Fall 2008 (back to Table of Contents)
A Perfectly Healthy Smile!
While achieving a healthy smile is our number one priority for our patients, we recognize that the emphasis on having a "perfect"-looking smile is also a highly desired goal for many men and women today.
Defining the "Perfect" Smile
Interested in improving your smile, but not sure what you need? According to some standards, the perfect masculine smile has square teeth, with the edges of the top teeth following a straight line, while a feminine smile involves more rounded teeth, with the edges of the top teeth following the lower lip line, creating more curvature.
Oral Cancer: The Importance of Early Diagnosis
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, mouth and throat cancers are the sixth most common cancers identified in U.S. males, and the fourth most common in African American men. Thirty-thousand people in the U.S. are diagnosed with mouth and throat cancer each year, and 8,000 die of these cancers. That's almost one per hour, every day of the year. Similarly, the Canadian Cancer Society estimates that 3,200 new cases of oral cancer were diagnosed in Canada in 2007, with an estimated 1,100 patients succumbing to the disease.
Out of Mouth, Out of Mind
Missing a back tooth? Most people don't consider it as important as missing a front tooth. You should be aware, however, that even if a gap in the back isn't visible in your up-front smile, there are very good reasons why you still need to replace any missing back teeth, the sooner, the better.
Picture Perfect!
It may only be fall now, but the holiday season - and all the photo opportunities that come with it - will soon be here. Is your smile "photo ready"?
Red Alert!
If your gums bleed when you brush, or if you notice traces of blood on your toothbrush or in the sink after you rinse your mouth, it may be a warning sign of gum disease.
The Last Word on Dental Insurance Benefits
Have you hit your maximum yearly allowance for your dental insurance benefits? Dental benefits are usually calculated over a calendar or fiscal year, meaning that if you don't use your benefits before your year-end, you'll lose them.
The White Smile Diet
According to an American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) poll, the most unattractive thing about a smile is discolored teeth. In order to combat this, the AACD has issued a list of natural ways you can supplement your regular at-home and professional dental cleanings, to help remove staining bacteria from your teeth:
Wise Advice on Wisdom Teeth
Still have your wisdom teeth? Even if they're not bothering you, it may not be the wisest decision to keep them.
Summer 2008 (back to Table of Contents)
3 Steps to a Secure Smile
If you're missing one or more teeth and want to fill the gap with the most natural-looking, comfortable solution possible, you'll be interested in hearing about dental implants.
Calming Your Dental Fear Factor
If the mere thought of visiting a dentist causes your heart to pound and your palms to sweat, rest assured that you're not alone!
Message in a Bottle
While North American dental associations recognize the benefits of fluoridation in community water supplies as a way of preventing dental decay, the bottled water industry is undoing many of the strides made in cavity prevention, by not including fluoride in most types of bottled water.
Open Wide for the Inside Story
Dental patients usually come in for checkups with one thing in mind: to make sure their teeth and gums are healthy, and to confirm that there are no problems with decay. What you might not realize is that dentists can often tell what other health problems or habits you may have too, just by looking in your mouth.
Safeguard Your Smile
Whether you're a recreational rink rat, a weekend warrior or a professional athlete, and regardless of whether you have a full set of pearly whites or only a few teeth in your mouth, anybody participating in a physical sport or activity is advised to protect their mouth with a full cage on their helmet, and an athletic mouthguard.
Should I Call About My Toothache?
Many of us have toothaches that come and go, sometimes depending on what we bite into, or the temperature of a food or a beverage. When the pain goes away, we forget about it until - ouch! - it happens again. At what point should you call us to have your toothache checked out?
So You Want to Whiten Your Teeth...
Whiter teeth can make a noticeable difference between a ho-hum smile and a brighter, sexier, more vibrant appearance. That's why, as with anything else relating to your body and overall health, if you want professional results, make sure you have your whitening done by a dental professional. This will ensure not only the best whitening results possible, but the safest too. For example:
The "Hole" Truth About Oral Piercing
Piercing one's lips or tongue can be a fashion statement, just like piercing the ears. however, there are a number of risks unique to oral piercing that one should be aware of before agreeing to the procedure.
Who Has the Most Winning Hollywood Smile?
This year's female winner for Best Celebrity Smile, as voted by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, is Eva Mendes. Not bad for a girl who, growing up, was teased about her "buck teeth"!
Spring 2008 (back to Table of Contents)
Scaling Safety
Sometimes it's hard to justify working a regular dental checkup into a busy schedule, so some people have been known to try and conduct some of the procedures, such as scaling their teeth, at home by themselves, often leading to disastrous results.
Smart Snacks!
When it comes to the effect of certain foods on your teeth, a lot can depend not only on what you eat, but also when you eat and in which order certain foods are eaten.
Smart Tips for a Whiter, Brighter Smile
What attracts us to people when we first meet them? In many cases, we instinctively gravitate to someone with a warm, welcoming smile, and unconsciously shy away from those with unattractive teeth.
Time for a Spring Cleaning!
This time of year evokes the urge to organize your home, open up the windows and bring in the fresh spring air. While you're in the mood to clean and brighten your surroundings, why not take a minute to make an appointment for a dental visit to brighten your smile too?
Tobacco and Your Teeth
It's often easy to tell who uses tobacco and who doesn't, just by having a glimpse in their mouth.
Tobacco and Your Teeth
It's often easy to tell who uses tobacco and who doesn't, just by having a glimpse in their mouth.
Toothbrush Hygiene
You floss your teeth then brush them until they're squeaky-clean, satisfied that your mouth is as clean and fresh as it can be. While you may have done the best job possible, have you ever stopped to think of how clean your actual toothbrush is?
Versatile Veneers
Do you have a small gap between your front teeth? Are your teeth discolored? Chipped? Uneven? Slightly crooked? All these imperfections can be taken care of easily and efficiently right in our dental practice with the application of porcelain veneers.
Whiplash & Delayed Jaw Pain
As if car crash survivors don't already have enough to worry about, now a study released by Umeå University in Sweden documents a direct relation between whiplash trauma and delayed temporomandibular joint symptoms.
Winter 2007 (back to Table of Contents)
DENTAL TIPS FOR DIABETICS
If you're one of the millions of North Americans who suffer from diabetes, you need to pay special attention to your dental care, as you are especially susceptible to periodontal disease, which can lead to tooth loss. Some people's fi rst indications of diabetes may come from a regular dental care appointment, where the dental hygienist notices some sign of the disease, whether it be dry mouth, sore or loose teeth, burning mouth or tongue, chronic bad breath, gingivitis or gum disease. Bacteria thrive in the mouths of diabetics when there are high glucose levels present, and this increased level of bacteria, in conjunction with a patient's reduced ability to resist infection, can lead to an increased risk of gum disease.
Even More to Smile About!
That famous line from an old toothpaste commercial certainly did the general population good, encouraging regular brushing and preventing dental decay. In fact, brushing one's teeth as a daily habit was actually a foreign concept until as late as after World War II, when soldiers brought the Armyenforced habit back home.
Even More to Smile About!
That famous line from an old toothpaste commercial certainly did the general population good, encouraging regular brushing and preventing dental decay. In fact, brushing one's teeth as a daily habit was actually a foreign concept until as late as after World War II, when soldiers brought the Armyenforced habit back home.
HEALTHY, KISSABLE LIPS!
While many of us remember to apply sunscreen and lip balm for protection against the summer sun and drying heat, we sometimes forget, if we live or vacation in a place with cold, snowy conditions, that winter weather protection is also vital to healthy skin and lips.
ORAL CANCER ALERT
As your dental professional, we're full of good reasons why you should visit the dentist on a regular basis. Preventing decay, maintaining good oral health and making sure your smile is as attractive as possible are all good incentives to visit us at least twice a year, but you probably don't give much thought to another serious reason to have your mouth checked regularly: oral cancer screenings.
TAKE IT EASY!
A toothbrush with firm bristles, coupled with vigorous brushing action, is ideal for scrubbing away the gunk around your bathroom sink faucets. When it comes to brushing your teeth, however, we respectfully suggest taking a lighter-handed approach.
VENEERS VS. WHITENING: WHICH IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
We're deluged with images of shiny, perfect teeth in advertising, television shows and movies, and are more aware than ever of the social and professional benefits of an attractive, confident smile. So what's the best way for the average person to achieve their own "movie star" smile?
WE WELCOME YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TOO!
Referrals and word-of-mouth recommendations are our number one source of new patients. In fact, one of the best compliments we can receive from our clients is the referral of one of your friends, colleagues or family members. When you give us a good reference, we will ensure that the person you refer receives special attention and the finest service possible.
WE WELCOME YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TOO!
Referrals and word-of-mouth recommendations are our number one source of new patients. In fact, one of the best compliments we can receive from our clients is the referral of one of your friends, colleagues or family members. When you give us a good reference, we will ensure that the person you refer receives special attention and the finest service possible.
Fall 2007 (back to Table of Contents)
Checkup Checklist
You've heard that you should visit the dentist at least twice a year for a thorough oral examination and teeth cleaning, but if your teeth feel fine, and you aren't experiencing any dental problems, are such frequent visits really necessary? The short answer is yes, and here's why.
Create a Naturally Beautiful Smile With Porcelain Veneers
If you would like to correct your slightly crooked, uneven or chipped teeth, or whiten and brighten teeth that are severely stained or discolored, then dental veneers could be your perfect solution.
Emergency Tooth Tips
Many people assume that once a tooth is chipped or knocked out, it's gone forever. But in many cases, forever does not have to be true, if you keep these points in mind:
Getting Long in the Tooth? Read This!
In the old days, most people, as a matter of course, expected to lose their teeth as they aged. These days, we know that with proper dental care, there is no reason you shouldn't continue to enjoy your own teeth, no matter what your age.
LOL ... With White Fillings, You Can!
LOL: It's a popular email term standing for "Laugh Out Loud", and we all know there's nothing better than a hearty, belly-shaking laugh to brighten your day. But what if you're embarrassed every time you open your mouth, concerned about the appearance of your metal fillings? Worry no longer we have the "white" solution to your metal misery.
Putting a Hold on Halitosis
Halitosis, more commonly known as bad breath, is an embarrassing condition that affects more than 90 million people.
Sweet Deception
Most parents take great care to monitor their children's sugar intake, so when they hear a dentist say that their child's teeth show decay, it usually comes as an unpleasant surprise.
Teeth Whitening Questions? Read This!
The results from an independent study on cosmetic dentistry, conducted on behalf of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), confirm that 99.7 percent of us believe a smile is an important social asset, 96 percent of adults believe an attractive smile makes a person more appealing to members of the opposite sex, and 74 percent of adults feel an unattractive smile can hurt a person's chance for career success.
Use 'Em or Lose 'Em!
If you're fortunate enough to have an insurance plan that covers dental care for you, and perhaps your family too, you'll want to make sure you take advantage of the benefits you're entitled to, before the end of this year.
Office Hours
Mon.: 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Tues.: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Wed.: 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Thurs.: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Our Location
216 De Anza Blvd.
San Mateo, CA 94402-3913
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