Dr. Kourosh Maddahi, Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist, is making history with his pain-free, stress-free dental work. Patients are going home from appointments with a whole new sentiment about dentistry. Fear of dentistry is common. Dr. Maddahi discusses dental fear, I have seen that recently I have had a couple of patients that were quite fearful of dentists because of bad experiences. Last month a man came to my office who had recently had a toothache and he went to Rite-Aid and pulled his own tooth in the aisle. Seriously. Then he came to see me. All I did was listen to everything that he needed to say, explained what we were going to do. I told him that we use a little numbing gel, then use the Citoject to the numb tooth. I explained to him that we want to make sure that you don’t feel any pain at all.†The Citoject is a pen shaped devise that works to numb only the tooth, not the tongue, cheek, face and lips, making anesthetic injections essentially painless. Dr. Maddahi explains, “What causes the pain of an injection is not the needle but the rate of delivery of the anesthetic. Before the Citoject, using conventional methods, few dentists would be painless. However with the Citoject, a micro-compressor controls the rate of the injection, so patients feel only a slight pressure, no pain. I work to put the patient’s comfort first.” After the injection, the pain that he had went away and he started to joke around. I was doing normal surgery on this tooth and he was not in pain, at all! It is important to make the patient’s visit a positive one from the beginning to the end. It must be a good experience, comfortable with little or no pain. It’s not just that the teeth look good or that they have a comfortable bite. Patients expect the technical aspect because dentists have a degree. However, what every patient hopes for is that the dentist of choice has a bedside manner and will listen. It’s our communication with the people we treat that sets us apart. Many have had past bad experiences. We thoroughly explain what we can do for them and then we deliver it. Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist, Dr. Kourosh Maddahi, has been specializing in creating beautiful, natural smiles for 20 years and can be found on the world wide web atwww.DrMaddahi.com. He is located in Beverly Hills at 436 N. Roxbury Drive, Suite 202 and can be reached at 310-888-7797. He can be contacted via email at info@DrMaddahi.com.
Monthly Archives: September 2007
Can What’s in Your Mouth Really Make You Sick?
Beverly Hills dentist, Dr. Kourosh Maddahi, explains, in depth, the relationship between illness and periodontal conditions. The news lately has been filled with frightening stories that link oral bacteria and oral disease to a variety of serious and potentially life-threatening illnesses. The subject isn’t really new.
Dentists have long known that there is a strong relationship between oral health and general health. For example, tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs not only affect overall health but oral health as well. ”Persons who suffer with dry mouth a lack of saliva whether from age, disease or medications, are at increased risk for tooth decay.”, explains Dr. Maddahi. And if you have oral pain or can’t eat properly, you won’t get the nutrition your body needs to stay healthy. It’s not news that the mouth is connected to the body. The mouth often times is the location used to diagnose, make a prognosis, treat and intervene on a host of diseases. For example, some researchers have found that periodontitis (the advanced form of gum disease that can cause tooth loss) is associated with cardiovascular disease, stroke and bacterial pneumonia. Other research has found that pregnant women with periodontitis may be at increased risk for delivering babies that are pre-term, have low birth weight or both. Dr. Maddahi further explains. Although reports suggest that periodontitis may contribute to these conditions, you should know that just because two conditions occur at the same time, it doesn’t necessarily mean that one causes the other. These conditions and diseases are complex.
Oral health must be considered an important part of overall health but scientists are still studying how closely the two are connected. To make sense of all this, scientists are examining what happens when periodontitis is treated in persons who have other health problems. There’s evidence that diabetics are more likely to develop periodontitis (and more severe cases) than non-diabetics. Two conditions that occur together may be caused by a third factor. People who smoke or use alcohol are at increased risk for periodontitis and other conditions, such as oral cancer. “If there were a cause-and-effect relationship, we’d expect that improvements to periodontal health would also improve other health conditions, says Dr. Maddahi. The results from initial studies are intriguing. Some studies suggest that treating periodontitis in people with diabetes can improve their blood sugar control, but other studies have not found this connection.
The ADA supports and encourages further research into what remains a promising but inconclusive question as to the effects of periodontal disease on specific systemic conditions and diseases. What does this mean for you? Given the potential link between periodontitis and systemic health problems, preventing periodontitis may turn out to be an important step in maintaining overall health. In most cases, that can be done with good daily oral hygiene (brushing and flossing) and regular professional care. Make sure to tell your dentist about changes in your oral health, including any recent illnesses or chronic conditions. Provide an updated health history including medication use, both prescription and over-the-counter products. And if you smoke, talk to your dentist about options for quitting smoking. Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist, Dr. Kourosh Maddahi, has been specializing in creating beautiful, natural smiles for 20 years and can be found on the world wide web at www.DrMaddahi.com. He is located in Beverly Hills at 436 N. Roxbury Drive, Suite 202 and can be reached at 310-888-7797.
He can be contacted via email at info@DrMaddahi.com.
Discolored Teeth that Damage Your Smile are Simple to Whiten
Dr. Maddahi, Beverly Hills Cosmetic Dentist, discusses the causes of tooth discoloration and which innovative techniques he recommends and the reasons for this advice.
There are many causes for discolored teeth. The most common include aging and consumption of staining substances such as coffee, tea, colas, tobacco, red wine, etc. And we have all seen how, during tooth formation, consumption of tetracycline, certain antibiotics or excessive fluoride may also cause tooth discoloration. But this is no longer something one has to live with.
2I think that everyone loves a bright white smile,” Dr. Maddahi says, “and there are a variety of products and procedures available to help you improve the look of yours. Some people are satisfied with the sparkle they get from brushing twice daily, cleaning between their teeth once a day and with a regular cleaning at the dentist office. But, when the choice is made to go beyond this to make the smile look brighter, I suggest in-office Zoom! whitening system.”
There are other options such as at-home bleaching and whitening toothpastes. “Zoom!” is a bleaching process that lightens the discoloration of enamel and dentin. (Dentin is bone or calcified tissue that surrounds the pulp cavity of a tooth, it is the calcareous material harder and denser than bone that comprises the bulk of a tooth.)
“If I am treating the patient in the office, then we are most likely to get the most natural looking, bright white smile.”, Dr. Maddahi further explains. “During chairside bleaching, we will either apply a protective gel to the gums or a rubber shield to protect the oral soft tissues. The bleaching agent is then applied to the teeth, and a special light is used to enhance the action of the agent. The patient also uses additional product at home to maintain their pearly whites!”
The complete procedure takes less than two hours. The process begins with a preparation period followed by bleaching. (A cleaning is recommended prior to the tooth whitening session.) The Zoom! Light-activated whitening gel’s active ingredient is Hydrogen Peroxide. As the Hydrogen Peroxide is broken down, oxygen enters the enamel and dentin, bleaching colored substances while the structure of the tooth is unchanged. The Zoom! light aids in activating the hydrogen peroxide and helps it penetrate the surface of the tooth.
By following some simple post-whitening care instructions, the teeth will always be lighter than they were before. To keep your teeth looking their best, flossing, brushing twice daily, and occasional touch-ups with Zoom! Weekender or Nite White gel are recommended. These are professional formula products designed specifically to keep your teeth their brightest. They are available only through your dentist.
Age, diet and environment are all factors that can make sparkling white teeth off-color or dull looking. But this isn’t something you have to live with. Using cosmetic imaging, you can even be shown how white your teeth can become before the actual procedure is done.
Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist, Dr. Kourosh Maddahi, has been specializing in creating beautiful, natural smiles for 20 years and can be found on the world wide web at www.DrMaddahi.com. He is located in Beverly Hills at 436 N. Roxbury Drive, Suite 202 and can be reached at 310-888-7797. He can be reached via email at info@DrMaddahi.com.