Scott Greenhalgh DDS - Cosmetic Dentistry

Monday, March 8, 2010

Headaches Caused by Dental Issues

Millions of people suffer from frequent, recurring headaches and are unable to find out the real cause. What many don’t realize is that the origin of the problem may be in their teeth. Not many people think of dental issues as the cause of headaches, but actually bruxism (grinding/clenching teeth) and TMD cause far more recurring headaches than most people know.


Bruxism (Grinding/Clenching)


Bruxism is a stress-related condition characterized by grinding and clenching of the teeth while asleep. Many people who have bruxism are not aware of their symptoms until they ask their spouse or partner about it. In addition to directly damaging teeth, which cosmetic dentist Dr. Greenhalgh can fix, bruxism can also cause nasty headaches.


The strain on the nerves and muscles from grinding and clenching all night is also painful, which is the cause of bruxism-related headaches. If you suffer from bruxism or believe your headaches may be the result of nighttime grinding or clenching, schedule a consultation with general, cosmetic, and neuromuscular dentist Dr. Greenhalgh about mouth guards or other medical procedures for bruxism.


TMD/TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder)


A different dental headache culprit is temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD/TMJ). TMD is usually caused by malocclusion, or a misaligned bite. Malocclusion forces the jaw in an uncomfortable resting position that in turn strains and displaces the TMJ joint. The muscles of the jaw are controlled by the trigeminal nerve, which also carries pain signals from all over the head and neck. Thus, strain on the jaw can quickly become an all-over headache.


Dr. Greenhalgh has extensive experience dealing with TMD and TMD-related headaches. The pain can be reduced through neuromuscular dentistry, which tries to achieve a more natural jaw position by relaxing the strained muscles around the TMJ. Cosmetic dentistry works to realign the bite to that the jaw rests comfortably. The first step is figuring out it if TMD is causing your constant headaches by scheduling a consultation with neuromuscular or cosmetic dentist Dr. Greenhalgh.


For more information about how your headaches can be relieved through neuromuscular or cosmetic dentistry in Denver or Lakewood, please contact Scott Greenhalgh, DDS today.

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!

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posted by Dr. Scott at 10:06 AM

Thursday, March 4, 2010

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.

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posted by Dr. Scott at 9:39 AM

Monday, March 1, 2010

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!


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posted by Dr. Scott at 2:05 PM

Thursday, February 11, 2010

What's New? (dental implants)


What's new right now? EVERYTHING! There really is a lot happening in modern dentistry right now. Dental implant technology is exploding and becoming more and more commonplace. Many people have either had dental implants or know someone who has. We will keep seeing advancements that make it easier and easier to have dental implants (see our short dental implant video). Once of the best innovations recently has been the process called "All on four".

Four implants are used to replace all of the teeth on one jaw. They can be done rapidly and in some circumstances, patients can have their new implant teeth or bridge the same day. In the past it often required six to eight implants, possibly sinus surgery or sinus bone grafting, then wait six to twelve months, then wait another two to three months to make the new teeth.

We can look forward to more and more advancements like this, ones that make lessen the complexity, lessen the amount of surgery necessary and shorten the time that it takes until you receive your final teeth. And now more than ever before, we have great cosmetic dentistry to connect to those implants, making them not only work well, but look better than ever! Contact us today to learn more about how implants can fit your lifestyle. we are happy to offer dental implant dentistry in Denver.

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posted by Dr. Scott at 10:06 PM

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Bad Breath (Halitosis)

Halitosis can adversely impact your social or professional life, which is probably why there are hundreds of products sold today to address this problem. Halitosis is usually caused by bacteria in your mouth breaking down proteins and releasing nasty-smelling chemicals. There are also other rare causes of bad breath, including sinus infections and gastric acid reflux.

Preventing Bad Breath

The most effective way to prevent bad breath is maintaining excellent oral hygiene. Brushing and flossing will remove most of the malodorous bacteria from the teeth and gums, but most bacteria live on the tongue. Therefore, cleaning your tongue with a specialized tongue cleaner should be part of your brushing routine.

Regular cleanings at your dentist's office every six months can help prevent bad breath as well. If it has been more than six months since you've been to a general or cosmetic dentist, you should schedule an appointment with Denver cosmetic dentist, Dr. Scott Greenhalgh right away.

Why Cosmetic Dentistry?

If you or someone you know has bad breath that just won't go away no matter what mouthwash, toothpaste, or other product you try, it may be fixed with cosmetic dentistry. For example, any crack or chip in a tooth may be a breeding ground for bacteria that are hard to kill. Another place bacteria like to congregate is in the space around an old filling or crown. Dr. Greenhalgh can get rid of this breeding space for bacteria by reshaping or restoring your tooth to its original appearance.

To learn more about white fillings, dental crowns, porcelain veneers, and other cosmetic dentistry options for bad breath in Denver or Lakewood, please contact Scott Greenhalgh, DDS today.

posted by Tiffany at 1:29 PM

Friday, February 5, 2010

What's around the next bend?


You just never know where the roads you are on life are going to take you. As I look back over 22 years in dentistry in denver I am always amazed at the cool people I get to meet.


My wife told me today, someone came up to her after her exercise class and said "Hey, I saw your picture at Wal-Mart". OK- how exactly do you respond to that? What this lady really meant was that she saw my wife's picture at Costco (a little better, at least to me!).


Last year we started work on our website. I knew I wanted it to have a certain look. I searched a LOT of options and photographers. I met (my now good friend) Mark of Mark Cafiero Photography (his blog, it's hilarious). Mark ROCKS, there are a lot of nice photos in the world, but Mark has the eye. We immediately enrolled him to take our website photos, our staff photos, inside our office, some really cool portraits of our patients who finished cosmetic dentistry (see our before and after gallery) and even our family portraits.


Anyway, the road turns like this: Mark has since started a business with Costco to take cool, original, outdoor family photos (visit them here: http://www.neversaycheese.com/). He used a number of images of my family and I in some of the promotions with Costco.


I am reading his blog today, and BAM, there's my wife and I at the bottom of one of his mailers... (I AM happy that Mark is not doing a Wal-Mart promotion, otherwise I'd have to get some Billy-Bob teeth...)


SO, look for the best people you can find, then do as much work, pleasure, hanging out or whatever you can with them.


You never know what's around the NEXT bend...

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posted by Dr. Scott at 4:50 PM

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

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

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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.