ll About Westminster, Colorado: Fun Things to Do Besides Going to the Dentist

If you live in and around Denver and happen to be looking for things to do, you might be surprised by what the suburbs can offer you.

For starters, located just north of Denver is Westminster, Colorado, where you'll find a variety of shopping, nature, and recreation that is sure to be a good time for you and your family.

Read on to learn all about Westminster, Colorado and why you should pay it a visit even if you're not coming to see us at Bertagnolli Dental.

All About Westminster, Colorado

Located just 9 miles north of Denver, Westminster, Colorado is considered a northwest suburb of the Colorado state capital. It's the seventh most populous city in Colorado and a great place to live and visit. It even made the rankings for best U.S. places to live in 2006.

Westminster, Colorado Attractions

Denver isn't the only place where you can find fun things to do. There's also a wealth of things to do near Denver, especially just to the north in Westminster. If you're in the area for a dentist appointment, or if you call it home, here are our top picks for must-see attractions.

Butterfly Pavilion

Westminster's Butterfly Pavilion provides a hands-on, interactive natural experience that's sure to fill you with wonder. It features a versatile rotation of exhibits that connect visitors to the amazing world of nature and the wonderful invertebrates that inhabit it. It also offers a variety of classes for adults and children alike to learn more about the tiny, magnificent creatures that live in our own backyards.

Adventure Golf & Raceway

If you're searching all about Westminster, Colorado for the ultimate adventure, you're surely going to want to pay Adventure Golf & Raceway a visit. It offers miniature golf, go-karts, bumper cars, and even a maze, plus tons of other places to explore.

Standley Lake

Standley Lake is a beautiful park, where boaters and hikers alike come to enjoy the scenery. The lake itself covers 1063 acres, making it the largest body of water in Westminster, as well as the third largest reservoir in the Denver area.

Full of camping, cycling, hiking, and wildlife observation opportunities, Standley Lake is a gorgeous place to visit. If you're looking for places to go all about Westminster, Colorado, this one should definitely be on your to-do list.

Westminster Hill Off-Leash Dog Park

This 420-acre park is a prime spot for dog lovers all around the Denver area. It's partially fenced and boasts lots of areas for recreation and relaxation, including open fields, shady shelters, and bench areas. It also features a doggie swimming pond and drinking fountain, too.

The Orchard Town Center

This charming, twinkle-lit outdoor mall is perfect for an afternoon of shopping, snacking, or simply wandering. It has all your favorite shopping destinations, plus a few new ones to check out. There's even a play area for small children complete with a splash pad to cool off if the sun is hot.

Final Thoughts

With such a range of things to do without having to venture into the busy city, Westminster, Colorado is sure to exceed your expectations. Be sure to learn all about Westminster, Colorado in order to get the most out of your next visit to this amazing Denver suburb.

For information about dental services during your next visit to Westminster, Colorado, check out our blog page.

What Should I Do About a Chipped Tooth?

A chipped tooth can be unsightly, embarrassing and it may even prevent you from chewing food comfortably. For minor tooth damage, such as cracks and chips, there is an affordable and quick solution available from your local dentist. You don't have to settle with having a chipped tooth forever. A quick trip to Bertagnolli Dental practice and your smile can be fully restored.

A chipped tooth can be the result of a sports accident, an unusually hard piece of food, or a tooth grinding habit. Most of the time, a chipped tooth will not cause pain or impede normal eating. If near the front of your mouth it can ruin your smile, and many people find a jagged new edge on their tooth to be uncomfortable. Fortunately, tooth bonding with a composite resin can easily be used to fix the appearance and feel of a chipped tooth.

The composite resin used to repair the tooth is made from a combination of translucent plastic and glass. It can be made in different shades to match perfectly with the exact color of your tooth. Tooth bonding involves applying this resin to the affected area of a tooth, molding it into the desired shape, and curing it with a special light. This is a great solution for chips, minor cracks, and unsightly gaps between your teeth. Tooth bonding is only used on cosmetic issues, it is not a solution for serious structural damage to your teeth.

One of the advantages of tooth bonding is that it can be done quickly. Unlike crowns or bridges, there is no lab work or molds to be made. One visit to your dentist's office is all you need. It is one of the least invasive procedures, as the resin is bonded directly to the existing surface of the tooth, so there is no need for drilling. The simple procedure is an affordable solution to most cosmetic issues.

One disadvantage to tooth bonding is that it does not last forever. Usually, the composite resin can be expected to endure up to 10 years of normal use. If you grind your teeth, it can significantly shorten the lifespan of the resin. This can be a great option for teenagers who need a temporary cosmetic fix before their teeth have fully developed. The procedure is completely reversible and can easily be removed if you elect to get a more permanent fix later.

Tooth bonding with composite resin makes it easy to fix cosmetic tooth issues without any fuss. You don’t have to settle with having a chipped tooth when there is a cheap, long-lasting treatment available from your dentist. The composite resin looks much better than traditional fillers like silver amalgam, and it is perfectly safe. After a tooth bonding procedure, you will quickly forget you ever had a chipped tooth in the first place! To schedule an appointment for tooth bonding at Bertagnolli Dental practice, simply contact us through our website or call us today.

Searching for a Dentist Near Me: What to Look for When Choosing a New Dentist

You're never fully dressed without a well-taken care of smile. And that's what we love to help people with at Bertagnolli Dental.

If you're looking for a dentist near me but don't know what you're looking for, we've got you covered. Check out our list below to get on your way to a healthy and sparkling smile.

Finding a Dentist Near Me: The Right Insurance Network

As much as you love a certain dentist, it's hard to afford their services if they don't work with your insurance. Some dental offices only accept some insurances, while others will let you submit the claim yourself.

If they're the second kind, you may have to front the money for the service and then get paid back from your insurance.

The best way to find a dentist that takes your insurance is to call your plan provider. If you tell them you're looking for an in-network dentist, they'll give you a list of addresses in your area.

From that list, you can follow the tips below to figure out which dentist is right for you.

Are They Well Respected and Reviewed?

The list your insurance provider gives you won't be ranked in any sort of order. They don't have that information on their end. It's up to you to search out their reviews and testimonials.

The easiest way to do this is to put the names of the clinic into Google. Google reviews are a good place to start because companies don't have to pay to be featured. Some sites that do business reviews aren't free for businesses.

Google My Business is less pay-to-play.

You're looking for at least four stars. If there are negative reviews, what do they site as the issue?

Even more important than the existence of negative reviews is how the business responded to them. If the clinic manager or whoever responded to the review was combative, that's a bad sign.

You want to look for a clinic that's not only willing to admit when they were wrong but want to learn from negative experiences.

If they offered to email the unhappy reviewer to find out more information about their bad experience, that's a good sign.

Make a Top 2 or 3 List

Once you've done the legwork with the reviews, pick your top two or three favorites, depending on how many providers your insurance group gave you.

From those two, you need to find out if the highly-rated dentist provides the type of services you need/want.

Take some time on their website and grab the answers to these questions.

Do They Offer Pediatric Services?

If you're not a parent, this won't matter to you. But if you are, you need to know that your children will be comfortable in the dentist's chair.

Many pediatric dentists or family dentists have special chairs or exam rooms that cater to children.

If they do offer pediatric services, how young do they cater to? Did you know that infants need to see a dentist within their first year? Dentists need to make sure their baby teeth are breaking through correctly/on the right time schedule.

What About Sedation?

A lot of adults didn't have good experiences with dentists as children. Whether they weren't prepped by their parents about what to expect or they didn't go to a pediatric dentist, those fears have lasted the years.

To help provide dental care that doesn't cause more anxiety, high-quality dentists offer sedation services. That means you can have laughing gas or even anesthesia when you're doing your treatment.

If you're interested in sedation services, you need to make sure the clinic is accredited and can safely administer anesthesia. There's a risk any time anyone "goes under" for any procedure.

Do They Do Surgery?

If you do have to get oral surgery, you don't want to find a completely new clinic and surgeon. The best dental clinics have an oral surgeon on-staff for your ease and comfort.

They may contract out to a surgery center, but at least you'll know the person doing your surgery and won't have to worry about finding someone else in-network.

Do they Offer Veneers and/or Implants?

These services sometimes fall under the umbrella of cosmetic dentistry, which not all clinics provide. But if you need a veneer repaired or put in place, we've got you covered.

More people are opting for implants now more than ever since they're a lot lower-maintenance than dentures.

What About Cosmetic Dentistry?

Forget those gross, slimy, at home whitening kits. Getting your teeth whitened at your dentist's office is much more efficient and cost-effective for the results you get.

It's also safer for your teeth since it's not a one-size-fits-all answer. Your dentist can tell you if you're a good fit for the procedure based on things like the sensitivity of your teeth.

Our clinic, unlike a lot of other dental clinics, not only offers teeth whitening, but we do Botox. Imagine going to the dentist and coming home with a shining smile and fewer laugh lines.

You'll be the happiest person on the block!

Final Thoughts

In the end, it's all about the reviews the dentist has and the feeling you get when you call or visit. Your first appointment should be easy and pleasant to schedule online or over the phone.

If you're looking for a dental clinic that checks off all the boxes on this list, come see Bertagnolli Dental in Broomfield. We have loyal patients who come from all over the front range to experience our friendly and skilled services.

They were looking for a dentist near me, and now they're part of our clinic family. Will you be next?
Call 303-429-2262 if you have any questions.

Protect Your Infant’s Dental Health in 7 Simple Steps

Give your child the best possible advantage by starting their dental care early and instilling healthy habits from the outset. Proper oral hygiene isn’t just about brushing and flossing, especially when it comes to babies and toddlers.

Today, Bertagnolli Dental discusses everything you need to know about how to protect your infant’s dental health in 7 simple steps. While some of these tips might seem like common sense, you’d be surprised what we see here at our dental practice in Westminster.

By following these steps and taking our professional advice to heart, you’ll get a jump start on protecting your child from all kinds of issues, including cavities and decay.

You’re also welcome to get in touch with our team to schedule a first appointment for your baby. We can provide a full examination and make sure you’re on the right path.

So, let’s get to what it takes to protect your infant’s dental health.

1. Avoid giving your baby a bottle at bedtime

Putting a baby down to sleep with a bottle of milk can quickly become part of your standard nightly ritual, but this is actually a not so great habit to form.

Here’s the problem. The sugars in milk will fuel bacteria in your infant’s mouth all night long which can lead to tooth decay. It’s best to clean your infant’s teeth and gums at bedtime, and if necessary, provide a bottle filled with warm water to help them drift off to sleep.

We know that it’s easier said than done, but when it comes to your infant’s dental health, putting the effort into creating new habits is well worth it.

2. Don't get too dependent on a sippy cup

For older babies and toddlers, this is yet another easy to form and tough to break habit.

The sippy cup, which is great for preventing spills, allows toddlers to transition from bottles to and cups. They’re designed to slow the ingestion of liquids to prevent choking, however, this also gives liquids ample time to sit in your child’s mouth.

For milk and juice, this often means a high exposure to sugar and an increased risk of tooth decay. Try to only give your child the sippy cup at mealtimes and avoid using it continuously throughout the day. For more leisurely sippy cup drinkers, you can fill it with water and let the child wander around as needed.

3. Be aware of high sugar content in medicines

Medications designed for babies and children can have extremely high sugar levels. This is intended to make them more palatable for children and easier to take. Makes sense, right?

While occasional use for colds and other temporary conditions are not usually a cause for concern, you should consult with our dentists if your child has a condition requiring a daily oral medication that has high sugar content. They can advise on the best ways to protect your infant’s dental health. 

4. Keep juice intake in check

After milk, fruit juice is the go-to beverage of choice for young children. While they are full of vitamins and nutrients, what many parents don't realize is that juices often contain a lot of sugar. They can be as harmful as soda to your child's developing teeth.

To protect your infant’s dental health, look for pure fruit juices with no added sugar and limit the consumption of sweet drinks to mealtimes. If it doesn’t lead to an all-out meltdown, you can also try watering down juices.

In fact, it’s best to accustom your child to drinking water throughout the day.

5. Ditch the pacifier

Many parents dread the day when they have to take away the pacifier. We understand and know it can be a very frustrating battle for both you and your child.

However, children over the age of 2 and 3 should not be using a pacifier. They should also stop sucking thumbs and fingers!

Prolonged pacifier use can affect the growth of your child's milk teeth, permanently altering their arrangement and causing abnormal mouth growth. By helping your child become independent of pacifiers at a young age, you can avoid the risk of dental malformation.

You can also avoid the costs associated with fixing related dental issues down the road. As you can imagine, proper care for pacifier-related problems can be complex and expensive.

6. Cultivate healthy dental hygiene habits

Taking the time to practice good oral hygiene with your infant from the very start will set them up for a future of better dental and oral health.  

You can start early by cleaning their gums with a soft cloth and water twice a day. Once their milk teeth start to appear, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and baby-safe toothpaste to gently clean all surfaces. Make it a game, have fun and keep going until dental care is fully incorporated into everyone’s daily routine.

This is the most impactful way to protect your infant’s dental health, and the earlier you start the easier it will be to create healthy habits that last a lifetime.

7. Don't put off their first visit to the dentist

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that every child should see a dentist by the time they are a one-year-old.

It has been proven time and again that early intervention by a professional will lower your child's risk of developing issues in the future. Your dentist can demonstrate correct oral hygiene practices and analyze your child’s potential for tooth decay.

For more information, you’re welcome to contact the team here at Bertagnolli Dental in Westminster to discuss how to protect your infant’s dental health. Now is a great time to make the changes and instill the habits that will positively impact their oral hygiene.

We hope these simple guidelines will make your life easier, too! We are always available to make your dental visits and home dental care a better experience at Bertagnolli Dental. Get in touch today to set up your child’s next appointment.

What's in Your Toothpaste?

Go to any supermarket or big box discount store across Denver, and you'll be presented with shelves full of toothpaste options. 

Some even have entire aisles dedicated to oral hygiene. 

How do you decide on which toothpaste is right for you and your family? 

Today, Bertagnolli Dental in Westminster is here to tell you the truth about toothpaste, its ingredients, and the adverse effects you should know.

Which toothpaste is right for me?

Toothpaste is separated into subcategories. In most stores, you’ll find whitening toothpaste, tartar control toothpaste, fluoride-free toothpaste, kids toothpaste and toothpaste for sensitive teeth. 

Some people will base their toothpaste choice on their individual needs. This can mean buying a different toothpaste for each member of the family. Others will choose their toothpaste based on the flavor and even price.

Does it pay to be loyal to one brand of toothpaste, or should you just buy whatever happens to be on special that day? 

The harsh reality is that toothpaste is mainly a cosmetic product. Despite the boasts in toothpaste commercials, the truth about toothpaste is that it does not contribute significantly to oral hygiene.

What toothpaste does is create foam and gives your mouth a fresh feeling. We associate a lather or foamy sensation with soap and cleanliness. The strong minty flavor incorporated into most toothpaste gives the whole mouth a crisp, clean, and fresh taste, temporarily at least. 

While toothpaste certainly has a pleasing psychological effect, it does not necessarily impact how clean your teeth are after using it.

In a clinical study to measure the properties of whitening toothpaste, researchers at the University of Bristol Dental School found that there was no difference between the whitening toothpaste, generic toothpaste and plain water at inhibiting stains. 

The whitening toothpaste produced slightly better results than generic toothpaste and plain water at removing stains, however, it was not deemed capable enough to be clinically relevant.

What is in toothpaste?

Your typical toothpaste will typically contain the following ingredients:

Detergents - These create the foamy lather we mentioned earlier. This does not technically help to remove plaque from your teeth, but it does create a pleasing sensation.

Abrasives - Calcium carbonate and dehydrated silica gel help to physically scrub the surface of the teeth and remove food particles. Brushing too hard and fast without using the correct technique can wear down your teeth and remove some of the enamel.

Fluoride - This remineralizes the enamel of your teeth, making them stronger and more resistant to decay. This is one of the most important ingredients of toothpaste, and sometimes the only true active ingredient. Some people are wary of fluoride's effects and try to avoid it, even though it is effective in preventing cavities.

Flavorings - Usually menthol based flavors and sweeteners such as saccharin are used to make toothpaste palatable. Toothpaste does not usually contain sugar, even though you can find sweet bubblegum and fruit-flavored tubes of toothpaste marketed towards children.

Specially formulated tartar control toothpaste is designed to prevent the buildup of hardened mineral plaques or 'tartar' sometimes found on the inner surfaces of the teeth. 

They usually contain ingredients called pyrophosphates – tetrasodium or tetrapotassium pyrophosphates are the compounds added to toothpaste to fight the formation of tartar or calculus plaques.

Unfortunately, according to the Houston Health Science Center Dental Branch, this type of toothpaste can cause irritation in some users. Pyrophosphates create higher than usual levels of alkalinity in the mouth, to which some people can be sensitive. 

Toothpaste for sensitive teeth also contains an added ingredient, potassium nitrate. This compound desensitizes teeth and reduces the feeling of discomfort caused by hot and cold temperatures or sugary foods. Unfortunately, by using this additive, you may be just masking the pain of a cavity or serious issue requiring proper dental care and treatments.

So, what's best for my teeth?

While this information does not give you the green light to skip daily brushings, we also recommend a flossing regimen and seeing our dentists here at Bertagnolli Dental regularly.

Get in touch today, and let us take fantastic care of your teeth. 

Understanding Tooth Wearing as We Age

Bertagnolli Dental provides our clients with high-quality dental care at every stage of life, along with vital information such as understanding tooth wearing as we age. Everyone experiences gradual tooth wear. Usually, it is only addressed during the later years when problems associated with tooth wearing begin to appear. Fortunately, early intervention by your dentist can often prevent the most common issues. Keep reading to get a better understanding of how to keep your teeth healthy.

One common misconception is that tooth wearing is only a problem in older people. Tooth wear is more commonly seen in older people because they simply have had more time to wear down their teeth from general, everyday use. Many younger people also experience issues related to tooth wearing as opposed to tooth decay. Depending on your diet, oral hygiene and tooth grinding habits, wear and tear on your teeth can occur at different rates.

At least three times a day we use our teeth to tear apart and break up food in our mouth. The biting surfaces of all your teeth and the molars especially are put under a lot of pressure when grinding down tough meat, crunchy vegetables, and chewy bread. As your teeth grind against each other, they gradually wear down the hard enamel surface. Once this enamel is lost, it cannot be replaced by the body, making tooth wear a continuous and inevitable phenomenon. 

The best approach to avoiding problems related to tooth wear is to slow down the rate of attrition experienced by your teeth. Bad dental hygiene habits can weaken the enamel on your teeth and make the surfaces more susceptible to wear from regular use. Brushing twice a day, flossing, and avoiding a highly sugary or acidic diet will set you up for strong teeth in the long run. A diet rich in calcium and exposure to fluoride through your drinking water or toothpaste will ensure your teeth are rich in the minerals needed to maintain resistant enamel.

Tooth wearing is often accelerated in certain people who have the habit of nail biting, pencil chewing, or teeth grinding. These can be unconscious mechanisms to relieve stress or tension. Often teeth grinding or clenching happens while the person is sleeping, without them even realizing it. Dentists can create a special dental mouth guard for night time use to prevent grinding damage during sleep. Always avoid biting non-food items like fingernails, pens, and pencils. Never use your teeth as tools to open bottles, cut string or tear packaging.

Keeping your teeth healthy and functional for your entire lifetime is possible. Understanding tooth wearing as we age will help you to avoid bad habits and care for your teeth today. Remember to consult regularly with your dentist and to continue getting annual dental check-ups. At Bertagnolli Dental, we can offer more information and advice on preventing tooth wearing throughout life. Do not hesitate to contact us if you think you may be grinding your teeth at night or are due for a general check-up.

Basics of Dental Insurance

Today, Bertagnolli Dental in Westminster has the basics of dental insurance. We get a lot of questions from our clients about how their dental insurance works. So, we have laid out some helpful points to guide you through the process of using your dental insurance with Bertagnolli Dental.

Deductibles

Your dental insurance plan is going to have a deductible. This means that you will first pay out of pocket for dental procedures, such as a crown or filling, before the insurance coverage and co-pays come into play. Fortunately, insurance rarely applies a deductible to appointments for cleanings or exams.

Annual Maximum Benefit

Based on the calendar year, your Annual Maximum Benefit is generally around $1,000-$1,500, which is how much total dental work your insurance will pay. Once you’ve reached this amount in services, you must wait until the next calendar year to receive additional coverage, unless you pay out of pocket.

Your annual maximum benefit is “spent” on different levels of procedures and typically by a certain percentage. Here’s a quick example:

·         Type 1 Services, Preventative Dental Care: Insurance provides 100% coverage for x-rays, exams, cleanings, fluoride treatments, and sealants.

·         Type 2 Services, Basic Restorative Dental Care: Insurance pays 80% of the cost for fillings, root canals, periodontal scaling, root planning (deep cleanings), and extractions.

·         Type 3 Services, Major Restorative Dental Care: Insurance pays 50% of the cost for bridge work, dentures, crowns, posts, and buildups.

What About Exceptions?

Exceptions are one of the unavoidable basics of dental insurance, so read through you policy to better understand your dental care coverage. You can also call your insurance carrier for clarifications.

Waiting Period

If you are just getting new insurance, you may have to wait six months for coverage to begin on Type 2 Services. This is an industry standard, so set your calendars for any basic restorative dental care services including fillings, root canals, periodontal scaling, root planning (deep cleanings), or extractions.

Missing Tooth Clause

If you are looking to get a bridge or implant, hopefully, you still have the tooth or teeth needing help. If the tooth was already missing as you started your new dental insurance coverage, then your insurance will typically not cover the work.

Frequency

Your dental care group plan only allows services at certain intervals. This includes cleanings only every 6 months. If you schedule a cleaning before the 6 month period is up, your insurance will not cover it. At Bertagnolli Dental, we can advise and set up appointments so you’ll never have to worry!

Be sure that your dentist is contracted with your insurer to ensure coverage. You can also ask for a pre-treatment estimate to be sent over to your insurer. That way, you will see just what they will cover of your dental treatments, so there are no surprises in the bill.

At Bertagnolli Dental, we always work with our clients to get the absolute best benefits coverage and service. We appreciate our patients and want your experience with us to be a pleasant one. Now that you have the basics of dental insurance down, you are ready to schedule your visit with us.