MEET DR. ARTHUR GLOSMAN: BEVERLY HILLS COSMETIC DENTIST
A certain elitist image comes to mind when you think of “Beverly Hills,” but cosmetic dentist Dr. Arthur Glosman wants to change that. A beautiful smile and healthy teeth should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic backgrounds, he believes. Dr. Glosman stresses that healthy teeth and gums not only give you a gorgeous Hollywood smile, but also are beneficial to your health, including the prevention of heart disease, diabetes, oral cancer, and stroke. A graduate of the University of Southern California’s dentistry school, he narrowed his area of specialty to porcelain veneers, metal-free bridges and crowns, and “Smile Makeovers” through his studies at Las Vegas Institute of Advanced Dental Studies.
What can our readers do at home to keep their teeth strong and white? Are there any special foods to eat?
Keeping teeth strong and pearly white is very easy if you eat right and have the right tools to brush, floss, and rinse at least two times a day. I always recommend a healthy diet and to eat carrots, cauliflower, apples, nuts, and cheese to keep teeth clean and strong. Crunchy foods like these help physically remove plaque but also have nutrients your teeth need to stay healthy.
For cleaning, I recommend electric sonic toothbrushes, but if that’s not in your budget, get a toothbrush with medium bristles unless you have extra sensitive gums. Be sure to brush all the way in the back and floss in the hard to reach places as best you can. Whitening toothpastes are great for daily maintenance, but for extra whitening, at-home whitening kits or pens sold at the grocery store are affordable and effective.
What is the difference between professional teeth bleaching at a dentist’s office and at-home bleaching strips, which seem to work quite well?
If a quicker or brighter white is desired, professional in-office teeth bleaching with higher concentrations of whitening active ingredients rather than at-home kits is the way to go. In-office treatments may or may not have a light source to accelerate the process. Either way, instead of a gradual process over 2 weeks, an in-office treatment can have your teeth pearly white in about an hour. Additionally, when done in-office, a fluoride solution can be applied to help reduce tooth sensitivity. Also, in-office treatments open the enamel pores on teeth, not only making the teeth potentially sensitive, but also easily stained. So only ingest clear liquids and foods for 24 hours after treatment and avoid acidic drinks and foods for a few days.
Is capping teeth still a popular solution to correcting a smile. Why or why not?
Capping teeth, or placing an all-ceramic crown restoration, is still a popular and necessary solution to correcting a smile in many cases. A crown can correct the position, shape, color, as well as the bite. It provides full coverage protection for the tooth and increases its longevity in the mouth. Veneers are the alternative and can be a better solution because they involve a more conservative restoration.
Can dental procedures improve one’s facial appearance? Tell us about the Glosman Dentalift™ and Liplift™.
Dental procedures such my Glosman DentaLift™ and LipLift™ can improve the facial appearance by enhancing and correcting certain features due to teeth being worn down over time. For example, the LipLift, is the use of veneers or crowns on a person’s upper teeth to help support the upper lip and give it the appearance of being fuller by angling the restorations forward toward the lips. It also can help make cheeks that have lost volume look fuller by angling the restorations more toward the cheek area.
The Glosman DentaLift helps restore a collapsed bite that has been worn down by grinding over time. When a bite is collapsed due to wearing down of the teeth, wrinkles, and fine lines develop at the corners of the mouth. By restoring the length of the teeth, we can help reduce the fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth as well as the eyes, the face is elongated and wrinkles are reduced for a more youthful and healthier appearance.
Is symmetry always a goal in correcting someone’s smile? Nothing is perfect in this world—does that go for smiles?
I strive for symmetry in my work, but I add natural characteristics to each tooth to give it natural beauty so as to avoid looking artificial. Listening to the wants and needs of the patient is instrumental so I can provide them with the end-result they want and at the same time making it look like it was the smile they were born with.
What three questions should a patient always ask his or her cosmetic dentist?
Three questions a patient should always ask are: 1) How long have you been practicing cosmetic dentistry? 2) May I see photo examples of your work? 3) Check online and read reviews by other patients. Research and due diligence will always get you the best result.
MEET DR. SHERRI WORTH: NEWPORT BEACH COSMETIC DENTIST
Our smiles are the first things people notice, and cosmetic dentist, Dr. Sherri Worth knows how to make sure yours makes a good impression. Based in Newport Beach, California, Dr. Worth specializes in porcelain veneers, crowns and bridges, implants, and reconstructive dentistry in her state-of-the-art dental facility, fusing the latest in technology and equipment. Celebs have discovered Dr. Worth, but she believes that everyone should have beautiful Hollywood smile.
Tell us a little about your history and why you chose dentistry?
I was always handicapped by my bad teeth as a child. In fact, many women are born with teeth missing, as I was, and it obviously affects your self-esteem as a child and teenager. It was the first thing people noticed and it inspired me to study dentistry. There I learned that cosmetic dentistry isn’t just about vanity, it is also about your overall health as well. My experience motivated me to create attractive and perfect smiles—I just love when my patients leave my office excited about their beautiful new teeth. I even did my own veneers because I wanted them to be perfect and knew only I could do them just right.
As a woman, did you experience difficulty as you worked your way up the professional ladder?
In some ways, yes, because it is a bit of a Men’s Club with dentists and doctors, but I believe I used it to my advantage because it made me different. Not being an older male dentist helped people to relate to me, and I’ve tried to use it less as a handicap and more as a positive asset in my field as a family and cosmetic dentist.
What are your tips for maintaining healthy gums and teeth?
One important note is that, although it might seem logical to brush after each and every meal, this is not necessary. The length of time spent brushing or flossing is just as important as frequency is. If a period of five to ten minutes would be allocated daily to brushing and flossing, one such session would just be enough. As most people do not spend that much time cleaning their teeth, the best it is to brush and floss two times a day—the session before going to bed being the most important of all. Sleeping with food debris trapped in-between teeth turns the the mouth into a playground for bacteria to thrive and multiply.
Flossing is something else that many people seem to get perplexed about. It is not enough to place the dental floss into the space between two teeth and then just pull it through. Dental floss should be placed against the side of each tooth and it should be then slid from the top edge down under the gum line, otherwise bits of plaque will be missed.
One final quick note regards checkups and cleaning visits to the dentist; this should happen at least every half a year in the case of healthy people. If you have gum disease for example, the situation changes, especially if potentially gum aggravating factors are present. The best you can do is to ask your dentist (the person who knows your teeth best) for the ideal time of your next visit.
Are porcelain veneers permanent? How long do they last and what should a patient expect to pay?
Permanent veneers can last from 10–20 years. After that time, it is usally good to have them redone. Veneers can cost anywhere from $1,500 per tooth onward, but that is a good starting point when interviewing cosmetic dentists.
How has cosmetic dentistry changed in the last 10 years?
Wow – by leaps and bounds! From implants and veneers to the tools that help make the experience less painful and more efficient, things have changed tremendously. The materials used to make veneers have become so much stronger as well. The techniques also have come a huge way, meaning that we have a much more conservative preparation of teeth, of how to restore them, and how to save them. Periodontal disease, which includes gum diseases like gingivitis, and hygiene issues have become so much more predominant, so cosmetic dentistry isn’t just vanity-related anymore; it really helps us keep our teeth much longer, and people are taking notice of that and understanding it now.
MEET DR. TIMOTHY CHASE – SMILESNY CO-FOUNDER
For more than 17 years, New York City dentist Dr. Timothy Chase has been practicing cosmetic and restorative dentistry with an emphasis on natural tooth preservation and oral health. After earning his Doctor of Dental Medicine from Boston University, he completed a general practice residency at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and is himself a dedicated educator, having held faculty positions at New York University Dental School and Spear Advanced Dental Education Center in Scottsdale, Arizona. Dr. Chase remains on the forefront of advances in restorative and cosmetic dentistry and is also a prominent figure in the media – his expert advice has been featured in numerous fashion and beauty publications. Dr. Chase is co-founder of FishmanRothChase & Associates and SmilesNY.
Tell us a little bit about your history and how you chose to practice dentistry
My father is the oldest of 5 boys and 2 of his younger brothers were dentists. One of them had a home office that I would visit a lot and I found all of the equipment to be very cool. As a kid I loved working with my hands, building models, fixing electronics, and woodworking projects, so dentistry fit right in. Add to that my love for science and my career path was set.
What specific procedures are most requested by your patients?
My practice is located on the upper east side of Manhattan, a few feet from Bloomingdale’s. So as you could imagine most of the requests are for beautiful, whiter, straighter, younger-looking smiles that must look natural. These goals can be achieved using Invisalign, tooth whitening, gum lifts, and of course porcelain veneers or a combination of any or all of them.
How have you seen cosmetic dentistry evolve during your career?
I’ve been practicing for just about 20 years and many exciting things have happened in that time, the most important being that now more than ever people are interested in the beauty of their smile. Whitening played a big part of that – it’s a billion dollar industry – but it also led to increased interest in taking good care of your teeth from a health standpoint, which is the most important thing. Pretty teeth are only as good as the healthy gums and bone they are built on.
Just to name a few things that have changed the way we practice: metal-free crowns; better and stronger, more lifelike porcelain; dental super glue that allows us to bond veneers almost anywhere and conserve the natural tooth; and dental implants that have made tooth replacement predictable and easy – hardly anyone has to wear a denture anymore. Again, the best thing that has happened is that people are now much more interested in taking care of their teeth than they were 20 years ago.
What are the most harmful things people do to their teeth and smiles?
The big 3: diet, homecare, and habits.
- Diet—too much sugar, sticky foods, foods that stain, and acidic foods all damage teeth, and smoking is a tooth killer.
- Homecare—failing to properly clean your teeth by brushing, flossing, and visiting your dentist regularly
- Habits—biting your nails, chewing on pens, over aggressive brushing, clenching, and grinding teeth all cause problems
What tips do you have for achieving and maintaining a beautiful, healthy smile?
- Use a non-alcohol mouthwash; the alcohol tends to dry the mouth out.
- Floss at least once a day; it cleans out food particles and bacteria and it brings oxygen under the gums to help reduce mouth odor.
- For a quick, at home “Power Bleach,” use traditional at home whitening gel, but change the solution every 10 minutes instead of leaving it in for the full half hour. This is because the gel gets weaker over time. Switching solutions insures that the gel is fresh and stronger the entire time. It leads to better, quicker results.
- Instead of using toothpaste with a whitening product in it, opt for the regular toothpaste instead. Whitening toothpaste only removes surface stains by using more abrasive particles and may harm your teeth and gums. It does not actually bleach the teeth.
- Drink less soda and coffee, but if you find yourself reaching for those sugary, staining drinks, make sure you brush or at least rinse out your mouth with water after.
- Bring a toothbrush to work. Brushing after lunch helps keep your breath fresh and your gums healthy. Make sure you remember to brush your tongue—reducing the bacteria on it helps to keep your breath fresh.
- In a pinch, you can chew sugar free gum; those containing xylitol have been shown in studies to reduce the bacteria that cause tooth decay.
- Certain foods help to remove bacteria that cause plaque, which hardens into a yellowish tartar if not brushed away soon enough. Crunchy fruits and vegetables (apples, cauliflower carrots, celery, etc.) work best because they function as an abrasive scrub for your teeth. They also stimulate the production of saliva, which helps to keep plaque from forming.
- Strawberries and oranges are both useful for polishing teeth. Rubbing an orange peel or a strawberry over your teeth, following by washing out your mouth with water will get your noticeably whiter teeth after a few months.
- Dairy products such as yogurt, milk, and cheese contain a lactic acid, which may help protect teeth against decay. Hard cheeses are best for whitening since they help remove food particles as well.
- It’s important to avoid stain-causing foods and substances as much as possible. A simple rule is any food that causes a stubborn laundry stain can stain teeth too. Brushing teeth or at least rinsing one’s mouth with water after consuming these foods is a great way to help prevent staining. Foods to avoid include coffee, tea, blueberries, red wine, soy sauce, and soda, as well as tobacco.
What exciting new advances in cosmetic and restorative dentistry can you tell us about?
Three leading advances in dental technology that are enhancing the way dentists treat their patients and aiding in early detection of dental issues that could negatively impact overall health are:
- Reverse Anesthesia—the process of reversing the effects of anesthesia, which causes numbness
- Scanning teeth vs. traditional impressions (“goop”)
- Laser cavity detection—spotting cavities before they come to fruition
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