South Florida Cosmetic Dentist Warns Against Badly Trained Cosmetic Dentists

Dr. Charles Nottingham, a dentist from Smile South Florida, describes the dangers of getting cosmetic procedures from dentists without advanced training and experience.

Nationally there are over 150,000 dentists, and the number is growing at a rapid rate. However, a staggering quantity of inexperienced students graduate from dental school every year and enter directly into practice. Some of these graduates go on to get specialized training in cosmetic dentistry, but many become general dentists who attempt specialized cosmetic dentistry without the necessary expertise.

A survey by Harris Interactive revealed that 11% of Americans annually (and the number grows every year) received an in-office cosmetic dental procedure to beautify their smiles. High-quality cosmetic dentistry can transform your appearance, but poorly executed dentistry can prove disastrous.

Here’s a shocking statistic from the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry: over 25% of  Americans’ yearly expenditures cosmetic dentistry is spent re-doing and correcting unsatisfactory dental work from a previous visits. “While cosmetic dentistry can be transformative, badly performed dentistry can lead to a lifetime of pain and problems.” says Dr. Charles Nottingham, one of the best cosmetic dentists in Florida.

A report by the Surgeon General found that over 39 million people, or 22%, experience some kind of oral-facial pain in a given six month period. The report estimates that 12.2% of Americans suffers from toothache, 5.3% from jaw joint pain, and 1.4% from face or cheek pain.

Founder of the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry, Ronald E. Goldstein estimates that 50% of American dental work is spent on cosmetic procedures. Undoing other dentists’ shoddy work accounts for an estimated one-seventh of the over $80 Billion spent on dentistry in the U.S. In a 2004 Wall Street Journal article, various cosmetic dentists estimated that re-doing others’ work accounts for 25% to 50% of their work.

“You need to be a careful consumer of dental services,” Dr. Nottingham, a South Florida cosmetic dentistry provider,  points out. “Do your research and make sure you choose a reputable doctor with a lot of experience in your procedures.”

What can go wrong:

Tooth Failure: Before inserting crowns and veneers, all the decay must be properly removed or massive decay can form says Dr. Nottingham, one of Florida’s best dentists. Not only would that mean that the cosmetic work needs to be redone, but it can also cause root canals, structural tooth failure, or tooth loss.

Jaw and Mouth Pain: If, during a cosmetic dentistry procedure, the jaw is not properly aligned by a dentist who is an expert in bite alignment, the crowns, veneers, or bridges can crack, wear away, or fall out over time. Patients can also develop a condition known as Temporomandibular Joint Disfunction (TMJ or TMD) from a poorly aligned bite. If the restorative porcelain is spaced too close together and doesn’t permit sufficient air passage, patients can experience speech impediments and changes in the formation of some sounds.

Waste of Time: Cosmetic dentistry is usually lengthy and involved, necessitating multiple visits to the dentist. A typical cosmetic treatment takes at least three appointments, and more than 5-10 hours in the dentist’s chair. Just think what would happen if this work is performed poorly and needs to be redone. Patients will need to take off more time from work, and often not at a convenient time.

Expenses: In addition to losing time, you could lose a lot of money. “You get what you pay for” is particularly true for cosmetic dentistry. Many people go cost shopping for dental procedures, but often the dentists who charge less are general dentists who market themselves as cosmetic dentists without putting in the necessary years of experience and continuing education. They may also use poor quality dental labs and cheap materials (such as crowns made in China). So, when you’re considering price, think about the long-term costs as well.

Loss of Initial Investment: If you’re trying to rectify a mess in your mouth, you usually need to start over – from scratch. So, all the money you spend for the initial work is completely lost. This may sound like a rare situation, but it happens every day. “We have seen patients who have spent $30,000 to $50,000 whose mouths were so bad that the only answer was to completely do it over,” Dr. Nottingham, one of South Florida’s best cosmetic dentists.

So what can you, as the patient, do to avoid these situations from occurring and find a highly trained dentist and dental office? Do your research!

Available for both general and cosmetic dentistry, sedation dentistry can be used for procedures from simple cleanings and root canals to complete smile makeovers. At a dental visit you and your dentist will agree on the needed treatment. The dentist will give you a prescription for a drug such as Valium, Ativan, or Sonata.

“Most of the drugs have been available for years and all are safe to use,” says one of Miami’s best sedation dentists, Dr. Kenneth Anenberg, cosmetic dentist from Smile South Florida. “Some of the prescriptions last longer than others, so the amount of time necessary for your treatment will help determine what kind of medicine you will receive.  Be sure to tell the dentist about other drugs you are taking and details of your medical condition.”

The day of the procedure, you will take your medicine before the appointment – how far in advance will be determined by how long your treatment will take. You will need a companion to drive you to and from your appointment. When the dentist starts the procedure, you will feel relaxed and, possibly, drowsy, points out Anenberg, a Miami sedation dentist.  Most patients don’t sleep deeply unless they’ve been administered general anesthesia, which most dentists don’t provide.

Some dentists provide Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas) instead of or in addition to prescription medicine.  In use for more than 100 years, Nitrous Oxide is particularly good to combine with other sedation dentistry medicines since it provides pain relief and has some anti-anxiety properties.

“Although it cannot completely remove fear, the medicine will help you experience the procedure in a new, more comfortable way,” says Dr. Anenberg, a Miami cosmetic dentist. The dentist will monitor your vital signs using equipment like a pulse oximeter or blood pressure monitor. Bad reactions to the medicine or other emergencies are very rare, but the dentist and his/her team must be prepared just in case.

With a calmer patient, the dentist can accomplish more in a single visit – so you are less likely to need a second visit to complete the procedure. Afterward, your companion can take you home.  Some of the available sedation dentistry prescriptions have amnesiac properties, so you will have few or no memories of the procedure. The next day you will feel like yourself again – with a newer, more a beautiful smile.

Learn More:

To learn more about Smile South Florida, visit www.smilesouthflorida.com. Or, call (954) 721-6950 to speak with a team member to learn more about Smile South Florida’s free consultations.

About Smile South Florida Cosmetic Dentistry

The cosmetic dentists at Smile South Florida Cosmetic Dentistry have offices in Broward County and West Palm Beach and provide Boca Raton Dentistry, Fort Lauderdale Dentistry and Miami Dentistry. They specialize in dental aesthetics including porcelain veneers, dental implants, extreme makeovers, and Invisalign. The practice includes some of the best sedation dentists in the Miami area.

About Nottingham Consulting Group, LLC

Nottingham Consulting Group is a South Florida business consulting & coaching firm specializing in business management, coaching, and marketing strategies. Nottingham Consulting Group’s award-winning team members work together to revitalize clients’ business from top to bottom. From training clients in tried and true customer relation strategies, to implementing modern marketing techniques including establishing a presence on the Internet and multimedia, to providing years of experience in business management, Nottingham Consulting Group provides its clients with a sound business foundation and a business plan that provides a great ROI.

© 2010 Nottingham Consulting Group, LLC. Linking to other sites from this article is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

“Da Vinci products are absolutely the best available in the U.S. We didn’t feel the need to carry any other brands of veneers and crowns. Da Vinci provides everything we need,” said Dr. Charles Nottingham, Smile South Florida’s top dentist. “It’s a pleasure to work with them.”

Smile South Florida’s top cosmetic dentist in the Fort Lauderdale and Miami area, Dr. Charles Nottingham, has maintained a close relationship with the owner of da Vinci Studios, Daniel Materdomini. Dr. Nottingham and Daniel speak regularly about maintaining the best cosmetic dental practices with da Vinci veneers. In fact, the Daniel sent his own mother to Dr. Nottingham for a full cosmetic reconstruction – and were very pleased with the results.

In a letter to fort lauderdale dentist Dr. Nottingham, the owner of da Vinci Studios wrote: “… your preparations and impressions exceeded perfection. I had an opportunity to use many dentists in the area…but I chose you because of your experience, knowledge and the dedication you have with your patients. My Mom was thrilled with her new smile…If the ‘Extreme Makeover’ show was filmed in Florida, I am sure you would be the providing dentist.”

Da Vinci Studios offers two lines: the da Vinci line which offers fee-for-service veneers and crowns and the Leonardo line which offers veneers and crowns for PPO insurance patients. Because of the success of the da Vinci line and their faith in its durability, da Vinci studios extended the warranty on new da Vinci veneers so they are guaranteed for life. The Fort Lauderdale cosmetic dentists at Smile South Florida offer both lines.

“I have seen Dr. Nottingham transform people’s lives. Dr. Nottingham is giving South Florida something to smile about.” said, Daniel Materdomini.

This opinion is seconded by Craig Galbraith, also from da Vinci studios: “I have never seen a smile gallery as extensive as Smile South Florida’s and where the final result of every case is of such a high standard.”

Learn More:

To learn more about Smile South Florida, visit www.smilesouthflorida.com. Or, call (954) 721-6950 to speak with a team member to learn more about Smile South Florida’s free consultations.

About Smile South Florida Cosmetic Dentistry

The cosmetic dentists at Smile South Florida Cosmetic Dentistry have offices in Broward County and West Palm Beach and provide Boca Raton Dentistry, Fort Lauderdale Dentistry and Miami Dentistry. They specialize in dental aesthetics including porcelain veneers, dental implants, extreme makeovers, Invisalign, and sedation dentistry.

About Nottingham Consulting Group, LLC

Nottingham Consulting Group is a South Florida coaching & consulting firm specializing in business management, coaching, and marketing strategies. Nottingham Consulting Group’s award-winning team members work together to revitalize clients’ business from top to bottom. From training clients in tried and true customer relation strategies, to implementing modern marketing techniques including establishing a presence on the Internet and multimedia, to providing years of experience in business management, Nottingham Consulting Group provides its clients with a sound business foundation and a business plan that provides a great ROI.

© 2010 Nottingham Consulting Group, LLC. Linking to other sites from this article is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.

CHICAGO, May 27, 2010 – If you participate in organized sports or recreational activities, there’s always the risk of injury to the mouth, says the American Dental Association (ADA).

In a recent NHL playoff game, a Chicago Blackhawk player was struck in the mouth by a speeding puck. Although wearing a mouthguard, according to news reports, the player lost seven teeth in the incident, which serves as a reminder that acute dental injuries can occur when least expected.

Unlike many National Hockey League (NHL) players, most people will not face a slap shot, rocketing up to 100 mph, which poses clear injury risks. The same is true for swinging sticks and flying elbows. In many situations, mouthguards can help reduce the incidence and severity of dental injury.

“I dread picturing the degree of damage that the player might have sustained without wearing a mouthguard.” ponders ADA consumer advisor Matthew Messina, D.D.S., a general dentist from the Cleveland area. “A properly fitted mouthguard is an important piece of athletic gear that can help protect your mouth, cushion blows that might otherwise cause broken teeth and injuries to the lips, tongue, face or jaw.”

Injury risk nearly two times greater

According to a 2007 evaluation of the effectiveness of mouthguards in reducing injuries, the overall injury risk was 1.6 to 1.9 times greater without a mouthguard, relative to the use of mouthguards during athletic activity. Another study of collegiate basketball teams found that athletes wearing custom-made mouthguards sustained significantly fewer dental injuries than those who did not.

“But you don’t have to be on the football field or in a hockey rink to benefit from a properly fitted mouthguard,” Dr. Messina explains. “Findings in sports dentistry show that even in non-contact sports, such as gymnastics, mouthguards will help protect participants, and many experts recommend that everyone—from children to adults—wear a mouthguard during any recreational activity that might pose a risk of injury to the mouth, including practice and training sessions.”

For sporting activities that are inherently contact-oriented (e.g., football), orofacial protectors or faceguards are also appropriate for added safety and protection. The ADA has endorsed the preventive value of orofacial protectors, including helmets, faceguards and mouth protectors, for use by participants in sporting and recreational activities with some degree of injury risk and at all levels of competition.

Choosing a Mouthguard

While custom mouthguards, considered by many to be the most protective option, other mouthguards can be effective if they fit well, are worn properly and stay in place.

The primary mouthguard types include:

the custom-fitted mouthguard made by your dentist

the mouth-formed, “boil-and-bite” mouthguard

Athletic mouthguards provide protection, but vary in comfort and cost. The most effective mouthguard should be resilient, tear-resistant and comfortable. It should fit properly, be durable and easy to clean, and not restrict your speech or breathing. Generally, a mouthguard covers only the upper teeth, but in some cases the dentist will make a mouthguard for the lower teeth as well. Patients can seek the assistance of a dentist to ensure proper mouthguard thickness and adequate protection in critical areas, based on the sporting activity.

Like any other sports gear, a mouthguard will wear out, making it less effective. If your mouthguard has holes or tears, or if it becomes loose, it can irritate the teeth and oral tissues. Occasionally check the mouthguard’s condition and replace it as necessary.

About the American Dental Association

The not-for-profit ADA is the nation’s largest dental association, representing more than 157,000 dentist members. The premier source of oral health information, the ADA has advocated for the public’s health and promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1859. The ADA’s state-of-the-art research facilities develop and test dental products and materials that have advanced the practice of dentistry and made the patient experience more positive. The ADA Seal of Acceptance long has been a valuable and respected guide to consumer dental care products. The monthly Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) is the ADA’s flagship publication and the best-read scientific journal in dentistry. For more information about the ADA, visit the Association’s Web site at www.ada.org

Periodontitis has been linked to other health problems, including heart disease and diabetes, so researchers suspected a possible connection to prostate disease as well.

This study compared levels of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) – an indicator of prostate disease – with the clinical attachment level (CAL) of the teeth and gums and teeth – indicating possible gum disease.

The research about prostate health and gingivitis was conducted by periodontists at Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine and has been published in the Journal of Periodontology.

This finding supports the belief that oral health and whole-body health are deeply connected. Gum health problems – not just full-blown periodontal disease, but the bleeding gums, swollen gums or receding gums that can indicate gum disease – can indicate the presence of other inflammatory issues.

Reprinted from: http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/1210/gum-disease-and-prostate-health/

The appliance works on the principle that the muscles of the face, jaw and neck should be aligned to be most efficient and restful. Most people do not have that alignment naturally and the result can be headaches, neck strain, and cracked teeth.  The benefits that users experience are the result of a more efficient neuromusculature, and enhanced oxygen flow through an increased airway. Most athletes see improvement in their performance immediately.

The Makkar PPM products are only available through trained dentists who are PPM-certified.  Now the cosmetic dentists at Smile South Florida Cosmetic Dentistry are offering this mouth guard to their patients. The dentists are Smith South Florida then examine their patients using advanced technology to see where the muscles and jaw should fall naturally. They take an impression and bite registration of the patient’s mouth and send it to the manufacturer, which creates a customized mouth guard. The PPM mouth guard is a true game changer. No matter which sport, it gives its users an edge over the competition. The mouth guard is used and endorsed by a number of well-known athletes, including Shaquille O’Neal and Terrell Owens, who have their own Signature Series lines of the PPM device. Skier Bode Miller and golfers Scott McCarron and Mike Elkington also sing the appliance’s praises. The New Orleans Saints recently became the first NFL team to get the PPM mouth guard for every athlete –  a purchase that may have played a role in the team’s spectacular 2009 season.

“This really is a unique device,” says Dr. George Kolos, a Miami cosmetic dentist & Fort Lauderdale dentist at Smile South Florida. “It can be used by high school, college, amateur and professional athletes. Just about everyone who uses it sees immediate improvement in posture, balance, strength and endurance. It’s particularly useful in sports with a lot of explosive moves such as tennis, hockey, and football, but athletes in most sports benefit from it.”

About Smile South Florida Cosmetic Dentistry

The cosmetic dentists at Smile South Florida Cosmetic Dentistry have offices in Broward County and West Palm Beach and provide Boca Raton Dentistry, Fort Lauderdale Dentistry and Miami Dentistry. They specialize in dental aesthetics including porcelain veneers, dental implants, extreme makeovers, Invisalign, and sedation dentistry.

To learn more about Smile South Florida, visit www.smilesouthflorida.com. Or, call (954) 721-6950 to speak with a team member to learn more about Smile South Florida’s free consultations.

How a Trip to the Dentist Could Save Your Life

Using the force of Star Wars technology to spot rogue cells, dentists are on the front lines of the war against oral cancer – a disease that kills an American every hour. More than twenty-seven years ago, the country launched the Strategic Defense Initiative program, otherwise known as “Star Wars.” Today, some of the technology originally aimed at identifying enemy missiles is helping dentists and medical professionals identify a different kind of potential killer.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, each year more than 30,000 people in the US are diagnosed with cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx. Since this form of cancer is typically discovered late in its development, the death rate is higher than that of many other forms of cancer, including cervical cancer and Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In fact, of those diagnosed with oral cancer, less than half will still be alive five years later. Each year, this stealthy killer takes the lives of approximately 8,000 Americans.

Once identified, oral cancers are among the most costly to treat. It is not uncommon for the surgical and reconstructive procedures to run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. More important than potential cost savings though are some simple precautionary steps that can be real lifesavers.

The first and most obvious step is to avoid all forms of tobacco. In the majority of cases, oral cancer is a preventable, “lifestyle” disease related to tobacco and alcohol abuse. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), alcohol and tobacco cause approximately 80 percent of cases of cancer of the mouth and throat in men and about 65 percent in women. Additionally, the NIH reports that the combination of alcohol and tobacco can be especially dangerous, dramatically increasing the risk of mouth and throat cancer.

Yet interestingly, some 25 percent of oral cancer cases do not have an alcohol or tobacco risk factor. Consequently, people should take a precautionary step by seeing a dentist on a regular basis. It is not uncommon for a person to visit the dentist more often than the family doctor. This places the dentist in a good position to detect signs of oral cancer early on, when chances of successful treatment are most promising. And early detection is key, improving the survival rate from 57 percent to 81 percent.

That’s where Star Wars comes into play. Cold War image recognition technology that was designed to spot nuclear missiles among a sky full of decoys has been adapted for medical purposes and is helping identify well-hidden and dangerous precancerous and cancerous cells among an ocean of otherwise normal cells. Through a non-invasive test a dentist uses a round brush on the end of a small stick to collect cells from the inside of a patient’s mouth. These cells are then screened using a sophisticated computer system to identify cells that are suspicious. Within days, the dentist has information to know whether or not a potential problem exists, often before a patient notices anything out of the ordinary.

Just as with defensive military systems, there’s a point after which detection is too late and, in the case of oral cancer, delayed diagnosis can be deadly. That’s why it’s important to give dentists the opportunity to detect precancerous and early-stage cancerous lesions that often masquerade as innocuous-looking red or white lesions that can otherwise give people a false sense of security and delay a diagnosis.

People understand that a regular visit to the dentist can prevent the costly complications of tooth decay. As it turns out, a visit to the dentist just might save your life.

The not-for-profit Delta Dental Plans Association (www.deltadental.com) based in Oak Brook, Ill., is the leading national network of independent dental service corporations specializing in providing dental benefits programs to 54 million Americans in more than 89,000 employee groups throughout the country.

To learn more about oral cancer screening, visit www.smilesouthflorida.com. Or, call (954) 721-6950 to speak with a team member to learn more about Smile South Florida’s free consultations.

Waterlase dentistry combines the precision of surgical lasers and the elemental power of water to gently perform several procedures that keep Smile South Florida’s patients’ teeth healthy. This treatment method can be used to handle major dental work such as filling, bondings, cavity removal, decay removal, and many more procedures.

“Whether we’re caring for the patient’s teeth, bone, or gums, Waterlase technology is always our first choice for treatment,” says the Fort Lauderdale cosmetic dentist. “The benefits are endless. From less anesthesia, to less bleeding, to fewer appointments, to improved efficiency and accuracy, we’re providing the absolute cutting edge in dentistry, and the best part is that our patients reap all the benefits.”

Whereas older procedures require cutting, scraping, and drilling, Waterlase laser dentistry uses water and laser energy with far greater accuracy than drills and scalpels. This eliminates vibrations and sounds of drilling.

“The more accurate the treatment, the more healthy tissue we preserve,” exclaims Dr. Kolos, a Florida laser dentist. “Often with older methods healthy tooth and gum tissue is damaged during treatment. Obviously, the dental community’s job is to promote and preserve healthy teeth and gum tissue, and with the Waterlase, dentists can do just that.”

“Waterlase treatment not only removes damaged or decayed tissue more efficiently, it does so with less pain,” adds the Fort Lauderdale dentist. Because the laser essentially desensitizes nerves during treatment and pain is greatly reduced.

With more accuracy and less pain, dentists are able to cover more treatment in less time. “With Waterlase alone, we’re eliminating multiple appointments for treatment and reduced recovery times as well,” says Dr. Kolos, Smile South Florida’s Miami dentist. “Our patients are getting through their treatments and back to their normal lifestyle faster than ever. What’s not to like?”

Learn More

To learn more about Smile South Florida’s Waterlase dentistry treatment, visit: www.smilesouthflorida.com. Or, call Smile South Florida at (954) 721-6950 to speak with a team member to learn more about Smile South Florida’s free consultations.

About Nottingham Consulting Group, LLC

Nottingham Consulting Group is a South Florida consulting firm specializing in business management, coaching, and marketing strategies. Nottingham Consulting Group’s award-winning team members work together to revitalize clients’ business from top to bottom. From training clients in tried and true customer relation strategies, to implementing modern marketing techniques including establishing a presence on the Internet and multimedia, to providing years of experience in business management, Nottingham Consulting Group provides its clients with a sound business foundation and a business plan that provides great ROI.

Dr. Kolos is currently practicing from Smile South Florida’s Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Boca Raton offices. The Miami dentist was invited to join Smile South Florida due to his body of work as a Ft. Lauderdale cosmetic dentist, his status in the dental community, and his personal relationship with Smile South Florida’s leading dentist, Dr. Charles Nottingham.

“The opportunity to practice alongside my colleagues at Smile South Florida was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up,” says Dr. Kolos. “The team has made an impression across the globe as leaders in cosmetic dentistry. Working in this atmosphere of advanced technologies with a world-class staff that practices patient-friendly treatment makes it easy to come to work ready to make a difference in my patients’ lives.”

When possible, the cosmetic dentist prefers to treat patients with less invasive, less painful methods such as Waterlase laser dentistry treatment. Waterlase treatment is an advanced dental restorative tool that replaces traditional dental drills.

Whereas drills necessitate the use of anesthesia and create painful, traumatic experiences, Waterlase can remove tooth decay and perform periodontal (gum) treatment with less discomfort to the patient. In fact, Waterlase treatments have little need for anesthetics due to its less-invasive nature comments Dr. Kolos.

“I may be at a different office, but I will always be treating my patients delicately and with the utmost respect,” says Dr. Kolos. “I hope to see many of my patients from my private practice at Smile South Florida and I am looking forward to making new connections with new patients as well.”

Prior to joining Smile South Florida, Dr. Kolos practiced from his private Fort Lauderdale dental practice for 22 years, where he used advanced restorative tools to replace traditional dental drills. Dr. Kolos is an adjunct professor at Nova Southeastern College, the President of the Broward County’s Dental Association’s (BCDA), a Florida Dental Association delegate, and is a Waterlase dental laser instructor. The Ft. Lauderdale dentist also gives back to the community through the Give Kids A Smile program, volunteer work at food banks, and planting mangroves at Kids Ecology Core.

About Smile South Florida Cosmetic Dentistry

The cosmetic dentists at Smile South Florida Cosmetic Dentistry have offices in Broward County and West Palm Beach and provide Boca Raton Dentistry, Fort Lauderdale Dentistry and Miami Dentistry. The dentists specialize in dental aesthetics including porcelain veneers, dental implants, extreme makeovers, Invisalign, and sedation dentistry.

Learn More

To learn more about Miami cosmetic dentist Dr. George Kolos, visit the dentist’s bio page on Smile South Florida’s Web site: www.smilesouthflorida.com. Or, call Smile South Florida at (954) 721-6950 to speak with a team member to learn more about Smile South Florida’s free consultations.

About Nottingham Consulting Group, LLC

Nottingham Consulting Group is a South Florida consulting firm specializing in business management, coaching, and marketing strategies. Nottingham Consulting Group’s award-winning team members work together to revitalize clients’ business from top to bottom. From training clients in tried and true customer relation strategies, to implementing modern marketing techniques including establishing a presence on the Internet and multimedia, to providing years of experience in business management, Nottingham Consulting Group provides its clients with a sound business foundation and a business plan that provides a great ROI.

Da Vinci Studios, the dental laboratory for ABC’s Extreme Makeover said the following about our Smile Gallery:

“I have never seen a smile gallery as extensive as Smile South Florida’s and where the final result of every case is of such a high standard.”

Craig Galbraith
daVinci Dental Studios
ABC’s Extreme Makeover
Dental Lab

• Up to 5.3 million Americans have Alzheimer’s
• Alzheimer’s and dementia triple healthcare costs for those over 65
• One person develops Alzheimer’s every 70 seconds
• $148 billion annually is spent on Alzheimer’s and dementias by Medicare, Medicaid, and businesses
• Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death

“In 2008, researchers discovered a connection between gum disease and mild memory loss. The public has become more aware of the oral health – whole health link in recent years, but medical and dental professionals have long been aware of the link. Little research has been completed to determine the specific relation between oral health and mental function.” (DentalBlogs.com)

For more information, click here.

During its patient gratitude party, Smile South Florida’s top cosmetic dentist patients shared their dental experience with the world. Miami Cosmetic Dentist patient, Mary, a former hygienist, says that she always looks at smiles and feels that smiles “bring out the beauty in people.” She concluded her testimonial by saying: “I actually thought coming here was very relaxing… They make you feel at home and comfortable,” she said.

A Fort Lauderdale Cosmetic Dentist patient, Andrew, who is a business executive, explained that he interviewed many dentists, but their proposals were, in his words, “ridiculous… [and] outrageous.” After interviewing some Smile South Florida patients, he was “very pleased with what [he] saw…” Andrew echoed the doctors advice: “The concept he was trying to tell me was, whereas I was interested in being well, what was happening was an improvement in my well being,” he said.

The star at the patient gratitude party was ABC’s Extreme Makeover Dental Lab owners’ mother, who is a Smile South Florida patient. She said, “For my son to send me here… it meant a lot to me…. You couldn’t find a better doctor and you couldn’t be in better hands….”

About Smile South Florida Cosmetic Dentistry

The cosmetic dentists at Smile South Florida Cosmetic Dentistry have offices in Broward County and West Palm Beach and provide patients Boca Raton Dentistry, Fort Lauderdale Dentistry and Miami Dentistry. The dentists specialize in dental aesthetics including porcelain veneers, dental implants, extreme makeovers Invisalign, and sedation dentistry.

About Dr. Charles Nottingham

Palm Beach Cosmetic Dentist, Boca Raton Cosmetic Dentist, & Fort Lauderdale Cosmetic Dentist Charles Nottingham, D.D.S., Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry, is an internationally and nationally renowned cosmetic dentist. He has been creating dazzling, healthy smiles for his patients since 1974.

About Dr. Kenneth Anenberg

Besides being an excellent cosmetic dentist and restorative dentist, Dr. Anenberg specializes in Invisalign, a revolutionary alternative to metal braces, and Sedation-Sleep Dentistry.

About da Vinci Dental Studios

DaVinci Studios (da Vinci Studios) is the dental lab service featured on ABC’s Extreme Makeover and Fox’s the Swan. For the last twenty years, our offices have been working with daVinci Studios to reconstruct thousands of smiles. Recently, we had the distinct honor of being selected by the owners of daVinci Studios to do a full mouth reconstruction on their mother.

Smile South Florida’s main focus for its website is the ease and usability of which its clients can find what they need. With so many of our patients coming from abroad, Smile South Florida needed to be able to speak to these patients needs too. “We are seeing such a large number of international patients,” says Heather, who is the New Patient Coordinator for Smile South Florida Cosmetic Dentistry. “Many patients want to take a trip to south Florida for vacation/holiday, and get their cosmetic dental work done at the same time, or receive treatment while they come here for a business trip,” Heather mentioned.  “In all cases, people are more than willing to travel a great distance when it comes to their long term dental health and the aesthetics of their smile.”

To accommodate a broad range of clientele, the dental practice has added a new feature on our website called the ‘language bar.’ This language bar can be found on the left hand side in the navigation area of our website. It can be easily spotted as a bar that consists of several colorful flags. Each flag is representative of the language of origin for that specific country. When you click on each flag, the website will automatically change to display that language. For example, if you click on the flag of France, the website will be translated into French for you. Currently, the dental practice website can be translated into French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, and Italian.

This makes it much easier for someone to read about the office, the services, and obtain contact information. Having a tool like this is very useful because it reaches across nations. Smile South Florida is helping patients everyday from all over the world achieve the smile of their dreams!

About Smile South Florida Cosmetic Dentistry

The cosmetic dentists at Smile South Florida Cosmetic Dentistry have offices in Broward County and West Palm Beach and provide patients Boca Raton Dentistry, Fort Lauderdale Dentistry and Miami Dentistry. The dentists specialize in dental aesthetics including porcelain veneers, dental implants, extreme makeovers Invisalign, and sedation dentistry.

About Dr. Charles Nottingham

South Florida Dentist & Miami Cosmetic Dentist, Charles Nottingham, D.D.S., Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry, is an internationally and nationally renowned cosmetic dentist. He has been creating dazzling, healthy smiles for his patients since 1974.

This documentary will air on Plum Television (Miami Beach Channel 5) in April 2009. The story behind the piece is to provide viewers with insight into the shared values and history of da Vinci Dental Studios and Smile South Florida Cosmetic Dentistry.

Da Vinci’s founder, Daniel Materdomini, will be featured in the film, along with Smile South Florida Cosmetic Dentist, Dr. Charles Nottingham. Mr. Materdomini and Dr. Nottingham have been working together for over 20 years, taking cosmetic dentistry to a new level of excellence. Mr. Materdomini and da Vinci Dental Studios have showcased Dr. Nottingham’s smile gallery cases in several predominant dental magazines. Dr. Nottingham even performed restorative work on Mr. Materdomini’s mother.

In offering feedback on the work that South Florida Dentist Dr. Nottingham completed for his mother, Mr. Materdomini said that, “if the Extreme Makeover show was filmed in Florida, I am sure [Dr. Nottingham] would be the providing dentist.”

During filming, Dr. Nottingham explained to Plum TV that many years before ABC’s Extreme Makeover Show made da Vinci Dental Studios a household name for porcelain veneers, Dr. Nottingham had selected them as his dental lab of choice. With hundreds of dental labs in the local area to choose from, Dr. Nottingham decided to have his dental materials shipped across the country, in order to perfect his results. Dr. Nottingham went on to mention that da Vinci continues to share his commitment to quality and service.

About Smile South Florida Cosmetic Dentistry

The dentists at Smile South Florida Cosmetic Dentistry have offices in Broward County and West Palm Beach and serve patients from Boca Raton to Fort Lauderdale and Miami. The dentists specialize in dental aesthetics including porcelain veneers, dental implants, extreme makeovers, Invisalign, and sedation dentistry.

About Dr. Charles Nottingham

Palm Beach Dentist & Fort Lauderdale Dentist, Charles Nottingham, D.D.S., Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry, is an internationally and nationally renowned cosmetic dentist. He has been creating dazzling, healthy smiles for his patients since 1974.

About da Vinci Dental Studios

da Vinci Dental Studios, founded in 1976 by master ceramist Daniel Materdomini, who introduced the first porcelain veneer on the West Coast. Well-known for the da Vinci Veneer^TM, which has been featured on numerous national and international television makeover shows, da Vinci Dental Studios is a full-service laboratory, manufacturing a wide-range of cosmetic and restorative products for dentists. Located in West Hills, California, da Vinci provides services for dentists throughout the United States, Canada, South America and Europe.

About Plum Television

Plum operates television channels and websites in Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, the Hamptons, Miami Beach, Sun Valley, Vail, Aspen and Telluride; destinations of choice for over 14 million of the nation’s most interesting and influential people each year. They are Plum’s audience as well as its content. Plum is available to a broader audience beyond its communities through video on demand and the Internet at plumtv.com

Top patients of Miami Cosmetic Dentist & Palm Beach Cosmetic Dentist, Dr. Charles Nottingham will be attending. They will be providing video testimonials, which will be placed on Smile South Florida’s website. Some videos may be featured on Plum Television.

One of Dr. Nottingham’s patients, who is expected to participate, is Salvatrice Materdomini. Mrs. Materdomini is the mother of the owners of ABC’s Extreme Makeover Dental Lab. After Dr. Nottingham treated Mrs. Materdomini for restorative work, the owners of da Vinci said, “If the Extreme Makeover show was filmed in Florida, I’m sure you would be the providing dentist.”

Patients will be served champagne, cake, and assorted crudités. When patients leave, they will be given goody bags.  Professional make-up artist Ana Baidet will be doing camera ready touch-ups and airbrushing. The Emmy Award Winning TV station Plum Television will be filming the event.

About Smile South Florida Cosmetic Dentistry

The dentists at Smile South Florida Cosmetic Dentistry have offices in Broward County and West Palm Beach and serve patients from Boca Raton to Fort Lauderdale and Miami. The dentists specialize in dental aesthetics including porcelain veneers, dental implants, extreme makeovers, Invisalign, and sedation dentistry.

About Dr. Charles Nottingham

Cosmetic Dentist in Florida, Charles Nottingham, D.D.S., Fellow in the Academy of General Dentistry, is an internationally and nationally renowned cosmetic dentist. He has been creating dazzling, healthy smiles for his patients since 1974.

About Plum Television

Plum operates television channels and websites in Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, the Hamptons, Miami Beach, Sun Valley, Vail, Aspen and Telluride; destinations of choice for over 14 million of the nation’s most interesting and influential people each year. They are Plum’s audience as well as its content. Plum is available to a broader audience beyond its communities through video on demand and the Internet at plumtv.com.

Our goal is to educate patients on some common misconceptions in dental marketing that can be misleading and not give the entire story.  One such example is with the popular brand Lumineers by Cerinate.

Lumineers are considered a type of porcelain veneer “smile shaper” that boasts catch phrases such as “no reduction of tooth structure (no filing down of teeth), no shots, 2 easy dental visits, permanently whitens” and many others.  While these statements can have some string of truth behind them, in most cases this will not be the situation –not if you ask any top cosmetic dental professional.

While the popular Lumineers can, in very few situations, be completed in 2 easy visits with little to no pain, drilling, and preparation, this is not going to be necessarily true for everyone. It all depends on the condition of the teeth, and what the best treatment scenario would be to give the best aesthetic outcome.  If a patient has very bulky teeth and wanted to place even the “contact lense thin” Lumineer shell over the tooth, some preparation and drilling would be necessary for the outcome to have a better, less bulky look.  There are other situations where the patient would not be a candidate for Lumineers.  It would all need to be determined by a cosmetic dentist.

As far as the color and shade of the Lumineers, there is not a variety of color choices like traditional veneers. Veneers colors and shades are specifically selected by the doctor and the patient together so that the best result is achieved.  With Lumineers, there is no variation so everyone will get the same result regardless of what the best color/shade would be for each individual person.

If you look at the before and after photos featured on the Lumineers website, you will see some improvements in the look of the teeth after Lumineers have been used.  I am not discrediting that they can make a change in people’s dental aesthetics; however, compared to traditional veneers and crowns, the differences are very substantial.  If you look at our smile galleries and the before and after pictures, you can compare the dramatic differences in the quality of the aesthetics for our patients.

We are not telling patients to overlook Lumineers as an option, we are just encouraging people to do their research when it comes to making an informed decision, and consult a dental professional that has done extensive quality veneers cases.

At Smile South Florida Cosmetic Dentistry, we offer a complimentary cosmetic consultation for our patients to come in and discuss all of their options with one of our skilled dentists.  Call or email us for more details!

Because I work in dentistry, I was concerned as to how this current situation affects the Dental field.  In the past economic times many people prolonged dental treatment for reasons such as fear, work schedules and more.

Now with the current economic situation we should all be more proactive with our dental care.  Many of us still have jobs that offer dental insurance.  We must take advantage of this benefit.  I find that a lot of patients unknowingly waste their yearly benefits.  I imagine that this is due to work conflicts and such. If we are all pulling together in these tough economic times, one way is to utilize these dental benefits.

Many of us receive $1500- $2000 dollars in benefits per year.   Why not get my two cleanings per year?  Why not get that filling fixed before the decay infects the nerve?  Most fillings are affordable.  It is when we procrastinate that simple fillings become much more.  These costs CAN be avoided by doing our fillings soon after diagonosis.

I say to myself, do I not deserve to have my dental needs met?  We always find time to get to our children’s ballgames and such.  We must remember that we, as well as our little ones deserve to be decay free.

If our employer is offering these benefits, then our dental needs must  be a prioity. Why let the insurance companies keep my money!  Do not think that the insurance companies do not revel in the fact that so many of us do not use our yearly benefits.  Personally, I plan on having my bondings done before the year ends.   Why not?  If I deserve it why not you?  Our dental office opens at 7am and we finish at 6pm.

“With more than 30 years in the business, da Vinci is confident enough in the quality of our veneers that we are now able to offer a lifetime warranty on all new cases,” commented da Vinci founder, Daniel Materdomini. “I know this is not common in the industry, but I can, without a doubt, back my products 100%. We know that this is going to make potential patients more comfortable in the idea of investing in a new smile.”

Dr. Charles Nottingham, lead cosmetic dentist at Smile South Florida Cosmetic Dentistry, has been working with da Vinci for over 20 years. Recently, he had the distinct pleasure to perform restorative dentistry on Mr. Materdomini’s mother. After the completion of the case, Mr. Materdomini said,

“…your preparations and impressions exceed perfection [for our Mother]… If the Extreme Makeover show was filmed in Florida, I am sure you would be the providing dentist.”

In addition to performing work on da Vinci’s mom, da Vinci Studios has featured Smile South Florida in Dentistry Today Magazine and currently displays on the hompage of its website three of Dr. Nottingham’s patients out of a total of five.

Joining da Vinci Studios in its commitment to excellence in dentistry and service, Smile South Florida Cosmetic Dentistry will be offering complimentary cosmetic consultations to all of those interested in da Vinci porcelain materials. In addition, Smile South Florida will make available da Vinci’s free smile design preview, which means patients can get a glimpse into how they can look with da Vinci veneers.

da Vinci Dental Studios, founded in 1976 by master ceramist Daniel Materdomini, who introduced the first porcelain veneer on the West Coast. Well-known for the da Vinci Veneer™, which has been featured on numerous national and international television makeover shows, da Vinci Dental Studios is a full-service laboratory, manufacturing a wide-range of cosmetic and restorative products for dentists. Located in West Hills, California, da Vinci provides services for dentists throughout the United States, Canada, South America and Europe.

Smile South Florida Cosmetic Dentistry has been providing the highest quality dentistry to South Florida for over 30 years. Smile South Florida has offices in Broward County and Boca Raton and provide patients Palm Beach Cosmetic Dentistry, Fort Lauderdale Cosmetic Dentistry, and Miami Cosmetic Dentistry. The dentists specialize in porcelain veneers, dental implants, extreme makeovers, Invisalign, and sedation dentistry.

The Pankey Institute is a world renowned dental continuing education school. The Pankey Institute has been training advanced cosmetic dentists for over 35 years; whereas, the Las Vegas Institute (LVI) has only been in existence for 10 years. Some of the top dentists in the world teach at the Pankey Institute. They teach students the latest technological advances in dentistry. Pankey-trained dentists are taught to be patient centered, which means treating patients as individuals, taking the time to carefully listen, and dedicating their efforts to eliminating discomfort (both physically and emotionally). The goal is to provide patients with a lifetime of health, comfort, and beauty with the least possible treatment.Our top cosmetic (Extreme Makeover) dentist, Dr. Charles Nottingham, is a graduate from the Pankey Institute and a member of the LD Pankey Alumni Association. Dr. Nottingham has completed more than 200 Pankey Credit Hours, which includes both the full Pankey Continuum Core Courses and Advanced Pankey Courses. The following are some of the courses Dr. Nottingham took at the Pankey Institute:

• The New Patient Experience - a comprehensive journey about making connections: esthetics, cosmetics, occlusion, heath
• Splints, Occlusion and Advanced Diagnosis – differential diagnosis in functional esthetics and treatment planning
• Anterior Restorative Dentistry Function and Esthetics – diagnosis, planning and completion of the complex anterior restorative case
• Posterior Restorative Consideration – increase case acceptance through communication.

Besides being a Pankey graduate, Dr. Nottingham continues to enhance his dental education through his involvement with the Intracoastal Dental Study Club, which is a division of the Seattle Study Club, and the Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. To learn more about Dr. Nottingham, click here.

In 2000, we put up our first website. Then, in 2002 or so, Einstein Dental designed us a website and marketed it using SEO techniques. While I was in college, I questioned the website’s performance in proportion to the cost put in. We only came up first for a couple of keywords.

I decided that I would take over the web design and find a company that could help us optimize it. Well, I found it: Sinai Marketing.

Sinai Marketing provided us the service and knowledge to rank high on all our keywords. Our sales increased in 2007 tremendously, and our sales continue to go up due to Search Engine Optimization/Positioning.

Ali, the President of Sinai Marketing, is a pleasure to work with. I appreciated the fact that he liked to be challenged and was not afraid to share information. We explored different SEO/SEP techniques and applied them successfully.

Now, Sinai Marketing provides us valuable consulting and reporting services to help us maintain our success and continue to grow our business! Thank you Sinai Marketing.