Washington Center for Dentistry

I just returned from a vacation to the islands that dot the shoreline of the country of Croatia. Known as the "Dalmatian Coast," this part of the world boasts heavenly turquoise waters of the Adriatic Sea.

And by happy coincidence, I had already met one of our tour guides three years ago on another trip! A handsome young man in his 30s, he loves to help travelers discover new places and appreciate the cultures of other people. I was happy to be reunited with him. And as I complimented him on how wonderful he looked, I suddenly realized that his smile looked different--and terrific.

And just as that thought occurred to me--as if reading my mind--he excitedly shared his news: "Can you see the difference since you last saw me?" he asked. "I had bonding done on my front teeth. I used to try to hide my smile, and this has changed my life. I'm smiling all the time now."

That's when I recalled that his front teeth used to be dark, and some were also chipped. Now they were lighter, straighter--and much more handsome! It's amazing how a little bonding can mean so much. It surely did the trick for his smile--and for his new happier state of mind!

Be well...judi

Can We Talk? Instant Messaging G-L-O-B-A-L-L-Y About Your Smile...

Who would have guessed just a few years ago that we would be carrying on practically real-time conversations--over the internet--with patients from England and Kuwait?

People are trolling all over cyber space for info about veneers, Invisalign, implants, whitening, gum lifts. They are informed dental consumers--constantly on the look out for updated knowledge to help them make good choices for treatment. And with today's business travel going more global than ever--patients are totally comfortable coming for appointments on a stopover in the Nation's Capital. They love getting hotel and restaurant info from our website. No problem.

One young businessman is coming for new veneers while he is in DC for a few weeks before returning to his job in Kuwait. Another just emailed from London about getting new crowns to improve his smile.

What a small world!

Be well...judi

Time was when the "Face Lift" was the iconic symbol of the ultimate makeover. Having skin redraped and tucked around the face was the ideal antidote for the aging face. But now, "Rejuvenation Dentistry" is just as commonplace. In fact, many patients arrive at our office determined to upgrade their smile--as "Step No. 1" on the journey to a newer, younger self.

"No matter how youthful my skin looks, I know I can't look younger if my smile still looks old!" said a patient recently on the day she received her 10 new veneers. "As a matter of fact, I think that a younger, healthier smile--by itself--can do more for an aging face than just a face lift."

Times sure have changed.

Be well--judi

It's no longer surprising that hundreds of people every year become our new patients after finding us on the internet. Every one searches for every thing nowadays.

As expected many are new to the area,and they are looking for a new dental practice--usually a place near their work. But you might be surprised to hear that many are not new to Washington and they already have a dentist--one they actually still like!

"Hi" I'm thinking about having veneers done," they say. "My dentist is a nice guy. But I don't feel comfortable having him do this kind of work. I just don't think he does much of it."

We hear this quite a lot. And who can blame them? Cosmetic dentistry not only is a big step for some of us, but it also can be a big financial investment. This conflict reinforces how difficult it can be for patients to choose the right place, and the right doctor. I advise these patients to do two things:
1.Visit different dental offices on the web, look at before and after photos--of actual patients treated in that office (some doctors buy stock photos).
2.Try to make an appointment to pay an on-site visit to meet the doctor, and hear what he/she has to say about your case.

These steps reveal the doctor's level of experience and also (and this is important) whether the doctor has "good taste in teeth." In the end, there needs to be an intuitive feeling of comfort--that this doctor will understand and provide the correct result.

...That's what many patients say they dream about. And that's what many patients ask for when they call us for the first time. And who can blame them? Who doesn't like a nice, clean, bright smile?

Just the other day, a 61-year-old medical doctor left our office with a spring in his step and a brighter smile on his face. And all it took was one hour under the patented blue light of our Britesmile lamp. He recalled that he had a white smile when he was young, but now he felt self-conscious about his smile because his teeth looked brown--and old!

No more! His before-and-after photos tell the story: A dramatic transformation, a journey back in time--to the smile of his youth! "Terrific" was the word he used to describe his excitement. And now that his teeth are a nice light color, he's ready to place some veneers that will match his lighter front teeth. Not bad for a one-and-a-half hour afternoon visit--and all while he watched a DVD movie!

Be well...judi

Do those so-called "Invisible" braces really work? That's the most-asked question about the tooth-straightening treatment known as "Invisalign." And, we are delighted to report that our patients have gotten amazing results with the clear plastic trays or aligners that no one can see!

Popular treatment. We know because we have done hundreds of cases, more than most other dental practices in the region. That means patients of all ages--from 20s to 60s, and up!

Invisalign is a wonderful, adult-friendly way to straighten a smile. Our patients report that wearing the custom-made trays is an extremely easy way to realign teeth--without anyone knowing! A new tray is worn every two or three weeks. These are wonderful advantages, especially since the majority of adult Invisalign patients--also wore metal braces as teenagers. Yes, most Invisalign patients are lapsed orthodontia patients.

A Second Chance. "It's a huge plus for all of us who wore those ugly metal wires as children, but did not wear our retainers, and everything shifted," says a 32-year-old lawyer, who lives and works in the District. "Now we have a second chance at a straight smile."

Be well...judi

Happy Day. It just so happened during a recent afternoon in our office that three men were getting the final delivery of beautiful, pearlescent crowns and veneers on their front teeth. This is a happy day for our patients, because they walk out with a brand new smile. That often means a big change in how they look.


Photos told the story. "I started to notice that I was looking older in photos, that my teeth looked kind of crooked and brown," said a 48-year-old financial analyst, who never dreamed he would be interested in cosmetics. "I know my smile used to look pretty good, not like this. And I didn't like it, especially since there are a lot of younger guys in my office."

That's all changed now--after a session under a Britesmile bleaching light, four porcelain crowns and four porcelain veneers.

And our doctors readily admit that men really go for a smile that will help them appear healthy and strong, a must-look nowadays for men, both in and out of the workplace.