I will be seeing some of the most famous faces on television over the next few weeks at my Beverly Hills practice. It’s one of the busiest months of the year for my hygienists as the stars nominated for Emmys come in for teeth cleanings, whitening procedures by their dentists and  their gums deep cleaned by me.

It’s time consuming and can be very expensive, especially if they haven’t been in to see us for awhile. You would be surprised at the number of celebrities whose job it is to smile for the cameras for photo shoots and red carpet galas put off going to the dentist. They schedule a couple of sessions with their dentist alongside their appointments with their plastic surgeons and dress fittings just weeks and sometimes days before the big night.

I will tell you a secret. Stars are no different than you or me when it comes to award winning smiles, the firmest,  pinkest gums and enviable oral health. When any of us put in the effort, the results are as satisfying and as gratifying as if you spent thousands of dollars in the dental chair– and you never have to leave the comfort of your home.

They say it takes three weeks to change a habit, and that’s about how long it will take you to see whiter teeth and healthier gums– just in time for you settle in on the couch to watch the Emmys on August 25th.

So, let’s get started!

Tips For A Healthy Smile

It all comes down to basics and you begin by checking your toothbrush. It should be a soft-bristled one. If it’s been more than a few months since you started using it, toss it and get a new one. Better yet, get a sonic brush, which cleans much better.  Brush your teeth twice daily and scrape your tongue. Be consistent.

Flossing is next. I tell my patients it’s more important than brushing, but let’s do both for the countdown to Emmys, shall we? Some people just don’t like the string kind, and most don’s use it correctly, so if you don’t have one already, invest in a water flosser. It’s easier and more effective and it even removes stains. Waterpik has excellent models for under a hundred dollars– available at your drugstore. Do this daily.

If you drink a lot of coffee and red wine, you may want to amp your regime with any of the D.I.Y. whitening strips available. But, remember, teeth whitening and brightening is not an alternative to  brushing two or three times daily and flossing at least once a day.

Voila! That’s it! You’ve got this! A few minutes a couple of times a day over the next three weeks will honor your overall oral health and give you a smile you can be proud of. I encourage you not to put the cap on the toothpaste at the end of Emmy night, but let it flow like free champagne all the way up to the Academy Awards in 2015 and beyond! Doing so will ensure you are an “A” lister at your next dental check-up.

In great health,
Dr. Sanda

To get your smile shining as bright as the stars contact Dr. Sanda Moldovan to schedule a consultation.

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“I am a periodontist”, I say to someone I had just met at a social event. Most people don’t know what a periodontist is, or does, but the older you get, the more likely you will know what a periodontist is.

Why, you may ask? Because the risk of getting a periodontal problem increases with age, whether it is gum inflammation, loose teeth, a missing tooth that requires an implant, gum recession or God-forbid, a gum lesion or growth.

“Perio-dontics” means simply dealing with “around the teeth”. At least, that’s how the profession started. But as it evolved and dental implants became the standard of care to replace a missing tooth, most periodontists are also placing implants. During my residency, which was 3 years long following dental school, I had the opportunity to train with a world-renouned implant periodontist at UCLA, Dr. Sascha Jovanovic. I learned to perform advanced implant techniques, and bone grafting methods for patients who have lost a lot of bone and wanted implants.

Today, 70% of my practice consists of implant therapy and related services, such as bone and tissue regeneration. I work with restorative specialists to rehabilitate an entire mouth in one day, in both LA and NY.

But every periodontal program is different, so there will be many different periodontists. Some don’t do implants at all, with the main focus being on periodontal or “gum” disease. Some periodontists, like myself, specialize in minimally invasive procedures, while others follow a more traditional route. Some periodontists don’t do any gum recession treatment. Most periodontists are knowledgeable about nutrition and how it relates to oral inflammation. I work with my patients to ensure that they achieve optimum healing after their dental reconstructive surgery.

So, do you need to see a periodontist? If you have a concern about your oral health other than cavities, you can find a periodontist in your area at perio.org.

How do you choose the right periodontist for you? Look into what their philosophy is, how they treat certain conditions either by meeting with them one-on-one or checking out their website.

Most importantly, we are working in an intimate space, the mouth, so be sure you feel comfortable with the periodontist you choose.

In great health,
Dr. Sanda

Schedule a consultation to see if Dr. Sanda Moldovan is the right periodontist for you.

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