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Catrise L. Austin, D.D.S Cosmetic Dentist • www.vipsmiles.com 
A beautiful smile certainly speaks for you. One of the first things that people will notice about you is your smile. It’s your greeting card, your business card, your resume and your facial “mood ring” all in one. Yet, we live in a nation where dental health is not taken seriously and not viewed as a part of our overall health and well being. Studies now show however, that poor oral health can not only cause gum disease, cavities, bad breath, and tooth loss, but is also linked to other serious health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, and preterm or low birth weight babies in pregnant women. A recent study even revealed that those with a beautiful smile are perceived as more successful, intelligent, interesting, wealthy, attractive and popular with the opposite sex. Now more than ever, with a spiraling economy and increased competition at work, a healthy, confident smile can be your calling card to success. Having a polished smile and fresh breath is key for being a power player in the business world! Executives who want to make a positive impact at business meetings, during corporate presentations, conferences and panel presentations, media appearances, or new job interviews have to put their best smiles forward. A strong, confident smile implies much more than personal hygiene; it truly shows accomplishment, happiness, radiance, and strength.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 1.1 million people in the United States are infected with HIV, and 232,700 don’t know it. The oral cavity is one of several places where HIV infection is found, so dentists have a unique opportunity to incorporate rapid HIV testing in their daily practice. I’m proud to be the first dentist in the nation to offer the OraQuick ADVANCE® test, and we’ve partnered with the New York State Department of Health to generate awareness and promote its benefits.
One of the biggest concerns that I see is access to affordable dental insurance and quality dental care. As a healthcare provider, I’m really baffled by the nationwide uproar about trying to implement healthcare reform in this country. I meet so many people who want dental care, who need dental care, but just can’t afford a quality individual dental plan due to the high monthly dental insurance premiums. Employers are more likely to drop their employee’s dental insurance before dropping the medical insurance because dental insurance isn’t viewed as much as a “necessity” as medical. As a result, patients try to do “do it yourself” dentistry and try coping with the dental diseases and problems until their teeth hurt and they have to seek dental care. Then when they do seek dental care, usually the most affordable options like pulling the teeth are not always the best options. I’m hoping that we do pass some type of sensible healthcare reform to help those who have no where to turn.
I was inspired to write my book 5 Steps to the Hollywood A-List Smile mainly because there is a lack of dental information for consumers and patients to turn to when they have questions and need basic information in laymen’s terms. In my practice, I constantly get asked the same questions and I began to think that there was truly a need for this information to be tangible and put all in one place. When I wrote the book, I wanted it to be for the everyday hard working person who may have thought about improving their smile, but needed to get a little more info to see what their options are, how long it may take, pros and cons of certain procedures, and how much it may cost. I share a lot of tips and even got some of my celebrity clients and friends to tell their stories of how a new smile helped them. But what I want everybody to know in this book is that Hollywood smiles are not just reserved for rich and famous celebrities! In the book I tell what the stars do to get their Hollywood A-List Smiles – then how to scout out ways to get it for a fraction of the price. In addition, I wrote 5 Steps to the Hollywood A-List Smile because I was inspired to share my personal story about how changing my smile changed my life and actually made me want to become a dentist. I share how at the age of 15, improving my smile helped me gain confidence, improved my self esteem, and gave me the enthusiasm and energy to go on to pursue my dreams. I’m here to tell everyone that their smiles can change their lives too in ways that they never dreamed personally, socially, and help them in their careers.
When selecting a dental product be it, toothpaste, toothbrush, floss, or mouthwash, the most important thing to remember is to look for the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance. This assures that the product has been tested and safe for your teeth. Thereafter, choosing a tooth paste and other products becomes just a personal preference of flavor and texture for the most part. Here are my personal top 5 picks of dental products: Best Toothpaste: Colgate Total Best Floss: Crest Glide or pick up a bag of pre-loaded floss handles (by Oral B, DenTek, GUM) Best Manual Toothbrush: Colgate 360 Best Electric Toothbrush: Sonicare FlexCare (comes with toothbrush sanitizer or without) Best Mouthwash: BreathRx Best Over The Counter Teeth Whitener: Crest Advanced Seal
I know that a lot of people hate going to the dentist and try to avoid it at all costs. But many dental offices today are comfortable and even have spa like amenities to make the visit more pleasant than once viewed in the past. Finding the right dental team that is not only skilled, but care about your health is critical. I recommend asking someone you trust for a recommendation for a dentist if you don’t have one or like your current dental home. |
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