Go Green to Prevent Gum Disease

Green Tea for Pink Gums

Periodontal Associates is on a constant search to find the latest research on how to prevent and continue to treat gum disease, and the latest philosophy is leaving us thirsty for more.  Green Tea is a well-known beverage that has been used in the Asian cultures for thousands of years to promote health (and increasing in popularity here in Denver, CO), but did you know, Green Tea is linked to stimulating healthy gums and teeth?

The Journal of Periodontology just published a study that analyzed the periodontal health of 940 men, and researchers found that those who regularly drank green tea had superior periodontal health than subjects that consumed less green tea. None on hand?  If you are in Denver, CO then stop by to see Drs. Versman, Heller, or Beckman, and we will greet you with some!

“It has been long speculated that green tea possesses a host of health benefits,” said Dr. Yoshihiro Shimazaki, the author of the study, from Kyushu University in Fukuoka, Japan. “And since many people enjoy green tea on a regular basis, we were eager to investigate the impact of green tea consumption on periodontal health, especially considering the escalating emphasis on the connection between periodontal health and overall health.”

The study was conducted with male participants from the ages of 49-59 years.  The extent of periodontal disease in each subject was compared by pocket depth, clinical attachment loss of gum tissue, and bleeding upon probing.  Researchers noted that for every one cup of green tea consumed per day, there was a decrease in all three components which led to the conclusion that periodontal disease occurs less for those who drink green tea on a regular basis.

How does green tea help reduce periodontal disease?  Researchers believe the antioxidant, catechin, in green tea is the cause of the reduction of gum disease symptoms.  Antioxidants are known for reducing inflammation everywhere in the body, gums too.  Since periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth, it makes sense how green tea can be beneficial.  Drs. Versman, Heller, and Beckman believes it is important to take every action possible to prevent gum disease as it continues to be connected to the development of other diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

We hope this information is helpful to you as Periodontal Associates is a big advocate for patient education. Please visit our website as it is a comprehensive information resource that includes self-assessment tools, visual guides, and shows how Drs. Versman, Heller, and Beckman treat gum disease. It is important to begin evaluating your symptoms and learn how to take action to treat it, other than just drinking plenty of green tea. If you have any signs of gum disease, please contact us right away so we can begin treatment immediately in the Denver metro area.

Gum Disease Disparities

Discrepancies in Gum Disease

Why do some people seem more prone to gum disease than others? Is gum disease only linked to our home care and hygiene? Drs. Versman, Heller, and Beckman believe the key to preventing gum disease and the need for future dental implants is in the way you care for your teeth at home by brushing and flossing on a regular basis.  However, a new study will be released in the September-October issue of Public Health Reports investigating periodontal disease among U.S. adults over a 10-year period.

The study was led by Luisa Borrell, DDS, PhD, at Lehman College and Makram Talih fom Hunter College School of Public Health. Their goal was to find the differences between groups categorized by ethnicity, income, and education to see where gum disease is more prevalent using data from 1988-1994 and 1999-2004.



Early Periodontitis



Researchers concluded that the disease was the most common among adults 35 years and older, men (18% higher than women), Mexican Americans (66.7%), high school drop outs (66.9%), and lower income families (65.4%).  Dr. Borrell also did acknowledge that the 1999-2004 population had larger differences that those from the 1988-1994 study. 

This is important to know as periodontal disease continues to rise in the United States.  In fact, a new study, Prevalence of Periodontitis in Adults in the United States: 2009 and 2010, estimates that 47.2%, or 64.7 million American adults, have mild, moderate or severe gum disease.  This means almost HALF of the population here in the Denver, CO area have gum disease, and Periodontal Associates are here to fix this!
 


Severe Periodontitis

Regular cleanings are necessary in order for Drs.Versman, Heller, and Beckman to diagnose periodontal disease and treat it.  Our periodontal hygienists are also specially trained to clean patients with severe gum disease for patients in the Denver, metro area.  Dr. McClain, researcher in the study of periodontitis in the U.S., noted that these findings support the need for comprehensive periodontal evaluations annually. “To really know if you have periodontal disease, a dental professional must examine each tooth above and below the gum line. A visual examination alone, even by the most qualified dentist, is not enough. These findings suggest that many more people have periodontal disease than previously thought, so it is more important than ever to receive a comprehensive periodontal evaluation from your dental professional, every year.”It is not too late to take control in the treatment and prevention of your gum disease, and Periodontal Associates is here to help. Periodontal disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the gum tissue, ligaments, and bone around the teeth. It causes weakening and ultimate destruction of these tissues which protect and support the teeth and hold them in place. Pyorrhea is an older name for this disease.

The treatment usually consists of three important phrases. The learning phase: All periodontal patients must learn the facts regarding the destructive power of this disease process and its effect in the mouth.  The control phase: The problems of the existing disease must be controlled. Treatment may include the correction of gum and bone defects, as well as correction of malocclusion problems and the replacement of missing teeth.  The preventive phase: Once the disease process is under control, with as many problems eliminated as possible, it is the responsibility of the patient to seek regular preventive treatment. Of course, effective personal oral hygiene must be maintained at all times.

We are happy to get you started in this process, so give Periodontal Associates a call today at (303) 755-4500 or click here for an appointment.  We are periodontal specialists serving dental implants in Denver, CO as well as helping to treat gum disease.  Don’t take the risk of postponing treatment, and allow our doctors, Versman, Heller & Beckman, to change your life and your health for the better.

Supplement to Improve Gum Disease

COQ10 for Stronger Gums

 

There are a lot of studies these days that suggest there are benefits to taking vitamins and supplements to counter act one’s deficiencies either due to diet or effects from prescription medications.  One supplement in particular, co-enzyme Q10, has been known for the ability to help patients with cardiac problems, and Periodontal Associates want you to know it could help strengthen your gums as well!

The Institute for Biomedical Research conducted a study comparing those with periodontal disease to those with healthy gums.  Biopsies of both groups were taken from their gums and then analyzed for the amount of COQ10 found in each.  “The gingival biopsies from patients having diseased periodontal tissue showed a deficiency of co-enzyme Q10, in contrast to those of the normal periodontal tissue which showed no deficiency,” conclude the researchers.

Also, the Department of Preventative Dentistry looked at the effects of topical application of co-enzyme Q10 on adult periodontitis. Researchers used male subjects with 20 gingival pockets as the experiment and 10 pockets as the control group.  A topical COQ10 was placed once a week for 6 weeks on the experimental pockets while soy bean oil was used on the control.  In the first 3-week period, significant reductions in gingival fluid flow, probing depth and gum loss were found only at the experimental sites. These results suggest that topical application of CoQ10 improves adult periodontitis.

CoQ10 helps to keep periodontal disease under control by oxygenating muscles within our gums as it increases the production of energy in the mitochondria, the energy center located inside each cell. Periodontal patients frequently have significant gingival deficiencies of CoQ10, and the deficiency indicates a nutritional imbalance that is not likely caused by neglected oral hygiene. A gingival deficiency could predispose this tissue to gum disease and gingivitis could even enhance the deficiency. Periodontal Associates suggests both the use of CoQ10 for those who are at risk for gum disease and proper oral hygiene for improved treatment.

You may ask, how do I use COQ10? Well, California Pacific Medical Center recommends taking between 50 and 60 mg daily for the use of gum disease prevention. Mouthwashes containing CoQ10 may also be effective. CoQ10 can be found naturally in foods like oily fish and whole grains, but it is also available as a supplement.  CoQ10 can be found in local food or vitamin store and does not always require a doctor's prescription, but the supplemental form may not be safe for everyone. In fact, UMMC states that most people get plenty of CoQ10 from their diets; however, those who have natural or medication-related deficiencies may benefit from supplementation. CoQ10 can cause interactions with medications including blood thinners, as well as medications for blood pressure or glaucoma. If you take these medications, you should not take CoQ10. Before trying the supplement, discuss its use with Dr.Versman, Dr. Heller, or Dr. Beckman to weight out the benefits versus risks.

In order to best help you, please call Periodontal Associates or stop by our office in the Denver metro area.  It is beneficial for Dr. Versman, Heller & Beckman to build close relationships with their patients in order to know their medical history and make a personal plan for each individual. You can click here to schedule an appointment or call at (303) 755-4500.  Please visit our website at www.periodontalhealth.com for more information on gum disease, home care, dental implants, and other periodontal related diseases.

Parents are linked to the number of cavities in their kids' teeth

Mom’s Emotions Affect Kid’s Dental Health

 

Periodontal Associates wants everyone to know that gum disease and poor dental health can occur for many reasons.  Dr. Versman, Heller & Beckman suggest you talk to them about your home dental care to make sure you are doing everything you can to prevent gingivitis, cavities, and the need for dental implants.  With that being said, let’s take some time to discuss a new research determining factors in the number of cavities in children.

Researchers at the Case Western Reserve University, US recently released a study that links a mother’s emotional stability and educational background during her kid’s younger years to her child’s dental health at age 14.  The case was structure by interviewing candidates at the ages of three, eight, and finally 14 years old to determine what elements shaped their current oral health and number of cavities. 

 

Suchitra Nelson, lead investigator on the study, had a team examine the teeth of the 224 adolescent participants in a longitudinal study that also followed very low birth weight vs. normal birth weight children. Factors like the number of decayed, filled, or missing permanent teeth and the level of dental plaque were used to determine the quality of oral health.  Case Western Dental School states that these are all direct symptoms of poor hygiene maintenance and Drs. Versman, Heller, and Beckman agree.

Even the mothers, or care givers, were interviewed to reveal their knowledge about preventative treatments like sealants, mouthwash, sugar drinks, access to dental care, and the frequency of visitations to a dentist.  The data revealed that even with access to dental insurance, fluoride treatments, and sealants as young children, it did not always prevent cavities by the age of 14, said Nelson.

Researchers were then able to conclude that the mothers and their overall emotional health, education level, and knowledge when children were at ages 3 and 8 were responsible for increased numbers of cavities when their children reached the age of 14.

Nelson stated, "We can't ignore the environments of these children.  It isn't enough to tell children to brush and floss; they need more -- and particularly from their caregivers."

The researchers also found that mothers with more education beyond high school, with healthy emotional states, and knowledge about eating right had children with healthier teeth.

If you are concerned about your knowledge and how to protect your family, continue to follow our blogs or schedule an appointment at Periodontal Associates to meet with one of our doctors: Dr. Versman, Dr. Heller, or Dr.Beckman.  You can schedule by calling us at (303) 755-4500, visiting our website at www.periodntalhealth.com, or clicking here.  Our patients come from all over Colorado but we primarily serve the Denver metro area as we are located in Aurora, CO.

Dementia Linked to Gum Disease

Prevent Dementia by Visiting Your Dentist

 

If you can’t remember to brush your teeth that may not the only memory to go as gum disease is linked to preventing dementia. A new study in the U.S. was just released that observes this phenomenon.

Researchers studied nearly 5,500 elderly people in a retirement home in California for over 18 years (1992 -2010).  Most participants were Caucasian, educated, and ranged from 52 years of age to 105 years of age. They found that those who brushed their teeth less than once a day had a 65% higher chance in developing dementia than those who brushed every day. "Not only does the state of your mind predict what kind of oral health habits you practice, it may be that your oral health habits influence whether or not you get dementia," said Annlia Paganini-Hill, leader of the study.

The participants were interviewed at the start with a number of questions regarding their dental health, including brushing, flossing, number of visits to their dentist, and if they use dentures.  At this time, no one in the group suffered from dementia.  A follow – up interview was then done 18 years later when 1,145 of those people were diagnosed with dementia, determine from the interviews, medical records, or even death certificates in some cases. 

In more detail, there was a difference in gender, as well.  Women had a 1 in 3.7 chance of developing the disease when brushing less than once daily while men had a 1 in 6 chance. This had more of a correlation to those who wore their dentures as those who did wear them had twice as higher chance to develop dementia than those who had most of their own teeth.  And on top of that, those who lost most of their natural teeth and did not wear their dentures had a 91% greater risk of dementia than those with their natural teeth.  Dr. Versman, Dr. Heller, and Dr. Beckman would strongly suggest coming in for a consultation for dental implants if you are concerned about the strength of your own teeth.

Now, one may ask, what comes first, the chicken or the egg? It is common to think those with the onset of dementia will begin to decrease their dental maintenance, meaning that dementia is responsible for poor self-care.  However, gum disease has a common negative influence as bacteria from gingivitis are associated with heart disease, stroke and diabetes.  This is enough proof to not take any chances.  Periodontal Associates would suggest you continue to upkeep bi-annual cleanings at a minimum unless otherwise stated your doctor.

Paginini-Hill concludes, “In addition to helping maintain natural, healthy, functional teeth, oral health behaviors are associated with lower risk of dementia in older adults.”

It is scary to see how our dental habits are related with our future health, both mentally and physically.  There is still time to help prevent the onset of gum disease related illnesses by calling Periodontal Associates and meeting with Dr. Versman, Dr. Heller, or Dr. Beckman.  We also have a great team of hygienists to keep those teeth and gums clean.  We have more information about the other gum related diseases on our website www.periodontalhealth.com or continue to follow our blog for further updates.  If you live in the Denver metro area, specifically Aurora, CO, please just stop in today to get all of your questions answered or make an appointment here.

John Lennon's Chomper

Missing Molar Makes Money

Most people want to keep their teeth and Periodontal Associates wants to help them, but one man was happy to give his away! John Lennon self-extracted his molar, and it is now making a big difference for kids in need of cleft surgery.

Lennon had given his fallen tooth, one that he pulled out himself, to his housekeeper back in the 1960’s.  She was responsible for placing it in an auction in England, in November.  Dr. Michael Zuk purchased Lennon's cavity filled chomper for $31,200 because he just “had to have it.” After Dr. Zuk got his hands on this personal memorabilia, he then gave Lennon’s tooth to his sister, who is an artist.  She carved a clay statue that resembles John Lennon and incorporated his real tooth. This legendary Beatle’s statue will now be on display to raise awareness and help raise funds for the charity Smile Train. "Every child born with a cleft - anywhere in the world - should have the opportunity to live a full and productive life," Smile Train states on its website.  It is great to know that a tooth gone bad can still do so much good as Smile Train helps thousands of children within 87 countries.

Although Lennon's extraction had a happy ending, Periodontal Associates hopes you do not try this at home.  Dr. Versman, Heller, and Beckman hope to help you keep your teeth altogether, but if necessary, they are Denver's best dental implant team and can help replace them with dental implants.  If you are in need for more information on proper dental care or dental implants, please visit our website at www.periodontalhealth.com or call Periodontal Associates at (303) 755-4500.  If you live in the Denver, CO area you can also click here for an appointment.

Your tooth may not be worth thousands, but we will be sure to give you a smile that is priceless! Our patients' testimonials agree!

New Baby Teeth

Hungry Babies Bite into a Tasty New World

It’s a big new world out there for your little one as they learn to roll, scoot, and crawl, collecting objects to eat along the way. Kids always have a knack for turning inedible things into food. But as tempting as it is to give your baby new foods to satisfy their curious mouths, be sure to do your research on what is appropriate for their developing teeth and how to provide them with proper dental care.  Dr. Versman, Dr. Heller, and Dr. Beckman have some good tips!

MMM Food

We all know it is important to limit certain foods for adults as it increases risks for cavities and gum disease, but kids are kids, so they can eat whatever they want, right? WRONG. Kids need to be wary of the same foods as their parents.  Even though most of the meal finds its way to their clothes, hair, and floor, it is important to be wary of what they have.  Increases in sugary and acidic foods will cause physical damage and it will also teach bad habits.  

Bread and fruits share a common bond as being good cavity producers with their sugar content.  Foods to be wary of: chips, crackers, cereals, fruits, and sticky spreads like peanut butter.   Juice in particular is a familiar favorite in Sippy cups as it provides a good source of vitamins, but most juices contain extremely high levels of sugar.  Parents want to make sure to limit these or try watering the juices down.   None of these foods are dangerous to their nutrition; they should just be eaten in moderate and often with meals, not as snacks.

The physical form of food is also important.  Babies grow quickly, including their mouths, but Periodontal Associates want you to know that some substances are still too difficult for kids to manipulate with their new teeth.  Choking is the 4^th leading cause of death for kids under the age of 5.  And according to the AAP, Children don’t master the type of chewing necessary for eating raw vegetables and hard candies until age 4. Even as babies start teething and want to gnaw on everything in sight, be sure to keep tougher food, seeds, and pits out of site.

Clean Up

Sometimes it is not what you are feeding your children, instead it is the lack of care afterwards.  For example, your baby is crying late at night and you soothe them to sleep with a warm bottle of milk. Why is this bad?  You are coating your kids’ teeth with the sugars in the milk and allowing it to marinate all night long.
Dr. Versman, Dr. Heller, and Dr. Beckman suggest moms start brushing their kids’ teeth as early as possible.  Is it best to start with a progression of using a dot of fluoride toothpaste, a pea sized amount around the age of 2, then about the size of a bean once the child is 5 years old.  Build healthy habits by brushing together, twice daily, to make it more enjoyable.

Making brushing FUN is the key to building healthy habits and great dental preventative care.  You can take turns brushing each other’s teeth, use cartoon toothbrushes, turn on songs to dance to while brushing, or you could try videotaping them so they feel like they are putting on a play!

Feel free to contact Periodontal Associates if you have any questions regarding your child’s dental health as it is never too early to begin dental care.  In fact, our doctors (Ken Versman, Doug Heller, and Eric Beckman) hope your little one is seeing their first dentist by the age of one! If they are scared, please feel free to bring them with you during your next visit with us to show them how fun the dentist can be (especially our dental implant team at Periodontal Associates).

Please call us for any more information or click here for an appointment.  We are located in Aurora, CO and provide care for the Denver metro area. Periodontal Associates hopes you can teach your kids early to love their teeth and how to keep them safe.  We look forward to helping them keep them clean in order to prevent the need for dental implants or gum disease. Happy eating kids!

Want to Live Forever?

Well Grab your Toothbrush and Visit your Doctor! 

Hurry! It’s time to make your next dental appointment with Dr. Versman, Dr. Heller, or Dr. Beckman if you want to increase your life expectancy!

How can this be true? Well, let me share with you a few examples… Pregnant women who have periodontal disease have a higher rate for premature births as it increase prostaglandin (a labor inducing compound). Premature births can cause complications for both mom and baby.  Those with gum disease are also twice as likely to die before the age of 64, according to a study based on a U.S. sample of 11,000 over the age of 30.  Young men with gum disease have increased risk of dying from coronary heart disease and about a 50% increased risk of admission to a hospital for coronary heart disease.  AND 1 in 10 deaths caused by respiratory infections in the elderly could be prevented by better hygiene care as inhalation of fine droplets from the mouth into the lungs can cause pneumonia, COPD, and bronchitis.

With this information, you may be trying to remember a few important things. Did I brush my teeth last night? When was my last dental exam?  Do I even own floss? (Periodontal Associates will give you some!)

These are great questions as preventative dental maintenance is the best place to decrease your risk of disease, need for dental implants, and increase your life expectancy.  Dr. Versman, Dr. Heller, and Dr. Beckman would love to show you how. In fact, Dr. Versman says it best, “We are actually able to change people’s lives.”

Not only can our doctors change lives, they can extend them.  In fact, Dr. Michael F. Roizen, in his classic book, Real Age: Are You as Young as You Can Be, concluded that dental disease and tooth loss doesn’t just perceive you to look older, they actually make you older. Gum disease can make our real age more than 3.4 years older. Instead, come to Periodontal Associates where we can give you the kind of smile that will make you look younger than you really are.  Dr. Roizen also says those who have great dental maintenance and keep gum disease at bay can look 6.4 years younger than their true age. 

Do not waste another minute of your life, call Periodontal Associates today at (303) 755-4500 or click here for an appointment.  You can also access more information by visiting our website at www.periodntalhealth.com.  We are located in Aurora, CO but we serve the Denver metro areas, including Arvada, Denver Tech Center, Castle Rock, Englewood, Northglenn, Highlands Ranch, Centennial, Littleton, and all surrounding areas.  Clients come from near and far to see our dental implant team with Dr. Versman, Dr Heller, and Dr. Beckman all specializing in Periodontics.

A+ if you Brush

It’s the start of a new school year here in the Denver - Aurora, area, and moms and kids alike are scrambling to wake up early, pack lunches, and eat their Wheaties.  However, Periodontal Associates wants to make you aware that there may be one important step being looked over in order for kids to reach their potential and make good grades. According to the American Journal of Public Health, kids can fall behind in school when suffering from poor oral health and dental disease as it can result in tooth pain.  Dr. Versman, Heller, and Beckman do not want this to happen to your children!

You may want to know how this connection was found. Well, exactly 1495 elementary and high school children in the Los Angeles Unified School District who were socioeconomically disadvantaged were examined by The University of Southern California (USC), and they matched their oral health status to their academic accomplishments and attendance. “On average, elementary children missed a total of six days per year, and high school children missed 2.6 days. For elementary students, 2.1 days of missed school were due to dental problems, and high school students missed 2.3 days due to dental issues,” Roseann Mulligan, chair of the Division of Dental Public Health and Pediatric Dentistry says.

This study revealed that kids were almost 4 times more likely to have a low grade point average when they were experiencing toothaches. MOM & DAD, ARE YOU READING THIS! Unfortunately, since children in families with lower incomes are sometimes inaccessible to dental care, 11% of them miss school, unlike 4% of kids who do have access to a dentist like Dr. Versman, Heller, and Beckman. This would reflect in 58 -80 hours of school hours missed for every 100 children. Not to mention, parents miss about 2.5 days of work in order to care for their aching children.  This could be happening in Denver, CO, too!

Based on this study, they were able to conclude that oral health DOES in fact affect students’ academic performance. However, it would be beneficial to conduct further studies that separate the clinical, socioeconomic, and cultural challenges associated with this epidemic of dental disease in children as they are all intertwine and affect one another.

Periodontal Associates believes that good dental hygiene can increase you and your kids ability to be successful by preventing disease and enabling more time to do the things you love!  Dr. Versman, Dr. Heller, and Dr. Beckman have a mission to prevent the need for dental implants and gum disease by better home care and regular maintenance visits.  As much as we love our patients, we rather educate them on the progression of gum disease and prevention rather than on the treatment of periodontal disease.

For more on the study, you can read it directly by clicking here. Otherwise, contact your favorite dental office in the Denver metro area, Periodontal Associates, to schedule a time for you and your children learn how to prevent bad grades by preventing dental disease. Dr. Versman, Dr. Heller, and Dr. Beckman would be happy to see your kids and set them up for success. For an appointment, call us at (303) 755-4500 or simply click here to make to request an appointment online.

Psychologist and Dentists Marry Ideas and End Fear

Are you Fearful About Dental Implants or Dental Visits?

I think it is safe to say there is a common and overwhelming fear of the dental office. It can be a common cause of anxiety as people visualize a drill-wielding man in a white coat just waiting to cause pain and remove teeth. Although this could not be further from the truth with Dr. Versman, Dr. Heller, and Dr. Beckman here at Periodontal Associates, it is pleasing to know there are some steps being taken to disprove this nightmare and increase the frequency of dental appointments to help with dental maintenance and prevent the need for dental implants.

Researchers at Sydney University claim that psychologists have helped to reverse decay in many patients.  Professor Wendell Evans, researcher on reversing tooth decay, created this relationship with psychologists to promote preventive dental care. The dean of Sydney University's Faculty of Dentistry, Professor Chris Peck, said patients in the new caries management program would undergo behavioral interviewing. "We use psychologists to change an individual's behavior to get them to modify diet and to use the best preventive approaches. It is not one appointment, but multiple appointments to reinforce those changes."

Although this study is going on in Australia, Dr. Versman, Heller, and Beckman have great ways to eliminate fears for good in the Denver – Aurora, CO area. Here are a couple of ways:

1.       Talk to the dentist – The dentist is not a mind reader. Though it can be hard to talk about irrational fears with a stranger, Dr. Versman, Heller, and Beckman take extra precautions during visits if fears and anxiety are communicated - just ask our patients!

2.       Bring a portable music player – Music acts as a relaxant and also drowns out any fear-producing noises. Listening to calming music throughout the appointment will help to reduce anxiety. (Periodontal Associates usually has great jams playing in every room!)

3.       Agree on a signal – Many people are afraid that the dentist will not know they are in significant pain during the appointment, and will carry on the procedure regardless. The best way to solve this is to agree on a “stop” hand signal with the dentist. Both parties can easily understand signals like raising the hand or tapping on the chair.

4.       Spray the throat – Throat sprays (for example, Vicks^® Chloraseptic^® Throat Spray) can actually control the gag reflex. Two or three sprays will usually keep the reflex under control for about an hour.

5.       Take a mirror – Not being able to see what is happening can increase anxiety and make the imagination run wild. Although Dr. Versman, Heller, and Beckman are great at walking you through the procedure before it even begins.

6.       Sedation – If there is no other way to cope, sedation offers an excellent option for many people. There are several types of sedation, but the general premise behind them is the same: the patient regains their faculties after dental implant or treatment is complete.

7.       Ask about alternatives – Advances in technology mean that dental microsurgery is now an option. Lasers can be used to prepare teeth for fillings, whiten teeth and remove staining. Discuss all the options with the dentist and decide on one that is effective and produces minimal anxiety.

 See what you can learn already about making the dental visit more relaxing? Just imagine how at ease and excited you will feel about defeating your gum recession and gaining a beautiful smile with your dental implants after you meet with our doctors: Dr. Versman, Dr. Heller, and Dr. Beckman.  They will walk you through the process in ways you can understand and know what to expect.  Our entire dental implant team here at Periodontal Associates will make you feel at home and carefree, you won’t even need a psychologist!

Go ahead, give us a call at (303) 755-4500. We are located in the Denver metro area, specifically Aurora. We cannot wait to end your apprehensions about dentures, implants, gum grafting, oral reconstruction, or even teeth cleaning!

FEAR NO MORE!