Here's a panoramic view of our completely renovated waiting room. Even more inviting than before! A special thanks to The Sofa Guy and Room and Board for the sofas and media center. Also, check out the new artwork courtesy of Latitudes Fine Art. Last but not least, a big thank you to JRP Design and Remodel for their excellent workmanship and timely completion of all our projects. We cannot wait to show you our new look!
Talk about having fun outside the office! Last friday, our hygienist Lori hosted a night of friends, fun and Cabi shopping. No teeth talk tonight! Pictured here are Faith, Kristi, Lori, Mia (Faith's daughter) and Dr. Kari with Duke. We always enjoy the time we get to spend with each other, both in and out of the office!
Its about that time of year! This week Dr. Kari's two oldest sons, Mark and luke, started third and first grade. In the midst of this hectic season, we hope everyone is having and easy transition back to school. To all our young patients: have fun, make new friends and remember to floss!
In many cases, veneers provide a drastic change to the the teeth and smile appearance. This patient was no exception, where cosmetic veneers were used in conjunction with a full Invisalign treatment. By removing a small amount of tooth structure, Dr. Hong created room for a set of lithium disilicate veneers to be placed on the four front incisors. These veneers corrected for irregularities in tooth shape, size and dimension. They also allowed her to develop a more robust and youthful profile by adding contour to the front of the teeth. The overall effect is instantly noticeable and we are very happy with the results! If you would like to know more about veneers or would like to schedule a consultation with our office, please give us a call!
If you’ve been to a shopping mall recently, chances are you walked past booths offering “professional” teeth whitening in under an hour. They are usually decorated with scientific looking instruments, comfortable chairs and big blue lights to “speed up” the treatment. You may be tempted to try a session for a mid-day shopping break, but we suggest you take a different detour. These bleaching services may not be worth your time or money.
Any bleaching product that will work should contain a peroxide compound. This chemical oxidizes the “staining” molecules that are stuck in the dentin layer of your teeth, turning them more transparent/white. The American Dental Association recommends that any concentration over 10% hydrogen peroxide equivalent should be administered by a dental professional, to avoid burning or damaging the gum tissue.
It is important to understand that the employees operating these booths are not dental professionals. Therefore, they cannot be administering anything stronger than a Crest Whitestrip-type product. Some may claim that they use 35% bleach-- which is true, except they are using the significantly weaker carbamide peroxide instead of hydrogen peroxide.
In some states, these bleaching booths have been shut down for practicing dentistry without a license. In response, their employees are not allowed to actually administer any part of the whitening. They are usually only allowed to hand you a bleach tray and tell you to position the light on your own. In this sense, you’re paying the price of an entire box of over-the-counter whitening products for a single treatment!
The ADA recommends that you talk with a dentist before performing any type of whitening treatment. Although this may seem trivial, it could save you hours of pain or headaches later. Don’t be fooled by the gimmicks or convenience of mall whitening. Over-the-counter products will get you real results for the same price. If you do want instant results, we provide that safely and effectively at our office. Our Zoom! whitening system is scientifically proven to lighten tooth shade in one treatment. If you would like to know more about bleaching systems, how they work, or any potential drawbacks, please call our office!
Construction is officially wrapping up at Thousand Oaks Family Dentistry. The crew is putting the final touches on paint, flooring and fixtures. We got to spend a little time at the office this weekend to enjoy our new look. Here you can see Duke (Dr. Kari's son) with Katie and Jonathan (Michael's wife and son). A true family affair! Even though we are still finishing work, our phones are open to any of your questions or concerns. Just give us a call!
Pardon our dust; we're making some big changes! These photos really show our office remodel coming together. The new floors, paint and interior are working to create a more relaxing and welcoming space. The consultation room is also moving along nicely, providing a quiet area to discuss any of your needs. Work should be complete early next week, allowing us to start seeing patients right away. We can't wait to welcome you back to our brand new space!
Thousand Oaks Family Dentistry Before and After - Upper Front Four Teeth Veneers
Enjoy these "before" pictures, because our office is getting a new look! Construction is underway to make Thousand Oaks Family Dentistry an even more inviting and relaxing space. In addition to new flooring, paint and decorations, we will be adding a formal consultation room just off of our front desk. The remodel is scheduled to finish August 2nd, and we can barely wait!
Are all night guards the same? Not quite...
Store bought night guards, often called "boil and bite" guards are sold at almost every pharmacy and chain store nation wide. If you have problems with grinding your teeth at night (also called "bruxism"), they may seem like a great way to save your smile. Initially, these products will work as advertised, protecting your teeth from premature wear. However, inexpensive guards can create serious problems with longterm use.
Your jaw muscles can produce a tremendous amount of force, almost 500 Newtons worth. When clenching on a store bought night guard (as you do subconsciously when you grind your teeth at night), these forces are unequally distributed: that is, you will not be biting everywhere at the same time with the same force. This uneven pressure can worsen existing headache/migraine problems or create new ones. You may be saving your teeth, but you will be creating a whole host of other problems!
A professional night guard made by a dentist is fundamentally different from a "boil and bite" night guard. Our guards are custom molded to your bottom teeth using a special clear hard acrylic. The top of the night guard is smooth and contoured so that all your top teeth touch it at the same time with the same force. It is also polished completely smooth, making it feel easy and natural to wear while sleeping. This combination of features allows you to avoid grinding your teeth at night, without introducing new headache pains. If you would like to know more about night guards, please give our office a call!
