Smile Makeovers Sweeping the Country

Whitening, veneers, bonding, implants – cosmetic dentists have more options than ever to help patients achieve the smile of their dreams. And thanks to the blitz of reality television makeover programs, consumer awareness of cosmetic dentistry has reached an all-time high.

But it’s not just television that has prompted more people than ever to consider cosmetic dentistry. According to a survey conducted by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentists (AACD), virtually all Americans (99.7 percent) believe a smile is an important asset, and three-quarters (74 percent) of adults feel an unattractive smile can hurt a person’s chances for career success. A whopping 96 percent of adults believe an attractive smile makes a person more appealing to the opposite sex.

With so many choices available to consumers to improve their smiles, it is important for patients to ask their dentist about his or her experience in performing cosmetic dental procedures. “Any patient considering a smile makeover should make sure their dentist has had advanced training in cosmetic dentistry,” says Nicholas Davis, AACD president.

As you consider a cosmetic dental procedure, be sure to ask for these items:

* Before and after photos – Examine the dentist’s treatment results on other patients to make sure his or her work fits your dental needs.

* References – Get a sense from other patients as to what type of quality care the dentist provides.

* Continuing education – Be certain that your dentist is an active AACD member and has taken continuing education courses to keep up-to-date with the latest techniques in clinical cosmetic dentistry.

Sampling Saliva for Breast Cancer at The Dentist's

University of Texas researchers believe that they have identified and created a test to detect protein markers within human saliva that point to increased possibility of having breast cancer. Considering people visit the dentist more frequently than their doctor, and that said dentist has ready access to your saliva, its quite possible that it will be the dentist performing routine breast cancer testing in the future.

NewSmiles By:Dr.Mostofi

People Rate Their Smiles Higher Than Dentists Do

People Rate Their Smiles Higher Than Dentists Do

ScienceDaily (2008-01-03) -- People rate their smiles higher than dentists do, according to a new study. Teeth and eyes rated as the most important features of an attractive face, the study also found, and people younger than age 50 were most satisfied with their smiles. ... > read full article

Healthy Smile May Promote A Healthy Heart

ScienceDaily (Jan. 9, 2008)
Each year, cardiovascular disease kills more Americans than cancer. And while most people are aware that lifestyle choices such as eating right, getting enough exercise and quitting smoking can help prevent cardiovascular disease, they may not know that by just brushing and flossing their teeth each day, they might also be avoiding this potentially lethal condition.

A new article suggests that periodontal patients whose bodies show evidence of a reaction to the bacteria associated with periodontitis may have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease."The article "Markers of systemic bacterial exposure in periodontal disease and cardiovascular disease risk" was published in the December issue of the Journal of Periodontology (JOP), the official publication of the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP).
Adapted from materials provided by American Academy of Periodontology.