Headed to a Dentist? 3 Ways He Can Give Your Smile a Boost

By Arthur Kezian

If you're looking for new ways to have a healthy-looking, beautiful smile, you're not alone.  In fact, people have been searching for ways to give their smiles a boost for thousands of years -- back when someone created a set of dentures out of ivory.  Ever since, good cosmetic dentists have been in high-demand!

Luckily, there have been some major advancements in cosmetic dentistry over the years. In fact, these 3 recent ones will have you running to a skilled cosmetic dentist:

                                            

1.      Dental porcelain crowns

If you have uneven or damaged teeth, you probably don't have a whole lot to smile about.  Luckily, dental porcelain crowns can change all of that!

What are they?

Crowns are like little covers for your teeth.  When your dentist puts one in your mouth, it slides right over your tooth.  That way, your teeth will all look the same size and have the same shape.  If you have a chipped or cracked tooth, a crown will give it the support it needs, so that you don't wind up with additional damage.

Crowns have been around for years, but they used to be made out metal.  Talk about a bad look!  Today, they're made out of porcelain, so they can make your teeth look brighter and whiter.

Because they're so pearly-white, porcelain crowns are used to cover up titanium dental implants.  That way, you'll look like you have a full set of healthy, natural teeth!

2.      Dental veneers

Wondering how that A-list celebrity has such a perfect white smile?  She probably takes advantage of the veneers! Even if you don't have a movie role coming up, you can work with a great cosmetic dentist to get the same look.

The best veneers are thin pieces of either porcelain or resin.  Your cosmetic dentist will use special cement to stick them onto the front of your teeth.  As a result, veneers can cover up any gaps in your teeth, make crooked teeth look straight, and make your teeth all look the same length.  Plus, they'll give you a brighter smile!

Since dental veneers don't adhere to your entire tooth, they won't give you the support that crowns can.  But if you're simply looking for a cosmetic upgrade, dental veneers can't be beat!

3.      Custom porcelain shading

If your dentist is going to put a ton of porcelain into your mouth, it only makes sense that he would need to come up with the perfect color.  After all, if you're only getting work done on a couple of teeth, they'll need to match your existing teeth.  Even if you're getting all of your teeth done, you'll need a shade of porcelain that's just right for your skin tone.

Luckily, it's easy for a good expert cosmetic dentist to mix a shade that's perfect!

Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777 

-N.S.

4 Ways Your Dentist Can Make Injections Less Painful

By Arthur Kezian

In Hollywood, it seems like there's a trick for everything -- from having the perfect hair, to keeping your mascara from running, to having an endless summer tan.  Luckily, a good dentist has some tricks of his own for making your anesthesia injections less painful!

Instead of telling you to just be brave for a few seconds, a good dentist will take advantage of these 4 techniques, so that you can have painless injections!

1.      Putting pressure on the injection site

If your dentist tugs on your lip or rubs your gum tissue right before he gives you your anesthesia injection, there's a good reason behind it.  Putting a little bit of pressure on the injection area prevents your nerves from "talking" to each other.  You may not know it, but the pain you feel actually comes from nerves that tell each other (and your brain) that something hurts.  If they can't communicate, you won't be in pain.

It's no different than rubbing your elbow after you bump it on the dinner table.  The rubbing eases your pain, because you're not letting the nerves speak.

2.      Using numbing gel

In Hollywood, you can get a tan in a jar, so why can't you get some dental anesthesia relief in a jar?!  A good dentist will have plenty of numbing gel on hand.  Unfortunately, this gel isn't strong enough to numb you for an entire dental procedure -- so you can't entirely avoid a needle -- but it can eliminate all of the pain that comes with getting an injection.

When your dentist uses numbing gel, he rubs it right into your gum tissue long before you ever see a needle.  As a result, the injection site will be completely numb, so that you don't even feel the needle going in!

3.     Using the very sharpest needles

When it comes time to actually give you your injection, a good dentist will use needles that are incredibly sharp.  That's because sharper needles go into your gum tissue more easily.  As a result, your dentist won't have to struggle to insert the needle.

4.      Injecting slowly

If your dentist injects you with anesthesia very quickly, he might think he's doing you a favor.  However, he might actually be making things worse!  By inserting the needle too quickly or with too much force, your dentist can actually tear your gum tissue.  If that happens, the momentary sting of the needle will be followed by hours' worth of soreness.

Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777

-N.S.

Are Digital X-Rays That Much Better Than Film? Yes!

By Arthur Kezian

Dentists have been using x-rays to spot issues for decades, and now, they've got a new tool that makes diagnosing problems even easier -- digital x-rays.

How do they work?

If your dentist uses digital X-Rays, he'll put digital sensors inside your mouth.  On the other end of those sensors is a wire that's connected to a computer.  As soon as the sensors take the pictures of your teeth, they're sent into the computer.  Instead of having to wait for them to be developed, you and your dentist can look at the x-rays immediately.

But are digital x-rays really worth all of the hype?  Are they really that much better than the traditional film x-rays? Yes!

Here's why:

1.      They offer clearer images

Because the equipment is so advanced, digital x-rays are clearer than what you'll see on any film.  They're also much less likely to get over- or under-exposed. 

But it's not all about looks. 

Having clearer x-rays makes it easier for your dentist to see the tiniest of problems.  And, the sooner he can spot issues, the easier it is for him to treat them.  That way, you don't have to worry about a small problem going undetected -- and turning into a big problem later!

2.      They can be enhanced

Just like the photos you take with your digital camera, digital x-rays can be enhanced inside your dentist's computer.  He can zoom in, adjust the brightness, or even adjust the contrast.

3.      They're more comfortable

If you're like most people, you hate biting down on those uncomfortable pieces of cardboard that help position your teeth for film x-rays.  Luckily, they're not needed when you get digital x-rays!

4.      They subject you to less radiation

Digital x-rays can be a whole lot more comfortable for your insides, too!  Traditional film x-rays don't emit a ton of radiation, but it's certainly more than you'd like to be exposed to.  Because the equipment is so much more sophisticated, digital x-rays can reduce the amount of radiation you're exposed to by 80%!

5.      They're easy to share

If your dentist uses traditional film x-rays, there's no easy way to share them.  If you need to have a specialist take a look at them, you'll have to get in your car, drive to your dentist's office, pick them up, and take them to your specialist's office. What a waste of time!

But since digital x-rays are stored as a file on your dentist's computer, sending them to a specialist is as easy as sending an email!

Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777 

-N.S.

Emergency Dentistry -- What You Need to Know to Get the Best Treatment

By Arthur Kezian

You may think that because you don't play contact sports or because you're careful about what you bite into, that you're never going to suffer a dental emergency.  Unfortunately, though, no one is immune from needing the services of a good Los Angeles emergency dentist.

If you want to get the very best treatment, just follow these 5 tips:

1.       Cleaning a knocked-out tooth is a no-no

Your Los Angeles emergency dentist will need to see exactly what was attached to your tooth when it came out, so resist the urge to clean it off.  That way, your dentist will be able to assess the situation better, which means you'll feel better sooner!

2.       Milk can save a tooth that's been knocked out

Getting a tooth knocked out is one of the biggest emergencies at an emergency dental office.  That's because you only have so long until the cells at the end of the tooth die.  If enough cells die, your body can reject the tooth when your Los Angeles emergency dentist goes to replant it.

Luckily, milk can buy you some time!

Milk has special chemical properties that protect those fragile cells and even encourage them to keep growing.  By sticking your tooth in a cup of milk as soon as it gets knocked out, you can make things a whole lot easier for your dentist -- and yourself!

3.       Keep track of that nagging toothache

In many cases, the pain of a toothache can flare up at specific times.  In order to help your dentist diagnose the problem quickly, have a journal that keeps track of everything you're doing when the pain gets worse.

4.       Be careful with pain relief

In the emergency dental world, there isn't much that's more common than a bad toothache.  However, if you use the wrong kind of pain relief products, you might actually make the pain worse.  By applying gels and aspirin right to the tooth, you can burn your gums. 

Instead, keep the pain meds to a minimum until your Los Angeles emergency dentist can assess the situation.

5.       Don't discount the idea of a cracked tooth

Toothaches aren't random; they don't show up for no reason.  It's very common for a Los Angeles emergency dentist to find a tiny crack that's only visible on x-rays -- but causes a ton of pain.  That's why, if you're in pain, call your dentist.  If you wait around, the pain is only going to get worse!

Dr. Arthur A. Kezian DDS 443 N. Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90004 (323) 467-2777 

-N.S.