The cabalistically alluring smile of lady Mona Lisa remains a mystery, but French scientists say they have cracked a few secrets of the famous painting. Researchers at The Louvre have studied seven of the museum’s Leonardo da Vinci paintings, including the Mona Lisa, to analyze the master’s use of successive ultrathin layers of paint and glaze – a technique that gave his works their soft and sensual quality.

Specialists from the Center for Research and Restoration of the Museums of France found that da Vinci painted up to 30 layers of paint and glaze on his works to achieve astonishingly high levels of subtlety. Added up, all the layers are less than 40 micrometers, or about half the thickness of a human hair, researcher Philippe Walter said Friday. The technique is called “sfumato,” and it allowed da Vinci to give outlines and contours a hazy quality (creating an illusion of depth and shadow). The technique’s use is well-known, but scientific study on it has been limited because, until the advent of advanced laser technology, tests required actual samples from the paintings.

Just as Leonardo da Vinci used the sfumato technique to intricately layer paint and glaze (creating beautiful works of art), a master artist uses similar techniques of layering porcelain powder to create realistic dental restorations. Dr. Sun chooses from approximately 30 different shades of porcelain powder, which are layered to create the illusion of a natural tooth. The result is an extremely high quality restoration, indistinguishable from an organically created tooth. It is important to note that the vast majority of porcelain technicians use only a few rudimentary shades of porcelain powder, resulting in a mediocre restoration which may look slightly artificial.

When searching for a cosmetic dentist, look for samples of his or her team’s work! Cosmetic dentists rely on an integrated team of clinical and laboratory experts to assist in creating lifelike porcelain restorations. Realistic shade and color should be present, not one solid shade of white. If possible, see how the restoration illuminates (how the tooth looks in natural sunlight) – is there a shift, like a natural tooth? Find a master artist who can provide you with the smile of your dreams. If you need a resource to find a cosmetic dentist in your area, the American Academy for Cosmetic Dentistry provides a search tool to find accredited AACD cosmetic dentists in your area.

It was not uncommon to see athletes removing and replacing their mouth guards before and after events; most wear clear silicon rubber guards while some wear colored ones. I am very pleased to see the awareness of preventing sport injuries on globally broadcast television -  all athletes with a chance of injury should be wearing a sport mouth guard to prevent oral facial injury, jaw injuries and even brain concussions.

The dangers of an unprotected oral cavity don’t just apply to olympians – any physical activity can result in an accident without safety precautions! Proper protection in the form of a custom-fitted mouth guard is vital to assure the health and safety of your teeth, jaw and fasciomuscular system. Using your teeth as a tool for anything other than eating food – even opening a plastic bag – can cause a tooth to crack.

Dental trauma usually results from an accidentally cracked or broken tooth. Many times, teeth that have previously been treated with a root canal are prone to breakage due to a weak and/or compromised structure. All root canal teeth should be capped with a crown to protect the tooth structure. Certain hard foods can also trigger tooth breakage, such as corn nuts, popcorn, hard candy, and especially ice! Tooth decay, periodontal disease and even cracked teeth can all be prevented! Most hygienists will inform patients of important daily cleaning habits, but rarely elaborate on dental trauma and how to prevent it.

If you ever find yourself in a situation with missing teeth, try and preserve them in milk. If your tooth becomes cracked, avoid using your mouth and get to your dental professional ASAP! If you have a night guard (or mouth guard), wear it to protect the site. If you can get to your dentist in a timely manner, the teeth may be reattached. Simple chipping can be repaired rather simply (bonding or porcelain veneers can be explored with your dental care professional). Your doctor will be able to evaluate you further and discuss whether more extensive procedures are necessary (like implants or a root canal). Whether you’re jogging in your neighborhood or racing for the gold, being prepared will help you avoid dental trauma.

An autistic child stacks cans, a commonality amongst autistic children.

Often times, children suffering from autism are very difficult to treat by a physician – especially in dentistry. Autistic children often have a very hard time trusting physicians (especially if he or she is unfamiliar with said physician). In regards to dentistry, autistic children can have difficulty sitting still. This can make orthodontic treatment very difficult, especially if the child does not like braces or feels they are causing him or her pain. An autistic child can be treated just as successfully as any child if he or she is treated with patience and care.

Regarding dental home care, brushing and flossing will require a family member’s daily help and guidance. Nutritional needs for Autistic children are extremely important, not just for dental hygiene, but for the brain. There are researches showing how certain foods seem to affect the developing brain of certain children, causing autistic behavior. This is not because of allergies, but because many of these children are unable to properly break down certain proteins. Researchers in England, Norway, and at the University of Florida had previously found peptides (a breakdown product of proteins) with opiate activity in the urine of a high percentage of autistic children. Opiates are drugs, like morphine, which affect brain function. These findings have recently been confirmed by researchers at Johnson & Johnson’s Ortho Clinical Diagnostics.  Gluten-free diets (a protein fraction found in wheat, rye, barley and most oat products) and Casein-free diets (a protein in dairy) are suggested. A professional nutrition consultation is really a must.

I was luckily blessed to have the opportunity to treat some special people who needed special care. Of course, every patient is special in my dictionary, but when dealing with someone who cannot communicate (or resists treatment), the challenge is greater to make that person better. You can also feel the love in between the family members – the special person actually plays the “glue” role to get the family together! When you see them together, it is such a beautiful scene.

Treating Autistic or any other special people can be an extremely rewarding experience. Everything is possible if we determine how to make things better; with patience, love and knowledge, we can experience miracles!

We all know that we should brush and floss after every meal, especially after eating sweets, as within minutes, the sugar turns to acid and bacteria strives, the erosion and decay process initiates, and your candy isn’t so sweet any longer. Dental decay and gum disease are the consequences of poor oral hygiene conditions. For baby teeth, enamel is thin and not hard, and is very vulnerable to decay. Bad oral health is not isolated to the mouth, but can cause systemic problems including (but not limited to) heart disease, digestive problems and even dementia. It has been theorized that inflammation from periodontal disease, a hard-to-cure condition in which the bacteria get into your blood stream increases inflammation throughout your body, which challenges the body’s immune system, making it more susceptible to sickness.

A few examples of systemic health problems stemming from periodontitis include increased blood sugar levels in diabetics and a doubled likelihood of developing coronary artery disease. Expectant mothers with gum disease may also be several times more likely to give birth to a premature, underweight and sick child.

We all need to get into the habit of carrying our oral health tools – a toothbrush and floss. This is a particularly good habit to develop if you have children, encouraging them to brush after meals even in school, restaurants and when traveling. The minimum is that at least morning and night, twice a day, a mandatory oral hygiene routine is carried out. If your child has a sweet tooth or is prone to cavities, additional fluoride treatments might be necessary to strengthen the enamel, preventing a cavity. Ask your dental professional to be a part of the game plan to better equip your child in life for a healthy and happy mouth. If we can  develop our child’s hygiene habits early on, that is a precious gift!

Halloween is scary season, and not just for costumes – it’s cavity season as well. Instilling good habits in your kids will ensure a healthy, bright and white future for your child’s teeth, and for their overall health as well.

When a person seeks out orthodontic treatment to fix a problem (crooked teeth, a misaligned bite, etc…), he or she must realize that the bone is actually being remodeled. Orthodontic treatment rearrange teeth into a proper alignment, which pressure transfer to the roots of the teeth within the jawbone. Bone is actually lost and added during this process as the teeth are repositioned to their proper places as reaching the treatment goal.

Poor oral hygiene will influence  your tooth and gum structures negatively.  The progress of orthodontic treatment consist of inflammatory  and regenerative responses. A  mouth with plaque and tartar build-up will trigger the body’s inflammatory response, amplifying the already inflamed structures associated with orthodontic treatment and can lead to a prolonged inflammatory stage and a delayed regenerative phase within orthodontic treatment. Poor oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment can and will have a damaging affect on your treatment goals as well. Reports have shown that “poor oral hygiene can increase treatment times from 1.2 to 2.2 months – other consequences of poor oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment affect the quality of the end result of treatment.” Whereas standard orthodontic treatment (in a clean mouth) leads to the balanced loss and gain of bone, poor oral hygiene restricts the ability of new bone to grow, affecting the treatment results.

Orthodontic treatment seeks to improve a patient’s oral health, but what every patient must remember is that a treatment plan can only be fully realized if both the doctor and the patient are making concerted efforts to correct a problem and stick with a course of action. A patient’s oral health cannot improve without patient compliance. If a patient sees his or her orthodontic specialist (or physician or dentist) on a regular basis but does not fulfill his or her duties to maintain a clean and healthy oral environment, no improvement will ever be seen. A doctor and a patient must work together to obtain a successful result.

Remember that your dental professional may be a miracle worker, but that does not retract your obligation to maintain proper oral hygiene (or any other instructed daily routines)! Any orthodontic treatment plan is a dual-sided plan that requires dedication from both the physician and the patient. Without proper compliance from the patient, prolonged treatment time and reduced oral improvement will result.

I recently attended the 5th European Congress in Aesthetic Dermatology and Surgery in Anti-Aging Medicine, hosted by the European Masters in Aesthetic & Anti-Aging Medicine (or EMAA) in Paris, France. The conference focused on a plethora of anti-aging information and news in the field, but what I found interesting were the procedures tailored toward dental medicine. Botox, or Botulinum toxin, is a neurotoxic protein that is in fact one of the most poisonous substances known to man! Despite the dramatic definition, the use of very small amounts of this toxin to treat muscle spasms in anti-aging medicine is widespread. Botox relaxes muscle spasms in a way that can reduce wrinkles, by training specific muscle groups to relax and lower tension.  Botox effects wear off between three and six months, and will need to be re-administered to maintain results.

From the dental aspect, Botox can be used to control a gummy smile. Botox relaxes the muscles in a person’s upper lip – known as hyperactive upper lip – which contributes to a gummy smile. When Botox is injected into the muscle group in a person’s lip, the toxin actually relaxes the muscles and restricts the muscle’s ability to overly contract upward thus showing excessive gum tissue . Botox can also be used to control facial muscle spasms that contribute not only to wrinkles and frown lines, but to headaches as well. By undergoing Botox therapy, the muscles in the lips and face can be trained to eventually relax on their own.

Although Botox may sound like a miracle drug for reducing the appearance of gummy smiles, fine lines and even headaches, one must remember that any anti-aging treatment plan is dual-fold: the patient must be committed to their health in order to achieve long-lasting results. Patient compliance is key in any medical treatment plan, but when it comes to anti-aging, a healthy lifestyle can make all the difference in the world. Diet is one of the most important factors in patient compliance. Everyone has heard the age-old saying “you are what you eat,” – it is absolutely true.

A patient who is concerned with his or her physical health and appearance – and is willing to go through Botox therapy to achieve anti-aging results – must realize that his or her diet is vital to achieving long-lasting results. Vegetables, lean proteins and minerals are all vital in achieving healthy skin, bones and organ function. A poor diet high in refined sugars, fat and carbohydrates with poor habits (like alcohol consumption and smoking, staying up late and no exercise) all will contribute to a faster aging process. We all wishto be young and healthy forever – it all starts with healthy choices.

There are ways to gain full lips if you weren’t lucky enough to be born with them! For woman, lip-plumping make up is one option as well as lip augmentation (implant surgeries or injections) which artificially give sexy lips, but for some women, the results are not very natural looking – or even attractive. The first exercise works the Musculus Levator Anguli Oris (or Caninus), which is located immediately under the lower medial rim of the orbital cavity (which lifts the corner of the mouth). Lift the corners of the mouth by pulling your lips in and over your teeth (almost making your lips disappear into your mouth). From this position, pull up both corners of the mouth into a pseudo-smile. Repeat this exercise ten times!

The second exercise works the Musculus Orbicularis Oris, which consists of the sinewy fibres of the corners of the mouth. These muscles start above the upper and below the lower lip, providing the basis for the structure of the lips (and also function as the opening and closing mechanism of the mouth). To exercise this muscle and help bring out fuller lips, with forceful tension, pucker your lips as if getting ready for a kiss. Repeat this exercise ten times, holding the pucker for at least one full second. You can support the exercise by tightly pressing your nostrils together. Repeat ten times!

The third and final exercise works the same muscle group (Orbicularis Oris Muscle) but the exercise is different. Press your lips tightly together, as if pursing them tightly to prevent something from parting your lips. To avoid creating wrinkles, position the tip of your middle fingers at the corners of your mouth and pull slightly to the outside.  Again, repeat ten times! By following these simple and easy “facial yoga” exercises, you will begin to develop fuller, stronger lips. Keep in mind that water intake will help maintain your lip plumpness (8 glasses of water every day is essential for your body to maintain itself), and keeping your lips moisturized will help as well. These exercises stimulate collagen production in your lips and will eventually build up your smile to a beautiful one! These exercises can also help to improve muscle tone and skin elasticity!

It shouldn’t be news to hear that polls done over the last few decades have proven that a person’s smile is one of the biggest factors that make a first impression. A survey done by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry found that 74% of American adults believe an unattractive smile can harm a person’s chances of career success. Does your smile show your true colors? If it doesn’t, speak with your dental professional about what options you might be eligible for in terms of cosmetic dentistry.

As we get older, our teeth shift around (and our smiles often degrade). This is primarily due to improper care of the oral cavity, including poor brushing and flossing habits (as well as not visiting your dental hygienist twice annually) or habits of drinking and smoking or clenching , grinding teeth at sleep. What you may not realize is that many of the most common aging symptoms – wrinkled skin, a slacked jaw, sagging lips – are partially caused by an unhealthy facial muscular system that did not provide proper support to the facial structure! As we clench and grind, our teeth shift and our bite falls out of alignment, contributing to many of the problems listed above. Thankfully, cosmetic dentistry can help prevent or repair some of these problems and restore our facial muscular system to its proper health and harmony, freshening up our appearance and providing a healthier oral system.

A bright and beautiful smile can take five to ten years off of your appearance, boosting your self esteem and empowering you to have a go-get-it attitude: a good thing in today’s economic environment!  Speak with your dental professional today about your smile to find out what treatment options are available to you. Remember, prevention is always the best medicine. It’s always cheaper and easier to take care of problems before they exist!

Often times, our lips become dry because the layer of oil that is naturally produced by the body to coat the lips is removed, or is lacking. It can be difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of chapped lips, as it can often be multi-factorial. The sometimes-painful condition affects many many people!

Lip balm (or petroleum jelly like Vaseline) can sometimes provide relief for chapped lips, but this also depends on the degree of cheilitis in the lips. Medical grade lanolin USP can help to stimulate and repair lips, and is used in several lip repair products. Other steps you can take to eliminate or cure chapped lips are: Stay indoors and avoid windy, dry weather. Avoid alcohol, no spicy/salty or acidic foods, drink plenty of water and use a humidifier in your room if you are a mouth breather! Use lip care products from old remedies (like honey or duck fat) to products containing petroleum, lanolin, coconut oil, sheabutter, olive oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil, beeswax, vitamin E oil or aloe vera gel. An improved diet rich in Vitamin B2- riboflavin may also help, or take a supplement.

Avoid licking your lips: certain enzymes present in saliva can irritate the lips, and the evaporation of the water in saliva saps moisture from them. If you do have chapped lips, do not play with dead skin cells on the lips – pulling or peeling tissue from the lips can be damaging, the dead skin should naturally exfoliate or can be removed with small, sterilized sugical scissors.

When the corner of the mouth is cracked, this condition is called angular chelitis, and can be an indication of a riboflavin deficiency (and possible a yeast infection). Apart from improving one’s diet and taking a B vitamin supplement, try cutting down sugar intake and applying a lip moisturizer / antifugal cream. Avoid using lip gloss with a sponge wand applicator. Avoid kissing with your pets (I am sorry!) and regarding medication, it is known that Retinoids (isotretinoin and acitretin) are the most frequent drug-induced causes for chapped lips.

If you have tried different approaches to eliminate chapped lips and do not see improvement, it would be best to consult with a medical professional. Evaluate whether there is any underlying conditions requiring attention and/or treatment. Chapped lips can often be a sign indicating that there is health attention needed, so let’s have some lip care for our own good for health and beauty!

Laser bleaching utilizes laser light energy to accelerate the chemical reaction of a bleaching agent, typically a hydrogen peroxide base product. Hydrogen peroxide is very unstable in response to light and heat (which is why over-the-counter 3% hydrogen peroxide solution is stored in opaque dark brown bottles). Because of this, light energy can excite peroxide molecules, breaking the covalent bonds of the bleaching agent. The agent then reacts to and breaks the long, discolored molecule chains into shorter-chained molecules, lightening the tooth color. The bleaching agent used with laser bleaching is a high-strength solution when compared to home bleaching agents or over-the-counter kits. Your mouth will be protected with an isolator to protect the oral tissues , and placement of the bleaching agent is done in a very controlled manner by a highly trained dental professional. Once a 10-to-15 minute bleaching cycle is complete, the teeth will be cleaned and evaluated to discern whether additional applications of bleaching agent will follow. Normal bleaching procedures involve three applications of the bleaching gel, with an “instant average” of six shades of whiteness typically resulting. Laser bleaching is instantly gratifying. In my office, you can watch a movie through virtual i-glasses while the procedure takes place, and before your movie is finished your teeth will have been transformed into a younger, prettier and whiter smile!

Many different types of lasers (or light) are used for eliciting fast chemical reactions in teeth whitening. Some people will experience more sensitivity when infrared energy (heat) is utilized, which appears in most dental offices, but a few alternatives like Argon or KTP lasers (which emit blue and green light) exist. These lasers have the correct level of energy required to excite the bleaching gel, but they leave the teeth cool and comfortable. Most sensitivity is transient, and should subside within a day (Ibuprofen will be helpful if there is any available). After a smile has been bleached with a laser, one must be very careful to maintain his or her newly brightened smile lest the brilliant white color fade and dull over time. Alcohol, soft drinks and smoking are all bad habits which can stain teeth and regress any laser bleaching process. A healthy diet will also be beneficial for your physical and oral health. If you take care of your mouth, your reward will be apparent with a happy and healthy smile.