Posted by drgracesun on August 29, 2009 under Beautiful Smile, General Dental Knowledge, Healthy Smile, Information | 
The economy has not yet recovered, and although we are out of the darkest corners of the recession 
, uncertainty still looms! Where should we put our money, where should we invest – what about investing in your smile? Believe it or not, taking care of problems you may have thought of as cosmetic (like a missing tooth) can actually prevent facial sagging and other signs of aging, while improving your quality of life.
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!
Posted by drgracesun on July 18, 2009 under General Dental Knowledge, Gum Disease and Treatment, Healthy Smile, Hygiene, Information |
Aging? Not me! We do not get old, but our body parts increasingly need more upkeep to stay young! Baby boomers need special attention in particular – although we may feel like as young as a college graduate, an aged and/or discolored smile will reveal your years. As a cosmetic dentist, my mission is to help you maintain a happy and healthy smile that will compliment your well kept physique – and “looking good” is often related with having a beautiful smile. If you’re not happy with your smile, get a consultation from a cosmetic dentist to see what you can do to refresh your smile!
The most commonly challenging dental dilemma for baby boomers is combating those dull and severely worn teeth. Many people are unaware of the slow aging process of loosing tooth structures, mainly from night grinding, erosion and attrition. Bad habits and poor hygiene can also ruin teeth. The approach to rejuvenate can be as simple as having your teeth whitened, or it could be more complicated, requiring a multidisciplinary approach with extensive time and financial investment needed.
Often times, porcelain veneers might be suggested by your cosmetic dental professional to restore an aging smile, but make sure your dental health has been evaluated first. It is pertinent to check whether or not the gum and bone tissues are healthy, if there are any missing teeth that haven’t yet been replaced and if any shifting bite or teeth issues have been addressed. If you have had prior cosmetic work done, however, maintaining your investment is vital if you want your new smile to last. Follow up any cosmetic procedure with proper hygiene habits, which include brushing and flossing twice daily (and after meals), a healthy diet, no smoking and no excessive drinking (sodas or alcohol). A night guard might also be recommended.
Baby boomers have worked hard to establish their careers, family and personal well-being – now it’s time to enjoy more of your accomplishments. Get the smile you’ve always wanted, as it’s not only for vanity but also truly for your overall health. Visit your dental professional not only for a routine cleaning and check up, but ask for a comprehensive cosmetic evaluation, including a smile analysis, TMJ and occlusion check and a periodontal exam with an oral cancer screening. When you take care of your mouth, you are taking care of a vital bodily system which performs in delicate balance with the rest of your body. When your oral cavity ’s health is at risk, your overall health is being endangered.
Tags: age, aging, bacteria, bright, cap, clean, crown, crowns, healthy, hygiene, maintenance, porcelain, restorations, veneer, veneers
Posted by drgracesun on June 7, 2009 under Beautiful Smile, Healthy Smile, Smart Smile |
It might surprise you to learn that over 20 million individual teeth are extracted from American mouths every year – the devastating news is that many of these extractions could have been avoided. Once teeth “pass the point of no return,” costly implants or other techniques must be used to restore a person’s smile or chewing function properly – and if said person is unable to afford proper treatment, their missing teeth may cause subsequent dental problems or humiliation and devastating blows to his or her self-esteem, even harming job security, depending on what career path said person has taken.
The sad fact of the matter is that less than 10% of people suffering from tooth pain or other signs of future tooth loss ever see a dentist (or dental professional); because nearly all tooth loss is preventable, this is simply unacceptable! Dental phobia, the fear of being judged by a dentist or financial troubles are often contributing factors in why most people suffering from tooth pain never see a dentist, but the consequence of delaying (or avoiding all together) a dental check-up often results in edentulism (missing one or more teeth). Worst of all, oral health problems are systematic (meaning they can affect other systems or parts of the body), and problems grow with time, making the need to see your dentist that much more urgent if you are suffering from tooth pain.
Of course, tooth loss in rare incidences could be due to injury or genetic problems, mainly caused by poor oral hygiene, bad oral habits leading to tooth and gum disease and eventually tooth loss. For starters, brushing and flossing twice daily and after meals is essential! When food particles are left behind embedded between tooth crevices, bacteria begins a destructive process which eats away at your teeth and gum. Secondly, eating sugary, carbohydrate-laden foods and drinking sugary beverages [frequently] without prompt proper care can erode the enamel on your teeth, making you more prone to tooth loss and gum disease. Without timely dental care, these habits will lead to an untreatable situation and inevitable tooth loss. To prevent all that unpleasantness (and the costly consequences of tooth loss), the best solution is prevention. Prevention means having a terrific home care program, proper diet and habit and getting your regular dental cleanings and check ups every year. When the problem is small (or in a earlier stage of deterioration), problems are much easier to correct and restore. To the end the effort is all worthy, and having a healthy mouth is truly the foundation of good physical health (you can eat and digest healthy, high fibrous food) and mental health (self esteem and being able to smile with confidence)!
Tags: beverly hills, ca, california, care, dds, dental, dentist, disease, doctor, gum, gum disease, hygiene, hygienist, los angeles, loss, maintenance, missing, oral, physician, Prevention, sun, teeth, tissue, tooth, weho, west hollywood
Posted by drgracesun on March 6, 2009 under Information |
Fluoride treatment is effective with preventing cavities and tooth decay. As a dentist, this is what I have recommended to people who I see can benefit from fluoride treatment’s ability to remineralize and desensitize your teeth. However, I must confess there is risk involved with using fluoride due to its potentially damaging systematic effects.
Fluorine, the ionized form of fluoride is highly active to phosphate ions in your body (where calcium is found in large amounts – like the bones and teeth). In teeth, fluorine combines with the inorganic compound apatite, to form a harder, less water-soluble fluoride salt, which resists the acidic erosion of some oral environments. A pregnant mother’s fluorine intake affects the primary teeth of the fetus. Fluorine intake from fluoridated water (or a fluoride supplement) can also affect teeth in child development of up to around age 8 (making teeth harder and more resistant to decay). Unfortunately, excessive amounts of fluoride can lead to fluorosis, which causes white, brown or black stains (and even pitting) of the teeth, and/or brittle, aching bones and joints. An even darker fact regarding fluoride: many researchers believe it is carcinogenic. Japanese research has shown fluoride as being capable of transforming healthy cells into cancer cells. Additionally, the New Jersey Department of Health has found that young men exposed to fluoridated water have a much higher occurrence rate of bone cancer. Other studies performed by private corporations (Procter & Gamble in particular) have shown fluoride used to fluoridate public water sources significantly increases the chances of genetic damage in its drinkers.
So use fluoride with caution – it is beneficial for cavity prevention and treating tooth sensitivity, but it is for topical use only – do not ingest! Children especially need special care from their parents with undertaking any type of fluoride treatment, no fluoride toothpaste or fluoride should ever be swallowed. If fluoride use is recommended by your doctor or dental professional, calcium supplements (or food rich in calcium like dairy products) are recommended to ensure your bones stay strong and balance out any potential loss of calcium due to fluorine exposure.
There are alternatives for remineralizing your tooth structure, such as calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. If you have any concerns, speak with your dental professional. Remember, the best way to prevent tooth decay is to eat sensibly and keep your mouth sparkling clean by properly brushing and flossing after every meal.
Tags: ca, california, care, cavities, cavity, decay, dental, dentist, doctor, fluoride, health, LA, los angenes, maintenance, physician, Prevention, reminerization, sun, therapy, treatment, weho, west hollywood
