health rESOUrCES

COMPREHENSIVE DENtIStRy

Ashly R. CotheRn, DDs, PA www.drcothern.com

Dr. Cothern is one of a small distinguished percentage of dentists who have invested in postgraduate training at one of the world’s premiere continuing education institutes, The Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education. We care about you as a unique individual and examine you in a way that together we can understand every aspect of your oral health. In our office we love what we do. NOW THAT IS SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT!

9669 N.Central Expwy., Ste. 220 Dallas, TX 75231

214.696.9966

OPtOMEtRISt

People

Ricky Zorn played quarterback for the Wildcats, but when he hit the hallowed halls of Harvard, the powers-that-be moved him to wide receiver and he went about learning his new position. After their annual inter-squad scrimmage Saturday, coaches’ tongues are wagging and the school newspaper is singing Ricky’s praises. “Ricky Zorn has probably come farther than any other kid at his position,” Harvard coach Tim Murphy said. “He came in here as a quarterback, and now he is potentially going to be a very athletic, tough, fast, decentsized receiver.”

Volunteer

The Victory Meadow Learning Center needs volunteers to work as adult classroom teachers during summer session June 4-28 at the Lake Highlands or West Dallas campuses. The program teaches English to non-English speaking adults 9-11 a.m. Monday-Thursday. Classes are co-taught, and no experience is needed. Volunteers must be older than 18. Contact Liz Harling at 214.265.5057 ext. 102 or volunteer@ vmlc.org.

haVe an ITeM TO Be FeaTureD?

Please submit news items and/or photos concerning neighborhood residents, activities, honors and volunteer opportunities to editor@advocatemag.com. Our deadline is the first of the month prior to the month of publication.

COSMEtIC aND faMIly DENtIStRy

DenA t. Robinson, DDs, FAGD www.drdenarobinson.com

Four Steps to a Terrific Dental Experience

1. Call and ask us about sedation dentistry options

2. Come to your appointment in our comfortable office setting

3. Take a nap

4. Awake to a beautiful, healthy smile

Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry 8940 Garland Rd., Ste. 200, Dallas, TX 75218 214.321.6441

DR. Clint MeyeR www.dallaseyeworks.com

LASIK. The freedom from glasses and contact lenses. No allergy eyes and contacts. No restrictions on what type of sun glasses that you want. Sharp, clear vision when you wake up in the morning.

At Dallas Eyeworks Dr. Meyer works with the top LASIK offices in the metroplex.

Call today for your FrEE screening and experience clear, natural vision. You deserve it.

Dallas eyeworks

9225 Garland Rd., Ste. 2120, Dallas, TX 75218 214.660.9830

214.560.4203

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Making the Most of Your Smile

Everybody wants healthy teeth, but we often think of “health” and “beauty” as two different categories. Many people might be surprised to learn that the latest research in dentistry indicates health and beauty are more closely linked than they seem at first glance. Dr. Patty Simon of Lakewood Orthodontics explains it this way: “When things are placed in their proper position for optimal health and function, the side effect is a prettier smile.”

Most patients understand how a filling stops decay and the spread of bacteria, but cosmetic procedures that improve the tooth shape or bite alignment can also improve health.

“For so long, cosmetic dentistry has simply been about aesthetics, or enhancing beauty,” says Dr. Ashly Cothern, DDS. “But we now know there’s a direct link between our oral cavity and the rest of our system. Bacteria that we harbor in our mouth can be easily transmitted to the rest of our body. Often when we are enhancing a smile – meaning getting rid of decay or discoloration, or crooked teeth – it’s not simply a cosmetic issue.”

Cosmetic dental procedures range from noninvasive, such as teeth whitening, to structural changes that can involve reshaping the tooth or even the gums and jaw. Don’t hesitate to bring up your concerns and questions with your dentist, who will tailor treatment to your specific needs.

Dr. Kelli Slate of Lakewood says she explores the most con- servative approach with patients first. “I always try to conserve tooth structure and do the less invasive procedure, if it can be done at all,” she says. “I recommend simple things like whitening and contouring of the teeth.” Contouring, Dr. Slate explains, means smoothing the teeth, the smile line and the edges of the teeth to make them look better. “Just removing a little bit of tooth structure can make a huge difference for some people’s smile, and it’s very easy,” she says.

If a patient’s teeth cannot be successfully whitened, the dentist might recommend a veneer, which is an ultra-thin application of porcelain or composite bonding. In some cases, veneers can be applied directly to teeth, but depending on the individual case, it may be necessary to remove part of the tooth’s enamel to achieve the best results.

Many cosmetic procedures can be done in your dentist’s office, but some work may require a specialist.

Dr. Greg Greenberg, an orthodontist who practices in Lake Highlands and Frisco, says, “A patient might show up at their dentist and want cosmetic veneers on their front teeth — they’re discolored, or they’re crooked, or they’re chipped — they want to get that Hollywood smile today. But the dentist may feel they could do a lot better job if the teeth were straighter. With a multidisciplinary approach, we can achieve the most ideal result for patients, rather than doing just a little bit of one thing, and getting a mediocre result.”

Adults who remember the orthodontics of their youth may hesitate at the idea of another round of teeth straightening. “The big drawback in the old days for adults seeking that kind of treatment was the appearance of the metal braces,” Dr. Greenberg says. Fortunately, new products have brought about changes in technology that have removed the main drawback of braces. In other words, the metal is gone.

Because of this innovation, many of Dr. Greenberg’s new patients today are adults. “Today we can do Invisalign, which is the clear aligners that are removable. Invisalign can facilitate preparing the teeth and the mouth for cosmetic work. It does a very, very nice job of that. Invisalign has been a re- ally big door opener for people getting more optimal treatment which looks better, and lasts longer.”

Even when a patient needs more correction than can be achieved by Invisalign, there is no need to fear a return to the old-fashioned metal mouth. “For those cases, we have clear or ceramic brackets,” Dr. Greenberg says.

Of course, adults aren’t the only patients benefiting from improvements to teethstraightening technology. Appearances matter to teens at least as much as they do to adults, but today’s teens can get all the advantages of braces without suffering from the stigma of feeling conspicuous while wearing them. Furthermore, teens and tweens have the opportunity to correct some problems before they develop.

“Orthodontists are in the best position to alter growth direction,” says Dr. Patty Simon of Lakewood. “Kids may have a mouth breathing habit, or enlarged tonsils. These conditions can create changes in their growth, and that can lead to a bite that’s off.” Dr. Simon says that orthodontists are specially trained to recognize these problems, and the advantage is clear. “We can change the growing skeleton if we get them in early enough,” she says.

Depending on your individual needs, additional consultations your dentist may recommend might a consultation with a periodontist for changes to gums, or a prosthodontist for tooth replacement or structural addition. Whatever your cosmetic issue may be, talk to your dentist to learn about your options and the latest technologies.

Of course, in addition to health benefits and functional benefits, a smile makeover can provide a psychological boost as well. The look of your smile can dramatically boost your confidence level. People who are self-conscious and afraid to smile sometimes don’t realize how their fear affects social interaction. Cosmetic dentistry can help give you a beautiful smile you can be proud of.

“Abeautiful smile can open new doors, possibilities and opportunities—especially for people seeking new careers or jobs in today’s job environment,” says Dr. Baha Duraini of Preston Modern Dentistry. “A beautiful smile will give that person an edge over the competition, and, even more so,an infectious positive outlook in these challenging times. I love what I do knowing that I can change a patient’s life for the better.”