So if you have had a great experience at our office, tell someone you know! You'll get your choice of a $25 gift card to one of four great area restaurants--Rio Grande, Pasta Jay's, Clock Tower Grill or Old Blinking Light. Just our way of saying thank you!

Our new address is 9400 Station Street, Suite 175, Lone Tree, CO 80124. We are conveniently located off Park Meadows Drive at the Lincoln Light Rail Station, just north of the Marriott Hotel near I-25 and Lincoln.

We can't wait for you to visit the new office! Please call us with any questions at 303-779-2797.

What are you looking forward to in 2013? Many people set resolutions on New Year's Eve to become healthier this year--whether it is weight loss, exercising more, quitting smoking or just trying to eat better. Don't forget that a healthier you can also include a healthier mouth. Making a point to take care of past dental issues that you put off will not only prevent the problem from getting worse, it will help your overall health. And for many of you, your dental insurance benefits may have renewed on January 1st. That means your maximum annual spend is once again available to you. We can't think of a better way to jumpstart a healthy 2013 than to take care of that dental work you need.

I have an exciting announcement to make about the future of my dental practice. The addition of Dr. Mark Braasch this past year has been a great success. Thanks to your loyalty to our office and the referrals of your friends and family, we have outgrown our space.

We recently broke ground on a state of the art dental office that will allow us to provide a high level of service to you as well as utilize the latest in dental technology. The space is located about three miles from our current office near Lincoln & I-25, just north of the Marriott hotel. The address will be 9400 Station Street, Suite 175, Lone Tree, CO 80124. Click here for a map.

Some of the attributes we are most excited about are: 

• Ten operatory rooms, including private hygiene rooms to allow for greater privacy during your cleanings.
   
• A consultation room to allow us to spend more time with patients who have additional questions.
   
• A larger waiting area with additional seating.
   
• The latest in technology to allow us to better serve you.
   
• More space for my great team of people.

Our planned move date is in late January.  We have posted photos of the construction progress for those of you interested.

Finally, I would personally like to thank you for making this move possible.  Many of you have been coming to me for all of my fifteen years of practice and many of you are new to our office. On behalf of Dr. Braasch and our team, we appreciate all of you and look forward to continuing to be your dentist. 

Regards,

Mary Kissinger-Blakeley, DDS

For some people, it may not bother them. But for others, they hate that their once straight smile is crooked again. If that describes you, we can help with Invisalign clear aligner therapy.

If the thought of adult orthodontics send shivers down your spine or brings back awkward memories of a mouthful of metal braces, don’t worry. Invisalign is different than traditional braces because it is a series of nearly invisible, removable aligners (similar to invisible retainers) that slowly move your teeth over time. So no metal braces, no eating restrictions, and best of all no embarrassing photos. You simply wear the clear aligners all the time except when eating or brushing your teeth. Additionally, Invisalign surprisingly cost no more than traditional braces and your dental insurance may offer some coverage.   

If you are interested in a free consultation to see if you are a candidate for Invisalign, give us a call at 303-779-2797 and get back the smile you once had.

As a reminder if you have dental treatment you have put on hold, now is a great time to schedule an appointment to maximize your insurance benefits and use any remaining flex account dollars you have. You pay for your insurance benefits and set aside your flex dollars so you want to make sure you don't lose that hard earned money.

To help make your portion more affordable, we also have 3rd party financing options for your convenience. Call us today at 303-779-2797 to schedule your appointment before time runs out.

Brinker International®(Chili's®, Macaroni Grill®, On The Border®, Maggiano's®) is not a sponsor or co-sponsor of this promotion.

People choose to put off dental care for many reasons—financial, busy schedules, or simply feeling like a cavity doesn’t matter. What many don’t realize is the effect a small cavity can have on your tooth over time. Check out this clip from The Doctors television show to see a simple demonstration of what can happen to your tooth.

Don't be a statistic and let your cavities go untreated. You may save yourself a lot of damage and money down the road.

So what is the consumer to do? Read the reviews and take the best and worst with a grain of salt. Be wary of businesses with only all 5-star reviews. Sure, you want the collective experience to be great but it is unrealistic that businesses will satisfy customers 100% of the time. If there is a bad review, see if the business owner responded to address or remedy the situation.

How about when looking for a new dentist? The best strategy is to ask those people you know and trust—your neighbors, friends, and co-workers. Look at the website and see if there are recent testimonials from multiple patients. Consistent positive feedback from numerous patients should give you a sense that you can trust what you read. If you are still unsure, make an appointment for a free consultation to meet the dentist. You can bring a list of questions to ask while also getting a feel for the staff and office environment.

Please know that you are not alone and we can help you. We understand that your fear or anxiety may come from a variety of sources. It can range from the smell and sounds of a dental office to fear of a painful procedure to potential embarrassment over your dental needs. No matter what causes your anxiety, we will treat you with the compassion you deserve. We understand that your fear is real and we will do everything we can to help make your visit as pleasant as possible. From headphones to movies to conscious sedation, there are several things we can use to make you feel more comfortable.

If you don’t feel comfortable verbalizing your fears, you can fill out the Handle Me With Care form. Simply bring it with you to your appointment to let us know about all of your concerns. Whether you tell us in person or use the form, the most important thing you need to do is to let us know what bothers you so we can help you.

If you find yourself getting lost in the conversation, please make a point to stop us and remind us that you did not go to dental school. Trust us, we are not intentionally trying to confuse you and will appreciate the interruption so we can ensure you understand everything we are saying. We may do the same when you try to explain your job to us!

So just how knowledgeable are you when it comes to dentistry and taking care of your teeth? Do you understand when the dentist or hygienist talks to you? Or are you nodding your head and hearing garbled noise as if we are in Charlie Brown? Take the below quiz and find out.

1. How many teeth are in the adult mouth?
2. What teeth numbers refer to your wisdom teeth?
3. True or False—Sugarless chewing gum is good for your teeth.
4. What color is a composite filling?
5. True or False—It is worse to eat 10 pieces of candy at once rather than to eat one piece of candy every hour.
6. How many times a day should you floss?
7. What does an FMX stand for?
8. True or False—Tooth decay will heal itself.
9. What does a Periodontist specialize in?
10. What are dental sealants?
11. Extra Credit—What is the going rate for the tooth fairy in 2012?

Answers:

1. 32
2. 1, 16, 17, 32
3. True—Chewing sugarless gum after meals generates saliva and helps remove food particles from your mouth.
4. Tooth-colored
5. False—It is not necessarily the amount of sweets you eat, but how often you eat them. The longer food that promotes bacteria stays in your mouth, the worse it is.
6. Once
7. Full Mouth X-ray
8. False—Tooth decay does not heal itself and most often worsens.
9. A Periodontist is a dentist who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal (gum) disease.
10. Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings that are applied to the grooves on the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to protect them from tooth decay. Most tooth decay in children and teens occurs on these surfaces. Sealants protect the chewing surfaces from tooth decay by keeping germs and food particles out of these grooves.
11. Although this varies widely, on average, $1.00 per tooth (up from a quarter in the early 80’s).
     

Did you pass? If not, don’t worry. Just be sure to ask a few more questions the next time you are at the dentist to ensure you understand how best to take care of your mouth.

We wanted to pass along both a phone number and website for any patients that saw Dr. Stephen Stein from September 1999 through June 2011 at either his Highlands Ranch or Denver locations. The CDPHE notified area primary care and dental providers yesterday in regard to unsafe injection practices at his office locations.

For further information, please call the Colorado Health Emergency Line for Public Information (COHELP) at 1-877-462-2911 or visit the below website:

http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/dc/Epidemiology/dentistFAQs.pdf

So why is dentistry viewed differently? There are several reasons:

• “It is just a cavity—it can wait”. For various motives (financial, time, or even anxiety) several people put off necessary dental work. What they don’t understand is that tooth decay will never get better. At best it will stay the same and, at worse, that cavity can become larger and larger until a filling won’t be sufficient to address it. Frequently we see patients who originally needed relatively small fillings that have now turned into crowns, root canals, or worse yet, a tooth that cannot be saved.
   
•  “It is too expensive”. We understand that dental and medical care is probably the last place you want to spend your money. However if you visit a dentist regularly (twice a year) and take care of decay when it is first found, you can save yourself a lot of money in the long run. A $250 filling is often easier to manage than a $1200 crown or a $4000 implant. The chances of the decay worsening increases the longer you put off treatment.
   
•  “I don’t care about my teeth”.  While the appearance of your teeth may not bother you, you should care about the related health problems that poor oral health can have on your entire body. Research has shown a definitive link between periodontal disease, the subsequent bacteria in your mouth, and heart disease.  
   
• “The dentist is just trying to make money”. Just as in every profession, there are sure to be unscrupulous people in dentistry. The vast majority of dentists, however, have the highest ethics in regard to their patients. What patients don’t understand is that it is the moral and legal obligation of every dentist to tell you about any and every problem in your mouth. While some issues may be more pressing than others, it is the dentist’s responsibility to inform you completely. To put it in another perspective, you would expect your primary care physician to tell you about your high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. It would be unethical for them to fail to disclose a major medical condition because they didn’t want to overwhelm you. Dentistry is the same way.

So the next time your dentist recommends a procedure, don’t dismiss it as arbitrary and ask more questions. Find out the implications from putting off treatment and determine if that is something you and your health can afford.

  
For every new patient you refer in July, you’ll be entered to win your choice of a golf or spa package ($200 value).
Drawing to be held August 1, 2012.

 And don't forget--you also get a $25 gift card to one of four great restaurants for every new patient you refer!

Good Luck!

1. You will actually brush as long as you should. We all know that we should brush for at least 2 minutes twice a day. Have you ever timed yourself? It would be a safe bet to say that you probably aren’t brushing your teeth as long as you think. Most electric toothbrushes, such as Sonicare® or Oral B®, have built in timers to beep when you are through to ensure you are brushing long enough. Some also beep at different intervals to encourage you to change quadrants so you brush all areas of your mouth equally.
    
2. Healthier gums and better breath. Advanced technology allows electric toothbrushes to drive fluid between the teeth and under the gum line, helping to prevent gum disease and improve bad breath. Different settings also allow for different needs. The newest models have different settings to achieve the results you are looking for, such as whitening, polishing, or gentle gum care modes.
    
3. Your teeth may look whiter. Studies have shown that electric toothbrushes remove significantly more plaque than manual toothbrushes, especially in hard to reach areas. Not only is this good for your oral health, it also may make your teeth noticeably whiter.
    

Some people are hesitant because they aren’t sure if they will like the vibration on their teeth. Most people get used to it right away however you can always purchase a basic, inexpensive electric toothbrush initially to try it out. If you like how it feels, you can then upgrade to one of the newer models with better technology.

If you ultimately decide that an electric toothbrush is not for you, a manual toothbrush is still an effective alternative. Make sure you are brushing twice a day for two minutes, applying the correct amount of pressure, and reaching all areas of your mouth. As is the case with both manual and electric toothbrushes, make sure that you change the toothbrush or brush head every 3 months to ensure the bristles are straight and not bent.

If you still have questions, ask your dentist or hygienist and they can discuss which option or brand might be best suited for you.

As you may have heard, Dr. Mark Braasch joined Willow Creek Dental in April. In addition to offering general and cosmetic dentistry, Dr. Braasch specializes in migraine therapy and TMJ disorder treatment. He has received extensive training in neuromuscular dentistry and has been able to successfully treat patients without surgery.

Most people who suffer from migraines or TMJ disorder have been dealing with pain and are looking for treatment options. Misalignment of teeth is relatively easy to correct and treatment options include adjusting the bite, orthotics, orthodontics, or restoring the teeth to their correct positions.

Click here to read testimonials from a few of Dr. Braasch’s patients that he has previously treated.

If you are interested in having a free consultation with Dr. Braasch to learn more about migraine or TMJ disorder therapy, contact our office today at 303-779-2797 or send him an email at drbraasch@willowcreekdds.com.