Scott Greenhalgh DDS - Cosmetic Dentistry

First Impressions

We've been hanging out with another family for a few days over spring break. Family togetherness is just a gooood thing! It slows everyone down, it compels each of us to talk with each other, and play with each other.

We've been meeting different people around town. As a cosmetic dentist in Denver, one of the things I notice quickly is someone's smile. A smile really says a lot about each of us. It says "I'm happy" or "I'm confident." I notice a lot of smiles that have had teeth whitening. Honestly, it really looks great!

I also have noticed some smiles where people have issues: things like worn out dental crowns, or gaps under older dental bridges. There are a lot of things that either contribute to a great smile, or detract. I find for me that a smile with cosmetic dentistry issues, makes me less inclined to connect with that person. I doubt that I'm the only one-a lot of social research says the same thing (to see some great before and after smiles, visit our smile gallery).

A great smile is part of a strong first impression, whether socially or for business, "You never have a second chance to make a great first impression".

So, what impression does YOUR smile make? Contact us today!

Labels: cosmetic dentist Denver, dental crowns, Scott Greenhalgh DDS, teeth whitening

posted by Dr. Scott at 9:51 PM

How Important is the Finish Line? (in dentistry?)

Why is there a finish line at races? You know that classic tape that you see the winning runner throw up their arms and run through? I'm not really a runner, and I haven't really competed and won many races. SO...does the finish line matter for anyone else in the race besides the winner?

You betcha it does! Even though I love being a cosmetic dentist in Denver, I have some other hobbies. I really enjoy bicycling. In fact some of my favorite accomplishments were riding in the Triple Bypass. This is a loooong ride. It's 120 miles; it goes up and down mountain passes. Like in cosmetic dentistry, the proper plan allows for success. In smile makeovers, I take photos, make computer smile simulations, and mock-ups of what the final result ought to be. Planning is king.

With the right plan comes great veneers or a fantastic smile makeover (please visit our smile gallery of before and after photos).

I digress... One of my neighbors told me about his experience on this ride one year. he told me about starting strong, getting up the first mountain pass, then later starting up Loveland Pass, then...BONK. Cramps, tired legs that just couldn't produce enough to get up and over the pass. He had to get off his bike wait for the "sag wagon," the van that then shuttles you all the way to the end in Beaver Creek. I imagine getting out of the van at the finish line was not the thrill of victory, but more like the agony of defeat.

I learned from his comments. I had a very intensive training program and then more importantly a PLAN on race day to get to the finish line. I have ridden this race twice. I am positive that I will never be the first one over the finish line. BUT, I have finished both times I rode it. The feeling at the finish line after truly finishing the race was awesome! It was worth all of the training and the preparation.

There is no sag wagon in dentistry. (The closest thing would be dentures...) There is no shuttle to the end, and then just a little bit of shame. In dentistry, there are no shortcuts. Unfortunately, once the problems get started, they just get bigger and bigger.

The race of keeping your teeth your entire life MATTERS. So YES, the finish line matters.

Labels: best Denver dentist, Colorado Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, dentures, porcelain veneers, Scott Greenhalgh DDS, smile makeover

posted by Dr. Scott at 8:15 AM

Can't ALL Dentists do implants?

I had a patient contact me yesterday about her teenager who managed to knock 3 front teeth out. OUCH! Somehow one of the front teeth is just lost completely. Trampolines are dangerous for teeth, I have already fixed others with major trauma to the front teeth.

Here are my priorities when I am addressing a situation like this:

1. Get the patient out of pain as fast as possible!
2. Stabilize the injured teeth to give them a chance to heal on their own.
3. Get some sort of temporary replacement for the missing front tooth ASAP! Nobody wants to be in pain AND be missing a front tooth.
4. Constantly follow up on how things are healing.
5. Make a long-term plan, that possibly includes dental implants.

I asked the mom why she was contacting me-it sounds like they had a dentist who helped with some emergency treatment over the weekend (Good job!), she said "that office doesn't know how to do implants".

WOW-people, it's 2010, dental implants have been around for almost 50 years. I have been involved with implants since 1989-it's not really a new thing.

At this point I am happy to see that my office has a reputation for success with dental implants (see dental implant FAQs). More importantly, making crowns that look natural on the dental implants is the ultimate result.

You deserve to be comfortable and look great, whether it involves an accident, improving old dental work, or it's just time for a smile makeover!

Labels: dental crowns, dental implants, Dr. Scott Greenhalgh DDS

posted by Dr. Scott at 9:00 AM

Cosmetic Dentistry and the Internet

Hey, I want to let you in on a little secret I learned this weekend. There is this thing called the internet and you can find ANYTHING on it! OK, so it's not new anymore, but I am amazed at the abilities to find cool things, and even more than that, TALK about, visit and see cool things.

My wife Tracy is a writer, she recently launched her new site (www.TracyGreenhalgh.com). She's written for 5280 Magazine and a number of other publications around Denver. She's got a knack for finding the heart-stories and connecting with people, stop by her site-you'll enjoy the stories! This has nothing to do with cosmetic dentistry, except that she is a great writer and contributed TONS to this website-thanks Tracy!

My amazing photographer friend, Mark Cafiero is featured today in Groupon Denver (huh, huh...- I just misspelled it "Grope-on", I'm pretty sure he's not in that group-ALWAYS spellcheck!).

Another friend Dan Goldstein just keeps having success: his firm Page1 Solutions won two awards for our website, a 2009 MarCom Platinum award for best website overall, and a Gold MarCom for Web writing/copy. Thanks Dan (and crew!).

I also added some of my cosmetic dentistry photos to my new Google Picasa gallery. It's a small collection now, but I have a lot of before and after patient portraits to help you see what can be accomplished in cosmetic dentistry.

Wow- this internet thing is going to be HUGE! Thanks for humoring me, I hope you enjoy my blogs, I enjoy writing them. Contact me if you have something you'd like to hear about. Oh, and you can visit me on Facebook too!

Labels: 5280 Magazine, before and after gallery, Cosmetic Dentistry, Dan Goldstein, Dr. Scott Greenhalgh DDS, Google, Groupon, Marcom awards, Mark Cafiero, Page1 Solutions, Picasa, Tracy Greenhalgh

posted by Dr. Scott at 10:32 AM

Get inspired!

posted by Dr. Scott at 10:17 AM

Dental Comfort and Exceptional Results

I was sitting at the Colorado Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry meeting last night. We hosted a speaker with a great research background on why all of our cosmetic dentistry materials work well, and how to get better results.

I have had the opportunity to listen to some of the best dentists in the world, and here is what I have found: thoughtful attention to how a system works and impeccable attention to detail produce exceptional results. Anything less than this produces failure, pain, or disappointing cosmetic dentistry.

I am fanatical with my staff about the importance of all of the little details. EVERY step is important, every step has a critical role, every step has to be orchestrated with precision.

At our meeting today before we saw our patients, I reminded everyone to "remember that all that matters to each of our patients today is THEIR appointment. They don't care what happened before or after them. They don't care if you hit traffic on the way to work. All they care about is that you pay attention to them."

What they want from me and my dental staff is complete attention and understanding of what is important to them. They want to know they we are supremely concerned with how comfortable their dental appointment is TODAY. They want to be positive that we know exactly what tooth we are working on, and that we are doing it for a good reason. They want to know that they will be better off for subjecting themselves to a dental procedure. They want to know that afterwards they will feel better or that their teeth will look better. They want to know what their dental appointment will costs-without surprises.

So great cosmetic dentistry, or even just great family dental care starts with obsessive attention to detail. Contact us today, if you are ready for that level of service, or visit our website at www.scottgreenhalghdds.com for more information!

Labels: Colorado Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Cosmetic Dentistry, Denver dentist, excellence, exceptional dental care, family dentist, Scott Greenhalgh DDS

posted by Dr. Scott at 8:11 PM

JUMP Around!

I'm in the middle (OK, still basically at the beginning) of Tom Peters new book: The little BIG things. As I mentioned the other day, Tom always gets me enthused about what I do and how I approach my cosmetic dentist practice in Denver. In fact, I already bought five copies to give to patients along the way. Oh and I think I sold at least three more copies for Tom as well, just from talking about it. I am definitely a raving fan (listen to some of our raving fans!).

Here's one of my biggest take-aways thus far: Enthusiasm! Be excited! Jump around, express happiness, be gushy over your long-term clients, be passionate!

As a Denver dentist, I was trained to see the world through Spock-like lenses. "Why yes Ma-am, that tooth is cracked, to not crown it would be illogical" Geez, professionalism is one thing, but being detached I don't think serves the healing arts.

So, right NOW, get up, go give someone who deserves it a BIG "Thank you", Go get right in someone's face and just give them a HUGE grin, make sure they know how much you appreciate them (it could be a staff member or even better, a client!). Go ahead, for a day, just jump off the edge and be a big sappy whatever. Ten bucks says that people around you will remember THIS day more than most of the others, and probably walk away sharing that happy memory with everyone else they meet.

JUMP!

Labels: cosmetic dentist Denver, dental crowns, dental staff, dentist reviews, raving fans, Tom Peters

posted by Dr. Scott at 11:02 PM

Cosmetic Dentistry and Tom Peters

I was wandering through Barnes and Noble over the weekend. I thought I'd like to find something new to read. I was in one of those ADHD reading moods-meaning I didn't want to read something too intricate (like learning more skills from a manual about using Photoshop).

I grabbed a book off one of the front tables. This bright neon-orange volume. Tom Peter's latest musing entitled "The little BIG Things. 163 Ways to pursue Excellence." Tom is one of my favorite authors, in fact, some volumes are even better as audiobooks than the printed version because you can hear the passion Tom has for these ideas.

PERFECT! 163 chapters, each not longer than three pages, satisfied my ADHD brain. Excellence-one of my favorite topics. All things quality and outstanding always finds a warm spot in the other parts of my creative brain. I am always working on my cosmetic dentist office, trying to create a better and better experience. And Tom never fails to be direct, ranting, and passionate about common sense and caring, observing, and listening as the foundational management skills.

I'm on page xxviii of the introduction and just couldn't wait any longer to start my own ranting! Early on Tom connects to the concept of the "Professional Listener". I'm glad he read my blog from last week, before he wrote this book (uh-something like that). Many issues in a business, or in patient care can simply be solved by Listening well. And I suggest that in any sort of management role, beyond listening is the willingness to HEAR what my patients, staff, colleagues, whomever, really want to say.

SO I know I will enjoy this book. My Q-tips are out, I am ready to HEAR in new ways. Here is your chance all you readers...now is the time to tell me anything about this Cosmetic dentist Denver dental office, that I need to hear. Contact me today with your thoughts, comments, and wishes for the future of dentistry!

Labels: cosmetic dentist Denver, excellence, Scott Greenhalgh DDS, Tom Peters

posted by Dr. Scott at 11:58 AM

If you are afraid of the dentist, what helps most?

Statics say that 50% of the population doesn't visit the dentist regularly. That would be like if NO women ever went to the dentist. That's a lot of people. I have found that one of the most profound reasons people don't see the dentist is because they are simply afraid.

It often starts with some crummy childhood dental visit. Something to the effect of he didn't believe me when I said that it hurt. The dentist just ignored them, just kept doing his thing....didn't really have time to be bothered.

It's really sad. I saw at least three new patients this week who hadn't been to the dentist for many years. They took a chance again, that maybe THIS time, the experience would be better, that things would work out (they did great!).

After seeing people with a range of issues from normal nervousness to paralysis, or that they can barely get in through the door of our cosmetic dentist office, to being deeply emotional, to a the cold sweats. I have seen about every severe type of anxiety about visiting the dentist.

So, what helps most? Get a pencil and write this down. LISTENING.

There are some really great advances with sedation and sleep dentistry. They do have a profound role in helping heal these anxieties, but really, most can be healed with listening.

I have found that by listening for the clues to want went poorly before, strategizing a new way to specifically avoid that problem, and then discussing it together, well, it fixes things a lot.

SO, if you are anxious about care you have put off, first look for a dentist with a track record that listens (see our dentist reviews for examples).

No need to put it off any longer, start the healing today.

It all starts with a simple conversation... so contact us today.

Labels: best Denver dentist, cosmetic dentist reviews, dental anxiety, dental fear, oral sedation, sedation, sedation dentist

posted by Dr. Scott at 11:04 PM

Stem Cells and Cosmetic Dentistry

posted by Dr. Scott at 3:07 PM

Headaches Caused by Dental Issues

posted by Megan P at 2:11 PM

Dentures, bleeding and muscle weakness

I don't speak a lot about dentures. The reality is that there are a lot of them out there, and that many do not fit well. Many don't look very good either, since I see a lot of patients want to finally have the perfect white straight teeth that they never had naturally. Except...now it just looks UN-natural.

As a cosmetic Dentist in Denver, I have found that there is even an art to making dentures have great smiles. Natural, harmonious, one that just goes with that person's face. I find it usually means bringing in some element from their smile from early in their youth.

I received a notice from a manufacturer of denture adhesive saying that they had stopped the manufacture and distribution of it because of "myeloneuropathy and blood dyscrasias". I don't think either of us wants that. Here's what seems to have happened: there is some zinc in this adhesive, people swallow some of it, over years it causes a copper deficiency, then weak limb and difficulty walking.

Here's why the problem developed: the manufacturer says use a little bit, and only once per day. I suspect that many people use MORE of it and MANY times per day.

The best denture adhesive is a dental implant. Even better, get rid of a standard denture by using "all on four", which means real teeth that don't come out, connected to four dental implants.

The next best denture adhesive is a great fit. Tricky for some people, virtually impossible as decades of tooth loss add up, since the jaws continue to get thinner and thinner as the years go by.

ALL dentures need some regular care and maintenance. ALL dentures need to be relined every three to five years. In that time the jaw shape changes significantly but the shape of the denture does not. Refitting it by relining, is a way to keep a good fit.

Dentures cure unrepairable dental problems or uncontrollable periodontal disease. They are a replacement for NO teeth, but they are not real teeth. In much the same way as a prosthetic leg is not a real leg, but allows someone to be mobile, walk and maybe run. Still not without pain, discomfort and frustration, but still much better than not have a prosthesis.

Dental implants provide a way to overcome this. If you are frustrated with the limitations of your denture or the unnatural look of your denture then contact Denver cosmetic dentist, Dr. Scot Greenhalgh, DDS today!

Labels: all on four, best Denver dentist, cosmetic dentist Denver, dental implants, denture, Denver cosmetic dentist, gum disease, periodontal disease

posted by Dr. Scott at 10:06 AM

Why you need a GREAT Dental Examination

I see new patients almost everyday. I see people that are new to Denver, haven't been to the dentist for years, or have had a major disappointment with their old Denver dentist. I would say that 80% of these people hope to have one of those "check-up" examinations that last about 5 minutes like when you have your teeth cleaned. What they seem to want is to run in and run out, and largely get the blessing on their teeth, you know, "I don't have any cavities, right Doc?"

When we see new patients, our examination takes at least an hour. We commonly see people who have had some sort of an issue that still isn't resolved, or some problem that no one else could fix (see my other dental blog about clues, Cosmetic Dentistry and Sherlock Holmes).

Here's part of what is important on that first visit (for more detail see "what to expect on your first visit"). One, the history of what has happened to your teeth (and why it happened) is critical. Why you went or didn't go to the dentist before, along with how you feel about going to the dentist now. These impressions and opinions affect how likely you will be to really take care of your teeth well for the future.

Here's another critical part: your X-rays. One of my pet peeves is when you go for a medical X-ray. No one gives you any information. If you are lucky, maybe they'll let you look at the image, but it's like the whole X-ray department is run by the CIA. No one will tell you anything about what it means or what's on the darn X-ray.

I sit down with our new patients and spend 10 minutes just showing you your X-rays. I know that's sort of controversial stuff. Actually SHOW you what's there, TALK about what it means, and discuss anything important in that whole set (another aside, YES, you really do need those periodic X-rays-they show changes and the things that start as small problems before they start to hurt).

After that we start checking the outside of your face and mouth. Yeah, the OUTSIDE. Things like the TMJ, your facial muscles, and glands. These all are windows to your overall health and how well your jaw joint works (or sticks) and how prone you are to clench or grind your teeth. And how balanced your bite is.

After that THEN we start to look at teeth. It usually takes FORTY minutes before we even start looking at teeth. That's how important all of these other things are. FORTY minutes.

So, this is really just the beginning of a great examination. The point is that we study YOU, we talk about YOU and then tailor the recommendations to YOU. So whether you are looking for a Denver cosmetic dentist or a family dentist in Denver, it all starts with a great exam. Contact us today to see the difference for yourself.

Labels: best Denver dentist, Denver cosmetic dentistry, Denver dentist, Dr. Scott Greenhalgh, Dr. Scott Greenhalgh DDS, TMJ

posted by Dr. Scott at 9:39 AM

How to make your mom have dentures

Recently I was finishing up some crown work for my mom. She's a great patient; she worries about if she is sitting still enough, and making my work easy enough for me. She's happy that my dental office has a fish tank-somehow every dentist should. Last week, I finished a new crown for her. As I sat her up and we were chatting at the end of her appointment, it dawned on me...

A little background though. When I was in high school, I was decent at math. Somehow in the grand sorting out process, my mom was convinced that I should become an accountant. For years, she was convinced that this would be a good field for me (and I suppose, that I would be good at it). As the years go by, I do enjoy some good number crunching, and you can make some pretty cool things in Excel, but somehow I was never really drawn that direction. In fact, when I had the letter of acceptance from my dental school, even then, she still thought I should be an accountant. I think even at my graduation from dental school and actually becoming a dentist, she still thought that maybe this dental fad would pass, and that one day I would still be an accountant.

So, now we return to my dental office. As I sat her up finishing that crown appointment, I reviewed in my mind the dental work I had done for her over the years. She had told me that her mom had dentures from a fairly early age. She thought that she would probably have dentures one day, and that that would be no big deal. In fact every time I planned or brought her in for any sort of major dental work, she would say to me, "why don't we just pull them out and you can give me dentures?"

It dawned on me...If I had become an accountant my mom would have dentures!

We actually had a laugh about this. If I had gone down this different career path she would have had a different dentist, she would have been convinced that dentures would be OK, and then just have started losing teeth.

As I have practiced as a Denver dentist for almost 22 years now, I have seen that dentures are rarely the solution. Most people have no idea of how miserable a mouthful of plastic teeth can really be (that's part of why dental implants give amazing results for people). I'm really glad my mom still has all of her own teeth!

Labels: dental implant video, dental implants, Denver dentist

posted by Dr. Scott at 2:05 PM

Previous Posts

• This blog has moved
• Rabid about Cosmetic Dentistry
• Everyone is NOT a Cosmetic Dentist
• Dentistry and Trust
• In Cosmetic Dentistry, it ALL Matters
• Advancing Cosmetic Dentistry
• Why is there so much poor info about Cosmetic Dent...
• What's new in Cosmetic Dentistry?
• First Impressions
• How Important is the Finish Line? (in dentistry?)

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