San Diego Cosmetic Dentist - Dr. James Loye DDS

In the Know!

2009-06-12T09:49:00.000-07:00

Facebook, Linked In and Plaxo is where we are! As we evolve as people, so does the way we communicate and social networking is now a huge part of the the we stay connected.

Our Facebook will follow a casual blog format of both formal and informal announcement's and happenings from within our practice from the everyday to the extraordinary; you'll see how we strive to make a difference.

Drop by and check us out, search for me under James Loye, D.D.S. and become a fan!

Benefits of Professional Teeth Whitening

2009-05-21T10:12:00.000-07:00

If you would like to seriously whiten your teeth, there is little benefit in buying an over-the-counter product. At best, the whitening strips may give you mildly noticeable results. At worst, the whitening toothpastes will gradually scrape away your tooth enamel and make your teeth look more yellow. The whitening trays in the kits are generic and will almost certainly not fit your teeth, which will give you uneven results.

The real solution, if you want dramatically brighter teeth, is to come for an in-office Zoom! Teeth Whitening procedure. It will take 90 minutes of your time at most. The procedure itself takes about an hour, plus we will need a little time for preparation and for checking your teeth afterwards.

How Zoom! Teeth Whitening Works
After you are comfortably settled, Dr. Loye will first protect your gums and lips and then apply the whitening gel to your teeth. He will direct a special light onto the gel to speed its action.

The whitening agent is hydrogen peroxide. It enables oxygen to penetrate the tooth enamel, loosening any pigments that are causing the stains. The pigments are released, leaving the tooth enamel as bright as it was when you were a small child.

Dr. Loye will take Before and After digital photos of your teeth and give you copies of them for a record of your whitening achievement.

If you would like to learn more about our in-office tooth whitening, including the other option of Deep Bleaching, please call or email our cosmetic dentistry office today. We will be happy to schedule a free consultation for you.

The Ease of Porcelain Veneers

2009-04-27T15:39:00.000-07:00

For quickly and easily transforming a smile, nothing can beat porcelain veneers. Tooth whitening certainly makes a dramatic improvement, but affects only color. Porcelain veneers can brighten a dull color, but also correct other defects such as:
• Mild misalignment or crookedness
• Shallow cracks and small chips
• Mismatched tooth sizes
• Little gaps between the teeth

Dr. Loye offers two types of porcelain veneers: Lumineers, which are a reversible procedure, and traditional veneers, which are permanent. You can discuss the pros and cons of each with him when you come for your free consultation.

The benefits of dental porcelain
Whichever type you choose to have, your smile will be dramatically brightened and made more smooth and harmonious. Veneers are made of dental porcelain, which reacts to light in ways similar to tooth enamel. It absorbs some light and reflects some. That gives it the same pearly glow that white tooth enamel has.

Further, dental porcelain comes in a wide variety of shades, including many that feature subtle variations in color like tooth enamel. Dr. Loye will choose a shade of porcelain to match your other teeth and your veneers will thus be indistinguishable from your natural teeth.

Please see our page on Porcelain Veneer Questions for more information about this excellent cosmetic dentistry option.

If you would like to schedule a free consultation with Dr. Loye and learn more about porcelain veneers, please contact our cosmetic dentistry office today.

New Member Joins Team Loye!

2009-04-03T09:50:00.000-07:00

I am proud to introduce our newest team member Ellen R. Ericksen of San Diego, California. Ellen will lead the front office in many conversions and directions to increase your satisfaction as clients and allow my practice to exceed your expectations. Ellen has a strong history within the client relations community and has already brought a positive impact to Carmel Creek Dental.

Compassion and the desire to see people achieve their goals are the common ground that Ellen shares with my practice. Her passion and kind heart are evident in the very way she speaks to people.

Ellen spends most of her leisure time with her husband Eric, a decorated retired Green Beret. They spend countless hours hiking and enjoying what most of us like about San Diego, the weather. And did I mention, Eric is a great cook! Her son Noah, recently relocated to Oregon after graduating from college here in San Diego.

So we welcome Ellen and I thank you, my clients, for trusting us with the care of your health.

Dr. James W. Loye, DDS

Alternatives to CPAP

2009-03-26T14:51:00.000-07:00

If you have been diagnosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea, you may have been urged to accept CPAP as a treatment. That is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure and refers to an arrangement with a bedside machine and a mask which attaches you to it. Many people find it uncomfortable and difficult to use successfully.

There are many excellent alternatives to CPAP and Dr. Loye can suggest the best ones for your particular situation. They are not connected to any machine, but fit in the mouth, often with patented connections or adjustment features. The FDA has approved them for treatment of sleep apnea. Your insurance company would most likely cover their cost because they are classified as “durable medical equipment”.

Design Variations
Some CPAP alternatives are two-piece and some are one-piece. The two-piece devices have separate covers for the upper and lower teeth and some sort of connection between them, either at the sides or in front. The one-piece devices have a way of adjusting how far forward they hold your jaw.

Most of them allow you to move your jaw to some extent, to open your mouth and even to drink or speak. Some just allow some small movement for comfort while you sleep.

Some devices hold the lower jaw forward and others hold just the tongue forward. One type may do a better job for your individual needs than another type. Dr. Loye will give you a thorough examination including a bite analysis, and will explain what is happening in your case.

You can read more detail about some of the devices at our page on CPAP alternatives. If you are a snorer, that may or may not be a problem. But chronic snoring may be a symptom of sleep apnea and it would be a good idea to come in for a visit so Dr. Loye can give you a diagnosis and discuss possible courses of action.

To learn more, please call or email our cosmetic and general dentistry office for a free personal consultation with Dr. Loye.

Finally, A Superior Whitening System: KöR Whitening Deep Bleaching System

2009-03-26T13:09:00.000-07:00

Check this out ! The KöR Whitening Deep Bleaching system is a revolutionary technique that combines a better understanding of the mechanisms of staining and whitening, a more rational technique, and superior manufacturing of whitening trays to give patients an unprecedented level of whitening.

As a San Diego Cosmetic Dentist, I am proud to announce the arrival of a superior alternative to whitening systems that consistently deliver inferior results for people looking for long term, dramatic upgrades in the appearance of their smile. Older products are ok for many people, especially those who are looking for minimal results from common stains. But for many of my clients--those with deep stains including, many years of drinking coffee, tea, and red wine, or prolonged, heavy smoking or just every day staining that comes with everyday life—they are simply not good enough.

My practice, Carmel Creek Dental, now offers a system that offers:

Desired and consistent results, even on resistant stains!
Drastically reduced sensitivity found when using other systems such as Zoom!
Longer lasting, in fact, life long results!

Learn more about this exciting dramatic enhancement to your smile and appearance by reading our KöR Whitening Deep Bleaching page, then please schedule a smile enhancing consultation with me today. You may have tried other whitening systems but you will absolutely amazed at the results of our KöR Whitening.

Education Makes You Better!!

2009-03-18T11:14:00.001-07:00

Every year I take continuing education courses to improve areas I specialize in such as cosmetic dentistry and sleep apnea.

This year my pursuit to sharpen my skills will take to the prestigious Las Vegas Institute. Here I will learn highly advanced cosmetic techniques used in complex cases such as smile makeovers and full mouth reconstructions.

I will also travel to the annual dental sleep medicine seminars as I continue to evolve Carmel Creek Dental into one of San Diego’s premier practices that offer an alternative to the CPAP.
I will only be gone a week or so at a time, so the pay off in highly evolved skills in my care to clients is tremendous. Of course the worst part of traveling anywhere will be leaving my family, clients and my team behind, if even for a few days.

Tooth Whitening: How to Avoid straight, Ugly Teeth

2009-02-24T12:56:00.000-08:00

So some guy came up to me at a Christmas party and launched into this story about his straight teeth. Granted the guy had a few too many eggnogs, and I am a dentist so why not talk about teeth.

His problem and I agreed, was that his teeth were straight but they were ugly. Good question, Uh? He was upset he had straight yellow, stained and nasty teeth. He explained how he thought Invisalign would change his life and to a point it did, they were straight. But it doesn’t always take it all the way, so to speak. It is like buying a beautiful, expensive car and having cheap ugly rims, it just doesn’t finish.

What did I do with him? I gave him some more eggnog, my business card, and left the door open to come see him. There is hope for Straight Ugly Teeth. By the way, this guy was in Public Relations and spoke in front of people all the time, I know I can help him.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD) Treatments

2009-02-10T07:14:00.000-08:00

If you’re suffering from chronic jaw pain, painful migraines, or popping of the jaw joint then you could have TMD. Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) is a neuromuscular dental disorder involving the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The TMJ is a complex joint that enables your jaw to slide back and forth and chew up and down. When the joint or it’s supporting muscles and ligaments are inflamed or out of alignment, you can experience everything from mild discomfort to excruciating pain.

TMD Symptoms
Although the source of TMD is around the jaw joint, the symptoms can affect other areas of the mouth and upper body. Here are the most typical symptoms:

Muscle pain around the mouth and jaw
Frequent migraines and headaches
Excessive facial pain
Clicking or popping jaw joints
Teeth wear out prematurely
Neck and shoulder pain
Otalgia - Ear pain
Tinnitus – constant buzzing or ringing sound in the ears

Treatment
Some treatment can be taken care of by the patient changing their eating habits. Here are some suggestions to alleviate mild symptoms caused by TMJ

Change in eating habits – no hard, sticky or large portioned foods that force the jaw to widen or bite down hard
Eating softer foods
A routine of ice, exercise and moist heat as recommended by your dentist
Avoid wide yawning
No gum chewing
Reduce stress which leads to grinding and clenching teeth

If the symptoms are more severe, patients need the help of a TMD specialist who can offer the following relief:

Pain relievers, muscle relaxants and/or anti-inflammatories
Stabilization splint (biteplate, night guard) or Mandibular Repositioning Device
Advice on jaw exercises including: stretching and massage
Electrical nerve stimulation to relax the joint and surrounding muscles
Ultrasound treatment using deep heat to loosen up the joint
Surgery as a last resort.

In San Diego, California, please contact the TMD specialists at Carmel Creek Dental. We offer the best treatment options available using on the latest state-of-the-art technology and techniques. Your comfort and healthy smile is our priority.

How is Jaw Pain Related to Neuromuscular Dentistry?

2009-01-05T10:25:00.000-08:00

Unlike any other joint in the human body, the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), has the ability to slide back and forth and up and down allowing complicated functions like speaking and chewing. If the joint is out of alignment or if the surrounding muscles become inflamed, a patient can suffer from excruciating jaw pain.

Over 10 million Americans suffer from temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). TMD is a neuromuscular dental disorder caused by dysfunctions of the TMJ and its supporting bone structures, ligaments and muscles. Symptoms can vary from mild to debilitating. Patients may suffer for years until an accurate diagnosis is determined.

Symptoms
Jaw pain is the most common symptom of neuromuscular disease. TMD symptoms can also manifest throughout other areas of the mouth, skull and upper body. Here are the most common symptoms of TMD:

Locking Jaw
Popping jaw joints
Cracked or worn teeth
Clenching/bruxing
Inability to open the mouth completely
Deviation of the jaw to one side
The jaw locking open or closed
Migraines
Back, neck and shoulder pain
Tinnitus - ringing in the ears
Vertigo (dizziness)
Sensitive, sore, teeth
Swelling on the side of the face and/or mouth
A bite that feels as if it’s continually changing
Problems with posture
Joint or facial pain when chewing, yawning or opening or closing the mouth,
Pain in the muscles surrounding the temporomandibular joints
Pain in the back, front or sides of the head
Pain located behind the eyes

Depending on the severity of your symptoms, there are numerous options to relieve your jaw pain and other TMD symptoms. If you live in San Diego, California, and are suffering from jaw pain, please contact the neuromuscular specialists at Carmel Creek Dental. We offer state-of-the-art technology options for all your TMD symptoms and give you the personal care you deserve.

What is the Temporomandibular Joint?

2008-12-16T09:50:00.000-08:00

When you are chewing, speaking or biting, your temporomandibular joint is at work. The temporomandibular joint, also known as TMJ, is a complex joint where your jawbone meets the skull. It’s also the source of a myriad of neuromuscular dysfunctions also known as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). If you’re suffering from chronic headaches, popping jaw or upper body issues, you could have TMD.

Symptoms
TMD symptoms range from mild to cripplingly painful. Many TMD patients are misdiagnosed for years and don’t seek medical help until the symptoms become unbearable. Here are the most common TMD symptoms:

Chronic headaches
Extreme facial pain
Popping or clicking in the jaw joints
Difficulty opening and closing the mouth
Teeth hurt when grinding and chewing
Teeth are worn down prematurely
Teeth don’t meet at bite
Pain throughout the neck and shoulders
Ear pain
Constant buzzing or ringing sound in the ears

Causes
The causes of TMD are as numerous as its symptoms. Some patients are born with neuromuscular dental problems while others acquire TMD from trauma caused by an accident. External factors can also aggravate the TMJ increasing TMD problems:

Opening the jaw beyond its range
Aggressively sliding the jaw forward and/or sideways
Speech habits involving extreme jaw thrusting
Excessive nail biting or gum chewing
Chewing on food portions that are too large

The neuromuscular specialists at Carmel Creek Dental offer a variety of treatments for TMD. If you live in San Diego, California, contact us for a complete TMD consultation. We offer state-of-the-art technology options for all your neuromuscular needs and the personal care you deserve. Your comfort and healthy smile is our priority.

Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD) Treatments

2008-11-10T09:28:00.000-08:00

Throbbing jaw pain, chronic migraines, popping of the jaw joint – all classic symptoms shared with over ten million other American dental patients. Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) is a neuromuscular dental disorder involving the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). TMJ is a complex joint that enables your jaw to slide back and forth and chew up and down. When the joint or it’s supporting muscles and ligaments are inflamed or out of alignment, the patient can experience everything from mild discomfort to excruciating pain.

Treatment
Alleviating bad habits can eliminate some discomfort of TMD. Some of the following self-care tips can help symptoms completely disappear:

Change in eating habits – no hard, sticky or large portioned foods that force the jaw to widen or bite down hard
Eating softer foods
A routine of ice, exercise and moist heat as recommended by your dentist
Avoid wide yawning
No gum chewing
Reduce stress which leads to grinding and clenching teeth

A dental professional can offer treatment on more severe symptoms. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, typical TMD solutions include the following:

Pain relievers, muscle relaxants and/or anti-inflammatories
Stabilization splint (biteplate, night guard) or Mandibular Repositioning Device
Gentle jaw stretching and massaging
Electrical nerve stimulation – using a low electrical current to relax the joint and surrounding muscles
Ultrasound treatment – deep heat on the joint to loosen it up
Surgery – should be considered as a last resort.

In San Diego, California, please contact Dr. Loye at Carmel Creek Dental for an initial TMD treatment consultation. We offer the best treatment options available using on the latest state-of-the-art technology and techniques.

Best Smiles of All Time

2008-10-08T11:51:00.000-07:00

Celebrities tend to be very attractive with perfect bodies, perfect hair, perfect faces and yes, even perfect smiles. This may be true, but the majority of them did not come by their smiles naturally. They have had cosmetic dental procedures performed to transform their smiles into the movie star smiles that you are envious of.

The reality of the matter is that many celebrities start out with yellowed teeth, pointy fangs and gaps that you could drive a bus through. As their fame increases and their faces become more popular on television and theater screens, they are compelled to be sure they look as perfect as everyone expects them to.

The majority of celebrity porcelain veneers procedures have turned their toothy grins into the best smiles of all time. Here are some famous names that you may not have known are sporting veneers of one type or another:

Miley Cyrus
Keith Urban
Donald Trump
Kathy Lee Gifford
Christie Brinkley
Steve Martin
Carol Burnett

Surprised? You shouldn't be. If you really stop to think, celebrities are still just normal people who are concerned about their appearance and how others see them. The only difference between them and you is that they get paid a lot more than we do to look good.

Although regular folks like us don't have the luxuries these famous people enjoy, we can have veneers placed on our teeth and give them a run for the title of best smiles of all time. To learn more, please contact Dr. James Loye of Carmel Creek Dental in San Diego today.

Smile Style and Porcelain Veneers

2008-09-03T14:10:00.000-07:00

Once you have determined that porcelain veneers are the right choice for you, it is important to discuss the smile styles that are available to you. Your smile style is essentially the perfect smile for you alone. There are thousands of ways in which your cosmetic dentist can create a new smile for you. Here are some examples of the most popular smile styles that your dentist will show you images of so you can see the results of each method:

Aggressive style
Dominant style
Enhanced style
Focused style
Functional style
Hollywood style
Mature style
Natural style
Oval style
Softened style
Vigorous style
Youthful style

These images assist your cosmetic dentist in helping you to determine which smile style suits your characteristics the best. Each of these images is a different combination of shapes to cover the front six teeth. The front teeth (incisors) can be squared or rounded at the corners, or a combination of the two. The eye teeth (cuspids) can be pointed, rounded or flat.

These six teeth are the ones you show to the world every time you smile. Thus they are the ones of most concern when you want to improve your appearance. Combining different shapes helps your cosmetic dentist produce very different and unique smile styles for you to choose from. To learn more about smile styles and which one is right for you, please contact Dr. James Loye at Carmel Creek Dental in San Diego, California today.

What Problems Do Porcelain Veneers Fix?

2008-08-12T09:33:00.000-07:00

Porcelain veneers were designed to restore a person's smile to one of which they can be proud of and self-confident with. It is very difficult for someone who has an undesirable smile to feel comfortable in social situations where they have to worry what others will think about how they look.

In many cases, a person's work and social life are affected negatively. For someone with a bad smile, it is an unfortunate fact that the smile and teeth are usually the first thing others will notice. So, if you are one of these unlucky people, what do you do?

One of the best solutions available to you is having veneers placed over the front of your existing teeth. Veneers are used to fix any one or a combination of the following problems.

Discolored teeth
Stained teeth
Worn teeth
Chipped teeth
Broken teeth
Cracked teeth
Large spaces between teeth
Irregularly shaped teeth
Uneven teeth

Veneers provide a natural appearance to your teeth without using whitening methods. Most patients' gum tissues tolerate porcelain material very well. The patient can choose the color or shade of the veneers before they are placed. Veneers do not require the extensive reshaping and grinding of teeth that some other procedures do.

Overall, veneers offer a durable and aesthetic alternative for patients to improve their smiles. To learn more about porcelain veneers, please contact Dr. James Loye of Carmel Creek Dental in San Diego today.

Porcelain Veneers Materials

2008-07-23T14:13:00.000-07:00

Porcelain veneers come in three different types: composite resin, porcelain and Lumineers. Composite resin veneers are rarely used in today's cosmetic dentistry. However, both porcelain veneers and Lumineers are popular for their own characteristics. It is important that you entrust the placement of your new veneers to a skilled and caring cosmetic dentist such as Dr. James Loye of San Diego, California.

Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are used to lighten the color of a patient's teeth or change the shape of them. One or more teeth can be done depending on your desired effect. A smaller amount of the tooth is removed than with composite resin veneers. Then, a thin layer of porcelain is constructed and cemented to the tooth in order to change its appearance.

Advantages of porcelain veneers include:

A more realistic appearance
More strength and durability
A better result in shape and color
Less time in the dentist's chair
The look and feel of natural teeth
Stain resistance and lasting appearance
Less wear than composite resin veneers

Lumineers
Lumineers are basically a high-tech version of porcelain veneers made from Cerinate porcelain which offers a near perfect match to the properties and appearance of real tooth enamel. This material also offers dentists the ability to restore teeth with a veneer that is no thicker than a contact lens, but extremely durable and removable. Lumineers are used to cover stained, chipped, deformed or worn teeth to produce near perfect and instant results. They require less preparation time of the natural teeth, less discomfort for the patient and less effort on the part of the dentist.

If you are considering veneers to improve the appearance of your teeth and smile, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. James Loye of Carmel Creek Dental in San Diego, California today.

Gum Recontouring

2008-07-15T15:28:00.000-07:00

Your smile is more than just your teeth. If you're not showing enough white when you smile, it could be that your teeth are just short, in which case porcelain veneers might be the answer, but it could also be that your teeth are just fine. Instead, it may be your gums that are the problem.

Normally, our gums recede during puberty to reveal more of our teeth, but for some people this does not occur. This makes your teeth appear short (a characteristic of older smiles), and your smile gummy.

For other people, the gums are the proper size, but their shape does not give your smile the proper scalloped contour.

Both of these problems can be addressed with laser gum recontouring. In this procedure, a laser is used to shape your gums so that they reveal the full length of your teeth and give each tooth the proper rounded appearance. The procedure is quick and virtually painless.

To learn more about laser gum recontouring, contact cosmetic dentist Dr. James Loye at Carmel Creek Dental today.

Causes of Sleep Apnea

2008-05-31T07:45:00.000-07:00

Sleep apnea is a stoppage in breathing for ten or more seconds several times an hour while you are sleeping caused by an airway obstruction. The most common type of sleep apnea is Obstructive Sleep Apnea. One of the symptoms of sleep apnea is snoring, however just because you snore does not necessarily mean you have sleep apnea. Some people may never realize they have this problem, while others will wake up repeatedly gasping for breath. The result is that you will feel less rested during the day and more prone to all those problems that go along with exhaustion (short temper, inattention, sleepiness). Furthermore, sleep apnea is a hazard to your health, and has been linked to high blood pressure, heart problems, and strokes.

Possible causes

Obesity - over half of those suffering from sleep apnea are obese
Use of alcohol or sedatives near bedtime - these relax the throat and muscles of the tongue, which can cause a blockage to the airway
Smaller than average airway
Anatomical features such as a deviated septum, large tonsils, over-sized tongue, or a receding chin may all cause sleep apnea

There are many treatments available to you if you believe you are suffering from sleep apnea. Dr. Loye will be able to help you decide which treatment is the best way to relieve your symptoms and get you back to sleep.

Please contact us for an initial consultation where we can answer any questions you have about sleep apnea, its causes, and its treatments.

Sedation May Ease Your Dental Fears

2008-04-30T10:01:00.000-07:00

Dr. Loye understands that you may feel uncomfortable or fearful when you come in for your cosmetic dental procedure. But with oral conscious sedation dentistry, your fears can be put to rest in a calming, comfortable, and safe way.

Patients who are appropriate for OCS include those who

Suffer anxiety when visiting their dentist
Suffer from acute or chronic soreness of the jaw
Cannot get numb
Have a bad gag reflex
Have neck or back problems
Have a history of other health problems

Because many people complain of one or more of these problems when they visit the dentist, Dr. Loye has several ways in which to keep you relaxed. Depending on your age, anxiety level, weight, and any other underlying health problems, as well as the procedure you are getting, Dr. Loye will choose the right kind of medication to give you. You might take a pill before you come in for your procedure. If you do not feel with that, Dr. Loye can also administer nitrous oxide, or “laughing gas” to keep you relaxed. All of this is done in a safe and caring way.

Keep Teeth Whiter for Longer with Deep Bleaching

2008-03-28T15:51:00.000-07:00

If there was a way to keep your visits to a cosmetic dentist to an absolute minimum for tooth whitening procedures, would you take it? If so, Deep Bleaching is the tooth whitening procedure you need to know about. We now offer this tooth whitening procedure as the latest option to keep you happy for months, and possibly years.

While there are a plethora of in-office procedures and take-home trays that will whiten your teeth, and to the extent you want, you may have to return to have your teeth touched up sooner than you’d like. If you are using take-home trays, the results may not be as even as they could be. And people with tooth sensitivity issues may find some of the products painful. This isn’t the case with Deep Bleaching.

Deep Bleaching offers the chance for you to be rid of stains from coffee, red wine, black tea, and pigmented food for much longer than standard whitening through a type of “power bleaching.” In two appointments, we can offer you whiter teeth and lessen any sensitivity you might feel.

Your first appointment will consist of making molds of your teeth to use as models for your customized trays, and conditioning your teeth for Deep Bleaching by using a hydrogen peroxide gel on your teeth to help absorb oxygen, and a sealant to desensitize them. You will wear your customized trays when you sleep for two weeks. A peroxide-based gel works to take care of the stains. On your second visit to us, another round of hydrogen peroxide gel is used. And that’s it.

If you continue to practice good oral hygiene, the Deep Bleaching effects can potentially last a life time. Using Deep Bleaching trays periodically will help keep the stains from forming, and none of the sensitivity issues that come up with other whitening agents will be a part of this regimen.

For more information on how Deep Bleaching can keep your teeth whiter for longer, please contact our San Diego office. We’d be happy to answer any questions you might have about this procedure.

If You Haven’t Heard About InvisalignFor far too long, unsightly, uncomfortable metal braces were the only readily available option for straightening

2008-02-29T11:02:00.000-08:00

For far too long, unsightly, uncomfortable metal braces were the only readily available option for straightening a crooked smile. For many, the pain, inconvenience, and unsightly appearance of braces kept them from straightening their crooked teeth.

The Invisalign clear aligner system, however, has changed all that. Now you can straighten your smile safely, comfortably, and nearly invisibly, using clear plastic aligners, which gently move your teeth into alignment over time.

Invisalign aligners are a particularly popular choice among adults, many of whom either never wore braces or whose teeth weren't properly straightened as children.

The Invisalign system uses a series of clear plastic aligners that fit directly over your teeth. Your Invisalign aligners are created using a custom mold of your mouth, and each graduated aligner will gently guide your teeth into better alignment until the treatment is complete and your smile is strong, straight, and beautiful.

If you'd like to learn more about the Invisalign system and whether it's the right solution for you, call or email our San Diego office today to schedule your personal consultation. We'll answer any questions you have, and guide you through the options that cosmetic dentistry has to offer you.

Why Should You Choose an LVI Trained Cosmetic Dentist?

2008-01-30T14:41:00.000-08:00

A lot of my patients ask me what LVI is and why it's important to my cosmetic dentistry practice.

LVI, the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies, is the world's premiere center for neuromuscular and cosmetic dentistry practices. LVI is where dentists all over the world study the latest in new techniques and technologies for creating beautiful, healthy smiles.

LVI training emphasizes a holistic approach to dentistry, in which the principles of cosmetic and neuromuscular dentistry are applied to every dental procedure and every consultation.

This can be especially important in cosmetic dentistry, as the field is growing and advancing rapidly, with new materials and techniques coming onto the market regularly. A cosmetic dentist who has studied at LVI is more familiar with these advances, and is better able to evaluate their efficacy and suitability for his or her patients.

LVI's emphasis on neuromuscular dentistry is an important factor for cosmetic dentistry as well. A trained neuromuscular dentist has the knowledge and experience to create a smile that is not only beautiful, but also well balanced and healthy.

Many cases of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) develop from poor dental work, including ill-fitting dental appliances, such as bridges, dental crowns, or porcelain veneers that cause the bite to become misaligned, leading to stress on the jaw and often serious consequences in terms of dental health and general physical health as well.

LVI training ensures that the dentist you choose for your cosmetic work has the experience and knowledge to offer you the very best that modern dentistry has to offer, and provide you with the healthy, beautiful smile you deserve.

Welcome

2007-12-19T21:37:00.000-08:00

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