Dental library Review: What Does the Tooth Fairy Do With Our Teeth?

Welcome to The Dental Library Review! In this feature, we will be reviewing and highlighting different children’s books we have collected at our office. Our staff have personally used these books with their own children and have had great reception. Today, we will be going over What Does the Tooth Fairy Do With Our Teeth? by Denise Barry (illustrated by Andy Boerger).

This rhyming book chronicles the many things the tooth fairy could do with our teeth. From keeping them in display cases to turning them into long necklaces, many fantastic ideas are proposed. Every two pages has a new stanza on what exactly she could be up to. The book ends with an open invitation to imagine even more fun things for the tooth fairy to do with her prizes.

We love this story because the illustrations are absolutely beautiful. Kids and adults alike will be entertained by the artistic talent that went into it’s creation. Because of the fun pictures and simple vocabulary, this book is likely best suited for young readers or as a bedtime story. At 34 pages, it is a long enough to fill a car ride or a particularly restless evening. Overall, we really enjoy the fun rhyming, beautiful pictures and fun storyline!

As with all the stories we review, feel free to check it out at your next appointment. We are always happy to do anything we can to get your family excited and educated about dental health topics!

Office Update: Past Team Members Greg, Maggie and Dean

At Thousand Oaks Family dentistry, we have the pleasure of working with a fun, interesting and dedicated group of medical professionals. While most of them can still be found in our office, some have left for new adventures across the country. As such, we would like to take a moment to update you on the lives and times of Maggie, Greg and Dean. You may be surprised to find out exactly what and where they are!

Greg and Maggie

Maggie and Greg in New York

My parents Jerry and Candy and my brother Greg out to eat at Bestia, one of the Reserve restaurants in Los Angeles.

Greg (former office manager/Dr. Kari’s brother) and Maggie (former dental assistant) have always been dear to our office and patients. In October of 2013, Greg and Maggie officially moved to New York to launch and market an exciting new mobile app. The result is Reserve.com- a dining service that allows you to buy reservations to popular/difficult to book restaurants. It is currently available in New York, Los Angeles and Boston and will be opening soon in San Francisco. Take a look at what Forbes, Fortune and Engadget have to say about it!

Dean

Dean and His Girlfriend at his white coat ceremony.

This past you year, you probably encountered our dental assistant Dean. When he wasn't sterilizing instruments or taking impressions, he was going around the country on school interviews. As of September of this year, he is a student at the UC San Francisco School of Dentistry. He is pursuing a DDS degree and should graduate in 2018. Although he loves his classes, he misses the warm weather and family in Southern California. In between anatomy labs and dentistry lectures, he still stays in very close contact with our office!

Specialist Spotlight- Mcleod and Webb Oral Surgery

At Thousand Oaks Family Dentistry, we are proud of the network of skilled dental specialists we have created. Whether you are in our office or one of our associates’ offices, know that you will be treated with respect, kindness and experience. Today, we would like to highlight the surgical services offered by Dr. James McLeod and Dr. John Webb.

As an oral surgery office, McLeod and Webb offer a number of procedures related to repairing, removing and altering hard structures of the mouth. Although most patients associate oral surgery with extractions, the true scope of their services extends into implantology, oral pathology and certain types of jaw surgery. Our office will refer out any surgical procedure that requires the expertise and technology of a specialist’s office. 

We enjoy working with Mcleod and Webb because of the convenient and compassionate nature of their office. WIth two locations, they can schedule and accommodate patients quickly, often with same-day appointments. Their health history information is logged digitally online and can be filled out before your visit, saving you time. Once you have arrived at their office, you will be treated with attention and care. Mcleod and Webb pride themselves in having a compassionate staff, who can answer and assure all of your questions and concerns. If any complications do arise, they are poised to respond quickly and succinctly, keeping you informed and attended to. Post surgery, they are extremely communicative with our office, ensuring great continuity in your dental treatment. 

McLeod and Webb’s office has had its doors open for over 35 years, serving the Thousand Oaks, Westlake and Simi Valley areas. They represent thousands of hours of education, surgical experience and patient care. If you would like to know more about their office, or any of the other specialists we work with, please give us a call. We want our patients to know they are in good hands, whether with us or our one of our specialists. 

New Technology- DEXsheild X-Ray Sheild

The DEXsheild is a black ring that focuses the radiation produced by an X-Ray beam to the exact dimensions of our digital sensors.

When receiving medical, dental or pharmaceutical care, safety is everyone’s main concern. Adverse reactions, side effects and allergies can all make a treatment undesirable or unrealistic for your personal needs. As such, our office is always looking for new ways to minimize any potential risks while maximizing our patients’ wellness. Most recently, we have updated our X-Ray safety protocol to include the new DEXsheild radiation shield.

For starters, it is important to note that dental X-rays are an extremely safe and useful diagnostic tool. A standard dental X-ray produces roughly a quarter of the radiation you would receive on any given day. Yearly, it represents a negligible fraction of radiation exposure that our bodies absorb from the sun, consumer electronics and other sources. At our office, we further minimize any risks by utilizing high sensitivity digital X-ray sensors, radiation aprons with thyroid collars and modern X-ray beams. In short, we make sure every patient is safe and protected to standards exceeding those laid out by the ADA and other governing bodies.

The DEXsheild fits in to our current safety standards by narrowing the beam of radiation that the patient is exposed to. We have always used devices called collimated X-ray beams. Here, a thick metal tube essentially focuses the radiation produced by the beam to the oral region. While the sensor can detect and develop an image, the rest of your body is largely unexposed to any X-rays. The DEXsheild works by taking the place of a standard targeting ring (the red, blue and yellow rings we have on the outside of the sensor holders) and blocking the released radiation to the exact dimensions of the sensor. It essentially functions as a secondary safety apron, but for your mouth!

X-rays represent an indispensable tool at any dental office. The information provided from a few quick photographs can give us fantastic perspective into if a tooth is healthy, why it might be hurting or what we can do to repair it. We also understand that many patients are concerned about radiation exposure and want to know how we are keeping them safe. If you have any questions or concerns on ANY of our safety protocols, please give us a call. Our patient’s safety is our primary concern and we are happy to alleviate any of your worries!

Dental Library Review- Just Going to the Dentist

Welcome to The Dental Library Review! In this feature, we will be reviewing and highlighting different children’s books we have collected at our office. Our staff have personally used these books with their own children and have had great reception. Today, we will be going over Just Going to the Dentist by Mercer Mayer.

This story is written and illustrated in the familiar style of Mayer’s “Little Critter” series. In this book, Little Critter goes in for his first dental appointment. Although the setting of the dental office was a little strange and uncomfortable, he has a very good experience. His exam, X-rays and filling didn’t hurt him at all, and he even got a treat when it was over. Little Critter quickly learned that dental appointments weren’t scary at all, just tiresome!

Our office recommends this book because it can introduce some of the more intimidating aspects of the dental office before your child’s appointment. Throughout the story, Little Critter encounters many different parts of a dental visit, only to find them fun or (at the worst) uneventful. Even the dreaded “shot” was shown to be nothing but a small inconvenience. If your child has had a bad experience at a medical or dental office, this book will show them that it can be fun and easy!

Given the large illustrations and simple words, we would recommend this book as an early reader or a great bedtime story. As with all the stories we review, feel free to check it out at your next appointment. We are always happy to do anything we can to get your family excited and educated about dental health topics!

Specialist Spotlight- Conejo-Simi Endodontics

Dr. Stoops

Dr. Bollinger

Dr. Cobin

At Thousand Oaks Family Dentistry, we are proud of the network of skilled dental specialists we have created. Whether you are in our office or one of our associates’ offices, know that you will be treated with respect, kindness and experience. Today, we would like to highlight the services offered at Conejo-Simi Endodontics, the office of Doctors Cobin, Bollinger and Stoops.

At Conejo Simi Endodontics, an array of services are provided towards preserving infected or chronically inflamed teeth. Beyond root canals, their office can diagnose internal fractures in tooth roots, retreat failing root canals and more. The end result is relief from pain, removal of infection and a longer lifespan for a tooth that would otherwise need to be extracted.  

In diagnosing and providing endodontic treatments, Doctors Cobin, Bollinger and Stoops bring together years of experience with state of the art technology. Their office is highly corroborative, and utilizes the doctors’ multiple perspectives and techniques in treating your case. Cone Beam CT scans are used to visualize your tooth in three dimensions while precise microscopes expose nearly every facet of the tooth structure. This technology and clinical skill distills to a better understanding of what exactly is happening in your mouth. Their office can then better work within many different constraints- whether personal needs, medical conditions or timing issues.

Beyond their technology and technical abilities, Conejo Simi Endodontics prides themselves in being an extremely communicative and open environment. They take time to listen to patient needs and respond appropriately. If you are apprehensive, they can help relax you with music, movie glasses or even blankets in addition to conscious or IV sedation. If you need further instructions or referrals, they are happy to walk you through why endodontic treatment isn’t appropriate at this time. Simply put, they want you to feel informed, listened to and supported. On top of patient communication, their staff does an excellent job of corresponding with our office, providing us with clear and informative report of your procedure. This translates to quick and continuous treatment of your dental needs.

In total, we are proud to refer to Conejo Simi Endo because of their compassion, communication and expertise. If you would like to know more about Doctors Cobin, Bollinger and Stoops or any other of our fantastic specialists, please give us a call.  We want our patients to know they are in good hands, whether with us or one of our specialists.

For more information on Conejo Simi Endodntics, please visit their website at: www.conejosimiendo.com

Video Blog on Home Hygiene

Greetings, my name is Dr. Kari Ann Hong, and I have a family dentistry practice where I see patients from all age groups.  In my practice, I help educate my patients about what they can do at home to help care for their teeth.  

The first topic of discussion is what patients eat and drink and how frequently they do so.  Our mouths all naturally harbor a certain amount of bacteria.  A specific strain called streptococcous mutans is responsible for eating the foods and beverages we ingest and creating acid.  This acid causes a breakdown in the calcium phosphate structure of our teeth, leading to tooth decay.  Certain foods will stick to the teeth longer than others and make the teeth more susceptible to decay.  Examples of cavity provoking foods and beverages are pretzels, crackers, cereals, sodas, energy drinks, and juices.  Natural foods that come from a tree or are picked from the ground will naturally wash of the teeth much quicker after we eat it.

Every time we eat or drink something other than water, our mouth will become more acidic for at least fifteen minutes after we ingest it.  So the more frequently we eat, the more acid that accumulates in our mouths.

In order to counteract the bacteria in our mouths and the foods that stick to our teeth, it is important that we brush twice a day and floss once a day.  I generally recommend an electric rechargeable toothbrush like a Sonicare or an Oral B to all of my patients.  These electric toothbrushes are great because they help remove plaque build up better that we can with a manual toothbrush.  Also, they have timers on them to encourage us to brush for a full two minutes.  I recommend that my patient split their mouth up into four quadrants, and spend 30 seconds on each quadrant.  If you choose to use a manual toothbrush, then I recommend a soft tooth brush.  A harder tooth brush can adversely abrade the gum tissue or the tooth surface with extended use.  Place the tooth brush at a 45 degree angle to the tooth surface.  Make sure to gently massage the tooth and focus on where the teeth meet the gums, because this is where the plaque likes to collect.  

I recommend flossing or using a hygiene tool to clean below the contact of the teeth at least once a day. The idea behind flossing is that you want to get the floss between the gum and the tooth, by wrapping each tooth you have just flossed between in a C-motion.  For the butler soft pic, you just need to get it below the contact area.

In terms of what toothpastes or mouthwashes to use, I have a couple of suggestions.  Any fluoridated toothpaste will be sufficient to clean the teeth.  In patients that have a high risk of tooth decay, I will often recommend an additional  tooth paste to be brushed on with a dry toothbrush, after regular tooth brushing.  CariFree gel and MI paste are two of my favorite products for tooth remineralization.  Both products have calcium, phosphate, and fluoride that help to rebuild tooth structure.  

For mouth washes, I like over the counter ACT Fluoride rinse for those prone to tooth decay.  For those that are prone to gum disease, I recommend Listerine, which is anti-bacterial.  CariFree also makes a mouth wash that is pH neutral and has the same calcium and phosphate as the gel.

Finally, if you like to chew gum, then you can also fight your bacteria at the same time, by finiding a gum with xylitol. Xylitol is a plant derived sugar that prohibits the bacteria in our mouths from producing acid.  Studies have shown that 5-8mg of xylitol a day in a chewable form helps protect our teeth.  

If you would like more information about what you can do to prevent tooth decay and make your teeth healthier, contact us for a new patient exam, where we will go into your specific needs in detail!

Specialist Spotlight- Dr. Hang and Face Focused Orthodontics

At Thousand Oaks Family Dentistry, we are proud of the network of skilled dental specialists we have created. Whether you are in our office or one of our associates’ offices, know that you will be treated with respect, kindness and experience. Today, we would like to highlight orthodontist Dr. William Hang and his program of Face Focused Orthodontics.

Like every orthodontics practice, Dr. Hang offers a variety of services and appliances geared towards straightening teeth and improving the dimensions and mechanics of your mouth. However, his office goes much further with his Face Focused program. Here, he takes an examined approach towards orthodontics to address a variety of problems with breathing and facial esthetics.

Face Focused Orthodontics is the culmination of Dr. Hang’s decades of research, education and practice. He dedicated his career towards developing orthodontic programs that do not retract the teeth as the patient grows older. His ultimate goal is maintaining good rest oral posture, or the relationship of the jaw, face position and airway when you breathe. Poor rest oral posture can lead to a whole host of problems, ranging from headaches to migraines and even sleep apnea.

For young patients entering orthodontics, Dr. Hang focuses on straightening teeth and improving oral esthetics while respecting jaw mechanics and maintaining airways. He strives to create a smile that both looks and functions great for an entire lifetime. In adults, he often treats patients suffering from headaches, snoring problems and sleep apnea in addition to crooked or crowded teeth. Here, his Face Focused program hopes to address poor facial mechanics and establish great jaw and breathing function. No matter what your ultimate orthodontic goal, Dr. Hang and his staff are attentive, communicative and thorough. His consultation appointments alone often take and hour and a half, including X-rays and Cone Beam CT technology.

We love working with Dr. Hang and his office because they offer a unique and powerful service. Patients travel from all around the world to receive treatment from Dr. Hang, while he is conveniently located minutes away from our office. While he is not treating patients, he can be found lecturing or researching ways to perfect his Face Focused treatment. If you would like to know more about Dr. Hang or any other of our fantastic specialists, please give us a call.  We want our patients to know they are in good hands, whether with us or one of our specialists.

To find out more about Dr. Hang, visit his website www.facefocused.com

Video Blog on Mouth Guards

Greetings, my name is Dr. Kari Ann Hong and I have a family dentistry practice where I see patient from all age groups.  One of my goals in my practice is to help patients keep their teeth for their entire lives.  Mouth guards are a great way to protect the teeth.  If you play a sport like rugby, football, soccer, basketball, hockey, or martial arts, then you would likely benefit from a mouth guard.  In my practice we make custom fitted, dual layered, heat pressure formed mouth guards.  A custom fitted mouth guard is made to fit on the upper arch and protects that bone above the teeth, the teeth, and the jaw joint.  It is possible to talk and breath with a custom fitted mouth guard.

Mouth guards can be made in a variety of colors and thicknesses, depending on your team and the sport being played.  Sports injuries to the teeth are a completely preventable emergency.  The life long cost associated with losing a tooth due to injury is thousands of dollars. If you would like more information about how to protect your teeth, please feel out the contact us form below.

Specialist Spotlight- Opus One Dental Lab

When having a crown or bridge placed, your ultimate goal is to have it look, feel and function like the natural tooth that was there before it. While this process is never “easy,” it becomes even more difficult when dealing with anterior (front of the mouth) teeth. For these complicated lab cases, we are proud to work with Opus One Dental Lab and it’s owner, Uri Yarovesky.

Uri standing with his many awards and honors. 

Uri has over 40 years of experience in the dental field as a technician, lab owner and world recognized lecturer. He has made crowns and bridges for celebrities, heads of states and even as prosthetics for blockbuster movies. His credentials include countless awards from the most prestigious dental publications and institutions. Opus One Lab was designed as an extension of his years of experience- cutting edge techniques with a personal touch. In addition to the typical technologies and instruments you would find in most labs,this office houses a research facility used to develop and manufacture new ceramic technologies. For some of the services the lab offers, they are the only location in the entire world with this technology available.

Crowns on anterior teeth need to be a near identical match to the surrounding teeth. Small deviations in coloration, shape, size or translucency can translate to a product that looks “fake” or out of place. It takes careful examination and years of experience to deliver a perfect prosthesis that feels great. Opus One delivers this by offering customs shade matching appointments, where you meet with Uri one on one to design and perfect your dental crown. He and his team have a deep appreciation for dental restorations and can meet your desires on shade, feel and even age appropriateness.

We love working with Opus One because they are both a local business and a global leader in dental technology. Uri’s lab understands the importance of both esthetics and function in delivering a quality product. Their crowns and bridges fit and look great, which results in happier and more satisfied patients.