Dr. J's Dental News

38 Years in Orange County and Giving Strong

2012-02-28T09:21:00.002-08:00

For the last thirty-eight years, our office has provided the most cutting-edge proven services available to our clients here in Orange County. Dentistry is a frequently-changing field, and there are always a variety of experimental treatments on the horizon. As a doctor of dental surgery, Dr. Eric Johnson keeps his office up to date about the latest options and is constantly training in ultramodern techniques.

Here's a small sampling of the services we offer today that simply didn't exist when this office opened back in 1975:

* Porcelain Veneers: beautiful tooth-colored surfaces that simply bond into place right over your natural teeth, veneers are the instant way to a perfect smile no matter how bad your teeth look.

* Invisible Fillings: by using tooth-colored resin rather than toxic mercury or soft silver, you can take care of your cavities without losing any of your mouth's beauty.

* Gum Recontouring: If you have a smile that's just as much gum as it is tooth, you can benefit from gum recontouring. We take your gums and move them upward (or downward as is necessary) to expose more of your natural teeth, making your smile broader-looking and more beautiful.

* Titanium Implants: No more taking out your dentures at night — or having them fall out by accident. With dental-grade titanium bonding your dentures, bridges, or custom crown to your jawbone, they're sure to stay put perfectly.

* Laser Dentistry: The cutting edge of oral hygiene, laser cleaning is thorough, fast, and effective. Gum disease can be fought using laser light and an antimicrobial solution in combination to have you walking out in no time, with no powdery after-feel in your mouth.

Of course, these are only the beginning of the story. Not only does our office have a 38-year legacy of keeping current with dental techniques, but we maintain an ultramodern office and back office as well. From our assertive and knowledgeable financial coordinator who has no problem talking down a hesitant insurance provider to our extraordinarily competent office manager who keeps everything running like buttered silk around the office. Our specialist team keeps up on the latest developments in their fields as well.

Come visit us and we'll be happy to show you what thirty-eight years of constant improvement and advancement can do for a dental office — and for its patients.

38 Years of Community Service: A Dental Dream Team

2012-02-24T08:21:00.002-08:00

You might not generally think of community service as a reason to choose one dentist over another — but when you're in the OC, you have to choose between a few different dental offices that all have good reasons to call themselves "the best". None of them are going to be anything less than amazing when it comes to serving you. You won't find many 'fly-by-night' tooth-crackers in Orange County. But that doesn't mean that they're all the same, either.

Take mine, for example. I'm Dr. Eric Johnson, and I'm quite proud to be the latest dentist to work at our office with a thirty-eight year history of service to the OC community and the world abroad as well.

You can find several dentists in the OC that offer amazing resumes. But you'll only find one with my record of service. Whether it's donating thousands of dollars to the San Clemente Boys and Girls club or taking USC dental students to perform pro-bono dentistry for the populations of El Salvadoran villages, I have always prided myself on my connection to my community and my world.

When my wife first saw the world's tallest man, Sultan Kosen, on a television special, she told me unhesitatingly that she felt for the man. His overactive pituitary gland made his body grow uncontrollably and resulted in crippling problems in many parts of his body — including his teeth. I as well as a small group of specialists and labs provided the man with a full-scale surgical and cosmetic smile makeover. He left smiling — and able to properly chew his food; a first for the eight-foot giant of a man.

There are no words to describe the feeling I get when I'm able to help another human being. I have it written on my website, on the walls of my office, and on the inside of my heart: I believe that I exist to help others have a better life. Being the most recent face of a practice with a 38 year legacy of service has given me plenty of opportunities to prove that maxim over and over again.

The 38 Year Difference: Part II

2012-02-20T13:29:00.001-08:00

So, the first part of this duet — The 38 Year Difference Part I — started to describe what it's like to have a dental clinic that has decades of customer service experience under it's belt. Our mental tour had just arrived at the high-tech VIP consultation room, where Dr. Eric Johnson was just asking you what we wanted out of your smile. You tell him you're interested in veneers.

As he listens carefully to your answer, Dr. Johnson takes notes, and starts to sketch. He takes measurements of your face, jaw, and teeth. He takes a mold of your teeth, and starts to make adjustments. Within a surprisingly short time, you are presented with a beautiful wax mold of what your new smile will look like. What's more, that same mold is used to apply a temporary veneer to your smile, so you actually see in the mirror exactly what your new smile is going to look like.

That's what real dental service is like — you know, before you ever commit yourself to the chair, what the results will be when you stand up again. Before you return to the reception area, you express a concern to Dr. Johnson — how much is this going to cost? Can you afford it?

Dr. Johnson directs you to the Business Team. They will listen carefully to your concerns. They will work with you to come up with an option that you are comfortable with. You will know what your financial responsibility is before any dental treatment is performed.

Once the financial side is set to go, the Business Team will confirm your next appointment. If you are scheduled to see our dental hygienist, Marlena, she will greet you and take you back for your dental hygiene appointment. When your hygiene appointment is complete then it is a short wait for your veneer appointment and your smile to be as perfect as it can be.

Do you see what 38 years in the business can do for a dental practice? If you think that's impressive, wait until you see what it can do for you.

The 38 Year Difference: Part I

2012-02-13T09:17:00.000-08:00

One of the things that separates a truly quality dentist from just another oral surgeon down the street is detail. Not just attention to detail, but even more fundamentally than that, an understanding of the details that form the basics of a dental experience.

For example, when you come in to Dr. Eric Johnson's treatment room, we don't put you in a beat up old pleather chair and come at you with a giant third-degree-interrogation light. We give you a neck pillow. We put on a soothing aromatherapy scent. We give you an iPod equipped with relaxing music and Bose acoustic noise-canceling headphones. And the chair — is real leather.

You're probably imagining what that's like right now — and you should be. We've spent nearly four decades perfecting our routine with the goal of making you look forward to coming to the dentist. That's what we refer to as the '38 year difference' — the effects of a long legacy of deeply attenuated customer service.

Of Course, it doesn't start and stop with the chair, either. Every aspect of our office, from the wide-open and calming reception area to our modern and inviting VIP consultation room, is designed to show you that you are in good hands. Our six person team includes a full time Registered Dental Hygienist, two Registered Dental Assistants, a Financial Coordinator, and an Office Manager, as well as Dr. Johnson himself. Each one is an absolute professional in their field and has performed minor miracles of dentistry and/or administration in their time with us.

So, imagine again: you walk into a beautiful earth-toned reception room. Brightly colored fresh seasonal flowers greet you atop a glass table that marks the centerpiece of several soft, comfortable chairs. Modern art and a flat-screen television hang on the walls, providing no shortage of captivating visuals. Centered in the reception area there is no glass partition which gives you clear access to the Business Team, Stephanie and Tracey.

Stephanie or Tracey will give you details of your appointment. When Dr. Johnson is ready for you one of his Registered Dental Assistants will take you to the VIP consultation room, where he asks you what you want from your smile.

What happens next? Read The 38 Year Difference: Part II next week to find out!

Three Effective Options of Teeth Whitening for Wedding Pictures

2012-01-23T09:27:00.000-08:00

There are lots of ways to get your teeth whitened for wedding pictures, but all three of the most effective share one common attribute: a dentist. There's not that much that you can do at home that has the same effectiveness as professional teeth whitening. For wedding pictures, you want the best, so talk to a dentist as soon as you've set a date for the nuptials.

Traditional Teeth Bleaching
A traditional whitening procedure can take a few visits, and they have to be somewhat separated — but it's very thorough, whitening every part of your teeth. You have to make certain that you get the process started with enough time to get the last session complete a few days before the wedding, but other than that, this is probably one of the least bothersome ways of getting your teeth whitened. For weddings, it's probably the best overall option.

Veneers
If your teeth are really bad — if you're a coffee-swilling, cigarette-smoking, blueberry-and-vegemite eating type of gal — you can opt to get veneers. These thin porcelain facings that bond to your natural teeth give you a beautiful perfect smile. You have the veneers for life, so as long as you take care of them your smile will be beautiful for any occasion.

Laser Teeth Whitening
For wedding parties — the bridesmaids, father of the bride, and so on — it might not be as important to get the extraordinarily thorough whitening of a full-on traditional bleaching. For these folks, a lightning-fast, single-visit Laser teeth whitening can be the answer. Generally done in an hour or less, in a single visit, this kind of 'less important' scenario is exactly what laser teeth whitening is for. Wedding parties that don't want to spend a lot of time getting their teeth whitened can take this option for a quick and effective whitening session.

One final note, make sure to schedule the teeth whitening for your wedding pictures well in advance so you can make sure there is available time in your dentist's schedule. Also, when it comes to scheduling, make sure to have your whitening session about 30 days in advance of the groom's dinner. This will insure your teeth will not lose any of its shine by your wedding day, and allow ample time to correct any problems should they occur.

Teeth Whitening for Weddings: Home vs. Professional

2012-01-17T08:11:00.000-08:00

There are literally hundreds of products and services out there designed to get your teeth white for important and well-photographed times in your life. Figuring out which one is the best depends a lot on what you expect from your teeth whitening. For weddings, you want the best possible results, because you never know when someone is going to snap an extreme close-up of your face, and you don't want any flaws in your smile.

The Problems with Home Teeth Whitening
For wedding parties—and especially the bride and groom—it's an absolute necessity that you be as photogenic as possible at the wedding and at the reception. While you could certainly trust your smile to some form of gel-based or strip-based home teeth whitening system, it's not a good idea.

Strips leave significant gaps along the inward-curving surfaces of your teeth that don't get white, and it shows up clear as day in professional close-ups. The whitening substance just doesn't get where the strip doesn't go, and that includes every single surface between any two teeth.

Gels contain humectants like propylene glycol and many also have harsh bleaching agents so that they work quickly. The problem here is that these ingredients can severely irritate the gums, leaving them red and raw—which will show up in the pictures you have taken.

Gums, Toothpastes, and Home Remedies like "mix charcoal dust with peanut butter and brush your teeth with it" all have the same basic problem — they don't do crap. They might whiten your teeth a shade or two if you use them regularly for a few months, but they won't ever work as proper teeth whitening for weddings. You need WHITE teeth, not merely "not yellow" teeth.

The Answer is Professional Teeth Whitening
For weddings, there is simply no substitute for professional teeth whitening. Talk to your dentist and schedule your appointment for at least 30 days before the rehearsal dinner. That will give you as few chances as possible to stain your teeth in the interim, but also enough time to make sure, if there's a problem, that you have time to fix it before the critical moment. There's no good reason to use any other methods of teeth whitening for wedding pictures.

Teeth Whitening for Weddings: Pre-Nuptial Smile Care

2012-01-12T09:03:00.000-08:00

So, you're going to get married, and you know that you want to get your teeth whitened. For wedding parties, it's usually suggested that every one of the bridesmaids and groomsmen get their teeth whitened so that they look their best for wedding pictures. But it's not a good idea to get it done the day before the ceremony, because even the most professional dentist can't give you a 100% guarantee that nothing will go wrong.

Why Smile Care?
It's important that you understand exactly what you are whitening your teeth. Wedding pictures and videos are memories that you're going to be looking back on fondly in years — possibly decades — and the better you look in those pictures, the more you'll enjoy the memories. No one wants to look back and get distracted because their teeth are yellow or stained in their wedding pictures. That's why it's critical that you not only get your teeth professionally whitened, but you engage in a few days of intensive smile care to make sure that those pearly whites stay both pearly and white.

Things to Avoid

Drinking coffee, black or red 'rooibos' tea (green, white, and herbal are fine), and other dark drinks, including any form of cola.
Red wine, cranberry juice, and other dark red drinks are also no-nos.
Smoking anything, but particularly cigarettes.
Popsicles and other frozen desserts that have bright artificial colors.
Balsamic vinegar, unless you eat it with lettuce or spinach. Green leafy veggies form a protective barrier over your teeth, so eating salads with balsamic dressing is still safe.
Similarly, dark Asian sauces from tamari to hoisin are best avoided.
Tomato sauce, especially in the form of spaghetti sauces with artificial colors.
Any highly acidic foods like citrus foods won't necessarily stain your teeth themselves, but they can cause minor enamel damage that will make your teeth more prone to staining.

Things to Do

Brush and floss regularly, even if you're not usually in the habit — it's a good idea in general, but especially when you're trying to keep your teeth clean for your big day.
Eat the aforementioned green leafy vegetables, and if possible, a small salad with each meal.
Finally, green and white teas are great for your dental health, strengthening your enamel.

2012-01-09T14:59:00.000-08:00

Make a Shining Impression on the New Family with Teeth Whitening for Weddings

One of the most nerve-wracking parts of a wedding is seeing your spouse's extended family for the first time. If everything goes well, you still have to remember that, for many of these people, you're making a first impression that they'll never forget.

That's not the only reason that you need to look and feel your best at your wedding — but it's a pretty big one. There are a lot of steps you ought to take in order to look your best for your wedding. You may want to get a manicure and a haircut, and it's probably best to get a facial as well. But perhaps one of the most important things you can do to prepare for your nuptials is make an appointment with your dentist to get your teeth whitened. For weddings, there's nothing quite as impacting as teeth that compliment your dress — it's a first impression that the in-laws will remember for years.

You might want to talk to your dentist a month or so before the ceremony is planned so that you can find the best time for your teeth whitening appointment. Depending on which techniques the dentist is going to use to whiten your teeth, you may need more than one appointment. You definitely want to leave an extra few days between the last appointment and the ceremony just in case the process doesn't go quite perfectly.

Attention to detail is the measure of success for any wedding, and getting your look perfect so that your new family sees you at your absolute best is a critical detail to attend to. There are very few wedding planners that will think to care for your pearly whites as part of the preparation, so take control of your own teeth whitening.