Invisalign in 6 to 8 months? Well yes, we can!

 

When we think of braces we typically associate them with teenagers who need to straighten their teeth. We rarely think of adults needing to make corrections to their smile, or to correct their bite. A lot of us don't even know that there are options for this, or how it works. Unless your dentist will recommend treatment, most likely you will go through life without knowing that you can correct an unstable bite and crowded teeth, preventing further wear on your teeth or even cracking or chipping. It might also be preventing us from getting a good oral health, since brushing or flossing between crowded teeth is harder or flat out impossible. The way your teeth come together have a strong connection with your TMJ, so if your bite is not stable the muscles and the ligaments supporting your TMJ will get sore or inflamed. Treating your unstable bite helps with your TMJ issues most of the time too.

Invisalign (or clear braces) has been around for a while now and it was recommended to straighten teeth for adults, since the clear aligners are barely visible to others and hardly noticeable for yourself. It's a piece of clear plastic that covers and moves your teeth, then you get another one that moves your teeth even further, and so on. The treatment takes usually almost 2 years long, depending on the complexity of your case and that's what most dentists will tell you.

But Dr Preda is not "most dentists", she is a Gold Invisalign Provider and also a member of the American Academy Of Clear Aligners "elite" group, that extends the training from what every dentist gets to the next level that includes more expertise and support in programing the teeth movement. Also the software monitors your teeth movement and suggests adjustments to improve and speed up the process. This is how she can guide you through an Invisalign treatment that is shorter, more predictable and with a more certain outcome than most other dentists. Now it's not just a piece of clear plastic any more, it has "smart force technology" to shorten the treatment to 6-8 months, depending on the complexity of your case and it is backed up by extra knowledge and computer running software working together to bring your teeth to the desired outcome.

Getting Invisalign treatment will help you with oral hygiene too, since your teeth won't be so crowded and you can clean them better and faster. Also helps to prevent wear and chipping in time so you might need less dental treatment in the future. It also helps with your TMJ problems because with balanced bite the muscles and the ligaments surrounding the TMJ are not going to have to work this hard to stabilize your bite.

All at that is on top of getting your "dream smile" of straight teeth, although this is usually the first thing we notice at a person who had an Invisalign treatment! Ask us about a free consultation, free digital scan and a free simulation of your teeth movement before and after the treatment!

New safety measures and protocols in place

Since we re-opened after the Shelter In Place we had a big wave of Patients who wanted to do their treatments and cleanings! For different reasons, from being bored from staying at home for too long, to overdue to extra disposable income, since people didn't have a chance to travel, or go out too much. Whatever the reasons are - it's always good to take care of your oral health earlier rather than later. Since then we had a steady influx of Patients doing treatments that they postponed for a while, or just ready to improve their smile!

We also had our share of Patients that were not comfortable to come in a dental office (or anywhere else for that matter), and for good reasons that we understand. Some have a weak immune system, some have babies at home, children or older parents that they don't want to put at risk. 

That's why we are as cautious as possible when it comes to infection control, and dealing with the COVID-19 virus. We have the toughest measures and protocols in place to to put our Patients at ease when it comes to infection control and limit of virus spreading. We are set up for a Virtual Waiting Room, we ask Patients to call/text us when they park and we'll invite them in for screening questions, temperature and testing. We ask everyone to wear a face covering, we'll provide a mask if you don't have one. We have Point-of-care COVID-19 rapid screening tests for infection and antibodies (results in 15 min). We try to discuss the treatment and financials over the phone before the appointment as much as possible, to limit time in the office. We got hours of training with our staff before re-opening regarding infection control, with the toughest measures in place during the corona virus pandemic. We have our PPE gear ready and signs for Clean Areas and 6 medical grade HEPA filters and 3 enhanced suction vacuums around the office, this is part of the protocols to keep you and our staff safe. We are are ready to answer any questions and clarify any concerns the Patients might have.

Working in any health care facility, including a dental office, is harder, more stressful and costlier right now, so we kindly ask for everyone's understanding and patience when calling or during the appointments.

Re-opening

We've been open for 2 weeks now, following California's Health Department's guidelines, and it's a little bit challenging, a little bit rewarding! It's good to see that Patients are eager to get their regular cleanings done and maintain a good oral health! It's also good to see that Patients are scheduling work that they put off for a while, even looking into some cosmetic treatments too. That is the rewarding part!😊
The challenging part was scheduling conflicts, longer appointments, extra safety measures and protocols in place and everything that came with it! We are trying a virtual waiting room now, meaning that we discuss financials and treatment over the phone as much as possible, to minimize the Patients' time in office as much as possible. We also have an extra form to fill in, and we do a COVID-19/antibodies rapid screening test before the appointments. We also do a  screening of all the Patients and take their temperature, and that takes time and it's a little challenging to have just 1 Patient at the time in our waiting room.
But for the most part everyone understands how this is necessary and we are all working hard to make it work as seamlessly as possible.
We also have to wear gowns and masks, and protective shields and extra head coverings and shoe covers and other safety equipment for all the procedures. We use a vacuum for enhanced suction, we also have medical grade HEPA filters. We have to change the gowns after Patients and certain procedures, we also use several N95 masks a day (each of us!) so that is a lot of extra cost for our office. That's why most dental offices today charge an extra fee for all the Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), and we have to also.
Right now we are backed up with all the dental cleanings that are overdue after the Shelter in Place period when we were closed for 2 months, and we are working on opening one more day a week of Hygiene to bring everyone up to date.

How to support local businesses during Shelter In Place

Since the corona virus pandemic started, many local businesses, just like our office are modifying their hours and how they serve their communities. Some of us are even closing our doors altogether. Our office is open only for emergencies, and we do a thorough screening of our Patients. And we offer teledentistry - Virtual Consultations.  We use a HIPAA compliant video platform called doxi.me for a Facetime-like conversation in order to asses our Patients' oral health and to follow up on their treatment. Also, to make sure we prevent any potential emergencies. Most of the emergencies we had in the last 3 weeks, since Shelter In Place started, were from people who neglected their oral health for a long time. Almost every time I asked them "when was the last time you've seen a dentist?" the answer was "a few years ago".  So if there is any silver lining in this COVID-19 pandemic - we should learn that we need to take care of the regular cleanings, have regular exams and follow through with the dentist's recommendations so we don't end up with an abscess when all the dental offices are closed!
That's why we follow up with our Patients and do a virtual consultation to assess the state of their oral health, and remind them to take care of any issues before they become big problems.
Our office is set up for #SocialDistancing and we use a N95 mask and filters. We are working on getting point of care tests for COVID-19/proteins so we can test Patients before they enter the office. We also use a remote thermometer and we have shoes covers to help prevent spreading of any viruses or germs.
Local businesses like us need your support now more than ever. We appreciate your cooperation for virtual consultations, the pictures of your smile that you email to us, and also any feedback that we receive.
Small businesses like ours can help fuel local economies. But for a lot of us, times are tough right now. We have almost $0 income for the foreseeable future, that's why more and more insurance carriers are covering teledentistry since this is the only way we are able to see Patients right now and follow up on their oral health. We are putting together a few "come back to life" deals for the Patients who will need treatment in the following weeks after re-opening, so please keep in touch with us on Social Media!

We hope you'll join us in supporting local businesses like our office through this challenging time. Together, we can keep our communities vibrant. #StayHome #ShopSmall

Corona Virus Outbreak

03/10/2020 Everyone is talking about the Corona virus outbreak right now, and rightfully so. We are all affected by it, even thought we are far from anyone infected, and chances are we'll never feel any symptoms, like most people in the US. A lot of people are afraid of actually getting infected by the COVID-19 virus and, again, rightfully so, there is a chance anyone could get infected. Although we hope our small community in Aliso Viejo will be spared of the big pandemic of the century (so far!).
In our office we take every precaution to keep our Patients safe and healthy, we use the particle vacuum for every Patient, and that filters flu (including) corona viruses, we disinfect all the surfaces properly (which is standard procedure in any medical unit). But now we wipe out all the counters in the reception area a few times a day, just as an extra precaution.
But the biggest fear is the mark that all this is going to leave on the economy in particular, and our lives in general. Everyone is seeing the shortages of products that are (supposed to be) manufactured in China and recently were falling behind. From the most obvious ones like TP and paper towels, to any orders on Amazon that are delayed for days and sometimes weeks.
But probably the most hurtful for us are the medical/dental supplies and equipment, starting with face masks and ending with disinfecting wipes and solutions. I don't think there is any medical facility that didn't feel the pinch, all the suppliers are out of stock and cancelling orders left and right. Or just limiting the quantities available and bundling them with other products or jacking up the prices.
We are getting limited quantities as we go, so we don't have any shortages and can conduct normal day-to-day business.
But there is an economy scare that is affecting all of us. The shortage of supplies will force a lot of businesses to slow down, with all that brings with it - cutting hours, and even layoffs. Also, a lot of conferences, fairs and festivals (like our local SOKA Festival) got cancelled. And that makes people worry and tend to put  purchases or travel on hold for a while. The silver lining in all of this, if there is one, is that our Patients feel more comfortable spending more on their oral health, since they spend less on travel or not-so-necessary purchases for a while.
We hope everyone stays safe during this period and take extra precautions, and wish we'll get back to business as usual as soon as possible!
UPDATE 04/07/2020 Our office started offering Teledentistry (Virtual Consultations)  and treating only life threatening emergencies since March 17th. We encourage everyone to #StayHome and #ShelterInPlace, stay safe!

Vaping

Vaping has been in the news a lot lately, mostly because no one really knows the impact it has on our health yet. There have been so me highly publicized cases, but even those don't have a diagnosis. So how about vaping and the impact on your oral health? Well, we can say it has a higher risk of tooth decay, it can contribute to gingivitis, and may increase the chances or cancer risks, including oral cancer.
Because it was considered a healthier alternative to smoking cigarettes it wasn't scrutinized to much for too long. That's why we don't have to much data about vaping right now. But dentists noticed tooth decay in young adults for a while and, until recently, it was attributed to soda or energy drinks. It wasn't until lately that we started to make a distinction in decay caused by e-cigarettes. It is not clear why yet since the ingredients and breakdown byproducts haven't been tested, but several culprits stood up.
Propylene glycol, is an alcohol that's sometimes used in food processing because it mixes well with flavors, but it can cause dry mouth, and it also breaks down into different acids, that can deteriorate tooth enamel and soft tissues.
So if you decide to keep vaping - your oral health has to be impeccable. Brush twice a day like you do regularly, but researchers say wait at least 20 minutes after vaping. In case the acidic vapors soften your enamel, brushing too soon might remove some of that enamel.
Be extra thorough to clean between your teeth and along your gum line. So floss daily and also try irrigators and see if you get good results.
Try to avoid dry mouth, there are several product that help prevent that, including Biotene or natural mouth wash that we offer in our office.
Also, see your dentist more often and on regular basis (meaning don't skip your appointments!) and let them know that you are vaping, so they are aware to check certain tell-tell signs.
We have the Vaping check box in our New Patient forms at Aliso Viejo Dental, and so should all dental offices these days to help prevent any problems caused by vaping to your oral health.

Antibiotic resistance

Antibiotic resistance is one of the fastest growing health problems and threatens to bring us back  when simple infections could be fatal. Aliso Viejo Dental and Dr Preda are working on improving the antibiotic prescribing process and educate our Patients about the importance of appropriate use.
Optimizing how we use and prescribe antibiotics, we protect Patients and combat antibiotic resistance!
Antibiotics save lives and are critical for treating dental infections, but at least 30% of them are prescribed unnecessarily, and Dentists prescribe about 10% of the total
Improving the way Doctors, Dentists and other healthcare professionals prescribe antibiotics helps keep us healthy now, fight antibiotic resistance, and also ensures that these lifesaving drugs will be available for future generations.
Here are some facts that we all should consider when it comes to prescriptions of antibiotics:

1 Antibiotics save lives, and that is a fact. When a Patient needs antibiotics, the benefits are more important than the risks or the future resistance.

2 Antibiotics aren’t always the answer, that's why in our office we offer the alternative whenever possible and suitable. We've seen all kinds of infections to know the difference and the better options.

3 Antibiotics don't work on viruses, like colds, flu, bronchitis, or
runny noses, even if the mucus is thick, yellow, or green (this doesn't apply to dental offices, but it's good to know)

4 Antibiotics are only needed for treating infections caused by bacteria, but even some
bacterial infections get better without antibiotics, including many sinus infections.

5 Take antibiotics exactly as prescribed. Ask us if you have any questions about your antibiotics, or if you develop any side effects.

Hopefully preventative dentistry will keep you away from getting an infection, so this would be only a rare emergency. In the mean time stay and keep others healthy by cleaning hands, covering coughs, staying home when sick, and getting recommended vaccines, including the flu vaccine.

How to chose an insurance plan?

This is the routine for pretty much everyone, we get a new job, we wait 90 days then we get to chose a new insurance. And then we go to the doctor or dentist and they tell us - well you need knee surgery or you need Invisalign just to find out that your insurance barely covers that, or deductibles are huge, or not covered at all. Not sure why we do this backwards, this is upside down, we should first know what our needs are and THEN choose our health, dental or vision insurance.
So how do I chose an insurance plan correctly? First you should know your needs, and then chose an insurance plan tailored to your specific condition. How do you do that? Ideally, you had insurance and got treatment before and you know what you need. But if you don't, then you are taking a shot in the dark and hope for the best!
But there might be hope, and that's why we advise our Patients about their insurance plan depending on their specific needs. Most of the time you can't change your dental plan till next year, after it expires, which is still better than nothing. Now you'll know you need coverage for implants, or a night guard, or Invisalign for yourself or braces for your kid. But until then you can also consider getting a second insurance plan and use it as primary (or secondary, depending on preferred coverage). And this is something that you can do right away. Just make sure there is no waiting period, or if there is and the price is right ask us how long can you wait on those invisible braces and if it's worth it. No one knows your dental needs and how everything works better than your dentist and our treatment and financial coordinators, they do this every day. So don't hesitate to call, text or email us and ask for help with choosing your dental insurance, we'll use our knowledge to help you for free, plus your next payments will be discounted and covered partly by your new insurance!

The value of a beautiful smile!

We are blessed to have such awesome Patients everyday! And every day is a great experience with each and every one, we discuss and we learn from every beautiful smile that comes through our door! And we do our best to make sure everyone leaves with a healthier, happy, beautiful smile!
And most people understand the value of a beautiful smile, how others see you and how people make their first impression about you, or how they form an opinion in the long run. We try to make the case of a healthy, beautiful smile as the first thing people see, notice and remember about you. Also, how they perceive a smile that they don't like as a lower social status, and you can find more details in this blog.
But sometimes people who otherwise take smart, educated decisions - don't see the value of improved dental health. We see people who are in the process of buying a new house or remodeling an old one, so they clearly understand what smart decisions are, not recognizing the importance of a bright, beautiful, healthy smile. Yes, buying a new house can be a great investment for your future, yes, remodeling your old one will most likely increases the value of your home. Yes, even buying a new car, a cool one might change how other people look at you and the way they perceive your status. Those are all good reasons to upgrade your life and move up on the ladder of social acceptance. Every time your friends will visit your home, and every time they see you coming out of that new flashy automobile they will think more of you, they will recognize your smart addition. Your boss might think - hmm, she seems smart and takes great decisions, or he understands the value and what it represents, maybe I'll consider this person for a promotion or give them more tasks because they look capable to handle more. And they would be right, the more good decisions you take - the more people will entrust you with other important things in their lives or work.
But what is the value of your beautiful smile? I hope more people would see their beautiful, healthy, trusty smile as an investment, as important as your house or fancy truck. If not more important, since they might only see your house once or twice a year, and you car maybe once or twice a week. But they will see your bright white smile all the time they are with you, and that might be 8 hours a day at work! Or they might just see it once at an important meeting or a sales visit if they are your customer, but that would make a great difference in the outcome if they trust you more and if they see how you understand good value.
Ready to improve your smile, improve the way others see you, get better first impressions, better friendships, better relationships, a better job, a better life and ultimately a better you? Make an appointment online at AlisoViejoDental.com, or call/text us at 949-425-1447

Why we stand out

I am like most people and I have my routine and my comfort zone (and my comfort food too!). And that is good because it provides some stability and some peace of mind in our lives. But sometimes it's good to explore, to see what else is out there, what is new and if we can do something better. You know where I'm going with this - sometimes is good to see if you can find a better option for a dentist. There are many dental offices in Aliso Viejo and the surrounding cities in Orange County, and they all provide great service, I'm sure. But we like to stand out, so we improved our office, our services and team, we updated our tools and procedures, and raised the bar! So here are a few reasons why you should chose us when you are looking for  a new dentist, or when going to the same old same old place doesn't cut it any more. Because let's be honest, if they didn't tell you that you could take care of a cracked tooth when it was still treatable instead of needing an implant - they didn't do their job right.
That's why we practice preventive dentistry, we believe in taking care of your oral health issues before they become a nightmare. We also believe in nutritional and dental care counseling to prevent issues from happening in the first place. It's cheaper and it makes total sense in the long run.
We offer free oral cancer screening for all our Patients, just because, again, it makes total sense, #ScreeningSavesLives. We use the ViziLite Pro device, and the process only take about 2 minutes.
We use Laser therapy for a lot of procedures, for less or no pain and faster healing. Laser is the best alternative to drills, it doesn't touch the tooth surface but it's gentle power sterilizes, cleans and desensitizes the cavity or the tooth.
We use the DryShield isolation system. DryShield is an intelligent breakthrough in isolation and helps make your visit shorter, more pleasant, and more comfortable!
We also use ReLeaf Suction system, your Hygiene cleaning visit will be up to 15 min shorter and more comfortable!
We safely remove old amalgam/mercury fillings! We use a special vacuum that filtrates and traps mercury particles .We use special Clean Up suction tips that completely cover your tooth and capture mercury vapors.
We should also mention  Digital X-Rays for low radiation, intra-oral pictures so you can better understand the symptoms and conditions, digital impressions - we are a #NoGoop, #NoGag practice.
If all this isn't enough - please consider our friendly staff, and our personalized treatment and service. We see New Patients every day and it become a routine to explain what their previous dentists didn't cover or even mention to them. "If I knew this was going to get this bad I would have taken care of it sooner". Yeap, we don't want OUR Patients to say that! Call or text us for more info at 949-425-1447.

Amalgam is fazing out

Amalgam was used in dentistry since forever, but lately it has been the subject of a lot of controversies and criticism. In an era when we are trying to be more health-conscious and more environmentally friendly - it is harder and harder to justify the use of amalgam any more. If this is the first time you hear about it - here is the skinny: amalgam is 50% mercury, now google "Is mercury toxic?" and brace yourself for some nightmares.
So lately European Union came up with a 3 year plan to faze out amalgam, starting with a virtual ban  for children under 15 years old, also pregnant and breastfeeding women as of July 1, 2018.
Hopefully some of those changes and rules will come in US soon, especially when these days we have so many better alternatives. Needless to say, our office has never used amalgam, we only use tooth colored composite fillings, we remove old silver-mercury in a safe environment for the Patient and for our staff. Safe removal of amalgam is becoming more and more popular especially with health-minded and environmentally conscious Patients, but for children and future Mothers too.
Using less amalgam and mercury is good for everyone, for Patients, for dental professionals and staff and for the environment too. Our office had amalgam traps and filters for years, from back when no one cared about this or required any standards. Our traps and filters get picked up and recycled or responsibly disposed, we don't pollute our city's or county sewers that eventually end up in the ocean, and we are proud of that!
But also there is a social injustice factor, that very few would think about. Since only amalgam fillings are covered by most insurance plans (composite fillings get downgraded and only partially covered) what happens is that lower income Patients are more likely to receive silver-mercury fillings. That goes for lower income children or Mothers too, and this is not fair.
It's time to end this and our office is proudly only using tooth colored, composite fillings (that happen to be BPA and gluten-free too), we are also SMART certified,
please check our website or give us a call for more info.

Not all x-rays are equal

How many times have you said "I love my dentist!"? How many times have you heard others saying - "I've been going to the same dentist for the last 20 years"? We hear these all the time, at every promotion we do, at every event, at every fair or convention we participate.
There is nothing wrong with that, your dentist knows your medical/dental history, they proposed and performed most of your dental treatments, they took care of your emergency pain when it happened.
And of course you love them for that!
This becomes a problem only when your dentist uses the same equipment and procedures as 20 years ago. This is something that you might not even notice since you've only been in the same office all your life. A lot of materials and equipment changed for the better lately, they are more health-conscious and environmentally friendly. Between the BPA free resin to low radiation x-ray machines there are a lot of improvements in dental offices in United States in the last decades.
We use digital sensors connected to computers these days instead of films for example, since they need less radiation and have instant exposure. Meaning that the dentist and you can see the x-rays on the screen in just a second, and you have the option to enlarge or change the contrast and brightness to be able to see the smallest cracks or cavities right in front of your eyes. The old films are as small as your watch, good luck seeing anything there!
The x-ray machines have similar settings these days and the sensor/computer setting should be 0.100 and 0.50 for children, as seen in the picture above. At least look for the computer or sensor symbol to make sure it's set up right. If you see a different symbol or higher numbers on the x-ray machine display or you see them using films - ask your dentist why and if they can change the settings. If they can't offer the lower radiation option you should refuse to receive higher radiation for every exposure they will take of your teeth.
There is a better, healthier way to do dentistry today and you shouldn't downgrade your oral health care just because you got used to go to the same dentist as your Father did. If they can't upgrade their skills and educate for the latest technology - they don't deserve your trust with your dental care needs, or your business. If they don't upgrade their equipment and their education for the better - it's because they want to pocket the money instead.
Try to find a dental office where they provide a better, healthier service, geared towards preventing problems rather than treating them. Yes, you can take care of your problems when they are incipient and easier to treat with less pain and inexpensive, before they become the big problems that will empty your wallet. For more info or to learn more about preventive dentistry please visit our website at https://www.alisoviejodental.com/

"In-house" Discount plans

Given the raising cost of insurance and all the uncertainty about coverage or restrictions - we see an increase in Patients with no Dental Insurance. Even though the dental coverage doesn't cost too much, compared to the medical insurance, just because people don't renew one - they don't renew the other either. Of course you could get Dental or Vision separately, but few people do that, most just end up with no dental insurance after all.
That's why we offer a discount plan for Patients with no insurance, that offers some preventive services at no cost and a discount for other, more common procedures. There is an annual fee, depending on your needs, for 1 person or for the whole family.
This is great for our Patients since it encourages them to keep their preventive, cleaning appointments with their dentist, and also offers a discount for other cosmetic or restorative procedures, which comes in handy.
Plus  - this is not insurance, so there are no claims to send, no deductibles, and no check to wait for in the mail. You can see the discount, the difference upfront, and how much you save and it's all clear, with no confusion or delays. Also, you can take advantage of our $49 New Patient Special if you don't have insurance coverage.
Call or text us for a brochure at 949-425-1447, or come in if you want to ask for more details, we are in the Aliso Viejo Town Center, near Ralphs, next to Habit Burger and Urbane Cafe. Visit AlisoViejoDental.com for more details.

Keep your cleaning appointments to avoid "deep cleanings"!

Your dentist office called to remind you of your next cleaning or Hygiene appointment you booked almost 6 months ago when you had your last cleaning. You totally forgot about this appointment (that card they gave you is somewhere in your car or at home with all the junk mail) and you look at your calendar and realize you can't make it. How often does this happen? Pretty often, considering how many Patients miss their dental cleaning appointment.

But should you ignore it or try to re-schedule it as soon as possible?
As a rule of thumb - you should have the cleaning as close to the recommended date as possible.

Why? First of all - it's covered by your insurance most likely, or it's inexpensive compared to the alternative.
So why would you not take advantage of this (most likely) covered cleaning?
Or, you might be THAT Patient who flosses and brushes twice a day and really takes good care of your oral health, so there is very little tartar that adds up on and in between your teeth. But you would rather clean them regularly anyway, especially when the cost is close to $0 out of your pocket.

But let's be honest, you forget to carry the floss sticks in your car or purse, and brushing is rushed and inefficient. Then a lot of bacteria and tartar adds up on your teeth and you really need that cleaning every 6 months!
Because if you don't get your teeth cleaned regularly - 6 months becomes a year and a year becomes 2 and you are most likely set up for a deep cleaning. Why? Because the tartar and inflammation is already there and at this point "emergency" flossing and brushing won't help any more - you'll need a professionally done, thorough cleaning! The tartar can be visible on the x-rays to the point when the dentist doesn't even need to look at your actual teeth to diagnose your deep cleaning!
At this point - time works against you. Postponing, delaying, rescheduling and avoiding will make matters worse! Plus, a deep cleaning and any adjacent procedures will cost hundreds of dollars out of pocket at this point.

First stage is gingivitis, which is reversible with a thorough cleaning. If it's not cured, it will transform into the second stage called periodontitis. This is a chronic disease, much harder to reverse, the inflamed tissue starts to pull away from the teeth, forming spaces, or deep pockets. These deep pockets are housing the harmful bacteria and tartar buildup that chew up on the bone surrounding the teeth, creating bone loss. In the advanced stages of this disease - the bone loss is so severe that teeth become loose.

Do yourself a favor, take care of your oral health while is inexpensive and mostly covered by insurance so it's less harmful, less painful, less costly and keep your routine dental cleanings. So you don't have to google "deep cleaning" 'cause you wont need it! Having a great smile will most likely help you get better first impressions, better friendships, better relationships, a better job, a better life and ultimately a better you!

If you need a cleaning or a deep cleaning - don't postpone it, call or text us at 949-4251447 and schedule you appointment today!

How does dental insurance work?

Most people get their dental insurance through their employers, together with their medical insurance. PPO dental plans are relatively inexpensive and they usually cover your cleanings and basic preventive procedures. They also cover part of your bigger treatments, like crowns or even implants. Most dental PPO insurance plans have a maximum of $1500 per year, but they can have $1000, $2000 or even more, depending on your employer's preference and monthly payments.
There might be a waiting period for bigger procedures, it's the insurance companies way of making sure you don't buy a plan for 2 months and get all your major work done quick i guess!
There are also deductibles, usually some $50 per subscriber and $150 per family, so you might still have to pay something for your "free" benefits.
Procedures are typically grouped into 3 categories when it comes to coverage - preventive, which are usually covered 100%, like cleanings, x-rays or sealants, basic and major.
Basic procedures include gum disease treatments, extractions, fillings or root canals. Most plans cover 70% - 80% and Patients are responsible for the rest.
Most plans though don't cover cosmetic dentistry procedures, or the ones that are not considered "necessary", like laser or extra forms of anesthesia, including sedation. Patients chose to have those  for a better standard of care or comfort, or to have a beautiful smile instead of just functional teeth.
Usually the dentist will submit the claims for you and receive the insurance portion of the payment. Sometimes the insurance pays way later or not enough for different reasons, and that usually becomes Patient's responsibility.
You should work with an "in-network" dentist, but most are, so it's usually easier to find your dentist searching online, on reviews apps like Yelp or Google Maps and Nextdoor or ask friends, than on your insurance's website. We find those to be wildly outdated, and include dentists who moved from the area years ago.
HMO plans work differently, there are no claims or co payments, there is only a discounted fee schedule, and a minimal visit fee. Usually, diagnostic and preventive services have no co-payment, so the Patient pays nothing for these. And major treatments have a lower fee, while there are no maximums or deductibles.
In a nutshell this should answer most questions, but if you need more info please call or text us at 949-425-1447, or visit https://www.AlisoViejoDental.com/

What is preventive care?

The skinny? Preventive healthcare (or prophylaxis) refers to measures taken to prevent illnesses or diseases, as opposed to treating them. That is because cavities, and oral health problems begin way before individuals realize they are affected. That's why if you miss your regular cleanings you might need a deep cleaning, which is way more expensive and not covered by insurance! All that for missing a 1 hour visit with a Hygienist every 6 months or so! Same with cavities, we can find them early and treat them when a small filling (covered by insurance sometimes), rather than wait till you need a root canal, extraction or an implant! Think about it - a short visit for (a possibly almost free) filling or thousands of dollars and tons of anesthesia to get an implant? Unfortunately too many choose the latter, don't be that guy!

It also includes counseling to prevent health problems down the road because getting preventative care (both forms of this word are correct), such as screenings and regular cleaning, can help you and your family stay healthy. They say that oral cancer screenings save lives, and that is true! Think about it: getting a free screening in our office or possibly paying for cancer treatment later! All these mean less surprises, pain, or emergency visits, which keep our Patients happy! 

Admit it, the first thing that pops to mind is - why would my dentist want me to have less visits and save more money, right? Well, here is why: we love it when our Patients have a good oral health, that is the reason we entered this profession in the first place. 
But there is also another component to this: under most PPO and HMO insurance plans regular cleanings are 100% covered, fillings are at least partially covered, and that means no or little out-of-pocket costs, so you can use this saved money for improving an already healthy smile, like teeth whitening, veneers or Invisalign! Imagine that - healthy AND beautiful smiles! What would a dentist like more than that! Right?

Referrals! A happy Patient will tell everyone and our Patients' beautiful smiles are our business cards! Everybody will compliment you for a brighter smile, whiter teeth, straighter teeth, or an overall happier smile! If you don't get those compliments then you need to contact us today!

How to get whiter teeth ?

Our teeth naturally lose their white color as we age, from external influences such as coffee, tea, red wine, soy sauce, caramel color, chocolate, smoking etc. a teeth whitening procedure will have a lot of cosmetic and medical benefits for your teeth, but not only that. The increased awareness for a healthy smile rapidly changes your hygiene habits for the better! As a result, Patients generally have significant improvements in oral and systemic health just from whitening their teeth! "Having your teeth whitened makes you feel good, it's like wearing a great outfit or a wonderful accessory!"
Therefore you start getting more compliments and see that others are looking at you in a different, nicer way, and that usually boosts your confidence! Teeth whitening is the easiest dental cosmetic procedure that can dramatically improve your smile!
So wouldn't you want a chance at all these many benefits? How can you get your teeth whiter, how hard is it and how much does it cost?
Well, you'll be surprised how easy, comfortable and inexpensive it is compared to the value you get!
You can try different whitening products you can buy at the drug store, but they only go that far. They work best to maintain your white teeth after you whitening procedure. They hardly go in between teeth or close to the gums, and you'll see the yellower shade there.
So the best way to do it is in a dental office, and let the professionals take care of this. Is it expensive? Some dentists offer free Zoom teeth whitening for new Patients, some charge up to a couple hundred dollars or so. It's totally worth it for the benefits you get, absolutely!
The problem with Zoom whitening is that it was invented about a decade ago and it was THE teeth whitening procedure at the time. But it has a major inconvenience, it takes a while to warm up the whitening substance on your teeth and that gives an uncomfortable sensation and sensitivity afterwards. That scared a  lot of people away and even the excitement of an easily improved smile wasn't able to bring them back.
Also, dentists who offer free teeth whitening hope that you need a teeth cleaning or a deep cleaning that they can charge for, or even some cavities to take care of, which you should do anyway.
But in the last few years a new technology involving Laser Teeth Whitening came up, which is a better, shorter process to activate the whitening gel. That's why it is faster and that means less to no discomfort and less to no sensitivity afterwards. Exactly, isn't that perfect? Isn't that what we all want and can't wait to get it done?
Yes it is!
Now, if only Patients wouldn't be so scared of sensitivity from the old process or previous bad experiences! And that's why we try to explain the difference and how easy and convenient this is, not like the old school whitening process.
Also, it most likely isn't free since the diode Laser used is a complex, expensive machine, but Aliso Viejo Dental has promotions all the time, we had it for $99 at one point. Isn't $99 worth getting your teeth whiter in as little as 20 minutes, with almost no discomfort or sensitivity? People who answered Yes to this question changed their lives in a day and improved their smiles, their self esteem, their chances for a better image, better relationships, maybe a promotion and a better version of themselves!

Turn The Tide on Opioids

There is a wave of reducing the prescriptions for opioids recently and that's a good thing!
We signed the pledge to #TurnTheTide on opioids on https://turnthetiderx.org, a site supported by the Surgeon General of the US, Cigna and other big names. You know there is something going on and there is a better chance to make things happen when the big hats get involved.
We believe in avoiding pain in the first place if possible,  that's why we start with Laser surgery to reduce post-operative pain whenever possible. And  we don't prescribe opioids anyway unless absolutely necessary and they are the LAST resort in managing pain.

Opioids are drugs that work by reducing the intensity of pain signals that reach your brain. These drugs can be helpful for a short time but they have serious risks.  

Let's not get into how we arrived here, nearly two decades ago US doctors were encouraged to be more aggressive about treating pain, often without enough training and support to do so safely. And this coincided with heavy marketing of opioids. Many doctors were even taught – incorrectly – that opioids are not addictive when prescribed for legitimate pain.

The results have been devastating. Since then the opioid overdose deaths have quadrupled and the prescriptions have increased tremendously, yet the amount of pain reported by Americans has not changed. Now, nearly 2 million people in America have a prescription opioid use disorder, contributing to increased heroin use and the spread of HIV and hepatitis C.


But we can turn this around, and everyone has do their part and it starts with each and every one of us.

A major way that people become addicted and overdose is by using someone else's opioid medications. So we should all store and dispose of those pills safely, keep opioid painkillers in a safe place and out of reach of others. Make sure to responsibly dispose of any unused opioids, check for any drug take-back program or your pharmacy mail-back or return program in your community to safely dispose of unused opioids. Please ask our office at Aliso Viejo Dental too, we can help with safe disposal of pain killers or other unused medications.

Opioid use disorder can occur when a patient has a hard time controlling his or her opioid use, which lead to significant health or social problems. There are effective treatments for opioid use disorder available, if you or someone you know has an addiction to pain medication, talk to your doctor or contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s treatment help line at (800) 662-HELP.

Call or Text

Communications have evolved over time, back in the day we used to send telegrams (oh, don't admit you remember those, you don't want to date yourself!) when we needed to send a message quick. Or send a letter in the mail when the message was larger and we wanted to explain or describe things properly. And then the telephone came up a while ago and that simplified a lot of things! It was quick, fairly cheap in the beginning and we could instantly take care of anything we needed to communicate. Quickly it became the main system in offices and homes. And then the cell phones came up and it got even simpler and quicker, now we could text when we needed to say something quick. We went full circle to the telegrams, except now the message was instantly in the palms of our hands!
Internet came up and email became the easiest, fastest way to communicate long letter-type messages. Again, full circle, but this time it was almost instant.
The text message is still one of the most popular ways to communicate, especially for the younger generations. It's short, no need to waste time with intros and good byes, it's instant and efficient. Except it doesn't work on land lines. Well, until now, when we have IP phones that also use apps on cell phones (oh, don't admit you know what these are, you don't want to look too nerdy!). That's what Aliso Viejo Dental has been using for a few years now, since we can answer emergency work calls anywhere at night and over the weekend. Also, because of the transcribed voice messages into emails and available in the app too. Oh, and also because of this new feature they introduced recently to be able to send and receive texts from our office's phone! That's right, now you can call OR text us to 949-425-1447, whichever you prefer. No need to use many words, "I need to set up an appt for next Fri" will do. Go ahead, give it a try!

Clean your tongue

Brushing twice a day and flossing are great habits, but we also need to brush our tongue too once in a while to prevent bad breath. You can use use the bristles of your toothbrush or you can try a specialized brush with a built-in tongue cleaner on the back, like the Colgate 360 and others.

Tongue Brushing Techniques: The tongue harbors bacteria and food particles trapped under a thin layer of mucus. Remove this odor-causing buildup by using a small dab of toothpaste and carefully brushing the top of the tongue. Start by reaching to the back of the tongue, and then work toward the front. Make sure you brush the entire surface of the tongue using gentle pressure and finish by rinsing with water.

For a more thorough cleaning, use a tongue scraper, again, use gentle pressure. This tool is usually made of soft, flexible plastic and gently peels the thin mucus-based layer of debris from the tongue. Rinse the scraper under warm water after each swipe of the tongue.

How Often Should You Clean Your Tongue? If you can, each time you brush and floss your teeth finish your dental care routine with a tongue cleaning. Realistically, clean your tongue once every few days. If you have dry mouth or notice a foul taste in your mouth, try cleaning your tongue more often to improve this situation.
If you have any other questions, or you need to make an appointment, please visit us online at AlisoViejoDental.com or call or text us at 949-425-1447.