#Selfies

For years and year we had photo albums that we could show our friends when they visited. And we had wedding albums and yearbooks and wallet size pictures to remind us of our loved ones. Then we had Picasa (anyone remembers that?) and yahoo pictures and all those online storage places where our friends could log in and see our vacation photos.
And then it all exploded when social media started the revolution, now we could post pictures every day and our friends could see them right away. Remember when we logged in to Facebook on our desktops at home and scrolled through all the posts and looked at all the pics our friends posted and shared?
Those pictures were the proof we were "there", they were proof that we had a great time with our friends, proof that we are happy and enjoying life to the max!
That's why we started taking selfies, because they were instant and reflected our happiness in that moment! That's how Instagram popped up, then SnapChat and all the filters that made us look funny and put a smile on everyone's faces!
Isn't that great? When it comes to posting our own pictures to leave a trail of our digital life for others to enjoy too - it is great!
And it highlights how good, healthy and happy we look, and how blessed we are to live this life! But that puts pressure on some of us to have the perfect smile that everyone else has in their selfies. Fortunately somehow, selfies only need a teeth whitening and a cleaning to look good in pictures, no one will see your gum infections or bleeding, no molar crown missing or molar missing altogether, and we can rarely see the dark amalgam fillings or cavities.
So to be selfie ready a quick teeth whitening would do it, but to have a good oral health (that affects your overall health) please contact Aliso Viejo Dental at 949-425-1447 or visit our website, we would be happy to discuss an affordable treatment plan with you!

12 Signs You Need To See A Dentist

Oh, and we can come up with 12 more! Here's why: because you shouldn't see your visit to the Dentist as a "last resort", "I'll wait till it hurts" or "I can take care of this later" kind of thing.
This is what American Dental Association lists as "must see a Dentist" reasons - pain, gums problems, you try to hide your smile, check-ups on previous dental work, medical issues, you're pregnant, trouble eating, dry mouth, tobacco, TMJ, spots and sores in your mouth or regular cleanings.
Yes, if anything bothers you in any way or hurts then definitely see a Dentist. Your pain or your situation will only get worse and it will be harder to treat, will take longer and it might cost more. In some cases if your bones recess with time, it will be harder, or close to impossible to get Implants any more.

But how about when it doesn't hurt? Everything is fine and you had your teeth forever and they worked just fine for you? Well, your smile says a lot about you! Most people say that's how they make their first impression about you these days, actually more important for your looks than the rest of your body. But we care a lot to stay fit, lose weight and have a healthy body, way more than we used to do a few decades ago. Just like that we should care to have a beautiful, bright, healthy smile that says a lot about us! From the first impressions to the perceived social status and health - a lot can come from just our smile. When you see someone with yellow teeth, dark spots or even missing teeth what do you think about them? They are procrastinators, they don't stay on top of things, they don't take care of stuff as they should, or they simply can't afford it (sad, but that's what people's firsts thoughts are). Would you hire or date someone like that? Studies show that - again, sadly- we won't.
So here are a few more reasons you should visit your Cosmetic Dentist even though there is "no problem" with your smile.

• You can get a healthier smile just by getting a cleaning and a few tips about better habits.
• You can get a brighter smile, LASER Teeth Whitening is affordable, fast and easy these days, you can do it in your lunch break.
• You can get Invisalign (adult clear braces) that is barely noticeable and it will straighten you teeth.
• You can get Crowns for your worn teeth (from teeth grinding, see below), you will notice that is easier to chew foods that you avoided lately and you never thought you had a problem with that. That will improve your diet, your digestion and your overall health.
• You can get Veneers that will dramatically improve the looks of your front teeth and your smile overall.
• You can get Gum Treatment that you never knew you had issues with (receding gums are a problem for older people), our Biolase Diode LASER might do wonders for you.
• You can get a Night Guard to help with your teeth grinding during your sleep.
• To get Implants for your missing or decayed teeth to improve your bite and your looks.
• To safely remove old Amalgam/Mercury fillings that you had forever, you know, the dark spots on your teeth that everyone sees when you laugh and they hate them. And Mercury is toxic, by the way.
• To get a Smile Makeover and get a beautiful new smile for the rest of your life!
• And many other reasons that your Dentist will determine at your next visit, go ahead and make your appointment now and change your life for the better!

"But I can't afford this right now" you might say. Well, think twice, we offer CareCredit, a financing program same as cash with no interest for up to 2 years. You can improve your smile now and make affordable payments with no money down.
So let's start improving your Smile today!
http://www.AlisoViejoDental.com

The health and looks of your teeth and the perceived social status

Besides your regular cleaning, what is the most common reason you go to the dentist? Tooth hurting? Well, it's a good time to make an appointment with Aliso Viejo Dental because the health of your teeth is starting to become a social status too.

Good teeth have always been an indicator of good hygiene and health, but lately it's also an indicator of how wealthy you might be. Recent studies even show that bad teeth might hamper social mobility or status for certain people as rising healthcare costs directly affect people and how they have access to dental treatment or orthodontists or if they would pay for cosmetic dentistry.
Those studies show that people who cannot afford these types of procedures or dental care are being “left behind” and might even be discriminated against because of the health or beauty of their teeth. Actually, this seems to become a new unnoticed discrimination when it comes to job security and social status, according to several studies conducted by social scientists.
When researchers digitally manipulated the teeth and smiles of subjects in pictures and asked people to give their first impressions, they noted similar patterns of discrimination against guys with poor oral health. Those with crooked, yellow or missing teeth were judged to be of limited intelligence (!), low class, bad parents, less professional, less physically beautiful and lacking social skills! Wow! This means that bad teeth might prevent otherwise qualified candidates from getting better jobs or promotions.
There is a social cost of going without dental care, too. Numerous studies show a strong correlation between appearance and income. Research has found that "better than average" looking people earn 5% to 10% more. Most studies say that your smile is the first thing others see when they form their first impression of you, and that makes more sense here.

Your oral health is very important and can be a first chance for your dentist to find other health problems before your doctor can, they say that the mouth is a mirror of your overall health.
Fortunately, there are ways to have wonderful teeth, a great Smile and good oral health without having to pay too much. We take most PPO and HMO insurance, we have affordable procedures and great no interest payment plans with CareCredit, so schedule your appointment today or just call us at (949) 425-1447 for more info!