Restorative Dental Services

When our doctors at Southern Cross Dental use the term “restorative dentistry,” he or she is referring to the integrated management of oral health problems and restoring the mouth to a functional and esthetic state. Restorative dental procedures may include replacing missing teeth with dental bridges, tooth bonding, crowns, or dentures. The goal of these procedures is to preserve the natural teeth as much as possible.

Once our doctors diagnose your dental condition, they will discuss treatment options with you in detail. If you have missing teeth, dental implants and bridges work best to resemble natural teeth and restore them to their natural function. A dental crown can protect a tooth if dental bonding isn’t strong enough to withstand chewing forces. Restorative dental services as well as cosmetic, have similar properties, both aesthetically fix the problem and revive the tooth back to life.  

If you wish to learn more about restorative dental services, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.scdsmile.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call 719-471-1717.

Veneers Transform Your Smile

If your teeth suffer some undesirable defects, such as being cracked, chipped, or discolored due to stains, you may be a candidate for porcelain veneers. Dental veneers are wafer-thin, custom-made shells crafted of tooth-colored materials that are designed to cover the front side of teeth. They are an ideal choice if you wish to improve your smile and have become increasingly popular due to their simplicity and versatility and we provide them to Southern Cross Dental patients.

Veneers are an excellent alternative to crowns in many situations because they offer a much more conservative approach to changing a tooth’s color, size or shape. Because dental veneers are an irreversible process, it is critical that you are involved and informed every step of the way. Once the veneers have been placed, one of our doctors will explain the corrective limitations of the procedure.

If you wish to learn more about veneers, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.scdsmile.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call 719-471-1717.

Teeth Whitening

Everyone likes to be able to present their brightest and whitest smile. At Southern Cross Dental, many patients ask our staff about over the counter products, and have tried them with underwhelming results.  Instead of winging it with retail products, come see us for a consultation and get your own custom whitening system!

During a consultation, your dentist will examine the level of staining on your teeth and be able to tell you what kind of results you can expect from the whitening system. To whiten your teeth at home, you will be fit with custom whitening trays made from molds of your teeth.  For a treatment, apply the whitening gel directly onto the trays and fit them over your teeth.  Your dentist will advise how often you should treat at home and how long each treatment can last.  Following dentist’s instructions, patients have seen this system whiten their smiles 4-8 shades!

To learn more about teeth whitening and all the services we provide at the practice, visit www.scdsmile.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call 719-471-1717.

Periodontal Maintenance

In its most advanced stages, gum disease can lead to gum recession, and even tooth loss.  Southern Cross Dental wants to make sure it never gets to that point for you and your family!  When plaque builds up on a tooth, the gum starts to pull away from the tooth and form a pocket around the buildup, which only leads to more gum recession.  A scaling and root planing procedure is used to treat this buildup and prevent the later stages of gum disease.

Scaling and root planning are two parts of a deep cleaning procedure your dentist can perform to help reverse the progress of gum disease.  The procedure beings with scaling, which is the process of the dentist removing plaque from the surface of the teeth, all the way down to the gums. Root planing is the term for any minor contouring to smooth the surface of a tooth near the root.  When plaque has been removed and the tooth root has been smoothed, the gums that have pulled away will have a clean, smooth surface to reattach to as they heal.

To learn more about deep periodontal cleaning and the other services we provide, visit www.scdsmile.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call 719-471-1717.

Tooth Abscess

An abscessed tooth is an infection within a tooth that has spread to the root tip or around the root. This infection originates from the tooth’s inner pulp chamber. Prior to the formation of an abscess, the tooth has essentially lost its ability to fight off infection, and bacteria are able to invade the pulp and multiply. As a result, the abscess appears as a collection of pus that is made up of dead white blood cells, tissue debris, and bacteria. Our doctors at Southern Cross Dental can treat this problem when it arises.

There are many causes for a tooth abscess. A very common cause is when a dental cavity becomes so large and deep that if it reaches the pulp chamber where an inflammatory process develops in the tooth. The initial symptoms begin with localized swelling and pain that gets progressively worse over time. A tender and sore mass (abscess) may then be felt with a finger and your gums may bleed.

If you have questions or concerns regarding dental abscesses, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.scdsmile.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call 719-471-1717.

Pediatric Dentistry

Southern Cross Dental is proud to serve professionals and their families, and we want them to know it’s just as important for their children to have regular dental visits.  A child’s first dental visit should be scheduled when the first baby tooth appears, or around the child’s first birthday.  Baby teeth eventually come out, but their growth and development is important for the overall oral health for the child and the development of their adult teeth.

Baby teeth should be brushed and cared for like adult teeth, and it’s important to monitor their growth and development.  Missing any tooth for too long can change the development of surrounding teeth and compromise the structure of the jaw bone, but regular checkups can keep a child’s tooth development right on track.  Our dentists are skilled and experienced in administering dental care to children.  If your child has seems nervous about seeing a dentist for the first time, we recommend going through a brushing routine with them at home, and talking about the dental visit before you arrive.  Once we get your child’s oral health off to a great start, we offer a full range of services for child patients including dental cleanings, fluoride treatments and sealants.

To learn more about pediatric dental care and all the services provided at our practice, visit www.scdsmile.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call 719-471-1717.

Osteonecrosis of the Jaw

We make dental extractions quick and easy at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs. Usually, a non-surgical extraction can be done in just a few seconds and the empty socket will be healed within days. However, there is a potential complication which can arise in people on certain medications, which is why we want our patients to understand what osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) is.

Osteonecrosis is when bone tissue dies. This can occur if bone is exposed to air, which the jawbone is immediately after a tooth is removed, but this situation is usually not dangerous unless the patient is on bisphosphonate medication. Bisphosphonates are used to prevent bone resorption in people with osteoporosis or who are receiving chemotherapy. Almost all known cases of ONJ occurred in chemotherapy patients receiving bisphosphonates through an IV drip.

ONJ is an example of why it is so important for patients to disclose their entire medical and medication history, even for routine procedures. If it occurs, dead bone can be shaved off and treated with anti-bacterial spray, but it is best to avoid scheduling extractions for current chemotherapy patients. If a patient is expected to start chemotherapy, they should discuss with their oncologist whether they have time for dental procedures.

Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour operate Southern Cross Dental at 1855 S Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80905-2516. To schedule an appointment, call 719-471-1717 or visit Southern Cross Family Dentistry and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Pediatric Dental Sealants

Children are more prone to cavities than an adult which is why dental sealant is beneficial to them at a young age. Although thorough brushing and flossing will remove food particles from tooth enamel, the toothbrush can’t reach in between the crevices. A dental sealant is a thin, plastic coating that is painted on the surfaces of premolars and molars to prevent tooth decay. Our doctors at Southern Cross Dental can perform this procedure in one short visit.

Dental sealants are usually placed on the chewing surfaces of teeth because these are the areas that have deep grooves where food gets caught. Sealants protect the acidity and sugars in these foods from attacking the gums and enamel. Though it is less common, adults may receive dental sealants too as long as they do not have any pre-existing fillings or sealants.

If you have further questions regarding pediatric dental services, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.scdsmile.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call 719-471-1717.

Tooth Extraction Procedure

If a tooth has been broken or damaged by decay, one of our doctors at Southern Cross Dental will first try to fix it with a filling, crown or other dental treatment. However, when there’s too much damage for the tooth to be repaired, the tooth may need to be removed from its socket in the bone. Though tooth extraction is typically a last resort when all other options fail, we offer this service to eliminate oral discomfort.

There are two different categories of extractions – simple and surgical. A simple extraction is performed on a tooth that can be seen in the mouth. In a simple extraction, the dentist at Southern Cross Dental loosens the tooth with an instrument called an elevator. Then, the dentist uses forceps to remove the tooth. A surgical extraction is a more complex procedure. It is used if a tooth may have broken off at the gum line or has not come into the mouth yet, such as wisdom teeth. During a surgical extraction, the doctor will make a small incision into your gum. Sometimes it’s necessary to remove some of the bone around the tooth or to cut the tooth in half in order to extract it.

If you have questions or concerns regarding tooth extraction, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.scdsmile.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call 719-471-1717.

Fixed Bridges

People who need new caps for their teeth are in good hands at Southern Cross Dental. We provide fixed bridges as well as individual crowns. Since bridges are one of many restorative options out there, we wanted to explain why they’re sometimes the best option.

Bridges are multiple crowns linked together. Although some are supported by implants, they are often attached to existing teeth. The natural teeth are reshaped (after the patient has been numbed and sedated) into cylinders, and the outer crowns of the bridge are cemented over them. Dentists usually avoid reshaping crowns unless necessary, but it is commonly done with crowns that are badly eroded or ground down.

While implants replace natural tooth roots, bridges allow them to remain in place. This allows the jaw bone to maintain some stability, eliminates the risk of the patient having an allergic reaction to the metal, and provides the bridge with a healthier, more resilient base. Because a bridge is irremovable, it is brushed like natural teeth, but it cannot be flossed. When properly maintained, bridges can last for over ten years.

Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour operate Southern Cross Dental at 1855 S Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80905-2516. To schedule an appointment, call 719-471-1717 or visit Southern Cross Family Dentistry and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Manual vs. Electric Toothbrushes

When people want to brush their teeth better, we at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs are happy to teach them how. There is a wide variety of dental products out there, but which ones are effective often depend on the user’s knowledge of them. This is best exemplified by the choice between electric and manual toothbrushes.

Electric toothbrushes have the advantage of taking less time and requiring less hand movement. Compared to manual toothbrushes that are used properly, they are not known to be more effective at preventing tooth decay. But to use a manual toothbrush properly, a person must thoroughly scrub every tooth surface for at least two minutes.

The expense of an electric toothbrush may not just be due to its motor. Many are now equipped with Bluetooth technology and can be linked to apps on a phone. These apps include records of a patient’s brushing habits that will inform them if they consistently miss a spot, warnings if a patient is brushing too hard, and children’s games that reward them for completing their daily hygiene routine. While a manual toothbrush is sufficient for most people’s needs, an electric toothbrush could be a great help to people with limited motor control or who have had a very difficult time making good brushing into a habit.

Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour operate Southern Cross Dental at 1855 S Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80905-2516. To schedule an appointment, call 719-471-1717 or visit Southern Cross Family Dentistry and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Flossing Properly

At Southern Cross Dental, we want to see the families we provide for continue healthy oral care routines at home.  Regular flossing is essential to maintaining oral health and you should floss once a day, either before or after brushing. Remember these tips to floss effectively:

• ·        A strand of dental floss about 18 inches long allows you to wrap the ends of the floss around a finger on each hand. This gives you excellent control over the portion of floss you are using.


• ·        The proper technique to flossing is sliding the floss between the teeth and rubbing the floss back and forth up until you reach your gums.


• ·        Pushing at your gums too hard with floss can damage your gum line and isn’t necessary to floss properly. Gently rub the floss up to one gum, then down and back up towards the other.


• ·        As you move on to the next tooth, adjust the floss to expose an unused portion. Repeat this rubbing motion between each tooth and dispose of the floss once you are finished.

To learn more about dental hygiene and the services we offer at the practice, visit ww.scdsmile.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call 719-471-1717.

Tooth Extraction Procedure

If a tooth has been broken or damaged by decay, one of our doctors at Southern Cross Dental will first try to fix it with a filling, crown or other dental treatment. However, when there’s too much damage for the tooth to be repaired, the tooth may need to be removed from its socket in the bone. Though tooth extraction is typically a last resort when all other options fail, we offer this service to eliminate oral discomfort.

There are two different categories of extractions – simple and surgical. A simple extraction is performed on a tooth that can be seen in the mouth. In a simple extraction, the dentist at Southern Cross Dental loosens the tooth with an instrument called an elevator. Then, the dentist uses forceps to remove the tooth. A surgical extraction is a more complex procedure. It is used if a tooth may have broken off at the gum line or has not come into the mouth yet, such as wisdom teeth. During a surgical extraction, the doctor will make a small incision into your gum. Sometimes it’s necessary to remove some of the bone around the tooth or to cut the tooth in half in order to extract it.

If you have questions or concerns regarding tooth extraction, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.scdsmile.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call 719-471-1717.

Losing the First Tooth

If your kid is turning into a big kid, losing the first baby tooth is on the horizon.  It’s an exciting sign of growing up, but many kids still feel anxious or uncomfortable dealing with the unfamiliar sensation of a loose tooth.  Southern Cross Dental wants kids and parents to be prepared and understand why this pain occurs so your child can still have a positive tooth loss experience.

Before a baby tooth is lost, it begins to break free of its nerve endings.  This is the natural process that makes the tooth feel loose and wobbly at the gums, and the area will become swollen and red.  It can be painful, and for kids a great way to soothe tooth pain is applying a cold compress to the outside of the mouth in the affected area.  Children may complain that they find it hard to bite or chew with loose or missing teeth.  It’s still important to keep eating healthy while they grow new teeth so encourage soup, pureed fruits, and cooked vegetables.  A few tales of the tooth fairy can usually ease the pain a little, too!

To learn more about tooth loss and the services we provide at the practice, visit www.scdsmile.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call 719-471-1717.

Sjögren’s Syndrome

Dry mouth is a major problem for oral health. At Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, we want to help patients to manage this condition so it doesn’t lead to the spread of bacteria and fungi. In order to do that, patients should understand how dry mouth can be caused by a disease called Sjögren’s syndrome.

Sjögren’s syndrome is a disease in which the immune system attacks healthy tissue throughout the body, beginning the saliva and tear glands. It most often occurs in older women who also have other autoimmune disorders such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis and can be triggered by a trauma or prolonged stress. Dry mouth has major implications for oral health because saliva is necessary for washing away food debris and maintaining a healthy balance of acidity. Without it, bacteria and fungi grow out of control, causing bad breath and dental decay. Infections agents could even be inhaled or enter the bloodstream through lesions in the gums.

To test for Sjögren’s syndrome, dentists will refer a patient for a biopsy. During the procedure, a doctor will pluck a few saliva glands from the patient’s lip. (We have hundreds of saliva glands and the absence of a few should not make a difference). If a patient tests positive, they may be recommended for medication that will stimulate saliva production. They may also try sugar-free gum or candy to increase saliva flow or apply artificial saliva in the form of a spray.

Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour operate Southern Cross Dental at 1855 S Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80905-2516. To schedule an appointment, call 719-471-1717 or visit Southern Cross Family Dentistry and fill out a contact sheet.

 

White Spot Lesions

Usually, people are happy to have white teeth, but they’re a lot less pleased by glazed or chalky-looking white spots. At Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, we can assist patients with this issue and hope they will come to see us because a white spot is the first sign of a developing lesion.

Glazed white spots on teeth are caused by acid damaging the enamel. This can be observed on the upper back molars of people who frequently suffer from acid reflux. Elsewhere in the mouth, they are likely to be caused by bacterial infection. As bacteria feeds, it secretes acid which gets stuck to the teeth. As the decay progresses, the white spot will eventually become a caries or cavity. This is most likely to occur near the gum line, on the sides of the teeth, or anywhere else that is difficult to brush, such as near an orthodontic bracket.

It can take as few as thirty days for a white spot to form. Their appearance is an immediate sign that a patient needs to improve their brushing or be left with scared teeth. We can assess whether a white spot still has an active infection. If not, we may be able to provide mineralization therapy or cover the spot with bonding or a veneer.

Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour operate Southern Cross Dental at 1855 S Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80905-2516. To schedule an appointment, call 719-471-1717 or visit Southern Cross Family Dentistry and fill out a contact sheet.

 

What is the ADA Seal?

The American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance program began in 1931 and to this day, dentists and consumers recognize it as the gold standard when it comes to evaluating the safety and efficiency of dental products. Some people purchase their oral care products based off of this seal, and you are likely to find a toothbrush or floss from our doctors at Southern Cross Dental in your take-home bag after a dental appointment.

Not every dental product possesses the ADA seal of approval, but this doesn’t mean that it won’t get the job done. When a product has the ADA seal of approval, this just means that the company selling the product may or may not have submitted their product for review. There are thousands of products on store shelves from white strips, to flossers, and toothbrushes, that can help protect your mouth and prevent oral diseases.

If you have further questions regarding the ADA Seal of approval or ADA dental products, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call 719-471-1717.

Benefits of a Custom-Fitted Mouthguard

Mouthguards are very versatile. They provide damage control for those who grind and clench the teeth, athletes with an increased risk of dental injuries, and to reduce snoring from sleep apnea. At Southern Cross Dental, we offer custom-fitted mouthguards to our patients for ultimate comfort and protection.

Mouthguards can be used by anyone but are most beneficial for those who play contact sports. Those who play hockey, soccer, football, or basketball, pose a higher risk of dental injury and trauma and a mouthguard provides a barrier to protect them from these problems. A custom-fitted mouthguard will also benefit a “bruxer” who grinds their teeth and risks wearing down tooth enamel. If you’ve ever considered a mouthguard, our doctors will discuss what is best for you.

If you have further questions regarding mouthguards, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with one of our doctors at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call 719-471-1717.

Sectioning Teeth during Extractions

Sometimes, tooth extractions are necessary for preserving the health of the rest of the mouth. At Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, we’re committed to making the extraction process as easy on the patient as possible, which is why we sometimes cut teeth into sections while removing them.

Molars have to be anchored firmly in the mouth in order to withstand the forces people put on them while chewing. The lower molars have two roots; the upper ones have three. They are fastened with strong ligaments and cannot always be removed with the rocking motions used while pulling or elevating other teeth. Attempts to move them through brute force could hurt the patient or cause the molar to break apart too early. This is especially likely to happen with the wisdom teeth, which are the largest, most firmly anchored, and most likely to be caught under the gum line and not have a large enough opening to be pulled through.

Sectioning occurs after the patient has been numbed. A steady stream of water keeps the mouth cool while the dentist cuts the tooth into sections using a drill. The individual sections do not require as much force to move and can be pulled through smaller openings in the gum pockets.

Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour operate Southern Cross Dental at 1855 S Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80905-2516. To schedule an appointment, call 719-471-1717 or visit Southern Cross Family Dentistry and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Vertical Dimension Loss

Teeth serve many functions, one of the most underappreciated of which is supplying the face with vertical dimension. Put simply, this means that without teeth, the face shortens, resulting in all sorts of problems. At Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, our doctors are experienced providers of dental prosthetics and are determined to help patients avoid the horrors of bite collapse.

When teeth are removed, the jaw bone tissue that surrounded their tooth roots recedes. As a result, the face looks shrunken, with the skin between the nose and lip becoming wrinkled and the mouth looking too small for the chin. Besides this aged appearance, patients also develop pain in their jaws which can radiate to their heads and shoulders. The loss of teeth also impacts the function of the remaining ones, since the front teeth are not held in place as firmly as the molars and are unable to take on the pressures of chewing.

If a patient still has some teeth, our dentists can use them to estimate how large to make the replacements. In cases of full-mouth restorations, our dentists will fabricate dentures using the latest software to determine a good fit. As part of the restoration process, patients will wear temporary crowns, which will give us a better idea of whether their new teeth are the right size to restore the shape of their faces.

Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour operate Southern Cross Dental at 1855 S Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80905-2516. To schedule an appointment, call 719-471-1717 or visit Southern Cross Family Dentistry and fill out a contact sheet.