Our commitment to personal attention

I hope that my patients know my commitment to personal attention. This is one of the important elements that I think separates my practice from other dentists. It has always been my intention to make patients feel at home in our dental office. This goes well beyond simply being polite while performing your dental care.

There is an obvious, warm quality that goes along with genuine personal attention. It is our goal for our patients to experience this when they come to us for a visit. Why? It's how we really feel. So, it is important to us that you know this.

How many times do you go to a business or a professional service and you feel like a number? You are the next one in line, so now it is your time to get your service. That is not how we operate here and, every once in a while, I like to make it a point for our team to focus on this fact.

When you visit us for your dental needs, we want you to feel our genuine interest in your care. Call it personal attention… but it is all about caring.

It’s surprising so many people live with this kind of pain.

Part of the continuing education I have taken courses on treating Tempromandibular Joint Disorder. Many people know this condition as TMJ, which is usually known for causing jaw pain. However, TMJ is much more complicated disorder and many people live with the pain.

Basically, TMJ is a misalignment of the jaws and it can cause a lot more than jaw pain. TMJ can manifest itself in the form of head, neck and shoulder pain in addition to jaw pain. It can also cause a ringing in the ears.

Because there are so many symptoms that are not associated directly with the jaw, it is common for people to see a doctor for their pain instead of a dentist. This is often the reason why TMJ goes undiagnosed. The sufferer complains about headaches and a battery of tests for severe headaches may not turn up TMJ unless the doctor is looking for it. This is why many TMJ sufferers have been told the pain is “just in their head” after a visit to their general practitioner.

I have learned advanced treatments for TMJ and I help people with this disorder all the time. If you are suffering from these persistent pains and just living with it because you cannot get your pain diagnosed properly, please call me or email me here. The same goes for anyone you know who might be simply living with TMJ pain. I can help.

Whiter teeth for the Holidays

When we finish cosmetic work on a patient, there is something almost all of them say to us. It is almost said in confidence, so as not to hurt others’ feelings. They say something like, “Now that my teeth are so white, I am noticing how dull and dingy other people’s teeth really are.”

It’s a pretty common reaction to suddenly having whiter teeth. As a dentist, I see all kinds of teeth. All are white to some degree (unless they are gold or are full of black filings). Because white teeth come in so many shades, many people do not notice how everyday behaviors slowly darken and dull a smile. The process is slow and before you know it, the color of your teeth is affecting your smile and your overall appearance.

Most people know the usual suspects for this slow deterioration of color: drinking coffee, smoking and the antibiotic, tetracycline. But many people just do not realize how simple and affordable whitening can be. You can choose permanent methods like porcelain veneers that will not stain or you can opt for in-office or take-home whitening that can improve the shade of your teeth in a short amount of time. Some in-office whitening treatments take only about an hour and will last you for years.

Whitening is one of the most common requests we have among patients. If the idea of whitening your smile seems like a good idea, why not call us today at 562.496.3230 to learn more? Or you can click here to read more about your options on my web site.

A couple thoughts about why we do what we do

One of my favorite parts about being a cosmetic dentist is the transformation our patients go through when they have enhanced their smiles. It is one of the amazing results (and rewards) of cosmetic care. We see the new confidence of these patients because they smile! When someone sees an area that they consider a flaw suddenly transformed into a strength, you can see them lower their guard down. All of a sudden, it’s okay for the rest of us see their real personality come out.

Here is an interesting observation about confidence. Have you noticed people who seem so natural expressing themselves? It’s likely they are relaxed and comfortable with how they appear. That quality translates into confidence. This is one of the main reasons people seek out cosmetic dentists to enhance their smiles. We get a lot of patients who just want to let their “Real Me” out for everyone to see but won’t because they are unhappy with their smile. I think this is why we see so many dramatic changes in
personality and confidence with cosmetic dentistry. It really is gratifying.

Maybe you are thinking about cosmetic dentistry for this reason. If you
are, email me here and we can set up a consultation to discuss the
possibilities for you.

Dental Care During Pregnancy

During pregnancy your gums and teeth are more likely to change due to increased blood flow throughout your body that can cause swelling, sensitivity and tenderness in your gums. It is common while pregnant to have some bleeding of the gums, especially while brushing and flossing.

Pregnancy gingivitis is the most common dental concern during pregnancy, pregnant women are at a greater risk. This is because amplified levels of progesterone and estrogen lead to increased blood flow throughout the body, especially to the gums. If left untreated, gingivitis can develop into periodontal disease which can put a pregnant woman at risk.