DENVER DENTAL SPECIALTIES - Key Persons

Cherie A. Brown, D.D.S., M.S., a Kansas native, grew up in Western Kansas. Cherie attended San Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas and graduated with a Bachelors of Arts degree in General Education. Cherie continued her education at the Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, TX where she received her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. After completing her first residency in general dentistry, Dr. Brown completed a postgraduate residency program in Periodontics and received a Masters of Science degree from the graduate college of the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry. Dr. Brown started a private practice, focusing on periodontal treatment, in Omaha, Nebraska. During this time, Dr. Brown was also teaching for undergraduate, graduate, hygiene, and postgraduate residents at the University of Nebraska. In 2002, Dr. Brown started her private practice, Denver Dental Specialties, PLLC, limited to Periodontics and Dental Implant therapy in Lakewood, CO. She is a member of the American Academy of Periodontology, the American Academy of Osseointegration, the Colorado Dental Association, the Metropolitan Denver Dental Society, the American Dental Association, and the National Seattle Study Club. Dr. Brown is also a co-director with her husband of a local Seattle Study Club.

Tony C. Kardelis, D.D.S., M.S., a Pennsylvania native, grew up in Easton, PA, but left the east coast to attend the University of St. Thomas in Houston, TX. He graduated in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in General Studies with a minor in Theology. In 1996 he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, TX. Dr. Kardelis continued his education at the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry, in Lincoln, NE., where in 1999 he completed a postgraduate residency program in Periodontics and received a Masters of Science degree from the graduate college. The following year, while teaching for the graduate and undergraduate programs at the dental school, he began a periodontal associateship in a private practice in Lincoln, NE. He then returned as a student to the college and completed a postgraduate residency program in Endodontics in 2002. In 2002, Dr. Kardelis started his private practice limited to Endodontics, Periodontics, and Dental Implants in Lakewood, CO. He is a member of several organizations including the American Academy of Periodontology, the American Academy of Endodontics, the Academy of Osseointegration, the Colorado Dental Association, the Metropolitan Denver Dental Society, the American Dental Association, and the National Seattle Study Club. He is also a co-director with his wife of a local Seattle Study Club. Dr. Kardelis joined the Cody Dental Group in 2013. Dr. Kardelis loves spending time in the mountains with his wife and two dogs, an Alaskan Malamute and Australian Shepherd, and enjoys mountain climbing, hiking, skiing, and golf. He is a huge fan of adventure racing and has completed several Tough Mudder races, half marathons, and his ultimate achievement to date is summiting Mt. Rainier.

In the back of the upper jaw bone dental implants are frequently needed. In order for a dental implant to be successful in this area of the mouth there must be sufficient bone height and width to connect (integrate) to the dental implant. When the upper back teeth are lost and not replaced the sinus cavity becomes enlarged destroying any bone that is left behind. This very large sinus is like a "giant air pocket" and not capable of supporting an implant. A procedure known as sinus grafting (sinus lift) is performed to create bone that will ultimately hold the implants within the sinus. Sinus grafting is an extremely common form of bone grafting.