Archive for cosmetic dentistry

Benefits of a Dental Face Lift ®

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Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

5 Reasons for Face Lift Dentistry ®

renetta Benefits of a Dental Face Lift <sup>®</sup>

The Benefits of Face Lift Dentistry ®

Health

Some patients really appreciate the improvement in health.  They had gum disease, missing teeth, bad fillings, bad porcelain crowns and bridges plus bad porcelain veneers.  All of the bad dentistry and bad bite were treated simultaneously while creating the ultimate face for the patient.  Other patients have had the stress level of their face and jaws reduced with the best position for their jaw joint being established scientifically rather than randomly. (Read more about Cosmetic Face Lift Dentistry)

Speech

Many patients do not speak clearly because their teeth are worn down or they have a bad over bite or under bite.  The shapes, sizes and angles of teeth combined with the bite play a huge role in the ability of the patient to speak clearly.  (Read about Renetta’s Face Lift Dentistry)

Appearance

The improvement in appearance of my patients has been surprisingly pleasant.  Most patients and doctors do not realize that the teeth and bite determine the shape of a patient’s face.  The teeth can actually support the face, cheeks, and lips and actually lengthen the face which smooths out facial lines without surgery. When a patient gets the best possible teeth and bite, the face is completely revitalized.  These patients had never experienced how much of a positive impact Face Lift Dentistry ® can have on their lives.     (See how Face Lift Dentistry can change your looks )

Tooth Protection

Non-invasive porcelain veneer technology developed by Dr. Sam Muslin has given him the ability to completely rebuild a patient’s bite, without grinding down their natural teeth.  It is like having a new layer over the top of the patient’s worn down teeth.  This new layer reduces tooth sensitivity, does not decay, does not stain as easily as natural tooth structure, is incredibly strong and the teeth are permanently whiter.  The patient’s natural teeth are protected but the big benefit is the naturally healthy and professional appearance.    (Read more about Tooth Protection)

Self Esteem

If you would like to feel better about yourself for many years to come than Face Lift Dentistry ® is for you.  It removes 10 years from the patient’s faces in most cases by balancing the size of the lower face to the upper face without surgery, botox or soft tissue fillers.  It completely changes every expression during speech, laughter, smiling and most importantly, when at rest.  The relief from jaw pain can make everyday just a little bit better.

Categories : Facelift Dentistry
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Your Health and Face Lift Dentistry ®

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Wednesday, September 15th, 2010

Preventing TMJ Problems

We are living longer and need to take better care of ourselves. If our teeth are going to last to one hundred years of age, preventing TMJ problems by optimizing the function of the bite with the TMJ (jaw joint) has prevented future problems. It has been my experience that after treating patients with Face Lift Dentistry for over 26 years, every patient has had fewer TMJ problems and additionally has experienced life-changing benefits of a renewed self-esteem.

dennis Your Health and Face Lift Dentistry <sup>®</sup>

Dealing With TMJ Problems

TMJ Problems

Many patients have TMJ problems such as heavy tooth wear from grinding or clenching, clicking or popping jaw joints, headaches, neck pain or back pain and facial pain due to a bad bite. Some patients have jaw joint problems and are not aware that they have lost over a third of their tooth structure from grinding! As patients age, the teeth loose enamel and the bite deepens. (Read more about Tooth Grinding or Bruxism)

What is a Bad Bite?

Bad bite is term describing the functional harmony between the teeth and the TMJ or jaw joint. When there is little to no harmony, the TMJ and surrounding muscles must work much harder and compromise normal function. When muscles have to compromise or work harder, damaging TMJ symptoms can be from mild to extreme. (Read more about Natural Facial Optimization)

TMJ & a Bad Bite

Most patients have some form of TMJ problems and many of these patients are not aware of the destruction to the jaw joint and the teeth that is caused by a bad bite. Patients come into my office with many symptoms and TMJ pain but do not realize that the bite is off in all three dimensions. They also did not realize the incredible advantages of early treatment. (Read more about TMJ Problems)

Bad Bite Correction Changes Lives

Face Lift Dentistry ® is the creation of the best possible bite for the particular jaw dimensions and natural jaw functions of the patient. These patients have experienced comfort that exceeded their expectations. “Wow, that bite feels a lot better and I did not even know I had a problem” and others have said, “I can chew better, I feel a lot better and I look a lot younger”. One wife said, “My husband smiles more, looks 100% better, is more romantic and he feels much happier about himself, he is a new more positive husband”. Another said, “ Dr. Muslin, you have changed my life, people treat me better because I look like a new and healthy women, thank you”. Face Lift Dentistry relieves pain, improves jaw comfort and decreases the possibility of having TMJ pain in the future. When the jaw muscles function normally, the patient has more energy, less discomfort, less stress and a healthier body. (Read more about Mouth Reconstruction)

Neuromuscular Dentistry, Who Needs It?

The life expectancy of all patients is increasing. In just the last 30 years the life expectancy has increased over 20 years! Because patients are living longer, it is of particular importance that patients get the best level of dental care they can afford. Just about 80 percent of patients that I see would benefit from Face Lift Dentistry as it would reduce the stress level in the face, neck and jaws. Neuromuscular dentistry is a word coined to describe a form of positioning the lower jaw in a better position but neuromuscular dentistry alone is not enough to create the ultimate level of care, Face Lift Dentistry ®.

Categories : Facelift Dentistry
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Grey & Dull Porcelain Veneers

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Sunday, February 7th, 2010

Question:

Dr. Muslin, my family dentist convinced me that porcelain veneers were the best solution to cover my dark teeth. At first it looked OK but now my porcelain veneers look grey and dull. Do I need to have them whitened or bleached? How can this be fixed?

Answer:

Porcelain Veneers can be made with different thickness. The thickness of the porcelain veneer is the critical component in hiding the color of your teeth. The ability of the porcelain veneer to hide dark tooth color is related to the thickness of the porcelain and the bonding technique of the dentist. Sometimes the material or the technique used by the dentist causes the color to turn grey. Sometimes the dentist did not have the lab add enough opacity to hide the color. Other times the dentist did not help the lab understand how much of a color change he or she hopes to achieve. The bonding skill and the cosmetic dentistry skill of the dentist is very important in determining how color stable your porcelain veneers will be. There is a huge difference in the skills of cosmetic dentists. I realize that patients think dentists are all licensed and trained the same but the training and the ability of the cosmetic dentist varies wildly.

Sometimes if the color of the veneers turns grey you can bleach the teeth but this is not permanent. You will have to continue bleaching your teeth for the rest of your life and that may not be a good idea. You also mentioned the porcelain veneers were dull. The material used may not be real porcelain but some hybrid form of porcelain that is cheaper to make and easier for the dentist to bond. There is a large difference in the types of porcelain used for the porcelain veneers. The types of porcelains utalized, the cosmetic skills of the dentist, the technical bonding skills of the dentist and the diagnostic skills are critical to achieve results that look natural and last for many years.

Caution! The dentist you choose makes all of the difference between good and bad porcelain veneers. Ask to see one of the dentists patients, ask to talk to one of their patients but the best way is to see a lot of photographs with clear before and after images of the patients including full face views and close up views. Don’t fall for website gimmicks. Don’t fall for miss matched photos that do not allow you to compare results. Don’t fall for a slick website with bad before and after photos. Choose carefully because you will be wearing the porcelain veneers for a very long time.

Categories : Blog, Porcelain Veneers
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Shopping for Face Lift Dentistry ®

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Friday, November 27th, 2009

Question:

Dr. Sam, I shopped around for the best pricing on Face Lift Dentistry and was surprised to see the range of prices. How do I know which is the best Face Lift Dentistry?

Answer:

To shop for a Face Lift Dentist, you must exert extreme caution. Dr. Sam Muslin has trademarked Face Lift Dentistry and no other dentist has the right to use his trademark. When we scanned the web looking for dentists that were illegally using the trademark, the photos of these dentists were NOT examples of Face Lift Dentistry at all. Their photos were just cosmetic dentistry, not Face Lift Dentistry. There are very few dentists in this country that have valid photographic examples of Face Lift Dentistry that are matched and paired so actual comparisons can be made.

When we scanned the web looking for dentists that were illegally using the trademark, the photos of these dentists were NOT examples of Face Lift Dentistry at all.

Shopping for the lowest price is why so many people have bad bites, fake looking teeth and dental failures. Dr. Sam Muslin found that his fees for Face Lift Dentistry are about the same that other dentists charge for lesser levels of care. His ultra high tech dental office and years of experience give him the competitive edge. The most compassionate part of his care is his speed. Most dentists will keep you in the dental chair much longer and with more visits while they try to deliver their dental care.

Dr. Sam Muslin, a Los Angeles Cosmetic Dentist with over 30 years of experience and before and after photos that prove his results. He was awarded the Best Dentist in Los Angeles for 2009! His experience with all types of failing bites, age groups, TMJ problems, cosmetic dentistry issues, bad bite, fake looking porcelain veneers and all of the individual variables that each patient presents, allows him to treat his patients with speed and efficiency. Pain medication is rarely necessary and he has developed non-invasive technology that saves your natural tooth structure.

Go to the best dentist and save a lot of aggrivation.

Categories : Blog, Facelift Dentistry
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Lumineers vs. Custom Porcelain Veneers: Just Marketing?

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Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

Question:

Is there really a difference between Lumineers and your acclaimed custom porcelain veneers – or is it just marketing?

Answer

It is NOT just Marketing!

We keep getting patients that just had porcelain veneers done by a “coupon dentist” and got a cheap price that are extremely unhappy. They feel violated, they can’t smile, and they look unnatural and fake. These patients are angry and would rather go back to their natural teeth than keep the new veneers placed on their teeth.

See the Samantha Lumineers video at www.hightechdentist.com for a live testimonial about her experience with lumineers.

After practicing dentistry for over 30 years and having 25 years of porcelain veneer experience, I have developed a keen understanding of the level of care necessary to please our patients. The biggest problem with most types of lab processed “custom” porcelain veneers is that so many of them look fake. Patients that are considering porcelain veneers are postponing treatment because they did not like the work recently completed on their friend by some other dentist. I found that porcelain veneers made in a dental lab are just not good enough anymore for most patients. I had to go to another level.

Custom Porcelain Veneers

Everyone claims that his or her porcelain veneers are custom made. Lumineers, Da Vinci Lab and all of the other labs claim their porcelain veneers are custom made and technically they are custom. But, there is a big difference in the porcelain veneers I produce and that is, patient satisfaction.

Fake Looking Porcelain Veneers

Bad porcelain veneers are fake looking. They are square, bulky, and thick and lack natural coloration. Cheaper porcelain veneers fade over time and stain easily. Years ago, just about any cosmetic improvement with porcelain veneers was considered good cosmetic dentistry. However, today, patients are more demanding and far more sophisticated about their dentistry. Patients want a natural look created to their specifications. The standard lab made porcelain veneers are not good enough anymore for many people.

Patient Specifications for their Porcelain Veneers

Some patients like longer looking teeth or square looking edges to their porcelain veneers. Other patients want very white teeth that do not look natural to me but are perfect to the patient. Some patients want their teeth to look undetectable yet still make their teeth permanently whiter. While other patients want their teeth to be a little bit crooked because it is part of their personality. This is the type of customization necessary for the ultimate level of care with porcelain veneers. Sending an impression to a lab just does not produce consistent patient satisfaction. More customized individualization, better shapes, better sizing and better translucency had to be done.

The Ultimate Level of Porcelain Veneers

Patients have an idea of the type of look that they want. They bring in pictures of smiles or want the shapes to be a particular way. Some patients have said to me that I am the expert so go ahead and do the treatment. Even though I was awarded the “Master” and was picked the Best Dentist in Los Angeles, I have found that some level of communication regarding patient expectations was vital to making the patient thrilled with the results. See www.hightechdentist.com for photos of my work or www.faceliftdentistry.com for one of the highest quality photo galleries of “before and after photos” matched up so you can compare the results.

What are Custom Porcelain Veneers?

I used so called “custom-made” porcelain veneers from dental labs years ago. I did what just about every single dentist in the United States does today, and that is take the impression and send it to the lab. When the porcelain veneers come back, they bond them into position and sometimes their patients are very unhappy. The labs do the best that they can do but they are not looking at the patient, nor do they understand how to customized cosmetic dentistry to the specific patient. Dental Labs have a tendency to produce the same looking teeth for everyone. It is not their fault; it is just the level of communication between the dentist and the lab. There just is no substitute for the cosmetic and creative eye of the dentist.

What are the Best Porcelain Veneers?

The best porcelain veneers are hand shaped by a highly skilled cosmetic dentist. In my office, I have about 20 close-up photos and 20 full face photos from all angles of every patient in order to visualize my patient while I am shaping and truly customizing their porcelain veneers. I have talked with the patient, shown them photos of my patients that have signed model release forms so they may visualize all of the variables and help choose the characteristics that they like for themselves. I have all of the information and then work on every single patient personally to create the natural look, cosmetic vision and the best porcelain veneers customized to that particular patient. I cannot do this with Lumineers because their ceramists are too far away.

See the Porcelain Veneers in you mouth Before they are Bonded!

After creating the best porcelain veneers for my patient, we gently place them on the patient’s teeth without bonding them so my patients can see my work BEFORE IT IS BONDED. They can go outside with my assistants to see how they look in the sun, and go back inside the office in various lighting to see how they look in office lighting. At this point, we can still increase the intensity of the shade or lower the intensity. Only after seeing the truly customized porcelain veneers in you mouth cans you, the patient, make an intelligent decision. If necessary, I can also bring in my ceramist that works only 2 blocks away to visualize form himself the improvements that are necessary if big changes need to be made.

Our patient satisfaction level is so high that they sign the model release form without any compensation. These patients for giving us permission to show their full face “before and after photos” honor us.

Marketing vs Educating

I am trying to educate my existing and potential new patients about the advantages of getting their dental care completed in my office. It has taken me many years to develop my “eye” for the ultimate level of cosmetic dental health care. The photography of my work validates the quality and the high level of patient satisfaction makes my professional work experience very satisfying.

Categories : Blog, Lumineers, Porcelain Veneers
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Can Instant Braces Straighten Teeth – Or Is It A Cover Up?

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Friday, October 9th, 2009

Question:

“Dr. Sam, my teeth are very crooked. I understand that I can get “instant braces” porcelain veneers to make my teeth look straight – but is this a good solution as my bite will still be off – but covered up?” –  Angie, Los Angeles.

Answer: 

The Skill of the Dentist

All dentists are not alike and there is a huge range in skill between cosmetic dentists in Los Angeles.  Many patients may pick a “coupon dentist” because they get a discount, which has been a big mistake for so many patients.  The skill of the dentist will directly determine the quality of your work.  Poor quality porcelain veneers are far more dissatisfying than paying more to get fine quality. 

Correcting Bites with Porcelain Veneers

Some dentists have the ability to improve and in some instances correct the bite with porcelain veneers.  These dentists have reached technical skills that few dentists will ever achieve.  Theses dentists can improve your bite and give you “instant braces” at the same time.  Porcelain veneers can be made to lengthen the bite, reshape the teeth, build new cusps of the teeth, change the color of the teeth and provide smooth right to left guidance to the bite.  The ultimate level of dental care using porcelain veneers, “instant braces”, cosmetic dentistry and maximizing dental health is Face Lift Dentistry®.

Bad Bites Break Porcelain Veneers

If the “instant braces” make your teeth look straight and the dentist was unable to balance the bite, the end result is generally,  broken porcelain veneers.  Some patients need to wear a night guard to improve the bite while grinding their teeth at night and to protect the new porcelain veneers.  Porcelain veneers can be made to look natural and make the teeth look perfectly straight and yet not change the bite at all.  In these instances a night guard may be the best solution to protect the porcelain veneers from breakage.  However, bonding the porcelain veneers into position with better technique minimizes   porcelain veneer failures or breakage.  The worst thing that can happen is to have a porcelain veneer break just before a very important event in your life.  It is not a health risk but definitely embarrassing.

Crooked Teeth and a Bad Bite

Is it a good solution to get instant braces and yet still have a bad bite?  Yes it is a good solution because having straight teeth is a very comforting and a very confidence building procedure.  Some patients may not be able to afford to change their bite but still want straight looking white teeth and for these patients “instant braces” are a great ideal.

We have had senior citizens or baby boomers want whiter teeth even though their bite is bad.  They get the white teeth and just live with the bad bite.  Others prefer to fix their bite and leave the teeth crooked, as their primary purpose is health.  The goal of the patient determines the level of care. 

Bulky Fake Looking Porcelain Veneers

There are so many fake and bulky looking porcelain veneers being placed on patients that many other people that are considering getting “instant braces” are turned off to the idea because of the bad porcelain veneers placed on their friends.  Patients get the wrong idea that porcelain veneers do not look natural.  The dentist just lacks the ability to deliver natural looking porcelain veneers and is just doing their best.  There best is not good enough and unfortunately, porcelain veneers and “instant braces” get a bad reputation.  Nothing can be further from the truth.  Porcelain veneers can be undetectable from natural teeth.  They can look incredible if the right dentist is doing the treatment.

Categories : Blog, Instant Braces
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News and Awards

Dr. Sam Muslin received the 2009 "Best Cosmetic Dentist in Los Angeles" award from LAs Best, featured in the Los Angeles TImes.