Excellence in Dental Care
We are proud to offer the town of Telluride a wide range of dental services, so most procedures can be done right in our offie. From general dentistry, like fillings and crowns, to periodontal care, we offer our patients comprehensive expertise.
Whitening
There is no substitute for teeth whitening by a dental professional. Unlike over-the-counter systems, our whitening gels remove long-standing intrinsic stains in the tooth enamel and dentin.
We start by taking impressions to create custom bleach trays that you take home and use with our professional bleach gels. After 2 weeks of at-home use, we do an in-office bleaching session to boost the whitening process. The custom trays are yours to maintain your brighter, whiter shade at your own pace.
Crowns & Bridges
A crown is a type of restoration that can repair, protect, or change the shape/color of a tooth, especially when the changes needed are larger than what a filling can provide. Fillings fill holes and crowns protect teeth. A bridge is used to restore a missing tooth by connecting two crowns with a replacement tooth in between them.
We have the capability to make a same-day crown, right in our office using Cerec scanning and milling technology. When we choose to outsource our crowns due to material or esthetic preferences, we use only the highest credentialed master ceramists in the country.
Gum Lifts
Gum lifts, also known as gum contouring or gingival sculpting, is a cosmetic dental procedure that involves reshaping and recontouring the gums to improve the appearance of a "gummy smile." The procedure involves removing excess gum tissue to reveal more of the teeth and creating a more symmetrical, aesthetically pleasing gum line.
The procedure is usually performed using local anesthesia. The gum tissue is carefully reshaped using a laser or a scalpel to create the desired contour. The tissue is healed within 10 days, with full results in 6 weeks. Gum lifts are an extremely conservative esthetic procedure to greatly enhance a smile.
Implant Prosthetics
Full dentures are no longer the only option to replace a full complement of teeth. Using implants, we can now make a full bridge ("hybrid") that mimics natural teeth as closely as possible. This prosthesis attaches to four or more implants and is not removable, it stays in the mouth attached to implants, only to be taken off by a dental professional.
This is currently the best option for replacing many missing teeth, both functionally and esthetically. We are happy to be able to complete this entire procedure at our office!
Root Canals
Toothaches happen, usually at the most inconvenient times! Once. a tooth is spontaneously painful, usually a root canal is needed to removed the source of the pain and save the tooth.
Root canal procedures are not painful, but the toothache that precedes them gives them a bad reputation. The procedure is done with local anesthesia and involves removing the infected or damaged pulp from the inside of the tooth, cleaning out the root canals, and filling them with a special material to prevent further infection. Typically, a tooth needs a crown after the root canal is completed in order to prevent it from breaking. Root canals are highly successful and are the best option for saving painful teeth.
Pediatric Patients
We are happy to see your little ones in our office! We are able to provide most pediatric services, from cleanings to fillings and hygiene education. There is no fluoride in the water in Telluride and the surrounding communities, so good brushing and flossing habits are even more important.
We recommend seeing children starting when they get their first teeth--it's so important to establish trust and comfort with the dentist at a young age. If a child's needs are more than what we can provide, we refer to pediatric dentists in Montrose and Grand Junction.
Sleep Appliances
Sleep apnea disorders are becoming more and more prevalent. A dental sleep appliance, or mandibular advancement device, is a fantastic alternative to a CPAP machine for patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea.
When a person sleeps, the muscles in the throat and tongue relax, which can cause the airway to become blocked and result in snoring or even pauses in breathing. This appliance works by repositioning the lower jaw forward, which helps to keep the airway open by tightening the tissues in the back of the throat.
It's important to note that not all patients are good candidates for a dental sleep apnea appliance, and a thorough evaluation by a sleep specialist or dentist is necessary to determine the most appropriate treatment plan.
Periodontal Therapy
When plaque sits on teeth for a long time, the minerals in saliva can harden it to a tenacious build-up called calculus. Once this is on the teeth and under the gums, scaling and root planing is necessary to get the gum and bone back to health. This is a non-surgical technique to treat gum disease, remove calculus and plaque buildup in the gums and around tooth roots, and help prevent cavities and tooth decay. This safe treatment, also known as a "deep cleaning" is effective and also helps prevent gum disease from developing. If you hygienist recommends this, it consists of two appointments, breaking up the left and right sides of the mouth.
White Spot Removal
White spots are a common dental problem on front teeth often caused by demineralization of the enamel after braces but can also be developmental in nature. Icon resin infiltration is a minimally invasive cosmetic dental treatment used to treat these white spots without any drilling or needles. The treatment takes about an hour and involves the application of a special resin material to the surface of the affected tooth, filling in the tiny pores and spaces within the enamel to create a more uniform and natural appearance. It is often used as an alternative to more invasive treatments such as dental bonding or veneers. Results depend on the depth of the white spot.
