlation between smoking and periodontitis.

Periodontal Prognosis 

Tooth or Dare

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

• Roll of Hygienists in long term maintenance
• Systemic effects related to periodontal health
• Success factors involved in periodontal treatment

The event will be held at the MDDS/CDA Building in Denver, CO.

For more information or to register to attend, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/periodontalhealth or email Periodontal Associates' Hygiene Study Club at hygienestudyclub@gmail.com.

Dr. Ken Versman, Dr. Doug Heller, Dr. Paul Glick and the staff at Periodontal Associates in Denver - Aurora, CO look forward to seeing you there!

New Study: Peanut Butter and the effects on Gum Disease

PB&GD? 
Polyunsaturated fats (like those found in peanut butter, salmon, nuts and margarine) have been shown to help prevent health problems like heart disease; Dr. Ken Versman and Dr. Doug Heller of Periodontal Associates Denver - Aurora, CO want you to know that new evidence shows that  those same foods can help stave off gum disease too!

In fact, a recent study found that people who consumed the most fatty acids had a 30% reduced risk of gum disease.

 

 

 

Here is more information about the study:

Periodontal (gum) Disease, a common inflammatory disease in which gum tissue separates from teeth, leads to accumulation of bacteria and potential bone and tooth loss. Although traditional treatments concentrate on the bacterial infection, more recent strategies target the inflammatory response. In an article in the November issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, researchers from Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health found that dietary intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) like fish oil, known to have anti-inflammatory properties, shows promise for the effective treatment and prevention of periodontitis.
"We found that n-3 fatty acid intake, particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), are inversely associated with periodontitis in the US population," commented Asghar Z. Naqvi, MPH, MNS, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. "To date, the treatment of periodontitis has primarily involved mechanical cleaning and local antibiotic application. Thus, a dietary therapy, if effective, might be a less expensive and safer method for the prevention and treatment of periodontitis. Given the evidence indicating a role for n-3 fatty acids in other chronic inflammatory conditions, it is possible that treating periodontitis with n-3 fatty acids could have the added benefit of preventing other chronic diseases associated with inflammation, including stoke as well."
For more information about the study and findings click here or here.

To learn more about gum disease, please visit our website at www.periodontalhealth.com.
Drs. Versman and Heller of Periodontal Associates in Aurora, CO serving the Denver Metro and surrounding area with a focus on dental implants for the replacement of missing teeth, and the treatment of gingivitis and periodontal (gum) disease to restore patients' oral health. To schedule a free dental implant consultation, please call our office at (303)755-4500.

Smoking and the Periodontal Risk

Tobacco Use vs. Your Oral Health

Understand the Dangers

Surprising as it may sound, many smokers are not aware of the dangers of tobacco use.  This month, in connection with the Great American Smokeout, Dr. Ken Versman and Dr. Doug Heller of Periodontal Associates in the Denver Aurora, CO  area are focusing on getting the facts out about tobacco use and the effect it has on your  teeth, gums and overall oral health. Believe it or not, just 29 percent of smokers say they believe themselves to be at an above-average risk for heart attack compared with their nonsmoking peers, according to a study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Interestingly, while information about the associated medical problems smokers are at risk for – such as lung disease, heart disease, cancer and even low-birth-weight babies – is widely available, many smokers seem to have tuned it out.

Here is another risk that Drs. Versman and Heller want you to hear loud and clear: Tobacco use is harmful to your oral health.

The Periodontal Connection

In conjunction with the American Academy of Periodontology, Dr. Ken Versman and Dr. Doug Heller of Periodontal Associates in Denver-Aurora, CO, hope to help educate the public about one specific threat to smokers – periodontal disease. According to Dr. Doug Heller:

 "Seventy to seventy-five percent of our adult periodontic patients tend to be smokers or tobacco users. There is a strong correlation between smoking and adult periodontitis."

In fact, recent studies have shown that tobacco use may be one of the most significant risk factors in the development and progression of periodontal disease. It has been found that following periodontal treatment or any type of oral surgery, the chemicals in tobacco cause the healing process to slow down and make the treatment results less predictable.

You may be wondering just how smoking increases the risk for periodontal disease. It's simple. As a smoker, you are more likely to have the following problems:

• Calculus – plaque that hardens on your teeth and can only be removed during a professional cleaning
• Deep pockets between your teeth and gums
• Loss of the bone and tissue that support your teeth

If the calculus is not removed during a professional cleaning, and it remains below your gum line, the bacteria in the calculus can destroy your gum tissue and cause your gums to pull away from your teeth. When this happens, periodontal pockets form and fill with disease-causing bacteria.

If left untreated, periodontal disease will inevitabley progress. The pockets between your teeth and gums can grow deeper, allowing in more bacteria that destroy tissue and supporting bone. As a result, the gums may shrink away from the teeth making them look longer. Without treatment, your teeth may become loose, painful, need to be extracted or even fall out.

You Can Save Your Smile

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only about 20 percent of people over age 65 who have never smoked are toothless, compared to a whopping 41.3 percent of daily smokers over age 65 are toothless.

In addition, research shows that current smokers don't heal as well after periodontal treatment as former smokers or nonsmokers. The good news: these effects are reversible if the smokers kick the habit before beginning treatment!

Not Just Cigarettes

It's not just cigarettes that are the smoking gun. Other tobacco products, such as chewing tobacco, are also harmful to your oral health. Chewing tobacco also causes gums to recede and increase the chances of bone and fiber loss - the same bones and fiber that hold your teeth in place. Cigar and pipe smokers are at risk too. According to the ADA, cigar and pipe smokers experience tooth loss and alveolar bone loss at rates equivalent to those of cigarette smokers.

Need More Reasons to Quit?

Researches also have found that the following problems occur more often in people who smoke or use tobacco products:

• Oral cancer
• Bad breath
• Stained teeth
• Tooth loss
• Bone loss
• Loss of taste
• Less success with periodontal treatment
• Less success with dental implants
• Gum recession
• Mouth sores
• Facial wrinkling

There's No Better Time

November 18th marks the 35th annual Great American Smokeout.  The American Cancer Society encourages all smokers to take a day off, and possibly quit smoking for good. By abstaining from smoking that one day, smokers will be taking an important first step to improving their health. Dr. Ken Versman and Dr. Doug Heller of Periodontal Associates in Denver/Aurora, CO, encourage you to visit www.cancer.org/smokeout or call the American Cancer Society at  1-800-ACS-2345.  For information about periodontal (gum) disease, please visit our website at http://www.periodontalhealth.com where you will find a helpful Visual Guide, Gum Disease Self Evaluation, the Seven Danger Signs of Gum Disease and more. To schedule an appointment to evaluate your oral health and possible treatment options, contact us via the web, email or call (303)755-4500 in the Denver Metro area.

10 Very Good Reasons for Restorative Dentistry

Dr. Ken Versman and Dr. Doug Heller of Periodontal Associates in Aurora, CO and serving the Denver Metro area,  would like you to know the Top 10 reasons for restorative dentistry:

1. Enhance your smile. 
2. Fill in unattractive spaces between teeth.
3. Improve or correct an improper bite.
4. Prevent the loss of a tooth.
5. Relieve dental pain.
6. Repair damaged and decayed teeth (cavities).
7. Replace missing teeth.
8. Replace old, unattractive dental treatments.
9. Restore normal eating and chewing. Eat whatever you choose to eat!
10. Restore confidence and self image. 

For a free dental implant consultation,  or to schedule a periodontal checkup, contact us today at 303-755-4500. Periodontal Associates, Colorado's Premier Provider of Dental Implants and Periodontics