Olympic Dental Health

Dental Thrills and Olympic Grills!

It is that time of the year again, where Americans sit too closely to their television, wring their hands, and visualize themselves winning a gold medal just like the Olympic athletes seen in front of them.  However, if you want to mimic them, not only do you need to start training daily, but you will also need to pay close attention to your dental health and maintain a close relationship with your doctor (Dr. Versman, Dr. Heller, or Dr. Beckman).

Athletes know that in order to be at the top of their game, they need to live a healthy life, including well maintained teeth and gums.  The Olympic Village in London actually embraced a state-of-the-art dental clinic run by volunteer doctors and hygienists in order to provide care to thousands of athletes and staff throughout the 2012 summer games.  Paul Warren, Director of Global Professional and Scientific Relations for Procter & Gamble Co., states that this facility provides basic care and restoration as some athletes may come from countries in which preventive oral care is not offered.

Physical Injuries

The clinic also provides mouth guards for athletes. This is very important as dental implants for those under the age of 35 is commonly due to physical injuries while those older than 35 is more commonly occurred from periodontal disease and caries.  The clinic even offers a dentist to attend contact events where a mouth injury is more likely to ensue. Dentist Dr. Tony Clough, who was the primary force in developing the dental program for the 2012 games and also volunteered in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing  stated, "The biggest priority is going to be emergency care like broken teeth and abscesses, which are going to happen among 40,000 people."

With popularity in dental care rising among athletes, one can only hope they will become advocates for dental health. “When athletes go home with medals around their necks, they often become ambassadors for their sports, their countries, and, it is hoped for preventive oral health”, Warren said. With 14,700 athletes at the games coming from over 205 countries, we hope that is enough role models to spark more interest in dental maintenance. (and here in the Denver- Aurora, CO area, we are proud to say Missy Franklin is among those athletes.)

GRILLS?

One athlete in particular has already caught the attention of viewers with his teeth antics.  Ryan Lochte’s grill cost him $25,000, and he states, “It’s a way of showing my unique personality to everyone.” Not everyone appreciates his over the top smile like he does, but as long as his teeth are healthy and protected underneath, Periodontal Associates, Dr. Versman, Dr. Heller, and Dr. Beckman are supportive.

If you are trying to find your personality again, a beautiful smile is a great way to start.  At Periodontal Associates, you may not be walking out with a diamond encrusted grill; however, you WILL walk out with a perfected smile you will want to show off all the same.  Stop by our office today in the Denver- Aurora, CO area to see how we can turn your vision and turn it into a reality or contact us at (303) 755-4500 to schedule your appointment to see Dr. Versman, Heller, or Beckman.

Teach Me How to Brushy

HEY MOM AND DAD! Having a hard time getting your kids excited about brushing teeth? Try this cute and fun video...

Dr. Versman, Dr. Heller, and Dr. Beckman are strong advocates for early maintenance to eliminate the need for future dental implants and gingival grafting.  Let's make it a habit now to end gum recession and periodontal disease!

If you have any questions please contact us in the Denver - Aurora, CO area by calling (303) 755-4500 or click here to make an appointment and meet our dental implant team at Periodontal Associates.

Turn that Frown Upside Down About N.Y.'s Ban on Sugary Drinks

Recently, there has been a lot of discussion about the proposal to ban sugary drinks in New York.  (good thing we do not have to worry about this here in the Denver –Aurora, CO area.)  This can be disappointing to some as we all love a refreshing beverage now and again; however, we all may be inclined to smile more without them.  While we will leave it up the public to decide what they want, let’s take a look at what sugary drinks do to our dental health.

Let’s start with an example.  Water has a pH of 7 which is neutral and in the middle of the pH scale. Coca-Cola Classic has a pH of 2.4. This is a scary fact as the lower the pH, the more acidic. In fact, Coca-Cola is closer to battery acid, which has a pH of 1, than to water! Dr. Versman, Heller  and, Beckman, here at Periodontal Associates, sure hopes you are not feeding yourself or your kids battery acid!

Sure there are people out there who can drink small amounts of this acidic liquid while maintaining their teeth, but the likelihood of periodontal disease and the need for dental implants is increasing with the continually growing portion sizes of these loved sodas.  The danger is that tooth enamel can be softened by the acid and acidic sugars.  When soda drinking is paired with grinding teeth, improper home care, or other diseases, it can cause to tooth loss.

It is easy to think this will never happen to you, but in reality, Northwest Dentistry reported that some teenagers drink as many as 12 soft drinks a day. That is a good way to start the fight against periodontal disease at an early age and in no surprise has an outcome of 70-80% of adults suffering from periodontal disease.

As much as we love to see our clients, our first reaction is to prevent the need for dental implants before providing them. So NEVER FEAR, the dental implant team is here! At periodontal Associates, Dr. Versman, Heller, and Beckman are determined to repair, prevent further damage, and teach proper home care for both you and your children. We would love for you to come in for a consultation to learn more, and you can schedule an appointment here in the Denver - Aurora, CO area or call us at (303) 755-4500, as it is never too late to show love to your smile. 

Most Common Form of Bone Loss Found in Gum Disease: Who knew!?

Ok, last I heard was that Osteoporosis was the leading form of bone loss; however, in a recent article in Medical Daily, they report that some studies suggest the most common bone loss is linked to periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease is an infection surrounding the teeth, both the gums and bone.  There are seven danger signs of gum disease: 

1. Your gums are soft, swollen or tender. 
2. Your gums sometimes bleed when you brush your teeth.
3. You've got bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth.
4. Your gums are receding from your teeth, making your teeth appear longer.
5. Your teeth have changed their position slightly, making your "bite" different.
6. Any of your teeth are loose.
7. Pus seeps from your gums when you press them

As you read along with these symptoms, you may notice none of them are particularly painful.  Because of this, most people put off their visits to their dental provider as they are unaware of the changes taking place. By the time the periodontal disease is detected, most patients have already accrued sizeable amounts of bone loss, and they are in desperate need to see Dr. Versman, Dr. Heller, or Dr. Beckman, our dental implant team, especially if they live in the Denver - Aurora, CO area.

This is a good lesson learned of why it is important to schedule regular cleanings and maintenance appointments with your dental provider. Periodontal Associates can even help you with your hygeine appointments.  If caught early, cleanings alone can be enough to prevent severe damage; however, if ignored, some people run the risk of needing dental implants and dentures.

Now that I have made you aware of the problem, let's reflect on the latest research revolving around this hot topic.  On July 19, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research announced it will be funding the work of three research teams investigating bone health.  These teams hope to obtain a rinse for patients to use at home or dental offices that will enable them to notice the disease at the beginning stages.  Detection is the first key! That is why you cannot wait to see our doctors: Dr. Versman, Dr. Heller, or Dr. Beckman! In addition to this test, they also hope to focus on those patients who are the most resistant to most common treatments for periodontal disease.  They will try to pinpoint markers to show which patients are at higher risks for the most stubborn forms.  By pursuing this research, there is hope for earlier treatment and more aggressive treatment for those who need it most.

By now, you should have your phone in hand ready to call Periodontal Associates at (303) 755-4500, in the Denver- Aurora, CO area.  We are eager to help answer your questions to fully determine if you are unknowingly experiencing periodontal disease or in need for dental implants.  And do not worry, at Periodontal Associates, the dental implant team is committed to helping our patients achieve optimal health with minimal treatment through an individualized approach to treatment. Our doctors, Dr. Versman, Dr. Heller, and Dr. Beckman, all provide quality care while helping decrease any anxiety and fear. We look forward to fulfilling your periodontal and/or dental implant needs!

WELCOME -> Dr. Eric Beckman

It is with great enthususam and pleasure that we announce Dr. Eric Beckman as our new practice associate!!!

Over the last 3 years we have been carefully looking for that special person to join our group.  Finding a periodontist to join Periodontal Associates has not been a problem.  What took time and effort was finding the right person - someone who will dedicate himself to providing close working relationships and quality care to which all of our patients have become accustomed.

Last fall, we were introduced to Eric and knew immediately that he was the perfect person to join our practice.  We conferred with his graduate director at the University of Minnesota as well as his instructors, and we were extremely impressed with his references and credentials.  We became very comfortable that Eric shares our values and we quickly and enthusuastically recruited him to join us.

Eric was born and reased in Minneapolis, Minnesorta and attended the University of Minnesota dental School where he graduated with honors.  After graduation, he completed a General Practice Residency at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Minneapolis, and he had just completed his periodontal residency at the University on Minnesota.  During his residency, he received his Master of Science degree with a focus on biochemical engineering of titanium surfaces.

Eric has moved to Denver with his wife, Lauren, who has just earned her PhD in Nutrition.  Eric comes from a professional family.  His father is a pediatric dentist, and his mother is a physician.  He is anxious to get settled in the Denver community, and we are looking forward to all of our patients meeting him.

As we have added Eric to the practice, please be assured that Dr. Versman and Dr. Heller have no intention of decreasing their time in the office. 

So come stop by, as I am sure you are due for a cleaning or check-up anyways, and meet the addition to our fantastic team!

Dental X-rays and Radiation Risks

By now, you've probably heard the latest warning on the frequency of dental x-rays and the risk of developing meningioma, which is the most commonly diagnosed brain tumor. We just wanted to take a moment to assure our past, present and future patients that we do not perform unnecessary or excessive
x-rays at our practice. But we also want to shed some perspective on this news, especially since so many people are already apprehensive about visiting the dentist.

The American Dental Association (ADA) has issued a press release to address the recent concerns raised by this study. According to the release, "The ADA's long-standing position is that dentists should order dental X-rays for patients only when necessary for diagnosis and treatment." Our own Dr. Versman is the Vice President of the American Dental Association and we follow their recommendations for the safety and comfort of our patients.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding dental X-rays, please feel free to call our office at 303-755-4500. We are happy to discuss our policies with you at any time.

Protein vs. Bone Grafting

So there is a really interesting article in a recent WorldDental.org newsletter about the effectiveness of building bone vs. traditional bone grafting in successful dental implant procedures. This is because the bone has to be strong and healthy enough to support the procedure. So in the future, it would appear that special types of proteins will continue to be developed to make these procedures more successful. We work hard to keep up with the latest technologies to improve dental implant processes and are proud to say that our team was one of the first in the U.S. to study directly with the inventors of today's implants. We have educated dentists, periodontists and dental students about dental implants and implant procedures for many years, and have lectured on the subject in the Denver/Aurora, Colorado area, nationally and internationally.