Summer 2012

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Call us anytimeFrom routine dental care

to complete smile makeovers, our team takes great pride in providing exceptional comprehensive care.

DiD You knoW:n Our practice consistently

exceeds the state regulations for continuing education?

n We are celebrating our 17th Anniversary this year?

n We offer comprehensive dental treatment ... Invisalign®, Traditional Orthodontic Treatment, & Implant Surgery?I know that you expect the

highest level of service, prompt appointment times, and pleasant and cheerful greetings when you contact our office. We have re-committed to this vision for our practice, and in light of that, I hope you enjoy this edition of our patient newsletter!

I encourage you to take advantage of our complimentary oral cancer screening, or to call our office if you have any questions about your oral health. If we haven’t seen you in a while, don’t be shy, call today!

Yours in good dental health,

Dr. Ritchie Park

turn the pagePopular youthful smile solutions!

Are your habits healthy habits?

5 steps to minimize heartburn...

Has Your Mouth Been Checked?What you need to know about oral cancer

It’s an important public service when high-profile people like actor Michael Douglas turn the spotlight on oral cancer. Yet many people remain unaware of this potentially lethal disease. oral cancer is not rare and it’s occurring more frequently and to a younger group with every passing year.

At one time, oral cancer was associated almost exclusively with ageing and with tobacco and alcohol consumption. The dramatic increase of the past few years (11% in 2007 alone) is believed to be caused by exposure to the HPV-16 virus, responsible for most cervical cancers. In fact, HPV-related oral cancer rose 28% between 1999-2007, and they continue to rise by about 3% every year.

If you experience any of these common warning signs, please give your doctor a call.--> red or white patch in the mouth that lasts more than two weeks --> change in voice or hoarseness that lasts more than two weeks --> sore throat that does not subside

--> pain, swelling or a lump in the mouth or neck that does not subside

When found at early stages, oral cancers have an 80-90% survival rate, yet someone dies from oral cancer every hour every day.

Produced to improve your dental health and awareness

A HeAltHy SmIle WIll lASt A lIfetIme!

Dr. Ritchie Park’sSmile Update

• N e w S l e t t e r •

Call for your Complimentary oral Cancer Screening this summer

Be Happy.Research to pay attention to!

A review of the scientific literature has confirmed...n People who are happy and positive enjoy a longer

lifespan, possibly because they acquire a higher immune function. n It’s also worth considering how a good attitude can

lead to healthy habits and behaviors, which in turn produce happy outcomes. For example, maintaining healthy teeth and gums can give you more than a great smile. It may contribute to a healthy respiratory system and reduce your risk for pneumonia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) according to research published in the Journal of Periodontology.n The study supports earlier research suggesting a

relationship between respiratory diseases and gum disease, a chronic and progressive inflammatory disease that affects the gum tissue and other structures supporting the teeth. n Additional research has associated gum disease

with other chronic inflammatory diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and arthritis, and the list just keeps growing. Science has established links to kidney disease, premature births, and cancers including pancreatic and breast cancer.

So you see, cultivating healthy habits and the right attitude can pay big dividends. Brushing, flossing, and keeping your recare appointments will keep your smile and your body healthy. Now that’s research to be happy about!

The Noble CarrotHumble no more!

According to a study published in Evolution and Human Behavior, eating carrots regularly can give your skin a healthy, attractive, golden glow that other people notice. That’s because of pigments called carotenoids.

A half-cup of cooked carrots provides four times the recommended dietary allowance of vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene, which is necessary for healthy skin, eyesight, and growth. Beta-carotene also has antioxidant qualities that build resistance to infection,

heart attack, and stroke. Harvard University research suggests those who eat more than five carrots a week are much less likely to suffer a stroke than those who eat one a month.

The National Cancer Institute is studying how beta-carotene may ward off cancers,

including oral cancers.

Ready, Set, Enjoy!Eat, play, laugh ... again!

You’ve probably met someone with at least one dental implant, but you likely didn’t realize it because once an implant is placed, it is completely natural looking and fully functional.

The science of dental implants is well established. Regardless of the type of implant used, all are made of strong bio-compatible materials: an artificial replacement root and an enamel-colored crown that is perfectly matched to your own teeth. The root helps to preserve bone and the implant prevents neighboring teeth from tilting and drifting, just like a natural tooth would. Implants can also replace more than one tooth or stabilize a denture or bridge. Imagine enjoying meals and talking and laughing with complete confidence!

Interested? Let us know so that we can talk to you about your specific treatment plan. Give us a call today!

Live Longer.

So quick like a bunny... grab a carrot or two!

Age Erasers That WorkSo you can put your smile back on!

There’s nothing quite like worn-down teeth and ageing restorations for wiping the smile off your face. Yet these are the problems that sneak up on everybody,

even those who take excellent care of their oral health. Teeth grinding, clenching, temporomandibular disorder (TMD), along with fillings and

other restorations that have worn out their welcome, can age your smile and put a dent in your style!

Please don’t let your smile bring you down.

Some of these most popular solutions take only one or two visits!

Do any of these sound like you? You have a tooth that is:l damaged by decay or wearl crumblingbecausethereismoreoldfillingthantoothl fractured or chipped, threatening its structural integrityl discoloredbydecayorsilver-coloredfillingsl showing signs of root canal treatment

If you said yes even once, don’t worry any more. These types of smile flaws are usually easier to put right than you might think…l Beautiful natural-looking white porcelain inlays and onlays can replace wornsilver-coloredorstainedfillings.l Crowns,bridges,anddentalimplantsprovidestrengthaswellasbeauty.l Bonding and veneers can whiten, re-contour, disguise minorflaws,strengthen,andrestoresymmetry.

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Avoid your unique food triggers. Common culprits include chocolate, caffeine, peppermint, spicy foods, butter, oil, fatty meat, fried foods, citrus fruit, tomatoes, and raw onion.

Avoid alcohol & tobacco. Both promote stomach acid backing into the esophagus. Smoking reduces the production of saliva, a natural acid-fighter which also helps wash down stomach acid.

Eat small meals frequently. A too-full stomach can cause acids to back up and cause that burning sensation.

Lose a few and loosen up. Obese people are nearly three times more likely to have heartburn and acid reflux, and too-tight clothing around your middle can push acid into the esophagus.

Elevate your head by 6-8 inches when you sleep. This helps stomach acid drain more quickly – by nearly 70% according to one study.

Try 5 to minimize! Got Heartburn?

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Information included is not dental or medical advice. For your specific information be sure to consult our office. If you do not wish to receive this newsletter, please contact us directly.

Contents may not be reproduced without permission from the publisher. © PATIENT NEWS (800) 667-0268

Printed with vegetable-based ink.

Ritchie Park, D.D.S.1155 S Diamond Bar Boulevard, Suite DDiamond Bar, CA 91765-2235

Office HoursMon-Fri 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Contact InformationOffice (909) 396-4435Fax (909) 396-9245Email diamondbardentist@hotmail.com

Visit our Website!www.diamondbarfamilydentist.com

office information

Preferred Provider

It’s true that in most cases a denture or bridge brings back much of the form and function of missing teeth. But a natural tooth does a lot more than help you cut and grind food and make for nice smiles. It also plays an important role under the gumline where you can’t see it ... something a denture simply doesn’t do.

Natural teeth need the support of the bone in your jaw. When you lose a tooth, the bone has no more use and it shrinks and weakens. For most people, the amount of bone lost isn’t too serious – there’s still enough to make a good solid foundation for a denture. But unfortunately for some patients, shrinking bone can trigger a number of problems. It can cause dentures to fit more loosely, making it hard to bite and chew. Underlying gum becomes sore and painful, and speech is sometimes impaired, and along with it, self-image.

Dental implants are the closest cousin to natural teeth. They are permanent false teeth anchored right into your jawbone, just like your natural teeth. They’re more stable than dentures, and eating is done with ease and comfort. Many patients find implants give them a more positive self-image and more confidence.

Dental implant treatment does require a greater investment of time and money, but in the long run, it’s well worth it.

Why Implants? Why not a denture or bridge?

$500 Off your implant

treatment planExpires September 30th, 2012.Offers are valid for new cases and for patients without insurance only.

The final procedure is the attachment of a prosthetic tooth to the abutment.

Gumline

The abutment is attached to the exposed anchor during the second surgery.

The anchor is placed into the jawbone during the first surgery. Over the next six months the bone cells grow closely around the anchor, holding it firmly in place.

JawboneSoft marrow

Hard bone

Always Welcoming Friends

We hope you have enjoyed your visits to our office and are pleased with our care, treatment and commitment to your good oral health. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for referring friends and other family members in the past. We really appreciate your vote of confidence!

We are currently welcoming new patients, so if you know of co-workers, friends, or family members who are looking for dental care, by all means give them our practice number.

Everyone on our staff is committed to providing quality care in a comfortable environment and we are happy to welcome new patients. We will ensure that they receive the same professional care you enjoy from our practice as well as access to the latest in advanced technology and research.

...for each friend or family member you send our way who becomes a patient.

$50 Smile

GiftCardIn addition, your name will be entered to our Quarterly Drawing for $100 Gift card of your choice!

Thank you for your support!

Referral Bonus!