cover 0708.qxd - PhillyFIT Magazine

Putting Your Best
SMILE Forward
featuredMERCHANT
Easy cosmetic dental enhancements can
make big improvements in your appearance
Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh is quoted as saying “Because of
your smile, you make life more beautiful.”
That’s so true. The image of a perfectly-toned body is
lessened if it’s not accompanied by an equally dazzling smile.
But thanks to amazing strides in today’s cosmetic dentistry, it’s
easy for someone with a ho-hum grin to obtain a true humdinger
of a smile.
While most everyone agrees that a great smile is an important
social asset, did you know that 75% of adults surveyed think that
an unattractive smile can hurt a person’s chances for career success
In today’s flagging economy, that’s reason enough to
improve your smile.
Dr. Joseph Capista is an esteemed authority on aesthetic dentistry
who offers technical skill with an artistic touch. He’s so
well respected in this field he’s been selected as Cosmetic
Dentist for the Philadelphia Sixers Dancers for five straight
years. “Dr. Joe” sees hundreds of people each year with all sorts
of smile issues like chipped teeth, gaps or discolored teeth -
issues that cause them to withhold a full grin or feel selfconscious
when they open their mouth.
“Knowing you have a beautiful smile gives you the kind of
confidence that lights up a room,” he says.
Change That Dingy Smile into a Dazzling One
As we get older, our adult teeth naturally become darker due to
changes in the tooth’s mineral structure. In addition, heavy consumption
of coffee or soda or other teeth-staining beverages like
red wine, smoking, or even certain medicines can stain your teeth.
With a “bright is right” outlook, it’s not wonder that tooth
whitening is the number one cosmetic dental treatment in the
U.S. today. Whitening toothpastes, gels, trays or strips are sold at
the supermarket or pharmacy but, warns Dr. Joe, “can be very
abrasive.”
Dr. Joe offers easy, safe and effective alternatives, like one
hour laser teeth whitening (Zoom!) in his office which provides
the quickest results. A dentist-supervised teeth whitening kit is
the next best choice. For this approach, models are made of
your teeth during your initial office visit. On your second visit,
you’re given clear plastic trays which you wear comfortably at
home while doing other activities for one to two hours a day, or
even while sleeping.
“The results are pretty spectacular and often last one to five
years,” notes Dr. Joe. “If the teeth start to look a bit dingy, we
can give you extra gel for a quick touch-up.” In fact, Dr. Joe’s
practice is currently featuring a “Whitening for Life” program
which offers the take home whitening kit, and all follow-up gels
for a lifetime of dazzle, provided you maintain a regular schedule
of preventative/hygiene visits.
Other Easy Cosmetic Dental Options
Today’s hot dental procedure is the Porcelain Veneer – a thin,
semi-translucent shell that is custom made and then bonded to
your teeth. An easy alternative to minor orthodontics, porcelain
veneers can be used to visually close up gaps, to correct broken or
AFTER
Dr. Capista treated Chris with four porcelain
veneers to eliminate the spacing between
his upper six front teeth. The gleam in
Chris’ eyes after treatment says it all.
BEFORE
chipped teeth or to provide a makeover for crooked or stained
teeth. Porcelain veneers are more natural looking and can be
color-matched perfectly to your surrounding teeth. The end result
is a more attractive and healthier-looking smile. Digital imaging
photos are often used to show astounding before and after views.
They are most often used to replace old “crowns” or “caps,”
which yellow over time and often have dark edges around the
gum line (unlike veneers, which are all porcelain, yesterday’s
crowns were porcelain bonded to metal, which results in the
dark edges). “Some of us have crowns that are older than our
favorite running sweatshirt,” quips Dr. Joe, an avid runner.
Composite Bonding is another technique used for chipped teeth,
or when teeth are worn around the gum line. It is a metal-free,
tooth-colored material that is applied directly to a tooth and then
made to match your surrounding teeth in terms of color, texture
and shape. The end result is a natural, uniform smile.
Restorative Crown and Bridge Dentistry might be required if
you have missing teeth, heavy decay or have a loss of supporting
bone structure. Partial dental bridges can be fixed or removable
and made from a variety of materials.
No time No Longer an Excuse
With many of the above procedures able to be accomplished in
three or less gentle visits, there’s no reason why you should put
off correcting a teeth problem that takes away from your appearance.
It’s time to put your best smile forward!
Dr. Joseph Capista is a highly-respected U.S. authority on
cosmetic dentistry who completed post graduate training at
the famed Las Vegas Institute of Advanced Dental Studies.
For more information on Dr. Capista’s services and the “Free
Whitening for Life Program,” visit www.capistasmiles.com
and click on the Free Whitening for Life box for more details.
48 I PhillyFIT
March/April I 215-396-0268 I www.phillyfit.com