Chapter 11: The Smile Trial | New York, NY

Open Wider book, author and staff

When investing in a major purpose, it is always nice to have a “try before you buy” test run. You test drive a vehicle; you try on an outfit – but what about surgeries? Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to have the same options when it comes to surgery? There is one that does give you that sneak peek – dental surgery. With today’s technology, you can now test drive your smile before you buy with a trail smile.

Temporaries, or provisionals, are the templates created so a patient can see a preview of their options, and there are plenty. Color, brightness, size, shape and texture can all be realized without a single ounce of pain or inconvenience. It is a great way to show patients that may be leery about a smile makeover, just what to expect. If they don’t like a certain aspect, we change it. We are in the search of designing YOUR perfect smile.

For the first level of the trial smile, we create an intraoral mock-up. Materials are sculpted to create a visual for the patient. Resin is used to visualize the length and color of the teeth and take measurements. The second level is the shaping and sculpting of each tooth. This is where the patient can give their thoughts on the way their teeth look. The third and final level is for those patients with more difficult cases, like flared teeth. It is an easier way to adjust the tooth’s angle without moving the entire root. Experience what your new smile would feel like with a trial smile.

To learn more about smile trials, get your copy of Open Wider from Amazon.com today!

If you are interested in dental college courses, contact Aesthetic Advantage at 212-794-3552 to register today! Or visit aestheticadvantage.com for additional information.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina, North Carolina and all surrounding areas.

Chapter 10: The Smile Lift | New York, NY

Young woman smiling with perfect dental health

We all fear the aging process. No one wants to get older, much less look older. But sadly, time waits for no man. As we age, our face begins to change. Our teeth begin to discolor and shift, the muscles in our face begin to lose its youthful elasticity. And as our face begins to sag, a phenomenon called facial collapse, oftentimes causing us to feel self-conscious.

When this happens, where is the first place we turn? Yes, the cosmetic surgeon. We want face-lifts and augmentations to various areas of our faces, in the hopes that we miraculously hold onto the last days of our youths. The problem is, when your procedure doesn’t turn out the way you wanted, it’s difficult to repair the damage.

This chapter discusses another option to the cosmetic surgery – a smile lift. It is likely that you’ve never heard of this dental procedure, but it can make a 50-year-old person look ten years younger with little invasive techniques or pain. Sound impossible? It’s time to make an appointment with your dental professional.

During this consultation, you will get together and design your smile. Size and color of teeth, the shape, everything is now in your hands. Afterwards you will receive what is called a trial smile as a template. This way you can take a “test drive” with your new smile. When all is perfect, your smile is created and there you have it – the smile you’ve always wanted, all yours for at least the next eight years!

To learn more about a visual guide to the smile, get your copy of Open Wider from Amazon.com today!

If you are interested in dental college courses, contact Aesthetic Advantage at 212-794-3552 to register today! Or visit aestheticadvantage.com for additional information.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina, North Carolina and all surrounding areas.

Chapter 9: Proactive Adolescent Health | New York, NY

kids smiling

You may think it’s just brushing your teeth, but many of the dental problems we face as adults can be completely prevented. Crooked teeth and bad bites are consequences we face because of the way our dental health was handled as children. As parents, we need to be proactive with our children’s smile by staying on top of dental visits and dental hygiene at home. As children, we learn from our parents and carry it on through our lives. So, as parents, we can change the cycle by teaching them to care for their smiles early.

In this chapter, we learn ten ways we can be proactive with our tiny human’s teeth. Not only will this ensure a healthy smile but will also give the keys necessary to continue to maintain that smile as they grow:

  • Take them to a pediatric dentist.
  • Allow your dentist to take advanced images of your child’s teeth and oral structures in order to spot potential problems as they develop.
  • Ask for a thorough mixed dentition evaluation at age 6-7 to determine if there is enough room for your child’s entire set of permanent teeth to come in.
  • Understand the growth pattern to stage an intervention.
  • Pay attention to your child’s breathing, both awake and asleep. Noisy breathing isn’t normal.
  • Make sure they get the correct amount of fluoride to prevent tooth decay.
  • Teach your child that dental hygiene is the same as personal hygiene.
  • Avoid sugary snacks. Replace with teeth-friendly snacks instead.
  • Remember that your child’s face will change as they grow; avoid early procedures that may be outgrown.
  • Make dental health a family affair.

To learn more about a visual guide to the smile, get your copy of Open Wider from Amazon.com today!

If you are interested in dental college courses, contact Aesthetic Advantage at 212-794-3552 to register today! Or visit aestheticadvantage.com for additional information.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina, North Carolina and all surrounding areas.

Chapter 8: The Artistry of Dentistry | New York, NY

Georg Simmel said it best when he wrote, “There is no other structure like the human face which merges such a great variety of shapes, and surfaces into an absolute unity of meaning.” After all, the anatomy or our beauty is directly linked to science – because we are natural beings. Leonardo da Vinci proves this with his famous drawing Homo ad circulum and carries it forward by creating one of the world’s most famous smiles on the Mona Lisa. That said, aesthetic dentistry seems to be the dental way to enhance a typical face with cosmetic dental procedures.

In Dr. Larry Rosenthal’s eyes, the smile is a stage. And thus, he looks at a patient’s smile in a bigger picture. It isn’t simply the teeth showing, but how the face contours that smile and how each facial feature combines to create a complete “masterpiece”. Not only does this benefit the patient cosmetically, but it also helps with the aging process we all go through. As with any artist, the canvas must present the art in the most ideal way.

In this chapter, we learn how to create a larger canvas of a patient’s face in order to design a more aesthetically pleasing look. He breaks down the various areas, from the horizontal divisions of the face, inter-pupillary line and facial midline. Based on what these lines dictate will help your dental professional figure out the proper treatment program to give you, not only a fixed smile, but the best smile for your face.

To learn more about a visual guide to the smile, get your copy of Open Wider from Amazon.com today!

If you are interested in dental college courses, contact Aesthetic Advantage at 212-794-3552 to register today! Or visit aestheticadvantage.com for additional information.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina, North Carolina and all surrounding areas.

Chapter 7: Secrets to a Brighter Smile | New York, NY

teeth whitening

Because we cannot escape the constant presence of the “selfie”, having a great smile is key to looking your best. Unfortunately, most of us do not have the whitest teeth possible. This is likely due to some type of lifestyle choices we are making, both good or bad. Bad habits like smoking are obviously hurting the shade of your teeth but taking certain prescriptions can also cause some coloration damage. The good news is that we can do something about brightening our smile, from basic dietary changes to a professional treatment session. Simple changes to our lifestyle can not only improve our dental health, but our overall health as well.

In this chapter, Dr. Larry Rosenthal shows us some tips to keeping our smiles as bright as we can. We present Doctor Larry’s Guide to Whitening…

  • Use a straw when drinking dark-colored, carbonated, or acidic beverages.
  • Eat detergent foods high in roughage that stimulate saliva flow.
  • Brush after every meal with a soft toothbrush or electric toothbrush.
  • Cut out sugary beverages or limit them to mealtime.
  • Floss daily or use an oral irrigator.
  • Use toothpastes and mouthwashes with fluoride whitening agents.
  • Change your toothbrush every month or two, tops.
  • Get your teeth professionally whitened no more than once a year.
  • Ask your dentist about using home whitening products between professional sessions. Use bleaching agents in moderation.

To learn more about the visual guide to a smile, get your copy of Open Wider from Amazon.com today!

If you are interested in dental college courses, contact Aesthetic Advantage at 212-794-3552 to register today! Or visit aestheticadvantage.com for additional information.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina, North Carolina and all surrounding areas.

Chapter 6: Three Levels of Care | New York, NY

woman receiving dental work

As a dental professional we walk a fine line with our patients that know exactly “what they need” and cannot be convinced otherwise, and patients that have no clue what they need because all they know is that it hurts or is ugly and would like it fixed. The former is a much tougher patient because they will insist upon treatment options that may not be the best for them because “someone told them about this particular option”, and their teeth look fantastic. It is our job to figure out a way to convince them that they can trust you enough to know what is best for their smile. In this chapter, it all comes down to three levels of care – where health equals beauty:

Level one: oral health care and maintenance. Our mouths are the first line of defense for many of the illnesses and infections we encounter in our lives. And in order to keep ourselves healthy, it is important to maintain a proper level of dental hygiene and maintenance in order to keep our bodies running. Proper daily dental hygiene routine and consistent checkups will ensure that this happens.

Level two: restorative care. When it comes to restorations, it is important to discuss five key points: comfort (how the restoration feels), convenience (how long the procedure takes), durability (how long it will last with proper upkeep), affordability (and if it fits within budget) and appearance (how they feel mentally).

Level three: aesthetic care. When discussing dental treatment options, it is also important to give aesthetic options as well. The color, size and shape of the teeth themselves, how much are visible when in use and their improved overall appearance.

To learn more about a visual guide to the smile, get your copy of Open Wider from Amazon.com today!

If you are interested in dental college courses, contact Aesthetic Advantage at 212-794-3552 to register today! Or visit aestheticadvantage.com for additional information.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina, North Carolina and all surrounding areas.

Chapter 5: The Smile Assessment | New York, NY

Young woman smiling with perfect dental health

In the age of the selfie, it is important to many that their appearance is ready for a candid shot at a moment’s notice. We get our nails done and our hair cut on a regular basis, we find the nicest clothes we can afford to always look our best. But more important is our smiles. For most of us, we have plenty of things we would like to change.

What if you could have that smile you always dreamed of? It is important that you take a good look at what exactly you would like done so you can properly discuss an appropriate treatment plan with your dental professional. Before your initial consultation, think about these six questions:

Priorities. What would you like to accomplish? Give a basic but honest idea of what you your goals are at the end of this process.

Health. How is your health? Do you have any toothaches or irritations developing inside your mouth? Your dental health will play a part in what dental procedures are available to you.

Hygiene. How is your dental hygiene? As a reminder of the previous question, keeping your dental hygiene routines is very important.

Appearance. How do you feel about your appearance? Really take a look at your features, both facial and your smile and express your concerns.

Fear. How do you feel about visiting the dentist? While many have some type of fear of the dentist, today’s technology can relieve any concerns you may have.

Cost and convenience. What are your views of the time and money involved? Dental work can become expensive and time-consuming, depending on your particular case. Take this into consideration as well when deciding on your next step.

To learn more about a visual guide to the smile, get your copy of Open Wider from Amazon.com today!

If you are interested in dental college courses, contact Aesthetic Advantage at 212-794-3552 to register today! Or visit aestheticadvantage.com for additional information.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina, North Carolina and all surrounding areas.

Chapter 4: A Visual Guide to the Smile | New York, NY

happy, smiling teenages

Everyone wants to have a smile that can light up a room. Y’know, one of those Hollywood smiles we see every day on our favorite tv shows and movies – a bright, gleaming white set of perfect pearly whites. The great thing is, with today’s dental technology, you can have that smile with the help of your dentist. Need it brighter? There are whitening treatments. Need some straightening? There are braces, or if necessary, dental implants that can help out. All you need is a visit to your favorite smile doctor.

Now when it comes to the various method used to repair your flawed grin, there are plenty to choose from and you and your dentist will decide together the best plan of attack. Here is a quick rundown of what you can expect. Of course, every patient is different, so these options may vary:

Missing teeth. A dental implant with veneers will likely be recommended.

Worn teeth. This will either entail some bonding or veneers in affected areas.

Gummy smile. If you have excessive gums showing when you smile, you may need a smile lift.

Discoloration. Whitening will be the first option but may need bonding or veneers.

Tooth erosion. Grinding may cause your teeth to wear. Veneers and/or crowns will fix that.

Old restorations. Old restorations may need to be re-sculpted to give your smile a renewed look.

Old bonding and cavities. You would be surprised by how much your smile can change by changing the color and shape of your teeth.

Crowding. Braces or a crown/bridge combination will make your smile more aesthetically pleasing.

To learn more about a visual guide to the smile, get your copy of Open Wider from Amazon.com today!

If you are interested in dental college courses, contact Aesthetic Advantage at 212-794-3552 to register today! Or visit aestheticadvantage.com for additional information.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina, North Carolina, and all surrounding areas.

Chapter 3: The Power of a Smile | New York, NY

Young woman smiling with perfect dental health

When you meet someone, what is the first thing you notice about them? Is it their eyes? Chances are, you are going to say their smile. Not only is it the most obvious feature of the face, but it is the most universally studied of all facial expressions. Not only because they are beautiful, but because smiles mean so much more than a happy thought. Smiles can tell someone about their health and can even lead to more success than you can imagine. It’s true – your smile is the window to your soul.

Smiles are like snowflakes. You have a smile that is unmatched by any other. It is distinct and is likely the feature that is remembered by others in networking situations. A great smile can boost your confidence and make you seem more intelligent, and successful – someone that you want to know.

When you have flaws in your smile, it can affect your overall demeanor and health. As we age, our skin begins to sag and our bones begin to weaken. This will inevitably change the way our smile appears and can make us look sad when we don’t feel that way. This is where cosmetic dentistry comes into play.

Cosmetic dentistry has grown leaps and bounds from your grandparents’ dentistry. Nowadays, your dental experience is less invasive, less time-consuming, and even sometimes pain-free. Through the use of state-of-the-art technology, Dr. Rosenthal has revolutionized the smile. It is no longer an issue that concerns even the timidest of dental patients; cosmetic dentistry can give someone their confidence and zest for life.

To learn more about the power of a smile, get your copy of Open Wider from Amazon.com today!

If you are interested in dental college courses, contact Aesthetic Advantage at 212-794-3552 to register today! Or visit aestheticadvantage.com for additional information.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina, North Carolina and all surrounding areas.

Chapter 2: Myths and Misconceptions | New York, NY

open wider book cover

If you make a list of all your favorite things to do, chances are ‘visiting the dentist’ isn’t on that list. But in order to keep our smile healthy, we need to keep our dental appointments. For some, this task is more of an issue than most due to a condition called dental anxiety. Unfortunately, many of these fears lie within deeply held and unhealthy beliefs about oral health. In the book, Open Wider, Dr. Larry Rosenthal addresses and uproots these issues head on:

Dental visits are unpleasant. Have you been to a dental office lately? Big-screen TVs and aromatherapy are just a couple of the amenities there for you to relax and enjoy your dental experience.

Dental treatment is painful. Materials and bonding techniques are so advanced, patients are less aware that procedures are happening at all.

Teeth aren’t important features. Your teeth are not only responsible for your bite, but support the lower third of your face, affecting your overall appearance. You need to take care of all of your teeth.

Dental restorations last forever. Nothing lasts forever, and the better you care for them, the longer they’ll last.

Dentists aren’t doctors. DDS stands for Doctor of Dental Surgery. They aren’t scary like the movies say – they’re just normal people like you and me.

Dental procedures take a long time. With today’s dental advancements, basic dental procedures can be done as quickly as a pedicure or haircut.

Bad breath is diet-based. There are a few reasons you may have bad breath. If it becomes a common occurrence, it could be a health issue, like acid reflux or medication you are taking.

To learn more about dental myths, get your copy of Open Wider from Amazon.com today!

Aesthetic Advantage has state of the art educational facilities that can help you take your career to the next level, call us at (212) 794.3552 for more information.

Aesthetic Advantage proudly serves New York, Atlanta, Florida, Chicago, Pennsylvania, Boston, Rhode Island, California, South Carolina and all surrounding areas.