During routine dental examinations, your dentist may look for signs of oral cancer. Oral cancer refers to cancers in the tongue, mouth, lips, jaw, and throat. Many Lafayette dental patients don’t realize the seriousness of oral cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that over 39,000 people will get oral cancer this year.1 Consider this sobering…
Your Boulder dental practice would be a very different place if it weren’t for the expert dental assistants who work there. Today in our Lafayette, Colorado dental blog we would like to highlight the importance of these hard workers who are often taken for granted. Dental assistants make your dental appointment much more effective, efficient,…
Swollen and painful gums are symptoms of periodontal disease, an inflammatory gum disease. Swelling occurs from an auto-immune response of the body reacting to an infection. Infections are noticeable through pain, redness, and warmth. If the infection is left untreated, it can impact the bone near the teeth. The body’s immune system wants to rid…
Your maxillary sinuses are very close upstairs neighbors of your top teeth. In some areas, only a sliver of tissue separates the upper tooth roots from the bottom of the sinus cavity. It’s no wonder that when there is pain in that general area, the particular location can be hard to discover. Allergies, infections, and…
New Lafayette parents may be surprised by the American Dental Association’s recommendations on infant oral care. Parents are advised to begin brushing their baby’s teeth as soon as the first teeth emerge. After all, brand-new teeth are just as vulnerable to tooth decay as older teeth. Parents are encourage to use a cloth and a…
How do you measure “dental success?” A check-up with no cavities? A perfect smile? A crown that looks as natural as the surrounding teeth? It could mean all those things and many more. For a child, dental success could be defined as a childhood free of cavities, learning daily dental hygiene practices, and gaining an…
In today’s Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry post, we share some fun facts about dentistry. Enjoy! Many dental patients are aware that before there was formal dental training and licensing, barbers often performed dental procedures. But did you know that blacksmiths also moonlighted as dentists?1 How would you like your dental visit to…
“How can I deal with anxiety about visiting the dentist for the first time?”
1. Consider what the anxiety stems from. For example: pain, injections, loss of control, personal space invasion, embarrassment about fear of the unknown.
2. Discuss these fears and concerns with your dentist.
3. Expect respectful consideration and open discussion about resolving concerns.
Hello! I’m Dr. Gordon West of Gordon West DDS, Cosmetic & General Dentistry in Lafayette. I have been practicing quality general and cosmetic dentistry since 1998. Today’s post focuses on malocclusion, or bad bite.
Hopefully you are one of many health-conscious Lafayette residents who is finding ways to get outside or to the gym and get moving. There has been an explosion in the variety of activities offered by personal trainers, all-purpose Lafayette gyms, specialty facilities, and Colorado recreation departments in recent years. With all these exciting ways to…