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.

Chapter 1: The Renaissance of Dentistry | New York, NY

Actor Josh Duhamel was once asked if he had always wanted to be an actor. Surprisingly, the answer was no – he actually wanted to become a dentist. When asked why that was the original goal, he said it was because he was very creatively inclined, and his brother was a dentist. He thought he could use his artistic talents to create beautiful smiles, while keeping his mom proud her son was a doctor. He understood that dentistry isn’t solely based on medicine. Unfortunately, his grades weren’t all that great and eventually dropped out of Minot State University before entering dental school. The rest is history.

Dr. Rosenthal had the same ideas upon entering dental school, only to be hit with the technical curriculum of anatomy, labs and preclinical work. It wasn’t anything he expected dental college to be and got frustrated with the way the dentistry industry was. They failed to recognize that dentistry is a visual art. “It is an art informed by science and technology. It is an art that drives science and technology.”

Fast forward 13 years, and Dr. Rosenthal has revolutionized the way dentistry is taught and received. Think of it as a renaissance of sorts – a revival for dentistry and the beauty that can be created by these dental advancements.

Open Wider is a book that celebrates the world of dentistry and the beauty that is created within a patient’s mouth. You’ll find yourself becoming optimistic for your next dental visit and overall health going forward. Give your lifestyle the boost it’s been looking for and get yourself a copy of Open Wider 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.

Chapter Twenty: Competence, Confidence, and Control | New York, NY

When a patient looks for a new dental professional, oftentimes they don’t exactly know what they are looking for. Each has a specific need and requirement but choosing the correct fit can be daunting and overwhelming. They all want to be taken care of properly, but because it is difficult to know if this is possible, they tend to choose the most confident dentist.

As a dental professional, it’s important to realize that we walk a fine line between confidence and cocky, so it is important to be up front and honest about your capabilities. Don’t mislead your patients into thinking you can do a certain procedure if you are unfamiliar. Claiming you are confident in things you haven’t experienced much of will only affect their experiences with you.

It is also important to be able to pivot, as no two patients are alike. There are always basics to follow, but not all smiles can be treated the same. Be able to change treatment options to suit the patient and be confident enough to tell a patient a certain treatment option isn’t the right one for them. If you aren’t the dental professional for them, tell them.

Patients need to feel a sense of control in a scary situation, so have the confidence to be able to present what you can confidently provide to your patients.

Let them be a part of the process. Tell them what to expect and answer any questions they have with certain facts and calming poise.

In addition, having a confident, capable staff is just as important as how you present yourself. Pick your dream team, make each other the best and give your patients an experience that will keep them coming back.

To learn more about Dr. Rosenthal’s personal dream team, 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.

Chapter Nine: Proactive Adolescent Health | New York, NY

Believe it or not, but many of the dental problems we face as adults could’ve been completely prevented. It’s true – dental issues like 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 www.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 Four: A Visual Guide to the Smile | New York, NY

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.

Missing teeth. Fill in any gaps with bridges and veneers.

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 www.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 18: The Virtual Dentist | New York, NY

It almost feels like a scene in a movie – you now have the ability for technology to let health professionals know something is wrong with your remotely. It seems unbelievable, but sensors and “smart pills” have now come into play as an actual healthcare option. Imagine that? But how can we get it into our dental health needs? In this chapter, Dr. Rosenthal talks about the various ways dental technology is constantly monitoring in order to improve patient care, even remotely.

Telemedicine platforms. Let’s face it – the internet isn’t going anywhere. But one of the more brilliant uses of it are the communication systems developed in order to improve treatment plans. There is no I in team, so why not pull all of the resources available to give your patients the best treatment possible?

Digital interface. The ability to communicate with the laboratories creating their patient’s restorations not only improves the natural look of the patient’s teeth but can also make tracking these packages easier. Combine that with 3-D prosthetic development and we have the ideal product for our patient.

Mobile devices with video. Being able to video chat with your dentist when something is amiss is not only a benefit to the patient, but also for the doctor. It is an instant way to ease a patient’s fears and instruct aide until they can be seen live.

Crowdsourcing via citizen sensing and social media. Each one, teach one is a motto we should all believe in, especially with the development of the internet. We can now reach out to anyone who can help and that is a comforting thought. Sharing knowledge is key to progress. Together we are stronger.

To learn more about Dr. Rosenthal’s personal dream team, 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 www.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 Nine: Proactive Adolescent Health | New York, NY

Believe it or not, but many of the dental problems we face as adults could’ve been completely prevented. It’s true – dental issues like 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 www.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 Eight: 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”.

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 www.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 Four: A Visual Side to the Smile | New York, NY

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.

Missing teeth. Fill in any gaps with bridges and veneers.

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 www.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.