Proper Brushing and Flossing for Healthy Gums

For healthy gums, proper brushing and flossing is a requirement. Drs. Navid Rahimpour, DDS and Faranak Rahimpour, DDS of Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO want their patients to understand the importance of a good oral hygiene routine and the proper ways to go about it.

When plaque builds up, it can harden and begin to irritate the gums. If an infection arises, this can be very painful and eventually lead to the loss of a tooth.

To brush your teeth, the right sized toothbrush is the first place to start. The head should be small enough to reach every area in your mouth, including the far back teeth. Soft bristled brushes have been known to be the best for plaque removal.

Brushing should be done for two minutes, at least two times per day, three times being ideal. Strokes should be kept short and up and down or circular motions are the best way to clean the entire tooth. Make sure to brush the front, back, and chewing surfaces of each tooth.

To floss, make sure to hit each in between section of teeth, remembering your molars. Use a fresh section of the floss for each section of your teeth. When you hit your gum line, make a scooping motion and continue scrubbing all the way back up.

Remember that visiting your dentist for regular cleanings is another important part of keeping healthy gums. To schedule a cleaning with Drs. Navid Rahimpour, DDS and Faranak Rahimpour, DDS of Southern Cross Dental, call us at (719) 471-1717 or visit our website, www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com.

Intraoral Camera at Southern Cross Dental

Here at Southern Cross Dental, we aim to use to most advanced technology for the most successful patient outcomes. This is why we have chosen to use an intraoral camera here at our Colorado Springs, CO dental practice.

Imagine being able to pick a spot on the mouth and zoom in on it. That is exactly what the intraoral camera allows us to do. The camera is a pen-like device that can go into the mouth and take close-up pictures and video. It can even reach those far back places that we had trouble viewing in the past. The images are displayed onto a monitor so we can instantly take a look and better diagnose any problems found. Using these pictures, we can refer back to them at future appointments, so keeping track of the condition of a patient’s mouth is more efficient.

Since these photos are digital, we can save, print, or email them as easy as ever. This makes patient care a whole lot easier, as they can take home copies to know what kind of changes to look for. We can also instantly send them to another doctor for second opinions and to insurance companies for acceptance.

Routine oral examinations by your dentist are part of a good oral hygiene routine. To schedule an appointment with our Colorado Springs, CO dental practice, Southern Cross Dental, call (719) 471-1717 or visit our website, www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com. 

White Fillings

When teeth become decayed, they're often in need of a filling. Nowadays, most patients don’t want to have fillings that are obvious to others when talking, smiling or laughing. Here at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO we provide composite resin fillings, which are also known as white fillings.

These fillings are the same color as the patient’s tooth, so they aren’t obvious to anyone else. White fillings not only helps the patient protect their tooth from further decay, but feel more confident when they smile knowing no one knows it’s there.

White fillings have many benefits to patients that make them a great dental filling option:

• They are the same white color of the tooth being filled.


• White fillings can be blended to be any shade, regardless of the color of the tooth.


• They are not significantly more expensive than other fillings.


• White fillings are just as efficient in protecting teeth as alternatives.

It takes slightly longer for the process of white fillings than metal fillings because white fillings are blended to match our patient’s tooth. Otherwise, they look and feel like any other filling, allowing the patient to fill a cavity and protect their tooth from more serious problems.

If you have a cavity and are in need of a filling, call us today at (719) 471-1717to see if you are a candidate for white fillings. For more information about Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour and the services they offer at Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO visit www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com. 

Scaling and Root Planing

At Southern Cross Dental, we actively strive to help our patients maintain optimal oral health and retain their original teeth. By offering scaling and root planing to treat early gum disease, Dr. Navid Rahimpour and Dr. Faranak Rahimpour can restore the health of your gums and save your smile.

Gum disease occurs when plaque and tartar are allowed to buildup on your teeth, creating a suitable environment for bacteria to thrive. As bacteria collect in your mouth, they will attack your teeth and surrounding gums. In its earliest stages, gum disease is called gingivitis, but if it is left untreated, it will become a more serious periodontal disease that destroys your gum tissue and leads to tooth loss. If it is not treated, the disease can even cause a loss of bone mass in your jaw.

Scaling and root planing is one of the most effective ways to treat gum disease before it develops into a more serious disease. The procedure allows the dentist to clean between your gums and teeth all the way down to the roots in order to smooth the root structure and remove the tartar that is causing your inflammation. The procedure is incredibly effective and can stop the progression of gum disease before it irreversibly damages your teeth.

If you’ve been diagnosed with gum disease or you have red, swollen or bleeding gums, schedule an appointment with our office in Colorado Springs, CO by calling (719) 471-1717. For more information about the dentists and their services, visit www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com.

Full and Partial Dentures

Patients looking to restore their smile after losing multiple teeth find that dentures offer them a great solution in Colorado Springs, CO. Dr. Navid Rahimpour, Dr. Faranak Rahimpour and their experienced team here at Southern Cross Dental offers two different types of dentures: partial dentures and conventional full dentures.

Conventional full dentures are one type of dentures that are used once all of a patient’s teeth have been removed. However, they are not placed until after the patient’s gum tissue has healed from the teeth extraction, which usually takes a few months. During that healing time, the patient would not have any teeth at all.

When a patient does not need all their teeth removed but still have a significant portion removed, partial dentures are a common solution. They are similar to bridges except bridges are permanent while partial dentures are removable. Whichever type of dentures a patient gets, they do take time getting used to since the flesh-colored base is placed over the gums, which can feel bulky or make their mouth feel crowded. However, as patients train themselves, eating and talking will begin to feel more natural.

Whether you’ve already lost a significant amount of teeth or are in need of extractions, dentures are a popular option, and Dr. Navid and Dr. Faranak Rahimpour are able to help patients find which choice is best for them. To schedule an appointment at Southern Cross Dental, call (719) 471-1717. For more information about the dentists and their services, please visit www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com.   

Why Do You Need a Root Canal?

While the thought of having a root canal procedure usually fills patients with dread, the procedure is a necessary one for those whose teeth become infected in the nerves. Besides causing pain, infections, if left untreated, can become abscesses, which are much more serious and result in a loss of bone mass in the jawbone. Dr. Navid Rahimpour and Dr. Faranak Rahimpour can relieve your pain with root canal procedures in Colorado Springs, CO.

Although root canals may not sound pleasant to you, they are well worth it to stop your pain and improve your oral health. While there is soreness after the procedure, it is only temporary and usually nothing that over-the-counter painkillers cannot take care of.

During a root canal, your doctor at Southern Cross Dental will remove the infection by applying a local anesthetic to the area and drilling into the tooth to create an opening in the canal. Then they are able to remove the infected tissue and clean the area. Once the infection has been removed, your tooth will be filled with a sealant and then fitted with a crown to protect it from infection in the future. The crown also helps improve the appearance and strength of the tooth. Once the procedure is complete and soreness subsides, you will be able to eat without experiencing pain and sensitivity to heat, cold and pressure.

If you’re in pain, you don’t need to suffer. Schedule an appointment with Southern Cross Dental by calling (719) 471-1717. For more information, visit www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com.  

Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is one of the easiest and most affordable dental procedures used for repairing teeth and enhancing the aesthetics of your smile. By bonding a tooth-colored resin to the patient’s teeth, the dentist can correct smiles with unevenly shaped, chipped or discolored teeth. If you’re looking to improve your smile in Colorado Springs, CO without committing to veneers, Drs. Navid and Faranak Rahimpour of Southern Cross Dental can use cosmetic dental bonding to give you a smile fit for the silver screen.

Unlike some other dental procedures, such as veneers, bonding can usually be accomplished in a single visit to Southern Cross Dental and doesn’t require enamel to be removed as veneers do. Bonding usually only requires light abrasion and an application of adhesive gel, which helps the resin adhere to the teeth. Once your teeth have been prepared, your dentist will then select the right color resin for your smile and apply the putty-like substance to your tooth or teeth. The resin is then molded and smoothed until it is in the desired shape. An LED light is used to harden the resin. After it has been hardened, the dentist will trim and shape it even further and then polish the resin until it shines like a natural tooth. Altogether, the procedure usually takes between 30 minutes to an hour for each tooth.

If you’re unhappy with your smile but unwilling to go as far as veneers, bonding can be used to improve your teeth effectively, quickly and affordably. To schedule an appointment with Drs. Navid or Faranak Rahimpour of Southern Cross Dental in Colorado Springs, CO, call (719) 471-1717. For more information about the dentists and their services, visit www.southerncrossfamilydentistry.com.