Archive | Blog RSS feed for this section

Teeth Whitening – Santa Monica Dentistry

imagesIf you live in or near Santa Monica, CA, then you have a lot of great places to visit each and every day, from dining to shopping to culture and more. And when you and your fellow Santa Monica residents head out on the town, you want to do so looking great, right?

Well then, ask yourself what is the most important part of your outfit? Here’s a hint: you wear it every day, but only show it off from time to time. And here’s one more hint… unfortunately, even if you’re not happy with it, you can’t leave it at home!

We’re talking, of course, about your smile! And we want your smile to shine as brightly as the wonderful California summer sun. And we know you do too: that’s why so many people look for options for teeth whitening Santa Monica area specialists. In the greater Los Angeles area, it is no great secret that image can be important. The most important aspect of your body image, though, is how you feel about yourself, and how your image affects your confidence, your happiness, and your overall sense of wellbeing. If you are proud of your smile, then “rock it” no matter what anyone else might think!

If you, however, think that your smile could use a little bit of help, and you are looking for teeth whitening Santa Monica is about the best city in Southern California for you to be located in! There are no shortage of dentists and oral cosmetic specialists in this town, so you will have no problem finding a great practice, one that can suit your needs quickly and completely.

Some people think of teeth whitening and other oral cosmetic procedures as unnecessary and even vain. That view is in fact quite misguided, though, when you think about it objectively. You would never leave the house is rumpled clothing stained with dirt or the remnants of food, would you? No! You want your clothing spotless and gleaming, looking its absolute best so you look your best, right? If you take the time to dress well each and every day, then why not take the time once or twice a year to get your teeth thoroughly cleaned and whitened and brightened, so that your smile can look its best, too?

teethwhiteningAnother misguided critique people often have of teeth whitening procedures is that it can be damaging to your teeth and / or expose you to potentially harmful chemicals and other substances. But talk about the process of teeth whitening Santa Monica dentist style, and you are talking about perfectly safe, well-regarded procedures that are performed multiple times each and every day! Modern teeth whitening and brightening procedures don’t dump tons of bleach or other harmful chemicals over your teeth, and instead rely on safe compounds, safe use of controlled UV lighting, and other techniques.

Teeth whitening has also become a much more affordable undertaking in recent years as it has become so much more common. So if you are wishing that you could get your smile brighter and more pearly white, but think Santa Monica teeth whitening procedure prices might leave you with a frown, think again – you can afford to get that brighter smile!

Whether you have tried over the counter teeth whitening products to no avail, or have even seen a professional in the past only to be let down with the results, we guarantee that a whiter, brighter smile could be yours, if you just take a good look into all the options available to you today,and then commit to a more lovely smile!

Finding a Cosmetic Dentist in Santa Monica

full mouth smileSo the search for a cosmetic dentist Santa Monica area professional has led you here? Then look no farther, you have found what you’ve been looking for! Let us take a step back before we explain why cosmetic dentistry is so important and first talk about a bit of etymology.

The word cosmetic is often taken to have an almost derogatory connotation to it. People think of “cosmetics” in general as things designed simply for enhancing someone’s looks, and not as part of someone’s health or wellbeing. That may be a fair enough assessment when discussing eyeliner or lip gloss, but when the talk turns to cosmetic dentistry, there is a near total paradigm shift of what is being discussed.

Cosmetic dentistry is indeed largely geared to improving the appearance of a patient’s mouth. But it is also about the function of the mouth. In fact, cosmetic dentistry could fairly be thought of as the ultimate intersection between form and function! That means a cosmetic-focused dental procedure is going to give you straighter, whiter teeth and it means you’ll also get healthier, more resilient gums. It means a better smile and it means a more even, level bite. Having a mouth that looks great when you flash your smile is its own reward, but having an even, level bite also means proper wear on your teeth and jaw over the years, and that means better oral and overall health.

So, back to you and your personal search!

If you are looking for a cosmetic dentist Santa Monica, CA is a great place for you to start your search. Nowhere like in the greater Los Angeles region can one find more skilled dentists, their abilities honed by excellent medical schools and kept sharp by the constant competition that comes from serving such a large community with so many options for dentistry, and the demand for cosmetic services so high, thanks to the entertainment and fashion industries that thrive in LA.

Cosmetic-Dentistry-Santa-Monica

In trying to pick the right cosmetic dentist Santa Monica offers you a whole host of options, so choose with care: you can think of this area as a dental patient’s buyer’s market! (We are confident you’ll choose wisely, so why not be open and frank with you, right?) There are those dental practices which focus on merely teeth whitening procedures and treating stains and the like, and they might offer lots of deals and specials, and for some patients that might be sufficient. But we recommend that when you seek a cosmetic dentist, you look for more substance, quality, training and experience in your dentist that you do for a quick and easy deal. After all, even a purely “cosmetic” dental procedure can be a very involved, sensitive undertaking, and one that could affect more than just your looks, but could change your oral health, and therefore affect your overall health.

Anyone who tells you that cosmetic dentistry is an unnecessary expenditure does not understand how closely the proper function of a person’s mouth is related to its proper form and shape., and we humbly recommend a second opinion. Any dentist who is ready to complete cosmetic procedures without treating them like part of an overall health and wellness plan does not get the greater holistic picture, and we strongly recommend you go with a different dental practice all together!

Named Best Santa Monica Dentist 2010-2012

healthStaying healthy is one of the most important parts of anyone’s life. To even point that out might seem trivial! Even the most health-conscious of us, though, often approach our well-being in a fundamentally flawed manner. Varying your exercise regimen is a great way to keep your muscles lean, fit, and resilient. Everyone knows that, right? Not everyone does, it though! Just take a look in the mirror and you might see someone who “exercises” regularly but makes the mistake of never varying the routines they follow. Only a fitness rotation will truly keep your body lean, limber, and healthy in the long run; going to the best gym in all of Los Angeles is not comparable to having the best fitness regimen!

How about your diet – do you actually eat well, or merely think you eat well because you shop at the best health food shops in town? Natural, organic foods are great, but unless you either do your homework or meet with a nutritionist, you might be eating a lot of good stuff while totally missing out on other vitamins and nutrients you need!

Now let’s talk about your “medical” health: when was the last time you had a physical? If it takes you more than a few seconds to recall, then the chances are it has been way too long! Even if you feel fit and healthy, only a comprehensive physical exam, complete with blood work, can be certain. If it has been “way too long,” try not to wait too much longer… see your doctor!

And last, let’s consider the dentist. You could have the best Santa Monica dentist or the finest DDS in all of Los Angeles county and visit them every time you have a problem with your mouth, but guess what? If you only use your dentist for repairs and maintenance to problems with your mouth, you are actually not taking charge of your oral health at all, your merely running a stop-gap operation with your health! Like with your overall physical well-being, your oral health merits regular checkups and examinations, not just a visit to the dentist when you already have a clear and present problem such as a cavity or cracked tooth!

Let’s take a step back now: say lovely Santa Monica is your home. That means beach breezes, fresh air, and an healthyoverall great place to live. It means an abundance of fitness centers and healthy eating options. That’s all great, but if you don’t also go to your doctor regularly and have the best Santa Monica dentist in your calendar book at least every six months, you might be exercising and eating right to no avail! You can only do so much for your health without occasionally turning to medical and dental professionals for diagnostic and preventive care. Like we said earlier, staying healthy is so important that it’s almost too obvious to even point out, right? Well then take the obvious next step and take care of your oral and physical health today so you can keep on working out and eating right and knowing that your body is overall doing well!

The fact is that at the end of the day, there is no substitute for any aspect of a holistic health regimen: the right exercises matter, the right food matters, having a great doctors matters, and having the best Santa Monica dentist you can find matters too!

Earth Day Health fair at the Water Garden in Santa Monica

20130424_114330

20130424_114355

 

When It Comes to Oral Health, Time is a Factor!

smileIf the roof of your house was on fire, you wouldn’t casually shrug and say “Well, I’ll get to that as soon as I can,” would you? Of course not! If you left that problem alone, the whole house would burn down! A burning roof might seem to have nothing to do with the health of your teeth, we know. But there is in fact a connection to be made! If you have a tender spot, an area where your gums seem to be receding, or you have a cavity, you may have the oral equivalent of that burning roof. If you leave the problem alone for too long, the “fire” may spread and end up being a much larger issue, and one that will be both more costly to repair and could be a much larger health concern.

A cavity, if caught early enough, can be dealt with in the matter of an hour at any good dentist’s office: a bit of drilling, a bit of filling, and you are on your way. But perhaps because of how quickly and efficiently a cavity can be dealt with thanks to modern medicine, too often people delay getting treatment for them. If a cavity grows too large to be filled, or grows to deep or too near a nerve or root, you may not be able to fix it with a simple drill and fill procedure, though, and you may end up needing a crown and / or a root canal, or even a dental implant! Getting a cavity looked at right away could prevent a minor situation from becoming painful, expensive oral surgery.

So too can other oral issues, such as discolored or receding gums, be indicative of issues that might be grow larger if left untended, so get any changes in your oral health looked at by professionals, and do it quickly! Especially because your mouth is not only an area of health concern in and of itself, but can also be a window into your health at large.

Good Oral Health is About More than Just Teeth

If you are concerned about your overall fitness, health and well-being, then you would not focus on simply one aspect of your diet or on just one muscle group during exercise, would you? Well, the same goes for the health of your mouth. There is a lot more to that mouth than just teeth, and if you want to take great care of your oral health, then you need to take care of your whole mouth!

healthy_livingWhen most people think about taking good care of their mouths, they think of brushing their teeth. Those a bit more in the know (and a bit more concerned with good oral health and hygiene) will take their regimen a step further and will floss, too. But for most people, that is still insufficient for great, long-term oral health.

To truly have a clean, healthy mouth, you can’t overlook your tongue, gums, and your palate and cheeks, too. Plaque and bacteria get trapped between the teeth like nowhere else, but they can also build up on your tongue and on other parts of your mouth, as well. There, they can lead to infection or sores, or can find their way onto and between those teeth, so even if you brush and floss regularly, your teeth still may be at risk!

Great oral health means periodic use of a tongue scraper and it means swishing with a good antibacterial product frequently. You need to be sure that the whole of your mouth is clean and healthy to ensure that any one part of it will remain as such. It’s true what your dentist tells you: good overall health starts with good oral health. So take care of your overall oral health and you can start to build toward that total body wellbeing you want and deserve. Your teeth will thank you, as will all the other parts of your body as well!

A Beautiful Smile is Precious and Priceless

Did you know that the shape, shade, length and spacing of your teeth could significantly affect your smile? And our smiles can greatly affect our self-esteem and confidence. Common conditions that impact negatively on your smile include broken, cracked or worn teeth, discolored teeth, missing teeth, crooked teeth, decayed teeth, gaps between your teeth and/or “gummy smiles.” The good news is that with modern technology and improved materials, these situations can be dramatically changed to create natural looking and long-lasting beautiful smiles.

Each patient and each specific circumstance must be evaluated on its own merits. Factors such as occlusion [bite], oral habits, available space, health of the gum tissue, severity of the problem and patient expectation must be taken into consideration while planning your cosmetic makeover.

Depending on the situation, there are a variety of choices that all result in excellent esthetic outcomes. For whiter natural teeth, in-office or at-home bleaching [whitening] techniques are available. Repairing teeth or closing spaces may be accomplished with tooth-colored composite resin bonding, porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns.

These procedures vary in time and cost and have differences in longevity and appearance. If you’re not satisfied with your smile or want to learn if you’re a good candidate for any of these remarkable techniques, call our office for a cosmetic consultation.

image001

Nuts to You!

Many people avoid nuts because they are high in calories. One ounce [30 grams] could contain as many as 200 calories and 21 grams of fat. But nuts are getting a bum rap. Nuts are high in protein and an excellent source of fiber, vitamin E, iron, magnesium, zinc and potassium – excellent for maintaining a healthy heart. Research has shown that the benefits of eating nuts may outweigh the increased calorie intake.

NutsMost people get the wrong impression about fats also. Yes, nuts are high in fat, but not in cholesterol. Nuts have “good” monounsaturated fat that raises good cholesterol [HDL] levels and reduces “bad” cholesterol [LDL].

Nuts are often salted. Too much sodium in one’s diet may contribute to blood pressure problems. Look for unsalted or low sodium nuts. As with any food, moderation is key. Excessive eating or drinking is not healthy.

Allergy to nuts, especially peanuts, is relatively common. Consult your physician if you have concerns about this.

Nut

Portion

Calories

Protein

grams

Total Fat

grams

Mono  Saturated

grams

Poly Unsaturated

grams

Almond
Whole

1 oz
24 nuts

164

6

14

9.1

3.5

Brazil

1 oz

186

13

1

.1

.4

Cashew
dry
roasted

1 oz
18 nuts

163

4

13

7.7

2.2

Chestnut

1 cup

350

5

3

1.1

1.2

Hazelnut

1 oz

178

4

17

12.9

2.2

Macadamia

1 oz
10-12 nuts

203

2

22

16.8

.4

Mixed Nuts
Dry
roasted

1 oz

168

5

15

8.9

3.1

Peanuts Dry
roasted
unsalted

1 oz
28 nuts

166

7

14

7

4.4

Pine

1 oz

160

7

14

5.4

6.1

Pistachio

1 oz
47 nuts

161

6

13

6.8

3.9

Sunflower
Seeds
Roasted
salt

1 oz

165

5

16

3

10.5

Walnuts

1 oz

185

4

18

2.5

13.4

Painting With a Toothbrush

I see plenty of amazing creative people near my Santa Monica dentist office, but I’ve yet to see a crossover with my practice like the one below.

Here’s some words from the artist about how/why he ended up painting with a toothbrush.

I woke up this morning and decided I was going paint only using a tooth brush. It’s just one of those days. I think the meaning of this piece is that you can make art using just about anything. I chose a toothbrush. I had to resist painting a huge set of teeth. The challenge is to look at our future and believe that it can be created by using a myriad of opportunities. Just look for the one that keeps your teeth clean and prevents cavities

What If You Don’t Lose Your Baby Teeth?

santa monica baby teeth smileThe question in the title of this post is one that I’ve seen at least one patient need to confront.

They didn’t have all their baby teeth – that would be an extraordinarily odd event. They did have one that never fell out, though.

Some more info on this from mental_floss’s ten weird facts about teeth.

Losing baby teeth is a rite of passage, not to mention a small source of income for most kids. By age 3, the average child has a full set of 20 temporary teeth. These little chiclets loosen and eventually fall out as the permanent teeth below start to erupt.

Children typically start losing teeth around 5 or 6 and finish in their early teens. But if a person doesn’t have a replacement permanent tooth, that baby tooth will stay put.

What can be done if this happens to you or your child? Well, there are several options, depending on which tooth it is, including keeping it.

Contact your local dentist – and we would be your Santa Monica dentist – to find out more about this rare oddity of the human mouth.