Dental/ Oral Health Los Angeles

Your oral health is more important than you might realize. Get the facts about how the health of your mouth, teeth and gums can affect your general health from Dr. A. J. Boyajian. With over 20 years experience, he has been focused on patient health that goes beyond just fixing a tooth problem.

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Bioesthetic Dentistry

Bioesthetics could be defined, generally, as the study of “natural beauty.” In the area of dentistry, it applies to the healthy beauty of your mouth. It is acquired by restoring proper alignment between your teeth and jaws with a minimal amount of dental work, producing a perfect bite which will prevent wear-and-tear on your mouth that has, until recently, been blamed on mere “aging.” Correct jaw alignment, a good bite with effective chewing, a pretty smile, and lifetime-lasting results are all included in the package.

For years and years, dentists have been taught to work on each tooth individually. But addressing a single crown here, a root canal there, etc… can lead to complications. Those complications could be masking a broader issue, such as poor alignment of your teeth or crooked jaw joints.  The could be the cause of excessive premature wear or grinding of your teeth. Because Bioesthetics covers the core muscles and fundamentals of oral anatomy, surface issues like worn or cracked teeth, a popping jaw, or gum recession are fixed.  Once this occurs, patients walk out with a stable bite that will last them a long time.  Amazing!

Call today for a complimentary consultation to see if Bioesthetic Dentistry may be the right approach for you.

Dr. Boyajian, Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

Help for Scaredy Patients & Dental Chickens

I have been doing conscious sedation for 3 years now and I can say without a doubt that this is a wonderful benefit for my patients. It is sometimes called “Sleep Dentistry” or “Twilight Sleep”. “Why the benefit?” you ask; well, it is for the fearful patient. Even with all the improvements in the care we now have, people are still afraid. Who is eligible for this service? Surprisingly, it is most people. It can be safer to use than not to use. Because of people’s fear some emergencies are more likely to occur. Conscious sedation helps reduce the anxiety, thereby reducing risks of complications that may arise. It is also used for a patient who does not want to remember the appointment. There is a medication we use that has an amnesic effect. So, even though my assistants and myself have magnetic personalities, it can be a very easy appointment. I do not take it as an affront if you fall asleep on me and snore. Sweet dreams!

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

Keeping the Saw (or at least my note-taking skills) Sharp

As I mentioned before, I am licensed to perform conscious sedation. I am licensed as #517. That shows how few in this profession have that ability. Part of maintaining possession of the sedation license is keeping up with the continuing education requirements. This is different from maintaining my license to practice general dentistry. This year I will spend 3 days at my alma mater, USC (go Trojans!), to take the required courses. I can honestly tell you that I am excited to attend.

The courses will be on:

1. Physical evaluation

2. Emergency Medicine

3. Monitoring and Clinical Emergency Medicine

Rarely do you hear of dental emergencies, which is good. Most emergencies are related to patient anxiety or fear. So, by preparing and keeping my staff sharp, I feel that we will make it a safer experience for my patients. An important thing patients need to know is that conscious sedation makes it even safer for the patient. You see, if the person is not fearful throughout the procedure, there is much less stress to the body and we avoid accidents that cause emergencies. An added bonus is you will not remember the appointment.

Now repeat after me: “Dentistry can be fun!”

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

Conscious Sedation in Dentistry

Working with the experts today gave me a new appreciation for their levels of professionalism. I scheduled a dental anesthesiologist for the administration and overseeing of my patients. Some people need the added support that IV sedation provides for common dental procedures. I am licensed to perform sedation, but it is always nice to have the added help on complicated cases…and with squirming youngsters!

I had two patients scheduled for treatment today; they were both small children, ages 2 and 18 months, respectively. The 2-year-old was my granddaughter, Rachel. I did not want her to associate a horrible dental experience with me, her grandfather. So Rachel received an injection in the waiting room and that was all she felt the entire appointment. No tears! Once in the treatment room I was able to perform traditional dentistry without the moving target episode. Another pleasant plus is she will not remember any of the appointment.

Please understand that dentists can perform at their best if a patient’s fear is controlled. I hope to never be a contributor to a patient’s horror stories. I still wonder if – and hope that – a completely safe drug for dentistry is in the making.

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

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TMJ Dental Treatments Stop Your Headaches

It never ceases to amaze me how my TMJ (Temporal Mandibular Joint) experience comes in handy on a daily basis. About half of my practice is devoted to TMJ treatment so I am always thinking about solving TMJ problems or managing bruxing (grinding of teeth) habits. Patients frequently come in with broken and cracked teeth, and maybe some irregular, strange pain that comes and goes on its own whims. Well, knowing how the TMJ joint works with all the muscles, discs, etc., I can use this knowledge to help determine if those phantom pain symptoms are for an undiagnosed TMJ.

Sometimes a tooth will break because of TMJ, yet anyone might think it was caused by something completely different. The knowledge is best practically utilized in how I repair teeth. Through experience of solving TMJ problems, I know how teeth are supposed to hit when you bite down. This is extremely valuable, because if I were to place a crown or filling in the mouth and it did not hit the opposing tooth correctly, I could have inadvertently caused a TMJ problem for the patient. Yes, you heard right. In my opinion, small mistakes in general dentistry gradually snowball into large TMJ problems.

There is a principle called the DUML rule that I follow religiously. DUML stands for the Distal of Uppers and the Mesial of Lowers. This translates into avoiding bad contact points between teeth that can contribute to TMJ. When I solve TMJ problems, I make sure that I do not have those contacts on the teeth.

These incorrect points are like sitting next to a car booming with ear-grating rap music at an especially long red light. Is there even such a thing as good rap music? I am revealing my age now…

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT)

I would like to inform you that I am now a member of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, or IAOMT. This is an organization devoted to the education of practitioners regarding the effects of mercury-based fillings, excess use of fluorides and the handling of other harmful dental materials.

IAOMT developed from thirteen dentists in 1984 that formed an establishment devoted to educating other dental specialists and allied professionals in the methods of safely dealing with amalgam fillings, and correctly disposing the waste. It has also led the way in developing more biocompatible approaches towards other areas of dentistry, including endodontics, periodontics, and disease prevention. I encourage you to visit www.IAOMT.org for more information.

As a holistic dental practitioner seeking the healthiest, safest, most natural care for my patients, I find it extremely valuable to be a member of IAOMT. My office practices safe removal of mercury fillings; in fact, everything we do is health-promoting. Safety for the patient and our staff in every aspect is our top priority. We are also one of the approved dental offices for Premier Research Labs and world-renown Dr. Bob Marshall DDS, founder of QRA (Quantum Reflex Analysis).

I am available for consultation or any questions you might have at (310) 670-6944.

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

We Treat TMJ – Call Us Today

Frequently, people are coming in to see me, wondering if they have a TMJ (Temporal Mandibular Joint) problem. Also known as TMD (Temporal Mandibular Dysfunction), TMJ symptoms will include, but are not limited to the following: facial pain, headaches, sore teeth, neck aches, shoulder pain, pain all around the neck, recession of the gums, earaches, ringing in the ears, popping or clicking jaw joints, crunching or grinding noises of jaw joints, soreness or scalloping of the tongue, ridges along the cheek, frequent root canals, broken and chipped teeth, short teeth, difficulty in smiling, more prominent facial wrinkles, loss of lip contour, etc.

This list is mind-boggling! One may have one or multiple symptoms, and not everyone suffers from the same ones. Symptoms commonly appear, seemingly without explanation and often under the wrong diagnoses, but people’s lives have been changed through simple TMJ treatment.

So how do we discover if you have TMJ or TMD? Well, we start with a thorough medical background check. How long have you had the symptoms? Do you have a history of trauma to the face, head, or neck? Have you tried any other forms of therapy or treatment? Your answers to these questions will greatly help me determine your problem and how to solve it.

Treatment of TMJ begins with a series of tests to diagnose the condition as accurately and thoroughly as possible. After that, patients are frequently given exercises to perform at home, a splint to aid in correcting the jaw’s alignment, or are requested to arrange meetings with a local physical therapist on a weekly or biweekly basis. Extreme cases may require surgery.

So if you think you are suffering from TMJ, request an examination. Ask your dentist about the things you can be doing to prevent TMJ. It is always better to speak up than to let the problem sit and grow worse!

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

A Day With A Master

The last two days for me have been a phenomenal learning time. For years I have been a professional student and I had an opportunity to add to my practical and theoretical database. That’s right, my brain. I have been involved with the diagnosis and treatment complex TMJ (Temporal Mandibular Joint dysfunction) for the last 20 years. This is also known as TMD.

Jess Bloomquist came to visit for two days. Jeff is the owner of Bioesthetics Laboratory, which is the premier dental lab in the world contributing to the oral repair for patients with TMD and TMJ problems, such as unexplained facial pain or headaches. He comes from the technician’s view, and I from the clinical view. We worked closely with my patients for two days to help find better solutions. It was a rare privilege.

http://bioesthetics.com/home.html

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

Did You Know Dental Lasers…

I know that I love gadgets and high-tech toys, but this is different. Honestly! I bought a Soft Tissue Laser when I saw the vast benefits my patients would receive. I liked the results so much I went out and bought a second one.

So what makes it great? Good question. The largest benefit on every patient that I see is the ability to completely sterilize a tooth prior to filling a cavity or cementing a crown. Did you know that the best cleansing of bacterial growth on a tooth provided by the traditional method only removes 30% of the bacteria? That leaves a whopping 70% of possible infection enclosed in your tooth! This laser gadget, on the other hand, is capable of removing up to 99.9%. This is great news for those of us that are concerned with dental infections.

Of course there are a great many other uses for the dental laser. But now you see why I received both buyer’s therapy and a clinical reason to buy the laser. We all win!

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

Dental Care for Children

Dr,
A recent discovery of cavities in my children prompts my asking:
Would a root canal be necessary in a seven year old child?
Should all cavities be filled, even small cavities in primary teeth?
Is mercury in fillings acceptable for primary teeth which will be falling out within five years or so?
What can I do specifically so that we don’t have cavities like this again?

Thanks for any time you may be able to spend in addressing these questions.
–Laura

Dear Laura,
Let me try to answer your questions as listed.

1. Should root canals be appropriate for a 7 year old?
Root canals are use when the nerve of the tooth is damaged or dead. This will cause the leakage of toxins into the body. Usually an abscess is the result with a variety of consequences. Root canals for children fall into two categories: for permanent teeth or baby teeth. if it is for a permanent tooth it is usually a very good idea. If it for a baby tooth, it depends on how much longer the tooth is needed before its eventual loss. Baby teeth serve many purposes: they are important in helping jaws develop and holding the place for the soon to be present permanent teeth. So whether the baby teeth should be root canaled the answer is maybe. Your dentist will be able to answer the pros and cons for treatment.

2. Should all cavities be filled?
Again, the answer is usually. If the tooth is not in hopeless condition and there is continued need for the tooth then the answer is yes. With a baby tooth I usually try to gauge the size of the cavity with the expected time for the loss of the tooth. If the cavity will not grow to big and cause nerve damage or affect the tooth next to it I will not repair it. I always inform the parent so they can be in on the decisions.

3. Should Mercury fillings be used?
Mercury fillings are also known as Amalgam fillings. The material is approximately 50% mercury and 50% silver. I do not believe it should be used for any reason. Mercury is very dangerous for children and women in the child bearing years. Once mercury enters and is absorbed in the body it is very difficult to remove, not to mention the expenses for removal. There are other materials that will restore the teeth as well without the possibility of risk.

4. How to prevent cavities?
This is a great question. Prevention is where the battle should be fought. So your areas to concentrate on are:
A. Control diet. Everything that can cause cavities should be controlled. The list is numerous but the management is doable.
B. Good oral hygiene with toothbrush and floss. These are very inexpensive and have a huge bang for your buck.
C. The use of sealants. This wonderful tool is very under utilized.
D. Oral hygiene instruction from your dentist. Always ask the dentist or the hygienist for an evaluation at each visit because each hygiene appointment should be a learning time. Patients should clean their own teeth and the professionals should instruct.
E. Frequent hygiene appointments with a dental checkups each visit. This is the standard in our office. This allows for the aforementioned instruction and for the prompt discovery of problems early in the game.
F. X-rays routinly taken. The are invaluable to help in prevention of serious problems. If you can, have digital x-rays taken. Digital x-rays have a significant reduction in the exposure of the x-ray.

I hope this helps.

www.dentalwellnessarts.com