Brookside Dental’s Blog

Cosmetic Dentistry may be able to Help You at Work and in Your Personal Life

BEAUTIFUL EXTREME MAKEOVER SMILE

Cosmetic Dentistry Creation of a Beautiful Smile Might be able to Help You

Do beautiful people make more money? Do they get the best jobs? Do they get job advancement rapidly? Do they have a more satisfying personal life? The answer to all of these things is probably YES! What is the very first thing that you notice about a person? It is their physical beauty and personal appearance that is first noticed—everything else is secondary to that. I once read that, “Beauty in a person is like rareness in a coin or stamp—it can conceal a number of minor defects”. As a Seattle Cosmetic Dentist, my goal is to give people more beautiful smiles that will allow them to compete and have success in all areas of their lives. A variety of cosmetic dentistry techniques can be used to accomplish a more beautiful smile.

Do Beautiful People Make More Money?

Good looks can have a real impact on a worker’s bank accounts according to research published in the Journal of Labor Economics. Attractive people earn about 5 percent more in hourly pay than their average-looking coworkers and 14 percent more per hour the plain-looking workers. Additionally, plain-looking workers may also receive fewer promotions than those given to their better-looking contemporaries. These handsome men and beautiful women are not always the smartest or sharpest business-minded people. They simply are genetically blessed with attractive appearances and they know how to accent their looks. Most people, even with good looks, must display themselves attractively also.

Do Good-looking People get the Better Jobs?

If attractive people earn more in hourly pay than both their average-looking coworkers and their plain-looking coworkers, then the obvious corollary to that statement would be that they in fact do get better jobs. In many cases, they probably do get the best jobs available—at least the best ones that their supervisors don’t already have.

Do Attractive People Get Job Advancement More Rapidly?

Actually, according to the study in the Journal of Labor Economics, plain-looking workers receive fewer promotions than the number of promotions given to their better-looking contemporaries. These are not always the smartest or sharpest business-minded people. They simply are genetically blessed with attractive appearances and they know how to accent their looks. However, there are few genetically blessed women and men that could wear a burlap bag and dirty shorts to work and still be promoted if they are able to combine their goods looks with intelligence and a good personality.

Are Good-looking People More Talented?

Good-looking people may or may not be more talented than ordinary looking people, but if talent and ability are equal, the better appearing people probably will out perform the ordinary looking people. It remains uncertain, as to whether or not the most handsome people actually translate these good looks into better or more production. What does appear true is the perception of how well these attractive people perform their jobs. According to a University of Texas research study, students consistently gave the best-looking professors higher evaluations as teachers than the evaluations given to less attractive instructors and teachers.

If good looks can get you through the front door for an interview, they may not necessarily get you a lot farther. To proceed up the ladder of success, an attractive person also must be intelligent, competent, and have good interpersonal skills. Looks alone may help you get dates and therefore make your personal life more enjoyable. A person can be breathtakingly beautiful, but destroy the illusion very quickly if they seem superior, conceited, or are just an all around “jerk”. Generally speaking, discrimination based on looks is not treated the same as discrimination based on religion, ethnicity, disability, or age. In most jurisdictions, it is not illegal to discriminate against a person based on their “looks”.

Cosmetic Dentistry can Help You to Become a More Beautiful Person!

To make sure that you take advantage of your looks, there are several things that you can do. In addition to eating properly, resting, and exercising, specific areas of your face can be targeted for a makeover. According to “New Beauty” Magazine, you can make yourself more beautiful by alterations of a number of areas of your face—your eyes, your nose, your chin, and your teeth. There are a number of surgical and noninvasive options that can be used to create or restore a more youthful and attractive appearance.

Cosmetic Dentists Create Beautiful Smiles!

Seattle Cosmetic Dentists can do an Extreme Makeover that can alter your bite, gums, and teeth to improve the overall look and beauty of your smile. The changes that they make also can help maintain healthy teeth and gums for life. The Seattle Cosmetic Dentist may use dental bonding or tooth colored fillings to restore the shape, size and appearance of your teeth. An Extreme Makeover can be accomplished with either porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns. Cosmetic tooth movement can be done on some teeth that are crooked or twisted. Gum surgery can be done with a laser to sculpt a more attractive interface between teeth and gums, which can give a more natural and beautiful look to your smile. Stained or darkened teeth can often be restored to beauty with simple tooth whitening. These options and combinations of options can be used to accomplish a full-mouth reconstruction of your smile or minor alterations of some individual teeth, depending upon the level of change that you choose to have done.

Cynthia Pauley DDS and Patricia Pauley DDS are family and cosmetic dentists in Bellevue, WA, and are the winners of numerous awards for their community contributions and their dental work. As always, this information is not in any way meant to replace a visit and examination by your own dentist. However, if you do not currently have a dentist, you may contact Bellevue Cosmetic Dentists, Dr Patricia Pauley or Dr Cynthia Pauley, to set up a dental exam. Both cosmetic doctors can be contacted at info@brooksidedental.com in Bellevue, WA, and additional information may be viewed at their Bellevue Cosmetic Dentistry website.

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BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU “A+” RATING FOR BROOKSIDE DENTAL COSMETIC DENTISTS

Brookside Dental was named the Better Business Bureau 2005 Small Business of the Year Award winner and the BBB 2004 Small Business Community Service Award winner.

Beth, Mikiko and Roz at 2005 BBB Business of the Year Award Cerimony

We have some exciting news to share with you. The BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU of Western Washington and Oregon has just implemented a new rating system, which gives an individual business a letter grade ranging between A and F with associated pluses and minuses. Drs Patricia Pauley DDS, Cynthia Pauley DDS, and Brian Cave DDS have all received the highest “A+” rating under this new system of the Better Business Bureau. The letter rating is actually awarded to the individual dental businesses of these dentists. Brookside Dental, Bellevue, WA, has received an “A+” Rating, which is the highest rating available in the new Better Business Bureau grading system. Dr Cynthia Pauley and Dr Patricia Pauley are Family and Cosmetic Dentists at Brookside Dental. Complete information and the BBB Reliability Report regarding the Brookside Dental Better Business Bureau “A+” review is available online. Dayton Dental, Edmonds, WA, also received the highest BBB Rating of “A+” , where Dr Brian Cave (Dr Cindy Pauley’s husband) is located as a Family and Cosmetic Dentist. Information and the Reliability Report including business history related to the Dayton Dental Better Business Bureau “A+” review also is available online.

This new Better Business Bureau letter rating system has been set up to help consumers identify more reliable businesses. The BBB ratings are objective, based on a computer generated formula, and are evaluated on 16 different factors. The letter rating system is based on standards that were developed using objective information and actual incidences of each rated business’ behavior. For consumers, BBB Accreditation remains the most reliable way for them to identify trustworthy businesses. The BBB issues Reliability Reports on all businesses, whether or not they are a BBB Accredited business. However, if a business does have BBB Accreditation, it will be noted in the Reliability Report. This report is a summary of each individual company’s BBB file, which includes the company history along with any consumer issues and government actions. Accredited businesses may display the BBB Accreditation Seal on their websites only if they have met the BBB accreditation standards. Both Brookside Dental, Bellevue, WA, and Dayton Dental, Edmonds, WA, are Accredited BBB members in good standing and both family and cosmetic dental offices proudly display the BBB Accreditation Seal on their websites.

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AN ENEMY OF BEAUTIFUL SMILES

People with beautiful smiles usually have healthy and attractive looking gums. The fact that a person would like to have an attractive smile seems to imply that they would want to have healthy looking gums also. However, periodontal disease can seriously damage an otherwise nice smile. Periodontal Disease, or gum disease, is an infection of the support tissues of the teeth. Many adults develop periodontal disease. This is a progressive disease that in its earliest stages may only be noticeable to a trained professional, dentist or hygienist. However, if not treated, this disease in its advanced stages can cause tooth loss as well as being a contributing factor to other serious diseases, including heart disease. By maintaining your gums and the support tissues around the teeth in good health, you should be able to keep your smile for an entire lifetime.

The Cause of Periodontal Disease

There is a film that develops over the surface of your teeth, which is called plaque and is primarily a layer of bacteria. These bacteria are capable of producing enzymes that irritate the support tissues of the teeth. Ultimately, these enzymes can damage the gum tissue, the periodontal ligament, and the bone to your teeth. If not removed on a regular basis, the plaque can harden into tartar (calculus), which is much more difficult to remove than plaque. Teeth that are not properly cleaned will have plaque and/or tartar build up along the gum line.

Factors Associated with Periodontal Disease

Some factors can increase the risk of developing periodontal disease and in turn, periodontal disease has been associated with the increased risk of other diseases. People at risk for periodontal disease are:

· Smokers or tobacco users
· Some systemic diseases
· Medications, such as steroids and salivary flow inhibitors
· Oral contraceptives and hormones
· Crooked teeth
· Dental bridges that do not fit properly

Symptoms of Periodontal Disease

It is possible to have periodontal disease without any noticeable signs or discomfort, such as the commonly occurring bleeding gums or tender swollen gums. However, there are several signs that most likely mean that you have some type of periodontal problem. You should see a dentist immediately if you have any of the following conditions:

· Gums that bleed easily
· Red, swollen or tender gums
· Gums that have pulled away from teeth
· Gums that appear to be short and leave the teeth roots exposed
· Pus that can be expressed upon pressure to the gums
· Bad breath that persists
· Bad taste in the mouth that persists
· Adult teeth that are either loose, move or are separating from each other
· Changes in the way you bite

Preventing Periodontal Disease

Always be sure to see your dentist on a regular basis, every 6 months is recommended, but at least on an annual basis. Your dentist will check for the telltale signs of periodontal disease. During your periodontal exam, the depth of the sulcus, the shallow crevice between your teeth and gums, is checked. A healthy sulcus should be 3 mm or less in depth. In tooth is checked, front and back, because the depth of the sulcus can vary from tooth to tooth, because some areas are more difficult to clean than others. For example, your back teeth are more difficult to keep clean than the front teeth. Prevention of periodontal disease consists of three major items:

· Regular visits and checkups with your dentist
· Professional cleaning of your teeth to remove plaque and tartar
· Regular brushing of your teeth – twice daily is recommended
· Cleaning between your teeth, known as flossing, once a day

Treating Periodontal Disease

Treatment of periodontal disease depends upon the stage of the disease and its progression. In the early stages, the disease is very treatable and even reversible. The dentist or dental hygienist can usually clean your teeth to remove any plaque that has accumulated—the teeth should be fairly normal after this process and with regular maintenance. More advanced disease may require scaling and root planing of the teeth to remove the plaque and the more difficult to remove tartar. This process is often referred to as PSRP (periodontal scaling and root planning). Medications may also be recommended to make sure the level of bacteria do not build up in your mouth. Antibiotics are also applied directly to treated gums to help kill bacteria that cause the disease. Today, lasers are used in modern periodontal therapy to gently and quickly kill bacteria and remove scar tissue from periodontal pockets, and the affected area is sealed as the laser passes through. Most patients undergo laser treatment without any anesthesia at all. The laser also promotes the reattachment of the gum tissue to teeth. In very severe cases where the gums have receded and the roots of the teeth are exposed, grafts from the roof of your mouth will have to be sutured into place to become new gums—this process is usually done be a specialist called a periodontist. Gum grafting can be avoided if the prevention methods listed above are used on a regular basis.

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INTRAORAL CAMERA IS A POWERFUL BELLEVUE COSMETIC DENTISTRY TOOL

Intraoral cameras are tiny digital cameras that fit comfortably in your mouth and enable the dentist to show the patient an enlarged image of an individual tooth or an entire smile on a computer screen. The camera is located in the tip of the intraoral wand and transmits real-time video for the patient and dentist to review. The wand is covered with a disposable plastic sheath, similar to an electronic thermometer, to keep the procedure sterile and comfortable.

The intraoral camera is a powerful tool for the dentist. However, not much is written about it, especially as it pertains to Cosmetic Dentistry. It is often difficult to get a clear picture of your oral health. Who can really see into their own mouths properly? Even with special lights and mirrors, a dentist may only get a shadowed view of the details of a person’s teeth. However, with the touch of a tiny, pen shaped instrument, both the patient and the dentist see an enlargement of every detail in the mouth without effort, pain or X-rays as it appears on a computer monitor screen. The technology of intraoral cameras is one of the most important and useful tools to incorporate into the dental office. These cameras originally where stand-alone pieces of equipment that required their own software with cumbersome bridge links to any dental office management software. The help manuals at that time, which you needed frequently, were written for computer programers, not for dentists and dental office personnel. However, the major dental office management software packages on the market today all have the intraoral camera option incorporated into their software, which makes them very easy to use and relatively trouble free. We have found them to be a really important adjunct for our Cosmetic Dentistry. Patients can easily visualize what you are recommending be done to change their smiles with the various Cosmetic Dental procedures, as you show them on the monitor screen.

Not only does this allow observation of what is really happening inside the mouth, but it also allows the documentation of anything that is seen. Any photos are uploaded to a computer. Information can then be printed out to provide a hard copy picture for your records or for procedure verification by your insurance company. Also, these photos can be retrieved at subsequent patient visits and used to compare the current state of their oral health to that which existed previously.

During diagnosis, the intraoral camera helps with clearly defined images that show details that may be missed by standard mirror examinations. It can also be an educational tool, allowing views of the inside of a mouth to confront problems or review procedures as they progress. Seeing your dental condition big and close up for the first time can be surprising. You may never have realized the true condition of your teeth. This camera is an important aspect of patients’ dental care. Intraoral technology can help the patient and the dentist uncover problems before they become serious. This is a crucial part of conservative and preventative dental treatment. This saves money, and it may save teeth! For example, it is easy to see cracks in old amalgam fillings which are not visible with xrays. More importantly, it allows the patient to view this and other types of problems in detail and immediately realize that the condition needs to be corrected before it becomes worse. The intraoral camera can be very useful in detailing what needs to be done to alter, change or enhance your smile using various procedures in Cosmetic Dentistry.

It can also show the level of personal oral care that a patient has used. With the intraoral camera, any areas that may have been missed during brushing or flossing are much easier to see than with a mirror and the naked eye. When conditions such as periodontal problems are caught in their earliest stages, less invasive corrective treatment is possible. It easily and accurately allows the doctor to monitor and enhance what cannot be seen with the naked eye.

In our office, at Brookside Dental, we do a complete examination on all new patients using the intraoral camera. We take a complete series of photos of all teeth and store them in the computer for future reference. These are done in addition to the standard xrays. We do not charge the patients for these intraoral camera photos. They are invaluable as a supplement to any patient treatment plan, because the patient can understand them completely. We have been keeping intraoral camera photo records of our patients for about 7-8 years. It is an impartial assistant at the side of the dentist. We feel it is one of the reasons that we are able to give excellent service to our patients at Brookside Dental.

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