Although her musical chops were significant, her small town roots, her years struggling as a busker in Chicago and her relatable spirituality, and relationship woes (she broke up with her longtime boyfriend just hours before the final performance) made her a fan favorite during the ninth season of American Idol.

But just before embarking on her nationwide American Idols Live! Tour, she made a controversial reveal. Bowersox, who previously commanded a certain unpretentious, au natural appeal with her earthy dreadlocks and conspicuously gap-toothed smile, had apparently visited a cosmetic dentist. San Diego’s CBS 8 ran the TV Guide story that showed a picture featuring the 24-year old singer/songwriter with a pearly white row of gorgeous, perfectly aligned teeth.

Bowersox’s decision to invest in cosmetic work initially touched off some knee jerk backlash from her fan base. Some fans lamented the loss of her distinctive gap while others accused her of succumbing to vanity in the face of blinding stardom. But there’s more to the story than appearances.

Just prior to the final round of voting, Bowersox disclosed that she had been a longtime sufferer of diabetes. According to a USA Today interview, Bowersox had been reduced to begging outside of pharmacies in order to afford her insulin. “No one should ever have to do that,” she said, while pledging to use her platform as a celebrity to raise awareness and support for childhood diabetes. Individuals with diabetes are highly susceptible to dental health problems, which likely explains Bowersox’s own issues, which were not mentioned in the story circulated by CBS 8 San Diego.

Dental bonding, dental implants, and other cosmetic dental procedures have helped Bowersox rectify a symptom of her diabetes in a way that is symbolic of her crusade to help undo the damage that too little awareness of childhood diabetes has wrought upon the public at large.

In other words, while a licensed doctor may be guaranteed to have met the minimum standards and qualifications to perform routine dentistry, their licensure does not speak to their proficiency or academic background in cosmetic work.

In the world of cosmetic surgery, under-qualification is a persistent issue. Doctors from other specialties—such as internal medicine or podiatry—often switch over to cosmetic surgery seeking higher profits. This issue extends into the field of cosmetic dentistry. The responsibility then falls upon the consumer to determine which cosmetic dentists are true specialists.

One sign of a highly qualified cosmetic dentist is training from the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI). This highly acclaimed post-doctoral educational institute exposes dentists to specialized training in cosmetic procedures, such as dental implants and tooth whitening. The beauty of LVI dentist training is that it is an internationally recognized credential that can be easily verified by consumers who are researching a cosmetic dentist. San Diego patients can run a search online to see which courses have been completed by any given cosmetic dentist. La Jolla patients, New York patients, Chicago patients and patients from any city in the world can use the same system in order to verify that their cosmetic dentist has specific training in the procedures they offer.

In summary, it’s important to remember that cosmetic dentists are not required by law to have any post-doctoral training or education in new aesthetic procedures. Cosmetic dentists who wish to provide superior results, the utmost in safety, and more confidence in their services can voluntarily pursue additional training in the procedures and technologies they wish to utilize. By seeking an LVI-trained cosmetic dentist, you can be assured that your doctor has the knowledge and experience required to perform excellent work.

Those who have used removal dental fixtures in the past are now able to do away with the daily hassles. A dental implant is a sterile, titanium cylinder that permanently replaces the natural tooth root and holds a substitute tooth in place. Patients who receive dental implants and porcelain crowns may brush, floss, eat, and smile with greater confidence. While temporary dentures and bridges provided some functionality, they oftentimes cause further damage to the surrounding teeth and gums. Now, with the implants holding the replacement tooth/teeth in place, there is no additional irritation to the rest of the dental structure.

If you are currently using removable dentures and/or bridges, you may wish to visit a qualified dentist. Those in the Morristown area of New Jersey interested in dental implants often turn to Dr. Robert Rosenthal. You can visit his website for further information regarding this restorative procedure.

(credit: DrAharonov.com)

It takes an artist to recreate the subtle details that create beauty. When it comes to creating an attractive facial appearance for women or for men, it’s all about the little touché. That’s why plastic surgeons and cosmetic dentists are getting ever more detailed in their work. Once upon a time, it was sufficient enough to simply remove fat using liposuction; today, plastic surgeons are actually shaping and sculpting bodies and smoothing the overlying skin. Likewise, cosmetic dentists have gone beyond straightening teeth and ensuring cleanliness. They’ve moved onto tooth whitening and now, “dimpleplasty.”

Dimpleplasty is exactly what it sounds like—a cosmetic surgery procedure that adds a dimple (or two) to your smile. It’s a logical advancement in aesthetic surgery. With so much attention being lavished on the teeth for the sake of a stunning smile, it only makes sense to take a holistic approach and consider the entire face. The addition of a dimple is a subtle improvement, but it can make a big difference. Perhaps that’s what makes it so apt of a procedure. It is simple, quick, and non-invasive. The surgeon makes a tiny incision in the skin from the outside, which creates a small depression. A temporary suture is then put in place to hold the underside of the skin to a deeper layer. Once the suture dissolves, scar tissue holds the skin in place naturally, creating a permanent, artificial dimple. The procedure is very low risk and has minimal downtime—about a week of bruising is all.

Dimpleplasty is a relatively new procedure, but it’s expected to become a regular complement to tooth whitening. For example, Drs. Scott Meester and Mel Olafsen, two San Diego cosmetic dentists, offer a number of procedures alongside their most popular treatment: tooth whitening. As part of their “full smile makeover,” patients may receive non-surgical gum therapy, porcelain veneers, enamel reshaping and other procedures that contribute to a perfect smile. As dimpleplasty surgery gains popularity, you can expect to see this procedure offered alongside such smile-centric makeover packages.

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith can attest to this type of injury. Recently, in a game against the San Jose Sharks at the United Center, the puck hit his mouth and he lost a total of seven teeth. “I felt a chunk of some tooth,” Keith said, as reported by ESPN. “Teeth were falling out as I skated off. I coughed one up.” Needless to say, this hockey player would benefit from some, or a lot of, dental work.

Chicago cosmetic dentist Dr. Benjamin Fiss is one such professional who is skilled in improving a person’s smile with dental implants. No longer are dentures the only route to replacing missing teeth; dental implants resemble real teeth and are placed in the gums, typically with a titanium screw as the permanent root. Whether an individual needs to replace just one tooth, or a full set, dental implants provide security and will contribute to natural-looking results. Dental implants can restore both function and cosmetics. Crowns may be necessary when the tooth still exists, but is largely ruined. As for Keith’s situation, crowns would not be conducive to his condition.

As for brightening one’s smile, porcelain veneers or teeth whitening can do the trick, depending on the individual’s problem. Dr. Fiss will select the appropriate treatment plan for each patient should he or she qualify for a cosmetic dental procedure. To learn more about Dr. Fiss and his specialties, visit his website for additional information.

It is important for patients to visit a dentist who is trained and experienced in this type of dental treatment in order to ensure optimal results. Neuromuscular dentistry professionals have the ability to properly diagnose patients who are experiencing head and neck pains, as well as postural issues that stem from an improper bite. At the Columbus, Ohio practice of Mark Levy, D.D.S., he performs various tests to determine how to manipulate the bite; these tests include computerized jaw tracking, electromyography, sonography, and Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation (TENS). A relaxed bite is recorded.

The first step to treat TMJ is the use of anatomical orthotics to align the teeth and correct the bite, allowing the muscle to readjust in a more natural manner. Phase two involves more long term orthotics or orthodontics (braces) to fully improve the jaw’s position and reduce strain on the muscular structure that causes headaches and migraines.

In addition to treating patients with TMJ, Dr. Levy often meets with those who suffer from sleep apnea and/or snoring. Those in the Columbus, Ohio area may browse his website to schedule an appointment.

The stars of the big and small screens, many leading high-octane lifestyles fueled by coffee, cigarettes and alcohol, can’t be expected to have naturally gorgeous smiles. They pay top dollar to the finest cosmetic dentists for professional tooth whitening; and considering a dazzling smile can make or break their career, the investment is typically well worth it.

But what about the rest of us regular folks? We rise early, sip lattes, and indulge in an occasional cigarette or cocktail, as well. Unfortunately, over the years, our teeth pay the price. But unlike the stars, many may not get away with deducting professional tooth whitening as a business expense.

So the demand for affordable tooth whitening for the average consumer sent the industry scrambling for solutions. The first attempt came in the form of over-the-counter tooth whitening pastes, gels, and strips. To this day, these products promise movie star whiteness but deliver B-film results at their very best. The true breakthrough for accessible tooth whitening doesn’t come from a box – it comes from technology.

The breakthrough technology is called Laser “Zoom” Bleaching and combines a topical bleaching gel along with a special light treatment that activates the whitening agent. This is the element that is missing in at-home whitening kits and provides a far more uniform and dramatic tooth whitening. San Diego’s Dr. Scott Meester and Dr. Mel Olafsen use Zoom whitening to get patients’ teeth up to 10 shades whiter in as little as an hour.

A properly trained and equipped San Diego cosmetic dentist can perform these procedures as quickly and easily as a routine checkup or cleaning. From fillings to fluoride, the field of dentistry is always evolving to better serve the masses.

This trend seems to be holding true with the Cosmetic Dentistry field. Many Americans are finding that taking a quick trip down to Central or South America, or even heading up north to Canada, can sometimes save them hundreds or even thousands of dollars. But what price are we paying for cutting corners?

With the travel to a foreign country for the procedure itself, what becomes of after care? When we are trying to save money by visiting someone outside of the US, how do really know their experience and qualifications? With so many scary stories abounding on the internet in regards to people traveling to places like Mexico for things like breast augmentation or gastric bypass and passing away days later from improper medical practices or lack of sterility in the operating room, does a few more hundred dollars really matter in the grand scheme of things?

Personally, I would rather spend the money and save my health and peace of mind. What are your thoughts?

A company in San Diego, California has invented a drug called “Oraverse” which works as a vasodilator, allowing blood flow to return to the gums, lips and cheeks and allowing patients to regain feeling in as little as an hour. With so many cosmetic dentistry procedures being done under local anesthesia, a drug like Oraverse could make or break a patients decision on whether or not to have procedures done.

Personally, I love the idea of being able to have feeling back within an hour, but then again, I also like having an excuse to get off of work a little early every once in a while. No one likes the Dentist, but we sure don’t complain about the time off it requires to see them!

Requiring only local anesthetic, gums cam be lightened in a single visit with minimal to no pain felt afterwards. Being that this is a relatively new cosmetic dentistry procedure, the long lasting results are theorized to be a permanent solution. Many patients are seeking this treatment, as they recognize that the gums serve as a frame for the picture your smile presents.