For a great cause.

Hi everyone. This year I will be riding in the Ride 2 Recovery like I did last year. The ride will be held on August 2. (Here is the site for information https://www.ride2recovery.com/page.php?ID=433) There were 300 riders last year and I received the most donations of any single rider totaling almost $1100.00. I would like to top last year's total and I need your help. (Any little bit will be appreciated.) All proceeds will go to American Vets that have been injured. I will be riding the 61 mile route. If you would like to help with a donation, here is the web site http://www.active.com/donate/orangecounty/RMorett3. Thank you very much!

Dr. Moretta Featured on "America's Best"

We are excited to share with you that Dr. Moretta will be featured in a show that will air this Friday, May 9th at 7am on Ion Television. The show is called  "America's Best".  We would love for you to tune in and check it out.

Ion Televison channels vary depending on your cable provider.

The following channels are for the Orange County area:

Time Warner-Channel 15 or 410 HD (high definition)
Verizon- Channel 30 or 530 HD
AT&T Uverse- 30 or 1030 HD

Please visit www.iontelevision.com, click on channel finder, enter your cable provider and zip code if you are having difficulty finding the channel.

We apologize in advance as Ion Television does not air on any satellite providers such as Direct TV or Dish Network.

Afraid of Visiting the Dentist? You Can Say Goodbye to Those Fears with Sedation Dentistry!

Many of us are afraid of visiting the dentist, mostly because we consider our teeth to be very sensitive and believe that any procedure done will be painful.  

It is estimated that 75 million people in the U.S are afraid at some degree to visit the dentist. 

You can relax and feel safe in our dental office with the latest in sedation dentistry. 

You can ¨sleep¨ right through your dental procedure and wake up with a healthy new smile!

Sedation dentistry uses different types of sedation medications to calm our patients and help them relax.  Some types of sedation allow patients to be fully alert to respond if any answer is required yet feel completely relaxed. Others will leave you completely asleep. 

You are probably wondering more about sedation dentistry… How is it applied? Are you a candidate? What option is right for you? Will it cost more? Don´t worry, you can visit our website for more information or schedule an appointment right away and we can explain anything you need to know about the right dental treatment for you!

What Makes A Good Cosmetic Dentist And How Can You Tell?

Here are some points to consider:

1. Having The Training and Mentorship - where did the dentist learn and who taught them. Did they have a mentorship program. Some dentists advertise that they are "cosmetic dentists" even though they have had inadequate training, experience and mentorship.


2. An Eye For Style/Fashion - because this is about making you look and feel good, it helps if the dentist has an eye for it. Do they evaluate your face shape, skin tone, and give you feedback on what shape and shades (color) would best suit your face.


3. An Experienced Dental Laboratory That Understands Cosmetic Dentistry - ultimately, the lab has such a big impact on the final product. Do they deal with a lab that specializes in smile makeovers or are they dealing with a lab that focuses on single tooth dentistry? Research the lab. Ask if the lab has been involved in cosmetic dentistry courses and which ones? Were the courses hands-on programs with patients or just lectures? Dental labs like Frontier invest a lot of resources in training via hands-on programs. These programs involve dentists with patients in clinical settings. Very few dental labs have experience in hands-on programs. As a patient, demand that your dentist deals with a leading cosmetic dental lab. I promise there is a difference in the end product.


4. Team Members That Have Actually Had Their Own Teeth Done - so they can relate to the experience. This inspires confidence if people in the dental office have actually opted for veneers themselves. It tells me they are believers in the process and its impact in changing ones life. They understand the psychology behind it. Does the dentist have a nice smile?


5. Drilling Into Your Needs - pardon the pun :). Did the dentist ask you questions to uncover why you want your smile done? Do you want to look friendlier, more approachable, sexier, etc... Do you want to look younger?


6. Is Your Dentist Cutting Corners - this procedure requires time, preparatory work, and quality materials. At least if you want a smile that will last you a long time. The devil is in the details. So does he or she seem to be rushing you through your consultation? How many pictures of you are they taking (the dentist needs to take multiple pictures of you from various angles to be able to communicate your features to a dental laboratory). Are they explaining the treatment plan thoroughly? Are they guiding you as opposed to "selling" you?


7. Do they have photos of other patients that have had their smiles done? How do they look? Do the smiles fit the patient or do they all look the same?


8. Do you hear terms like golden proportions, buccal corridor, embrasure? Signs that the dentist and or lab understand how to get you the best result.

As a patient, you owe it to yourself to do some research. The results vary according to the skill of the dentist and the quality of the dental laboratory. Done properly, I am sure you can get the "look" you desire.

Schedule an appointment today with our dentist in Huntington Beach ...
Call (714) 848-4247

A "cleaning" Could save Your Life

I'm very proud of my hygienist, Lori. She noticed a small spot on the lip of one of our patients. She recommended that it be biopsied. It turned out to be a very aggressive form of oral cancer. It was caught in time and the patient will be alright. So the next time you think you're getting, "just a cleaning," think again. It could save your life.

Is Your "Gamer" Damaging Their Tmj.

We had a young patient, 14 years old, come in the other day complaining of popping and clicking in his temporomandibular joint (TMJ). He was also having pain in his jaw radiating up the side of his face to his temple area. 

I did an exam on his TMJ and found it to be very painful with a lot of popping and clicking upon opening and closing. It is very unusual to have someone as young as him developing TMJ Disorder unless there was trauma involved. I asked him if he were in an accident, a fight, got hurt playing sports, fell, etc. He responded negatively to all the above. I also asked if he ever had orthodontics. He said he had not. (Sometimes bad orthodontics can affect your bite and cause TMJ Disorder symptoms.)  

Sometimes my patients that have jobs on computers all day develop these symptoms since they seem to be clenching when they work.  I didn't think he would be on a computer all day but then I thought, "What does a 14 year old do all day?" Plays video games. I asked him if he were a gamer and he said yes. At this point his mother added, "He plays all the time." I asked her how many hours and she said four to six hours a day, sometime more. I then asked him what type of games he plays and he told me action games. I thought that he is probably clenching and/or grinding his teeth the whole time he is playing his games. 

I recommended a simple night guard device called an NTI. We were able to fabricate one here in the office and told him to wear it all the time and we will see if it helps. We were going to follow up in three weeks but his mother told us that even after a week he is noticing an improvement. 

So if you have a teenager that plays a lot of video games, watch them sometimes. If you notice that they are clenching or grinding their teeth when they are playing, you may want to call us to prevent them from developing TMJ Disorder.

When Should a Child Start Using Toothpaste?

Parents know that taking care of small children is a full-time job – and along with diaper changes, bath time, and medical checkups, parents also need to take care of their children’s teeth

★ Birth to 18 months: no toothpaste required

Start cleaning your child’s teeth as soon as the teeth begin to come in – but you don’t need toothpaste at first. For babies younger than 18 months, the best way to clean your child’s teeth is with a wet cloth or gauze – without toothpaste. Gently rub your child’s teeth and gums with a cloth over your fingertip – this, along with nursing and/or drinking water, is all the oral hygiene that your child needs at the infant stage. Once your child has more of a “full set” of teeth, you can use a small, soft toothbrush to brush your child’s teeth with water.

★ When to start toothpaste? 18 months

In general, children should not use toothpaste until they are at least 18 months old – and when you do start using toothpaste, make sure it is a safe “children’s toothpaste” made especially for young ones. Young children have different dental needs than grown-ups – and children’s toothpaste is made for this purpose.


★ What to look for in a children’s toothpaste

• Safe to swallow: Most young children tend to swallow while brushing, rather than spitting out the toothpaste – so make sure that your children’s toothpaste is formulated with this in mind.
• Use only a pea-sized amount: Don’t use too much toothpaste – just squeeze a small, pea-size (or smaller) amount onto the toothbrush. Your child doesn’t need much toothpaste to be effective, and you don’t want your child to swallow too much toothpaste.
• Consider low-fluoride children’s toothpaste: Fluoride is an important element of keeping teeth healthy and strong, but too much fluoride can be harmful for young children. Talk to your dentist if you have concerns about fluoride in your child’s toothpaste – several varieties of children’s toothpaste have lower amounts of fluoride or are fluoride-free.
• Fun flavors: Try some different flavors of toothpaste and see what your child likes. Some children – especially at the toddler stage – are very picky about flavors and might be reluctant to use a certain flavor of toothpaste. So be prepared to buy a few different varieties of children’s toothpaste and see which one is your child’s favorite.

Remember: brushing your child’s teeth is part of parenting, and you need to start at a young age. By taking the time each day – before bedtime and in the morning – to clean your child’s teeth with a specially-formulated children’s toothpaste, you will be helping to create a lifetime of healthy dental habits and happy smiles.

Schedule an appointment with our dentist in Huntington Beach 
at (714) 848-4247