Introducing Digital X-Rays!

Dexis Platinum
Our office continually strives to provide important enhancements in oral health care for our patients. This is why we now offer digital x-rays using the first intra-oral digital radiography system to be accepted by the American Dental Association into the highly prestigious ADA Seal Program, Dexis Platinum!

Unlike conventional radiographs (x-rays) on film, we do not have to wait for the dental assistant to develop a digital radiographic image like in the past. Now we can view an enhanced dental x-ray on a computer screen instantly. Dr. Mangia can now magnify the x-ray, allowing him to better see problem areas and making it possible for him to diagnose treatment sooner and faster, before it becomes a bigger problem and more expensive.

What Does This Mean For You?
Digital images remain crisp when enlarged which allow for clinically meaningful images that are extremely clear and highly detailed. This means Dr. Mangia will not only see areas of concern more clearly, he will also see them sooner. This will help prevent extensive work on your teeth.

Digital x-rays are more comfortable for the patient and also allow for shorter appointments because we do not need to wait for the films to develop. That means less time in the chair and less time out of your busy schedule.

Worried About Radiation Exposure?
Recently, there have been several warnings regarding radiation. Here at Dr. Mangia’s office we take every precaution to minimize the exposure to radiation when taking x-rays. When using film x-rays in the past, our office used the fastest capturing film in order to give the patient the least amount of radiation exposure. We also provide the patient with an x-ray shield made of lead to protect you when radiographs are necessary.

By switching to digital x-rays, we reduced the already minimal radiation exposure by 50%! The new advancements in digital radiographs allow us to reduce the number of retakes due to under-and over-exposure and have lower radiation dosages. It is important to weigh the costs and benefits of radiographs. The benefits of taking them are vast when it comes to your health because x-rays are an essential tool in diagnosing infection, decay and many other problems. The cost of not taking x-rays may be extensive and expensive treatment that could have either been minimized or even prevented.

More Benefits
In addition to reducing radiation exposure and decreasing chair time, digital radiographs are a green technology! They do not require film and therefore, there is no developer or fixer to dispose. They provide a more accurate tool for Dr. Mangia overall, and are faster, of a better quality and a more comfortable experience for our patients. And no, there is no increase in cost.

Still Worried about Radiation?

Advances in radiograph technology have overwhelmingly reduced exposure to radiation. As stated previously, digital x-rays have reduced exposure by 50%! But just how much radiation do you get from a dental x-ray and how harmful is it? The answer may please you.

Dental x-rays are expressed in millirems (mrem). 1 mrem is equivalent to .001 rem. A rem is a unit used to measure radiation. The typical dental x-ray exposes you to 2 or 3 millirems, a fraction of one unit of radiation. But what does this even mean?

To put this into perspective, here are a few facts on radiation exposure that occur in your everyday life from a peer
reviewed journal entitled “Radiation Exposure: The Facts vs. Fiction” by the University of Iowa Radiation Protection
Office:
Smoke detectors give off less than 1 mrem per year
Living in a brick house versus a wood one gives off about 10mrem per year
Cooking with natural gas produces about 9 mrem annually
Smoking may give you up to 16,000 mrems
Reading a book for 3 hours per day gives off about 1mrem due to the materials in the wood/paper
Watching T.V. will expose you to 30mrems per year
Taking a flight from Los Angeles to New York will put you into contact with 5 mrem
Sleeping next to someone for eight hours will give you 2mrem

Obviously, you probably would not refuse to fly on an airplane, live in a brick house, read books, live without smoke detectors, or sleep with your spouse because of the small amount of radiation. If you would not refuse these activities, why would you refuse x-rays if the exposure to radiation is either about the same or less than the activities listed above?

The benefits of x-rays definitely outweigh any risks. Here at Dr. Mangia’s office we take every precaution to protect you from radiation exposure. We would never recommend radiographs if we did not deem them necessary or benefit you.

We used Steven D. Rima’s article entitled “How Much Do You Get From Dental X-Rays” as a reference. Steven D. Rima is a Board Certified Health Physicist with over 20 years of experience in radiation safety, including teaching medical and dental professionals for state licensure to take medical and dental x-rays.

Rima, Steve D. "Dental X-Rays." Welcome to the Physics Department at ISU. Web. 12 Jan. 2011. .

If you have any questions feel free to call us anytime at (818)785-0750 or email us at
optimumdentistry@sbcglobal.net.

Sleep Dentistry

We are sure you have seen the billboards or heard the commercials, but do you really know what sleep dentistry is? Sleep Dentistry (also known as Dental Sedation) is a semi-conscious state that leads to reduced anxiety in the chair. A Dental Anesthesiologist administers sedative medications before treatment in order to create a comfortable environment. We understand that a visit to the dentist can be uncomfortable at times. Some patients experience anxiety in the chair, have a hyper gag reflex or become tiresome during a long procedure. We strive to provide the best possible care for our patients and want to create the most comfortable atmosphere for them. This is why our office is now offering Sleep Dentistry. If you are interested or know someone who may benefit from sedation., please give us a call for more information.

The ABC's of Dental Insurance...

Over the years, I have heard the same statements from so many patients. Patients are shocked to hear that they may not get the benefits promised to them. So with that in mind, I would like to provide you some basic insurance information and terminology used by the insurance companies, in hopes that these ongoing articles will help you understand your insurance benefits. Here are a few examples of some of the questions I have been asked:

Question: Why didn’t my insurance pay for my cleaning, when I get 2 free a year?

Answer: Most patients are under the impression that the insurance company will pay for two of their hygiene visits. Generally they will, as long as you have not used all of your annual maximum.

For example: You have a $1000 maximum, treatment has been completed in either our office or with a specialist, If the cost of these combined visits have met or exceeded your annual maximum, you will not have any remaining benefits to be paid out for additional treatment or cleanings; your hygiene visits are included in the annual maximum. Therefore, your hygiene visits will only be covered providing you have the benefits to cover them.

Question: My friend and I have the same insurance, why does her insurance pay more than mine?

Answer: Did you know that Dental plans are typically business arrangements between an insurance company and the employer. It is your employer who decides what type, and the amount of coverage you will receive.

For example: 2 patients work for different employers but have the same insurance carrier. One employee may have a $1000 per year maximum, the other a $3000 per year maximum. One may have a traditional plan that covers anywhere between 50 to 80% on procedures and the other plan covers 100% of procedures. Why you ask? Well, that is what the employer has decided to offer its employees.

Sherman Oaks Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry, Dr. Guy Mangia - SHERMAN OAKS, CA, 91403 | PatientFYI.com

Sherman Oaks Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry, Dr. Guy Mangia - SHERMAN OAKS, CA, 91403 | PatientFYI.com

Smile Evaluation

At Home Smile Analysis: There are a number of ways to analyze your smile, there is the Emotional Smile Evaluation and the Objective Evaluation. Below is simple list of questions using each approach you can do in your own home. Take a few minutes, stand in front of a mirror and answer a few
questions.

The Emotional Smile Evaluation: is based on an individual’s subjective perceptions of their own smile. Below are some questions that may help you reveal how you really feel about your smile; how it might affect your self image; how it impacts interactions with others; and how it influences the quality of relationships.

Do you love the way your teeth and smile look?
Do you ever hold your hand up in front of you mouth when laughing or smiling?
Have you ever caught yourself looking at someone’s smile and wishing you had a similar smile?
How does your smile make you feel? Confident?
Have you ever held back a smile because you were uncomfortable or embarrassed about your smile?
When taking pictures, do you tend to smile with your lips closed, instead of flashing a happy smile?
How would a beautiful new smile make you feel?
What would you like to change about your smile?
Are you embarrassed to visit the dentist due to the condition of your teeth, or the length of time since your last visit?

The Objective Smile Analysis: For the objective analysis, the best thing for you to do is stand in front of a mirror. Now smile at yourself using a normal smile. Then look at the mirror and think of a moment in your life that gave you a big laughing smile. This big smile could be much larger than you feel comfortable with most of the time if you are not happy with your teeth. When your smile is improved, your smile appears more spontaneous because you look and feel great. So let’s figure out what is holding your big smile back, and what bothers you about your teeth.

Are all of your teeth brilliant white or are they somewhat yellow, dark or stained?
Are there spaces between your teeth?
Do you grind your teeth, or are the biting edges of your teeth chipped or worn down?
Are you missing any of your teeth?
Do you have teeth that are crooked, uneven or out of line?
Do any of your teeth appear shorter, wider, larger or smaller than the others?
Do you have any grayish, black or silver fillings in your mouth?
Have your gums receded, or do they appear red or puffy?
Do you have teeth that are stained or discolored ?
Do you have old crowns that may have dark edges at the top, or don’t look natural?
Do you have a “gummy” smile— showing too much gum tissue or do your gums appear thick?

WHEN YOU IMPROVE YOUR SMILE, YOU WILL FEEL BETTER AND MORE CONIFIDENT! SO LET’S FIGURE OUT WHAT IS HOLDING YOUR SMILE BACK. WHAT IT IS THAT BOTHERS YOU ABOUT YOUR TEETH. PLEASE GIVE US A CALL, WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT BIG SMILE AGAIN!

A Positive Attitude In Life Leads Us On A Positive Path !!!

Without a positive attitude, life can become a dry and tasteless experience. We tend to forget about taking care of ourselves and our health. We focus on the negative around us, such as the economic issues we may be facing. Anyone can become enthusiastic and positive for a little while, but to keep enthusiasm steadily flowing through our lives is a great art. The secret is remarkably simple: live in a state of appreciation; appreciate the special qualities within everyone; appreciate the wonder of nature and give thanks to the cycle of life and everyone's contribution to it. Enthusiasm is infectious, especially when it is based on an appreciation of, and love for life itself. With that in mind lets talk about simple positive things we can do for ourselves, and our health that will make a difference in 2010!

Dental Hygiene Visits Be sure to make that long over due appointment to see the hygienist and the annual exam with the doctor. Sure, not getting regular check-ups may make you less kissable, but did you know that studies have linked heart attacks and strokes to gum disease associated with poor oral hygiene? A trip to your dentist every 3-4 months could reduce your risk of serious health problems!

Oral Cancer Screenings A routine oral cancer examination/ screening is appropriate and necessary. This can easily be achieved during a regular dental visit. The stage at which oral cancer is diagnosed is critical to the course of the disease. When detected at its earliest stage, oral cancer is more easily treated and cured.

Teeth Whitening Did you know that having whiter teeth can create a more positive self image. As appearance and color improve, we tend to smile more. Smiling and laughing will improve ones mood, and of those around us. That in itself, is a good reason to wear a better smile. With an improved self-image and confidence, other parts of life are likely to improve.


Quit Smoking The reasons for quitting are simple: you'll lower the chances of having a heart attack, stroke , cancer and periodontal disease. A smoke-free environment is healthier for those around you. If you're pregnant, you'll improve your chances of having a healthy baby; and the money spent on tobacco can be used on other things.

Diet and Exercise Whatever you choose to do, do it regularly (at least 3 times a week) to lower your risk of serious illness. A healthy diet is the key to a healthy lifestyle and doesn’t have to be treated as a chore. Eating sensibly and walking short distances, instead of driving, are just some of the simple ways that you can improve your over all well being.

Chewing Gum Scientific research has shown that chewing sugarless gum can make a positive contribution to oral health, but more specifically to teeth. Chewing gum stimulates one of the most powerful defense mechanisms of the human body- saliva . What are the oral benefits? Chewing gum alleviates dry mouth, freshens breath, neutralizes acids, cleans the mouth of food debris, whitens teeth by reducing stains, reduces plaque, reduces gingivitis to maintain healthy gums and kills germs that cause bad breath.

Care Credit

As a service to our patients, we are pleased to offer the CareCredit card, the nation's leading patient payment program. With CareCredit you can finance 100% of your dental care and there are no upfront costs, no annual fees, and no pre-payment penalties. So, you can begin your treatment today and conveniently pay with low, monthly payments.

CareCredit offers a full range of payment plans so you can find one that works best for you. With the popular No Interest Payment Plans* there are no interest charges if you pay your balance in full within the specified time period. Monthly payments can be as low as 3% of your balance. For procedure fees from $300 and up, CareCredit offers 24, 36, 48, & 60 month plan options with low monthly payments available.

CareCredit can be used by the whole family for ongoing treatment without having to reapply. And by using CareCredit for your dental care, you can save your other credit cards for household or unplanned expenses. It only takes a few minutes to apply for CareCredit and you'll receive an online decision in seconds! Apply now or see our staff for more details.

* terms and conditions

Click the Link Below to Apply Now

Care Credit Application