A BEAUTIFUL SMILEWelcome to a different kind of

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www.DentistWestHills.com

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23101 Sherman Place, Suite 211West Hills CA 91307

DrLane@DentistWestHills.com

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Please Don’t Keep Us a Secret.We love your referrals!

Thank you for telling your family and friends where you go for dental care. Here are some people who recently came for their first visit.SYDNEY CSHARON DJUSTIN HTERRY H

KIN JDAINORA S

ELIZABETH BRYAN DWILL G

JUDITH GLORRIE H

MARY KEVAN E

KIMBERLY LROSIE MSHARI PANITA JRISA KTORI L

CHARIG SSTEPHEN CESTHER F

HEATHER GJOSHUA H

JONATHAN NDANIELLE PLAUREN B

ELIAS GROBERT SDARRYL A

BEVERLY MHILLARY J

Congratulations Greg!

Greg is our referral drawing winner!

Refer a friend or family member and you’ll become eligible to win a $150 gift card that can be used

anywhere.

This is our way of saying thank you for the many wonderful referrals we receive from our patients.

and the Winner is....Greg!

If your smile has an imperfection you’ve always wanted to fix, your dentist may have an easy solution for you called cosmetic bonding. In fact, if you’ve ever had a cavity repaired using a tooth colored filling, you may already be familiar with the bonding process and the materials used. The same material is used in cosmetic bonding to correct blemishes, gaps and irregular sized teeth because of its ability to mimic the color and translucency of our actual teeth. The procedure is also fairly simple, and can be completed in your dentist’s office with very little or no preparation.

How Is the Process Completed?Think of cosmetic bonding as being similar to sculpting. Since it is used most frequently to correct chipped or gapped teeth, when Dr. Lane works with the bonding material, he assumes the role of artist as well as dentist, seeking to restore your smile to its most realistic look, feel and luminescence. First, the tooth is prepared by etching it to allow the bonding material to adhere to the tooth. This process is painless, and requires no anesthesia. Then, the bonding material is applied in layers to the tooth to maximize its strength and to create a look that most resembles your natural tooth. Once the desired look has been achieved, the composite is hardened with an ultra-violet light, and shaped and polished into its final form.

How Long Will My Tooth Bonding Last?While tooth bonding can’t compare to the strength nature has given our teeth, it does come relatively close. With care, a bonded tooth can last ten to fifteen years for most patients when attention is paid to good dietary and eating habits. For

example, as with your natural teeth, liquids such as wine and coffee can stain a bond over time, particularly where the bond meets the natural tooth. Also, if a bond exists on the biting edge of a tooth – as it would be in the case of a chipped front tooth – it can be vulnerable to breakage. Refraining from snapping into a carrot using a bonded tooth would be a good idea. The biting of such foods can easily be diverted to one’s side teeth, therefore protecting the integrity of the bonded tooth.

How Do I care for My Bonded Tooth?Take care of a bonded tooth the same way as you care for all the other teeth. Regular brushing and flossing is key, and some dentists may even suggest a maintenance routine with a hygienist specifically skilled in maintaining bonded teeth. When brushing at home, you’ll want to be sure to use toothpaste that is not abrasive. Avoid baking soda and whitening toothpastes. Lastly, limiting your intake of alcohol is not only good for oral heath, but doing so also helps protect the bonding material from premature wear.

If you have any more questions about bonding, be sure to ask Dr. Lane. Bonding is one of the most affordable dental procedures available, and can benefit your smile and your self-confidence tremendously.

Tired of Staring at that Chipped Tooth in the Mirror? There’s a Simple Fix Available!

11 Tips That Can Help Your Child Prevent CavitiesThere’s nothing worse than subjecting your child to the whir of a dentist’s drill because you didn’t help them with simple oral hygiene habits. Sure, kids hate flossing as much as adults, but if we’re successful at instilling good behavior early on in life, those habits will provide them with a healthy mouth that will keep them smiling indefinitely.

“Ignore your teeth and they’ll go away,” the old saying goes. Protecting your child’s teeth from cavities can be as simple as following a few simple recommendations endorsed by Dr. Lane at A Beautiful Smile Center.

Here are 11 easy things you can do to keep cavities from taking root in your child’s mouth.

Regular brushing and flossing: Brush at least twice a day, floss at least once a day. Always brush at bedtime.

Don’t share your food and drink: Cavities can actually be contagious! Because the bacteria that causes them can be passed from one user to the next, it’s best to avoid sharing food and drink with children.

Visit the dentist: Most dentists recommend you should bring your child to a dentist after their first tooth arrives. Thereafter, the frequency of visits should be based your dentist’s recommendations.

Avoid frequent snacking: Constant snacking, particularly on sweets, provides the perfect environment for cavity-inducing bacteria to do their work. Limit snacking to healthy foods. If your children can brush, or use water as a mouthwash after snacking, that’s even better.

Eat crisp, water-dense fruit: Fruits high in water help keep your child’s mouth hydrated, which is particularly useful during a lunchbox meal.

Avoid additional sugar: This is good for the body as well, and common sense when it comes to teeth. Soda is a big no-no.

Consider dental sealants: Dr. Lane can place a protective sealant on your child’s teeth to prevent decay. The process is simple and can save future headaches.

Drink a lot of water: Water should be the beverage of choice. Bottled water is okay, but fluoridated tap water is best. Use a filter if you are concerned about the quality of your local tap water.

Some of you are diligent, returning at least every six months for an exam and to say hello to the team at A Beautiful Smile in West Hills that keeps your mouth healthy. But did you know it’s not just your mouth dentists take care of when you visit?

Dr. Lane and his staff are also on the hunt for health concerns that affect much more than your smile — they’re looking for illnesses that can affect your life.

Cancer If you’ve successfully rationalized not going to the dentist for years, or take a certain degree of pride in skipping your semi-annual visit, the results of a study of oral cancer patients may help you refocus.

That study found that “decreasing dental check frequencies (more than 12 months) may significantly increase the stage and size of tumors at diagnosis.”

That’s important. If plaque and gingivitis don’t motivate you, perhaps catching oral cancer early is.

Diabetes 25.8 million children and adults in the United States – 8.3% of the population – have diabetes. And not too far behind those 25.8 million are the estimated 79 million Americans with prediabetes.

Excessive tooth decay, gingivitis, fungal infections and a loss of taste sensation can all point to diabetes. An observant dentist will notice these concerns, and perhaps suggest a test for diabetes. Again, catching this disease early is critical to long-term health.

Beauty Believe it or not, others do notice the plaque on your teeth, the redness of your gums, and, of course, foul breath.

Regular visits to the dentist help to keep the mouth clean, helping you to avoid the advancement of these troubles into periodontal disease and all the fun that can come with that – including tooth loss, surgery and gum grafts.

In some ways, it’s helpful to consider a visit to the dentist as similar to a visit to the car dealership for your automobile tune-up. Each visit involves an oil change, but it also involves a check of many other systems that tie into the safety of your vehicle.

The same is true when visiting the dentist. Stay healthy — keep those regular appointments every six months!

“I’d recommend Gregg in a heartbeat. He’s a perfectionist. Has a great staff of friendly people.

I’ve gone to him for close to ten years. One couldn’t do better.”

– Lance A.

Patient Testimonials

My Teeth Feel Fine, Do I Really Need to See a Dentist?

Understanding health and dental insurance can be overwhelming, even for people paid to understand the stuff! Thankfully, most of what you need to know can be found online.

We sought out a few of the most comprehensive (and not overwhelming) sources for you to keep handy the next time you see something on a claim statement you don’t quite understand.

Glossaries Words! Words! Words! We found Humana’s glossary to be the most comprehensive, followed by Delta Dental and the ADA.

Plan Descriptors Beyond simple definitions, understanding what type of plan you have, its limitations, and how reimbursements are handled requires a bit more explanation.

For that, we found these sources from Delta Dental, and Fair Health Consumer to be informative.

Shopping for a plan?WebMD also offers a very good guide that covers what to look for in a plan before you decide on purchasing.

Lastly, keep in mind that your company’s benefit administrator is likely to have the most current and specific information related to your individual plan. Don’t be afraid to ask for their assistance. They might be able to save you a lot of headaches and research time!

Understanding Insurance Terminology

Minimize drinking juice: It’s best to drink juice in moderation. Juice can be acidic and sweet – two things that are not so good for our teeth.

Avoid sticky foods: Items like fruit leathers, cookies and candies aren’t good choices for healthy teeth any day of the week.

Consider cheeses and nut butters: Nuts and cheese have ingredients that help remineralize our teeth, and can be good additions to a lunchbox.

If you have a child with allergies, seed butters might be a possible option. However, always be sure to check with your allergist first to make sure the seed butters are safe for your child to consume.

Our Mission & PhilosophyOur mission is to provide our patients with the finest care and most comfortable dental experience in the San Fernando and Conejo Valleys.

Our dental philosophy is not merely to correct a tooth, but to change your life for the better. To us, that’s what dentistry is all about.

Our professionalism, technology and quality materials provide a solid foundation for our relationship with our patients. We listen to you and we work together to accommodate every patient’s long-term dental goals.We want to give you a beautiful smile and healthy mouth.

Along the way, we enhance our patients’ understanding of techniques and alternatives. We let you know in advance the What, Why, How and the benefit of our recommendations. If you are covered by dental insurance we’ll give you tips for making the most of it. With this knowledge comes the confidence to make dental decisions you’re comfortable with.

We want you to be comfortable. Then we can deliver quality dental care that’s tailored for you.