Office Spotlight: Hygienist Lori Dombroski

Lori and her husband

Lori's kids

At Thousand Oaks Family Dentistry, our team is what makes the experience special! We are fortunate to work with a dedicated group of dentists, hygienists, dental assistants and office staff that are passionate about excellent care. Today, we would like to honor Lori, one of our beloved hygienists. She has been an important part of our office for nearly a decade, with many patients attesting to her expertise and skill.

Lori Dombroski joined our team as a registered dental hygienist at Thousand Oaks Family Dentistry in February of 2008.  Lori is from Newbury Park and is a graduate of Newbury Park High School.  She furthered her education at Moorpark College and obtained her degree in dental hygiene from West Los Angeles School of Dental Hygiene in 1991.  Lori resides in Moorpark with her husband and has two grown children.  On the weekends you can find Lori antique shopping, going to the beach, spending time with her family, and enjoying area restaurants.

At our office, we pride ourselves in selecting staff members to suit a number of different dental needs and personality types. Our goal is to have every patient to feel like part of our "family." To schedule an exam and/or cleaning, please give our office a call at (805) 480-9820 today!

Dental Questions: Will my teeth be whiter after a dental cleaning?

Have you ever had your teeth cleaned only to see no noticeable difference in their appearance? Your mouth may feel cleaner, but the shade of your dental enamel probably didn't change too much. Read on to find out why this is the case, and what a routine cleaning actually achieves!

For the majority of the population, yellow and discolored teeth are caused by something called intrinsic staining. Here, the teeth pick up pigment in the dentin layer beneath the outer enamel. No amount of brushing, scrubbing or abrasive products will remove these compounds. A smaller portion of the population will be effected by extrinsic staining. This occurs when a combination of deeply colored foods, plaque and tartar discolor the surface of the teeth. This staining most commonly effects smokers, heavy coffee drinkers and those with deficiencies in their daily oral care. Because this staining only involves the outermost layer of the teeth, brushing and flossing will have some control over its presence.

As you can probably see, dental cleanings will have little to no affect on intrinsic staining. To take care of dentin layer staining, you will need to use a specific bleaching system like white strips, bleach trays or ZOOM whitening. However, extrinsic staining will be readily addressed by a routine "prophy" cleaning. Since these stains are adhered to the surface of the teeth, mechanical polishing and scaling will eliminate them with ease. 

Your routine cleaning serves three general purposes: to remove plaque and tartar from the teeth, allow a dental professional to asses changes in your oral health, and provide feedback on your home care between visits. The combined goal of these objectives is to protect the teeth from periodontal disease and the progression of tooth decay. Any improvements in the cosmetic appearance of the teeth after a cleaning is a celebrated secondary benefit. If you would like to know more about dental cleanings, dental staining or whitening, please give our office a call!

Using Dental Instruments at Home

With the rise of online marketplaces like Amazon and Ebay, many previously hard-to-find products are now readily available to purchase. Dentistry is no exception, with many options to buy professional cleaning instruments like scalers. Often listed as scrapers, tartar removers and hygiene tools, these items look identical to the ones used in the dental office. Are they safe to use at home? That's another story entirely. Read on for the complete answer!

In short, the only people that should be using hand scalers, polishing cups or other tooth cleaning instruments are licensed dental professionals. Many of these devices are technique sensitive and their misuse can lead to extensive damage to the gums and teeth. It is surprisingly easy to cut off gum tissue (that won't grow back), or chip away healthy enamel (leading to sensitivity). Furthermore, there is no way of knowing if the instruments you are using were made with quality materials. Porous metals can harbor bacteria or even break during use. Imagine the horror of having the tip of your scaler break off below your gumline!

Your best bet in keeping tartar off of your teeth is by brushing twice a day for two minutes and flossing daily. This regimen causes you to break up plaque deposits before they can harden into stubborn calculus. Regular dental cleanings will help ensure that you are keeping on top of your dental hygiene and allow us to clean your teeth in a hygenic and professional environment. Call us today to schedule your yearly exam and dental cleaning!