Teeth Whitening in Boulder

What do you wish to communicate when you smile?

Dr. Michael Adler, family and cosmetic dentist in Boulder, CO invites you to a whiter and brighter smile, in just one visit.

Advanced Zoom teeth whitening is available at AdlerDentistry, that will achieve the white smile of your dreams.

A whiter, brighter smile is beautiful - it can help you feel better about yourself and make a memorable impression.Your lifestyle and the aging process can stain and darken your teeth. Many things contribute to stained teeth, such as drinking coffee, tea, cola and red wine or smoking.

Other whitening systems don't compare to the Zoom! In Office Teeth Whitening System. Nothing whitens better or faster. The Boulder teeth whitening dentist does it all in one hour in his dental office, no take home equipment!

Let Dr. Adler maximize your smile. Take a first step to looking great and feeling good.

Boulder Cosmetic Dentist attends IACA 2008 Orlando

Dr. Michael Adler of Adler Cosmetic & Family Dentistry attended the fourth annual International Association of Comprehensive Aesthetics (IACA) conference in Orlando, FL from July 30 – August 2, 2008.



The annual conference provided Boulder cosmetic dentist, Dr. Michael Adler the opportunity to learn and interact with the most progressive leaders in aesthetic dentistry and its related professions. Dr. Adler was also introduced to the latest techniques and materials available today.

Of the nearly 1,000 people that attended the conference, several hundred were dentists. Close to 50 cases were displayed at the conference as examples of outstanding Aesthetic Dentistry. Dr. Adler had the honor of having two of his full mouth reconstruction in Boulder cases displayed

Dr. Adler is committed to continuing education in order to provide his patients with the best possible care and to be up to date on the latest technological advances available.

The IACA was established to foster dental education and is steadfast in its commitment to be a progressive, non-political, dynamic organization that is always on the cutting edge of clinical, practice management and technological advances in Aesthetic Dentistry. The organization is inclusive to all philosophies and ideas enabling professionals to determine what is best for their respective practices.

The IACA prides itself on being a scientific academy that affords its members the opportunity to become a leader in the health care community, while providing the best care possible for their patients. No other organization provides such a broad range of educational opportunities in advanced aesthetics.

This is just one of the many important ways Boulder porcelain veneers dentist Dr. Michael Adler has demonstrated a commitment to provide exceptional patient care.

Not located in Boulder but need a cosmetic dentist? If you are in Dallas, TX then check out Dallas cosmetic dentist Dr. Mark Sowell. It is Dr. Sowell’s mission to provide you with the best cosmetic dentistry in Dallas.

Please visit www.adlerdentistry.com or call 303-449-1119 for more information.

Restoring a Smile - Boulder, CO Neuromuscular Dentistry

Peter was unhappy with his smile and was having trouble with crowns that he had done (and redone) in the past. Like many of us, Peter turned to the Internet to find his new dentist. Peter thought that Dr. Adler’s website was comprehensive and discussed several issues that he wanted addressed. When Peter came to our office, his teeth were fractured, worn, discolored, crowded and filled with metal fillings that were leaking. He also had bleeding and inflamed gums. His bite was over closed and he had alignment issues. Peter complained that he had pain in his front teeth constantly and had for many years. He also felt that his smile was crooked, discolored and felt stubbly. Peter had spent enough time in the dental chair fixing one tooth at a time. Peter wanted teeth whitening in Boulder and his gums to be healthy, look great and last a lifetime.



Peter’s fractured teeth, constant pain, over closure and alignment issues were all indications to Dr. Adler that Peter’s bite was not right and would continue to cause problems with his teeth until the issue was resolved. Dr. Adler recommended that Peter have a full mouth reconstruction in Boulder that would consist of neuromuscular dentistry in conjunction with cosmetic dentistry to insure that his smile would not only look good but be functional and pain free. The phase 1 of Peter’s treatment was to find his ideal bite. The ideal bite places the patient’s plan of occlusion, which is an imaginary line that runs horizontally through the bite, at a 90 degree angel to the patient’s axis of gravity to insure that the forces of gravity and the bite force are distributed equally and don’t cause undue stress or stain on joints and muscles that can effect the entire body.



A bad bite caused Peter’s muscles to become overstressed and fatigued due to the constant strain of working in the wrong position. TENS or Transcutaneous Neural Stimulation in Boulder was used to send electronic pulses to specific muscles in the face, neck, and back that allowed these overstressed muscles to elongate and come into their ideal resting positions. Peter had several TENS sessions during the course of his treatment to insure that the muscles were relaxing into their ideal positions for the best bite. In addition to the TENS, a K7 evaluation was used to help determine exactly where Peter’s ideal bite was and to monitor the progress of his treatment. The K7 evaluation entailed a) taking diagnostic casts of Peter’s mouth, b) running EMG (Electromyography) that measured his muscles at rest and during function-clench, c) CMS (Computerized Mandibular Scan) that displayed joint function, habitual freeway space, swallowing, and range of motion, d) Sonography measured joint sounds, and finally e) Myobite registration, which was an impression of Peter’s bite in its ideal position after TENS has been done. From the myobite, an orthotic was made to keep Peter in his ideal bite. TENS and any needed adjustments were made to the orthotic to make the bite as comfortable and functional as possible. Once Boulder neuromuscular dentist Dr. Adler and Peter were satisfied with Peter’s bite, phase 2 of treatment began.



Phase 2 of treatment was reconstructing Peter’s teeth to his ideal bite so that the use of the orthotic would no longer be necessary. Every tooth was prepared for a ceramic crown, removing any decay or fractures that were present, and fitted with temporary crowns while the impressions of Peter’s teeth and bite were sent to the prestigious Aurum Dental Laboratory which is known for their quality and excellence. The ceramic crowns were individually crafted to not only look great but to also be functional and in the correct bite. Once the lab finished fabrication of the crowns, Dr. Adler removed the temporaries and cemented on the permanent crowns in Boulder. Peter’s treatment was conducted under the supervision of the esteemed Las Vegas Institute (LVI) where Dr. Adler was trained in the most advanced techniques of neuromuscular and cosmetic dentistry. Peter’s results are amazing and he is thrilled with how he looks and feels. He smile is now balanced, teeth look great, and his jaw is comfortable. He said that he is more confident and the look of his entire face has changed. He looks more youthful now that the atrophy on one side of his face is gone. Another change that Peter noticed was that he stopped biting his nails since his treatment started. Peter was a habitual nail biter most of his life, since treatment Peter has completely stopped chewing on his nails and cuticles. He believed it is because his bite changed and so it is no longer as easy to bite on his nails and also because he was using his figures as a subconscious crutch for his jaw that is no longer needed with his new bite. There is no question that Peter’s smile looks great and has greatly improved his life.



For more information about Boulder Dentist Dr. Adler please visit our website or call the office at 303-449-1119.

Icecapades - Boulder Teeth Whitening & Porcelain Veneers

Ice is one of the hazards of winter that has slipped us all up at some time or another. Adam was no exception to this. He slipped and fell hitting his face on the ice. His face took the impact of the fall and tooth #8 (upper right front tooth) was severely broken. He immediately sought treatment from Dr. Adler of Adler Cosmetic & Family Dentistry. Dr. Adler used x-rays and images from the interoral camera in his Boulder Colorado dentistry office to help determine the extent of the damage during his examination of Adam. Tooth #8 was severely fractured through the nerve space, causing pain. It is unusual to see damage to only one tooth when someone falls. The adjacent teeth need to be evaluated carefully for damage or trauma. The interoral camera revealed that the adjacent teeth also showed signs of fracture.

To relieve Adam’s pain, Dr. Adler preformed a root canal on tooth #8 and removed the damaged nerve. The root canal was necessary because the severe fracture exposed the pulp of the tooth to bacteria that live in the saliva. If left untreated, the tooth would continue to be a source of infection and eventually weaken the body’s immune system. The pulp is contained within an inner chamber of the tooth called the pulp chamber. Pulp is commonly referred to as the nerve but is actually a soft tissue make up o nerves, arteries, and veins. The pulp extends from the pulp chamber down through narrow channels, called the Boulder root canals, to the tips of the roots. The fear and pain associated with root canals are over rated. For most patients, getting a root canal is no more traumatic that having a filling done. During the process of the root canal, the doctor goes into the tooth and removes the pulp, cleaning the cavity. After the root canal, the tooth was temporarily bonded to give it a normal appearance while Adam was completing his treatment.

Prior to the crowns being custom made, Adam had his teeth whitened using our in-office Boulder teeth whitening by ZOOM. The main ingredient in Zoom is hydrogen peroxide, which works by oxygen enter the enamel and dentin was it breaks down. The oxygen bleaches colored substances and doesn’t harm the tooth structure. The Zoom light aids in activating the hydrogen peroxide and helps it penetrate the surface of the tooth. It is a simple procedure that can produce great results. With this new brighter smile, Adam was ready to have the shade taken for his new crown and veneers.

Once a root canal has been performed, the tooth is structurally weakened and prone to fractures and breaking if left as is. In Adam’s case, tooth #8 was crowned not only because of the root canal but because of the fractures caused by the accident. A carbon fiber post was placed on tooth #8 to adequately support the crown so the bite force would be properly distributed so that the tooth did no fracture.

Due to the fractures, teeth #7, 9, and 10 were prepared for porcelain veneers in Boulder dental office of Dr. Adler. A veneer is a thin shell of porcelain that is bonded to a tooth to improve its color or shape. A veneer generally covers only the front and top of a tooth. Veneers can be used to close spaces between teeth, lengthen small or misshapen teeth, or whiten stained or dark teeth. When teeth are fractured, as in Adam’s case, or beginning to wear, veneers can protect them from damage and restore their original appearance.

The teeth were prepared for the crown and veneers by removing any damaged areas. The teeth were then shaped to securely hold the crown/veneers. An impression of the teeth were then taken so the dental lab could make an accurate model of Adam’s mouth and then created a crown that precisely fit his mouth and bite. Unlike porcelain fused to metal crowns, all porcelain crowns are translucent and allow light to pass through the tooth like a natural tooth opposed to reflecting all the light which can make the tooth appear dark. Porcelain fused to metal crowns can also have a dark ring near the gum line which is not present with all porcelain crowns. The shade of the teeth is also very important to maintain the natural appearance. An underlying shade is taken of the prepared tooth, known as a stump shade, to better match the natural and subtle hues of the tooth. The shade of the crown made by this Boulder cosmetic dentist is also determined by the adjacent teeth. Whitening was done before this outer shade was taken to make sure the crown closely matched the other teeth and because crowns are not effected by the whitening process and so remain the same color as they are made.

Now Adam has a great new smile that he can’t help but show off and the results are dazzling.

For more information about Teeth Whitening in Boulder Colorado and Cosmetic Dentistry visit Dr. Adler's website at AdlerDentistry.com.

Getting Aligned - Teeth Whitening & Straightening

Jeff came to Dr. Adler of Adler Cosmetic & Family Dentistry seeking to brighten and straiten his smile. Dr. Adler sat down with Jeff and discussed exactly what Jeff’s expectations and goals were. He found that Jeff wanted his teeth to be healthy but also wanted them to look good and appear natural. Based on Dr. Adler’s thorough exam, he noted that Jeff had decay on several teeth and that one of his lateral teeth (#10 upper left next to middle front teeth) was peg shaped, under sized and out of proportion. He also saw that Jeff’s teeth were discolored and varied in shade, crowded, in an unhealthy bite, and had extreme wear and gum line problems. Dr. Adler recommended that Jeff first have fillings done to remove the decay and get his teeth healthy and then proceed with Invisalign and Zoom Whitening to straighten and brighten his teeth. He also recommended that Jeff restore his lateral teeth (#7 and 10, on either side of his upper front teeth) to their correct size and proportion with porcelain veneers.



The fillings were important to do first not only to remove the decay before the cavity got worse but also because Jeff would not have been able to have any restorative work done once the Invisalign treatment had started until it was finished. This is because the trays that are used in the treatment are made all at once and progressively shift the teeth into position as the trays are changed out. If restorative dentistry work was done during treatment then the trays would not fit.



For each tooth with a cavity, Dr. Adler removed the decay from the tooth and then placed tooth colored composite resin in the prepared tooth reshaping it to its original shape. A harmless curing light is used to harden and set the material. The tooth is then good as new and the filling is unnoticeable.

Once all the cavities had been restored with composite fillings, Dr. Adler was able to start the Invisalign. An impression of Jeff’s teeth and bite were taken and then sent to Invisalign labs. There a model of Jeff’s mouth was made and scanned as 3-D virtual image. They then made small incremental movements of the virtual teeth to simulate how the aligners would shift the teeth into their final position. Buttons, small tooth colored composite dots placed on selected teeth, were required to help certain teeth shift and rotate more. Once this virtual model was completed, it was sent to Dr. Adler for approval and/or modification. Once approved, the aligners were fabricated for the entire treatment phase and sent back to Dr. Adler. The buttons were places on the selected teeth and Jeff was given his first set of aligners. Each aligner was worn for about two weeks and each new aligner was slightly different to help slowly move the teeth into their proper position. The aligners were clear so it was hard for anyone to know that Jeff had “braces” on. They were removable for easy cleaning and were not worn when eating. Since Jeff had crowded teeth, IPR (inter proximal reduction) was required to give the teeth more room to move. IPR is a very simple and painless procedure that involves Dr. Adler filing a very minuscule portion between the teeth to create a small amount of space that the teeth will later move into. Treatment was completed in 6 month, much less time than traditional braces. The buttons were removed once treatment was done and clear aligner retainers were given to be worn at night to keep the teeth from shifting back.

Jeff had Zoom teeth whitening treatment done to brighten his new smile and remove the discoloration. The Zoom whitening gel was applied to each tooth and then cured with a high intensity curing light that activates the whitening gel. The Zoom light aids in activating the hydrogen peroxide and helps it penetrate the surface of the tooth. This procedure was repeated four times to maximize the whitening effect. After the treatment, Jeff had a noticeably brighter smile. He was given more whitening gel to use with his Invisalign retainers for any need touch up or maintenance bleaching.



Now that Jeff’s teeth were all a beautiful shade of white, the veneers could be placed. A veneer is a thin shell of porcelain that is bonded to a tooth to improve its color or shape. A veneer generally covers only the front and top of a tooth. Veneers can be used to close spaces between teeth, lengthen small or misshapen teeth, or whiten stained or dark teeth.



Jeff’s two upper front teeth on either side of the middle teeth (#7 & 10) were first shaped and roughened to prepare them for the veneers. Impressions were then taken of the teeth and sent to Aurum Ceramic Dental Laboratory, where the veneers were artistically custom crafted. Once the porcelain veneers had returned from the lab, they were cemented onto Jeff’s teeth using a durable adhesive bond. The bond was then cured with a harmless high-intensity light. This final touch completed Jeff’s treatment and he now has exactly what he wanted, a straight and white natural looking smile. The results are stunning and Jeff loves showing off his smile now.

For more information about Boulder cosmetic dentistry procedures please visit our website or call our office at 303-449-11

Ice Breaker - Treatment of Chipped Teeth

With just a slip of the foot, Katie’s appearance was instantly changed.

After slipping on ice and falling face first, Katie was left with at least two of her upper front teeth broken. A large portion of her upper left middle tooth was fractured off and her upper right tooth next to the middle was also chipped. She immediately sought treatment from Dr. Adler of Adler Cosmetic & Family Dentistry. Dr. Adler examined the damaged area using the aid of both x-rays and an interoral camera to help diagnose the multiple fractures that were not apparent to the naked eye and to determine the extent of the damage.



Teeth #7 and 9 were visibly broken so Dr. Adler placed a composite dental bonding material on the teeth as a temporary solution to restore the aesthetic look of the teeth until permanent dental restorations could be completed. Tooth #8 did not appear visibly damaged but the interoral camera did reveal that the tooth was fractured. Dr. Adler suspected that the tooth was more heavily damaged than it appeared since the teeth on both sided had visible damage due to the impact. A week after the fall, a portion of tooth #8 broke off due to the trauma it sustained during the accident. Dr. Adler determined that porcelain veneers should be placed on teeth #7-10 to restore the patient’s smile to its original brilliance.



Tooth #10 (upper left tooth, second from the middle) did not have any visible fractures but needed to be restored partly as a precaution since not all damage from a fall is immediately apparent and mostly for aesthetics. It is recommended that front teeth especially should be restored in sets of two to insure that the patient’s smile remains symmetrical. Tooth #10 was already shorter than its counter part #7, so if Dr. Adler was to only restore the teeth that had visible fractures (# 7-9), then tooth #10 would appear short and out of place, giving the patient an uneven smile.

A veneer is a thin shell of porcelain that is bonded to a tooth to improve its color or shape. A veneer generally covers only the front and top of a tooth. Veneers can be used to close spaces between teeth, lengthen small or misshapen teeth, or whiten stained or dark teeth. When teeth are chipped, as in Katie’s case, or beginning to wear, veneers can protect them from damage and restore their original appearance.

Katie’s four upper front teeth were first shaped and roughened to prepare them for the veneers. Impressions were then taken of the teeth and sent to Aurum Ceramic Dental Laboratory, where the veneers were artistically custom crafted. Once the veneers had returned from the lab, they were cemented onto Katie’s teeth using a durable adhesive bond. The bond was then cured with a harmless high-intensity light. The pain Katie initial experienced from the accident was relieved after the veneers were placed. The final results were a beautiful and natural looking smile.



Trauma cause to a tooth in a fall can take several months before all the damage is known. A root can be fractured but not cause symptoms for several months after the accident. Dr. Adler was concerned that Katie might eventually need a root canal for that very reason. With this in mind, Dr. Adler specifically designed the veneers to allow an access opening for a root canal without damaging the porcelain restorations if one was needed at a later time.

Four months after the fall, Katie did begin to have symptoms in tooth #8 that warranted a root canal. The blood supply to the tooth was likely damaged in the accident but was not symptomatic until several months later. Dr. Adler referred Katie to Dr. Joseph Parsons of Boulder Endodontics, P.C. for the root canal. Dr. Parsons successful performed the root canal and the veneer was not damaged in the procedure. Because symptoms can develop long after the accident continuous follow up is needed to monitor the tooth’s nerves.



Katie is good as new and now her brilliant smile is the best ice breaker of all.

For more information about Boulder porcelain veneers specialist Dr. Adler please visit our website or call the office at 303-449-1119.

The Other White Crown - Dental Crown Restoration

It is a common myth that silver amalgam fillings last forever. They are very durable but are not indestructible. There are several reasons why a silver filling can fail. Fillings have to endure an incredible amount of biting force and over time, they become worn and turn black, and their edges wear away. Moisture and temperature changes can also cause the filling to expand and contract. This expansion can create a wedging effect in the tooth, which can fracture or break off tooth structure. The expansion can also lift the surface of the filling slightly creating a gap where the filling meets the tooth and allow bacteria into the tooth.

Jamie had begun to have sensitivity when flossing in her lower right molar, which had a large silver amalgam filling. Dr. Adler diagnosed recurrent decay in the tooth and recommended that an inlay (dental crown) be placed.



An inlay is similar to a filling and lies in between the cusps of the tooth. They are custom-made to fit the prepared cavity and are then cemented into place. An onlay is a more extensive dental restoration that replaces one or more cusps of a tooth. Onlays are indicated in situations where a substantial reconstruction is required. However, more of the tooth structure can be conserved compared to the placement of a crown.
To repair damage to the tooth’s biting surface, rather than using a simple filling, or a crown, Dr. Adler will often use an inlay, or an onlay. Inlays and onlays are made from porcelain because of its strength and ability to match the natural color of the tooth.



Dr. Adler prepared Jamie’s tooth by removing the old amalgam filling and the underlying decay. He then painted a reflective powder over the prepared tooth. Using a special camera, he took an accurate picture of the tooth which was then displayed on a computer screen, where he designed the inlay. Then the CEREC crown machine took over and automatically fabricated and shaped the restoration. CEREC is an acronym for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. With CEREC there was no need for us to make an impression and send it to a lab. The inlay was then permanently bonded to Jamie’s tooth. The whole process took about an hour and Jamie was able to leave with a beautiful and healthy white tooth verses the discolored and decayed one that she came in with.

For more information about Boulder restorative dentist Dr. Adler, DDS please visit our website or call 303-449-1119 to schedule an appointment.