Diagnostic

• Dental Examination
  The first time you see us, whether it be for a comprehensive exam or a focused problem, we will discuss your concerns, immediate needs, and how we can best help you.
• X-rays
• Oral Cancer Screening
  We recommend a checkup and preventative cleaning approximately every six months. The time between these visits is individually determined based on a patient's oral health needs. During your appointment, Dr. Rauk will provide a comprehensive oral exam. This includes an oral cancer screening, periodontal evaluation and occlusal analysis. We also use a cavity-detecting laser, the Diagnodent, which is the latest in dental technology to evaluate the depth of dental caries. With your permission, we will also take any necessary digital X-rays and photographs to gain a full understanding of your condition for accurate diagnosis. Dr. Rauk will then review options for treatment and work with you to design a practical plan of action. By the time you leave our Estes Park dental office, you will fully understand the state of your oral health and our recommendations. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask!

Preventive

• Teeth Cleaning
• Fluoride Treatment
  If you have small cavities, get them filled as soon as possible, before they grow and cause extensive damage. Professional fluoride treatments and dental sealants can also help deter tooth decay. Some patients have more problems with plaque than others. We will gladly help you understand the particularities of your mouth and recommend ways to prevent bacteria and tooth decay.
• Dental Sealants
  Dr. Rauk recommends parents help their young children with daily brushing and flossing, six-month checkups and cleanings, and following through with restorative dental care. In addition, he can prescribe any recommended fluoride supplements and do dental sealants to prevent tooth decay in children’s baby and permanent teeth. Fluoride is a mineral that attracts other minerals to keep teeth strong and healthy. Dental sealants are thin, clear plastic coatings for back permanent teeth. They create a barrier between tooth enamel and the sugar and starches by products that cause cavities.

Restorative

• Fillings
• Resin Composite
  Dr. Rauk is a restorative dentist and a cosmetic dentist, so he restores optimal oral health and function with attractive, natural-looking restorations. One example of this is composite resin fillings. These tooth-colored fillings contain no metal (amalgam). Instead, they are made of a durable quartz-filled resin material that matches your tooth enamel shade.
• Veneers
  Looking for a way to transform your image? A brighter and properly aligned smile could make you look years younger and boost your confidence. Dr. Rauk often suggests porcelain veneers to correct the appearance of chipped, crooked, or discolored teeth. Porcelain veneers also correct misshapen or oddly spaced teeth to create a unique and beautiful smile.
• Crowns
  CEREC, or Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, offers a wide range of advantages over conventional methods in customization and fabrication of tooth colored crowns, inlays, and onlays. Also called single-visit crowns, these porcelain restorations created using CEREC technology, look and feel completely natural. A tooth damaged due to decay or injury can be restored the same day in our office with a restoration that blends perfectly with the other teeth.
• Bridges
  If you have lost one or more teeth due to an accident, injury, or gum disease, a fixed bridge will restore your full, strong smile. A bridge not only fills the gap, but it prevents repositioning (shifting) of remaining teeth. It can also correct a misaligned bite, improve chewing function and speech articulation, and provide underlying support for cheeks, which contributes to a youthful appearance.
• Dental Bonding
  If you have a chipped, slightly misaligned, or otherwise imperfect tooth that needs cosmetic restoration, we may suggest one-appointment bonding. The dentist can apply a composite resin, shaded to blend with your tooth’s color, to rebuild a pleasing shape to your tooth. After hardening the resin with a curing light, the dentist will artistically sculpt and polish the restoration. In just one visit, you can enjoy a beautiful new smile! Cosmetic bonding can be a viable, affordable alternative to porcelain veneers, but it may last only 5 to 10 years with proper care. Bonding will not discolor as your natural tooth enamel will, so touch-up teeth whitening may be required to keep your natural teeth the same shade as the bonded area.
• Restorative Dentistry
  Whether you need a small, tooth-colored filling or full-mouth reconstruction, Dr. Rauk can provide comprehensive restorative dentistry to restore optimal oral health. Patients should follow through with restorative dental care as recommended.

Endodontics

• Root Canal Treatment
  As a dentist with extensive experience in root canal treatments, Dr. Rauk relieves intense tooth pain caused by internal infection. In most situations, a complete root canal takes just one visit.

Periodontics

• Deep Cleaning
  The first step in treating gum disease is to remove infection and bacteria so that your mouth will heal. Our hygienist offers deep cleaning, which involves removing hardened plaque (tartar) at the gum line and smoothing rough areas on teeth roots. This may be done with local anesthesia, so a thorough cleaning can be performed while patients remain comfortable. We may also administer topical antibiotic to combat infection.

Prosthodontics

• Dentures
  Oral cancer kills more people nationwide than either cervical or skin (melanoma) cancer, and only half of patients diagnosed will survive more than five years. One American dies every hour from oral cancer. The most common risk factors are tobacco use, frequent high quantity alcohol consumption, constant sunlight exposure, habitual cheek or lip biting, or poorly fitting dentures. Although most oral cancers are found in people who use tobacco and/or drink alcohol excessively, 25 percent of oral cancers occur in people who have no risk factors at all.

Implants

• Dental Implants
  Once the implants are in place, bone tissue naturally fuses with them during a process called osseointegration. Dr. Rauk then designs replacement teeth, has them created at dental laboratories, and secures them in our Estes Park office.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

• Oral Surgery
  In some cases, we refer patients to a specialist for oral surgery. However, Dr. Rauk has taken significant postgraduate training in oral surgery. So that you can receive the majority of your dental care in our Estes Park office, where you feel comfortable, cared for, and familiar, we offer both oral surgery and surgical endodontic treatments. These may include...
• Tooth Extractions

Orthodontics

• Orthodontics
  That sounds like an easy question to answer, but it isn't! Your smile is unique. Smile design dentistry done right requires an initial consultation in which we will discuss your goals, preferences, and options for care. Generally speaking, we may suggest porcelain veneers, teeth whitening, all-white restorations, and/or replacement teeth. Orthodontics may also be involved. After your comprehensive evaluation and consultation, we'll present a smile makeover plan for your new smile.

General

• Teeth Whitening
  Dr. Rauk offers professional, take-home teeth-whitening kits to erase years of enamel stains and discolorations. The custom-fitted trays, used with a potent whitening gel, will let you brighten your smile in the privacy of your home, at your convenience, and yield results that rival in-office whitening. For optimal results, use the system as directed for about two weeks.
• Cosmetic Dentistry
  During any treatment, your comfort, both physical and psychological, is of paramount importance. We want our patient to know they are always in control during treatment. We pledge this treatment to be of the highest quality in materials, function, and aesthetics. In any cosmetic dentistry, we are not satisfied until you are satisfied.
• General Dentistry