How Can I Prevent Dental Problems?

While our doctors here at Sage Dental Care have the specialized experience and compassionate touch needed to handle all of your dental concerns, we’d prefer to help you stop them from ever happening in the first place. That’s why we emphasize the power of preventive care at every turn, providing helpful checkups, refreshing cleanings, and other services that can greatly benefit smiles of all ages. We have three convenient locations in Westminster, Boulder, and Lafayette, CO – contact us today to schedule an appointment!

What Can I Expect During My First Visit?

Our team’s goals are simple – we want to learn everything we can about your current oral health and the personal goals you have for your smile! We’ll start with a comprehensive examination, which will include the capturing of digital X-rays, an educational tour with intraoral cameras, a thorough visual oral exam, a periodontal screening, an oral cancer screening, and more. Once we have all of this important information, our doctors can work with you to formulate the ideal treatment plan that addresses any concerns and exceeds your expectations.

We also strongly recommend undergoing a refreshing cleaning with one of our talented hygienists. Having your teeth professionally cleaned has many valuable benefits – it helps remove bacteria-filled plaque and tartar from the teeth and gums, and it can also reduce noticeable staining. Our team can provide helpful lessons about brushing and flossing at home to boot! 

Do You Treat Children?

Yes! We enjoy seeing patients of all ages, including young children, teenagers, and everyone in-between. Having good dental care experiences early on can make all the difference regarding how you feel about visiting the dentist later on in life, and our doctors and staff members will do our best to be as kind and friendly as possible, helping your loved ones remain genuinely at ease.

During routine appointments for children, we gently inspect their teeth (both “baby” and adult) and gums, taking careful note of any potential developmental concerns so that they can be addressed as early on as possible. Helpful preventive services are also available to protect and strengthen their growing smiles, including dental sealants and fluoride treatment. Sealants are designed to cover the chewing grooves of back teeth so as to keep out food particles and dangerous bacteria, while professional fluoride applications benefit tooth enamel, making it stronger and less prone to cavities.

Is There A Way To Stop Grinding My Teeth?

There is. Teeth grinding (also known as bruxism) is a very common condition among stressed-out adults, many of whom aren’t even aware it’s happening. Untreated cases can result in badly damaged teeth, painful headaches, and other unpleasant symptoms. During your regular checkups, our doctors and staff members will inspect your jaw joints and teeth for any tell-tale indications of bruxism. If needed, we can design an oral appliance (also known as a “nightguard”) that can be worn during sleep in order to protect your smile and minimize dangerous grinding.

How Do You Find Oral Cancer?

Our team conducts a thorough visual exam, carefully inspecting the oral tissues for common symptoms of cancerous (or even precancerous) cells. These include:

• White or red patches of oral tissue
• Oral sores that bleed easily and/or are slow to heal properly
• Lumps, crusts, or thickened areas of skin within the mouth

The earlier oral cancer is located and diagnosed, the higher chances are that the affected patient will have a full, successful recovery. That’s why we take this responsibility very seriously!

What is Gum Disease? How Can I Treat Gum Disease?

Gum disease (also known as periodontal disease) is a dangerous bacterial infection, and a very common one as well. In fact, it’s the leading cause of tooth loss among adults in the United States. While this condition starts off in a relatively harmless fashion – a little bleeding in the gums, maybe some sensitive oral tissue – untreated cases can quickly grow out of control, leading to permanent oral deterioration. At our three Colorado dental office locations, our team takes this threat to your wellbeing very seriously, and we’ll diagnose and treat it as soon as we possibly can.

If we determine during your checkup that you’re experiencing gum disease, we can provide a revitalizing, in-depth cleaning known as scaling and root planing. During this procedure, our hygienists will carefully and thoroughly remove plaque and bacteria from underneath the gum line (the scaling portion). They will also smooth the rough tooth root surfaces (the root planing portion) in order to minimize any accumulations there as well.

How Do I Stay Calm at the Dentist’s Office?

Helping patients feel at ease throughout their appointments is important to our team here at Sage Dental Care. If you struggle with dental-related anxiety or fear, talk to us about undergoing nitrous oxide sedation at your next appointment. Also known as “laughing gas,” nitrous oxide is administered through a mask that fits over the nose, and its calming, even heartwarming effects start within minutes. Better yet, once the mask is removed, you’ll recover right away, which is ideal for busy patients who need to get back to work/school as soon as possible.