An Interesting Article On How To Save Money

DIY (Do it yourself Dentistry).

One funny article about ways to save money listed dentistry as a disgusting way to save money.

Teeth Whitening: Mall Or Office

Have you seen the latest buzz going on at all shopping malls here in America?

Teeth whitening businesses are booming with mini 2-4 chair kiosks.  They claim to use the same ingredients dentists use in their own offices, mainly hydrogen peroxide based bleaching gels.

Dentists have been using these products as a major marketing tool for cosmetic dentistry for many years now.  And now that non-dentists are starting these businesses without a dental license, the questions remain, Are these safe?

Most state dental boards are looking into the subject as teeth whitening is becoming a multimillion dollar a year business.  Similar to hair salons, nail spas, and massages, consumers are spending money regularly on their smile.

Is it good for the business?

Absolutely because if the product does work, they will continue to come back because the teeth darkening processes begins again the next time you eat or drink coffee.  A consumable product like teeth whitening gel and the awareness that dark teeth equals ugliness both make this an ideal service to promote.

Is it good for you?

Teeth whitening is not an exact science.  Though we would like to say that we can control all the problems that can occur with teeth whitening, it is impossible to do because we individuals are so different.  Making promises like “We can take off x number of shades” is ridiculous, especially if we have to sacrifice comfort and days of pain for whiter teeth.

The problems with these teeth whitening booths are that they are manned with people not from the dental industry.  They’re not used to putting their hands in other people’s mouth, not used to discussing possible side effects, and they don’t educate the patient well as a dentist or registered dental assistant.  Most of these people get paid on their sales (a commission) so some will do whatever it takes to get the customer whitening.

Welcome to capitalism… where you need to be an informed consumer and be the true  judge of what happens to you (and your teeth).

Since yellow teeth is not seen as a disease state, it will never be controlled by huge governing bodies like those for serious cancer treatments.

That being said, be careful when you go visit these teeth whitening booths.  Go see a dentist to get controlled help, to make an informed decision, and to minimize the negative effects of teeth whitening.

I see teeth whitening getting more and more popular in malls.  It is time for you to be more suspicious and do what your gut says.

I’m a San Diego dentist who has done plenty of teeth whitening procedures and knows what works well and what is safest for you.  If you want, come and visit me for an evaluation.

Former Presidential Candidate Gets New Chompers

Even “regular guy” politicians want nicer teeth.

As evidence in this article on former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee.

This goes to show that even in Arkansas, people want to look their best.

And remember if “good ‘ol boy” Mike Huckabee can do it, so can you.

Cosmetic Dentistry is natural good-looking dentistry… not the bling bling everyone thinks it is.

ADD / ADHD Treatment

Part of what I want to do with this blog is to talk more about other areas of health in addition to dentistry because we all know that there’s more to life than dental right?

Well… Rhea found this site which happens to be here in San Diego.

We have a friend who has a kid with ADD and we think this place could help.

It’s called the Drake Institute… well worth the look.

Disease Prevention Starts With Detoxification First

I was reading a post on how a guy lost all of his articles.

“I like having a small library of articles
touching on how “only the body heals itself” and disease prevention
through whole food nutrition.”

I feel sorry for this guy because it has taken me many years to get my collection of information.  I think you should start doing the same.

I like how he states that “only the body heals itself” and disease prevention through whole food nutrition.

This is a great idea if you are a parent and start a child at a very early age (as we are doing with our children) but for most adults, we are already poisoned.

Take mercury fillings for instance.  My wife had a silver toxic filling placed in her mouth by yours truly while I was in dental school.  (Thanks Rhea for being my patient.  By being my patient, she helped me pass boards!)  Anyway… we soon after replaced the filling about 1 yr later with a porcelain inlay.

Well recently, Rhea has been going through this cleanse and visited a group of alternative medicine specialists in San Diego.  What she found out was that she had mercury toxicity.  And to think she only had one mercury filling in her mouth for only 2 years.  (she’s never had one before I ruined her.)

Now she has to go through a desensitization protocol so that she can eliminate the toxins.

Imagine the levels of toxicity if you had more than one of these fillings for more than 2 years?

Pretty sickening isn’t it?

Well… though this guy at the beginning of this post believes that nutrition is great for disease prevention, I think it is just as important to go through a detoxification/desensitization procedure first.

As a San Diego Dentist, I feel it is just as important to get the word out about holistic dentistry and mercury filling removal.  Nutrition is indeed important but not necessarily the first step.