Scott Greenhalgh DDS - Cosmetic Dentistry

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Why Toyota is a lot like Cosmetic Dentistry

I drove by the neighborhood Toyota dealer today. Rows and rows of shiny cars and trucks. But I thought to myself, they are just another brand now.

In one of the latest issues of Consumer Reports, they put in print what I had known internally for at least a few years now. They stated that Toyota is no longer the #1 brand for quality. I'm sure somewhere in Japan it is not a pretty sight.

Here's my take on how they got there, and how it is like cosmetic dentistry. At the end of the day, it really doesn't matter whether I have done a great set of veneers or built wonderful teeth on dental implants. What matters is if you, my patient love them. If in reality, day after day, you look in the mirror and just grin at your self. If day after day, you can say to yourself- "I'm GLAD I did that!"

What I personally found with Toyota, is that I own a 2001 SUV. We have had more than the average amount of things wear out and break. Not what I consider to be representative of the best brand n the world. And then the little things-the plastic door that hides the little storage compartment in the trunk- except that it always falls off and never stays shut.

With dental work I liken those little things to: my new crown feels smooth enough, or the bite does feel just right, or my tooth stopped hurting all the way and feels good now.

Our practice at Scott Greenhalgh DDS has a strong reputation for customer service and excellent results. People come to us when others have tried to solve the problems, but failed. Many kind patients have posted their Denver dentist reviews online for others to see. THAT's our brand right now. What WE do with it today, and tomorrow and next week and next year will be determined by our commitment to resolve problems, listen and follow up until you are internally happy and constantly be attentive.

We want to continue to be the #1 reviewed denver dentist office because we have served you well. As long as we are #1 to YOU, then we are succeeding.

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posted by Dr. Scott at 9:41 AM

Monday, November 23, 2009

Missing Teeth, Dental Implants, and options

As a cosmetic dentist in Denver, I want to give you a few of my thoughts on why it is important to replace a missing molar, and what a few of the options are. (Click to find out more about Scott Greenhalgh, DDS).

I see people almost everyday that have had a situation where they have lost a tooth. Sometimes the best answer to a major dental problem is actually to remove a tooth. It shouldn't be the best answer too often, but realistically, sometimes it is. While in as fast as 24 hours, the problem: toothache, swollen jaw or whatever, begins to clear up and feel pretty good again, it can be misleading that that's the end of the story.

Unfortunately, the problem doesn't really end there. When a tooth is missing it starts a cascade of other dental problems. One problem is that the neighboring teeth can begin to shift. If they shift too much you can develop TMJ or jaw problems. In addition, the force that used to be on the problem tooth, is not spread onto fewer teeth. This can produce sensitivity and gum recession. It can even begin to loosen remaining teeth.

I see people everyday and ask them, "Has anyone ever told you about why it is important to replace a missing tooth?" Most disappointingly say, "No- no one ever has".

A missing tooth can be replaced with a dental implant (watch our short dental implant video). Implants have been successfully used for about 50 years now. The success rates are very high, usually in the neighborhood of 95%, so I always emphasize to patients that dental implants are not new or not experimental.

I have found that most of the time, a dental implant is the right solution, but not always.

You should be aware that there are other options including placing a "bridge", which is another type of permanent solution (meaning that you never have to take it out). Some people have the mistaken impression that a bridge is what their Uncle Joe had, that he would always pop out after meals, or that had those big silver hooks. That device is really a "partial denture" or "partial".

Partials are another way to replace missing teeth. It is better than not replacing them at all, but has limitations. Some of the limitations are that it can have silver hooks that show, or that you have to take it out frequently to clean under it.

After more than 20 years of dentistry in Denver, I have found that after a short conversation and a thorough examination, the right solution for YOU can be found. All that matters in the end is that YOU get the results, solution, approach and budget that fits for YOU.

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posted by Dr. Scott at 2:36 PM

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Sleep Apnea care in Denver

Yesterday I had a chance to speak with one of my patients about their sleep apnea concerns. From basic irritations like the snoring it produces. Sometimes I get the request from their spouse "Can't you do anything about their snoring?!?.

There are many other detrimental affects from sleep apnea including things like: waking suddenly in the middle of the night unable to catch your breath, poor sleep cycles, poor flow of oxygen to the brain while sleeping, and others.

One of my biggest concerns about treating sleep apnea is to find the right device that will help reposition the jaw, without producing other jaw problems as a side effect. Not everyone has a TMJ healthy enough to wear all of the devices currently available.

In fact yesterday during my examination of this patient, I found that they also had a strong tendency to clench their teeth, and jaw muscles that are overworked and fatigue easily.

After gathering a good history about what the patient has noticed, getting information from his MD about what level of sleep apnea he has from a sleep study, and my examination, we were able to create a plan that is likely to give the results he is after.

Like a lot of healthcare, I believe strongly that it has to be individualized and thoughtful. So even though we emphasis cosmetic dentistry in Denver, I feel strongly that great care addresses any and ALL health concerns. They are far more related and intertwined that we give credit to.

In about two weeks we'll have his device and they'll be off to better sleeping and less clenching at night. If this patient is like the others I've treated, they will feel more rested and more alert through their daily routine.

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posted by Dr. Scott at 9:49 AM

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

How to Choose a New Dentist

Selecting the appropriate cosmetic dentist to correct your smile is a task to take seriously. You should never choose a dentist at random. Time and research should be put into finding the right person to meet your dental needs.

You will first need to find a dentist who specializes in cosmetic dentistry. Make sure that person is certified to practice by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) and a member of one or more professional associations, such as the American Society of Dental Aesthetics.

Choose a cosmetic dentist who is comfortable to work with, and someone who is not too insistent about how they believe your smile should look. Results are better when you and your cosmetic dentist work together to create your smile. Look for someone who displays honesty, patience, and enthusiasm for dentistry.

You can evaluate the office and staff by assessing whether staff members are friendly, professional, knowledgeable and helpful. Ask about their credentials and how long they have been at the office. Ask about the technology they use and how updated it is. Also evaluate the practice's cleanliness. What is the overall hygiene like?

During the initial consultation
You can talk to your prospective cosmetic dentist about your dental goals. Ask if there are Before and After photos of his patients and whether any of them could talk to you. Also ask him or her about:

  • Their training
  • Amount of time in practice
  • What organizations they belong to
  • How they stay up-to-date on new technologies and procedures
  • Fees and financing options


If you are looking for an experienced, qualified cosmetic dentist in the Denver area, please contact Lakewood cosmetic dentist Dr. Greenhalgh to schedule your initial consultation.

posted by Erica at 10:15 AM

Monday, November 2, 2009

Apple CEO Steve Jobs and Cosmetic Dentistry



I'm nearing the end of a good read entitled "Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs" by Carmine Gallo. Steve is known for engaging, powerful communication about Apple's new products. I really enjoy the insights into how the great ones think.

One of my insights thus far is that Steve has a fanatical involvement in crafting his messages. He could farm them out to a speech writer, he could pencil sketch some slides that he wants to use in his presentation and send them off to the best graphic artists on the planet, but it largely appears that HE creates all of these things himself.

I really believe that personal involvement makes his message so powerful and persuasive.

Another insight is his ability to take the complexities of new technologies and products, and simplify them to he point that anyone can understand them. I think this is one of the single biggest mistakes in healthcare.

The doctor has volumes of knowledge, but he speaks in a way that sounds like he is speaking to his peers, rather than translate it into a message that his patient can easily grasp. I find the same is true with cosmetic dentistry in Denver. The majority of patients don't really care about what percent are we going to make the Golden Proportion of the front teeth. How many millimeters (or fractions) are we going to add here. I believe my roll is to bring clarity and to understand what my patient's concerns are, understand what technically needs to be constructed, and then converse about them in a way to build confidence about the process and the planned results.
I've watched some of Steve's presentations on YouTube. (In fact, you can watch some of my videos on our media page (or on YouTube as well.). So far, no one is writing a book about me, and I haven't had the call to speak to thousands (though you can see what 125 people have said about our practice in these dentist reviews. I AM passionate about cosmetic dentistry, and I really believe that virtually ALL dental problems can be stopped forever. Maybe someday, I 'll get invited to speak about cosmetic dentistry, or even about creating amazing dental health.

For now, I am more than pleased to speak with my patients one-on-one and help them create their results and experience they have been hoping for.

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posted by Dr. Scott at 11:53 AM

3190 South Wadsworth Blvd., Suite 300 | Lakewood, CO 80227

Phone. 800-757-6680 | Fax. 303-479-7599 | Contact Us

Office Hours:
Monday: closed Tuesday: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Wednesday: 7 a.m. - 1 p.m. Thursday: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Friday: 7 a.m. - 3 p.m.