If so, you’re not alone.  Most beauty pagent winners have gummy smiles.

But what about too gummy?

As a dentist I’ve been trained to evaluate smiles aesthetically and the gums are just as important as the teeth.

The following are the things we look at, other than color:

• Your gumline (the line where your tooth ends and the gums begin) is uneven.
• The height and width of your teeth.
• How many teeth are shown (ie. how many back teeth can I see when you smile.
• Are the edges or your upper teeth straight or parallel to your eye line?
• Do you have any “black” spaces between any of your teeth?
• When you’re not smiling, can I see any part of your teeth?
• Symmetry - is the right side a mirror image of your left.
• Is the color of the gums the same on both sides?

But today, let’s look at the gums.  How much gums can you show and still look acceptable?  The answer is a maximum of 2 mm.  Two millimeters of gum is acceptable as they don’t over power the teeth.

The other key element is that the 2mm be 2mm across the whole smile.  In other words, you can have 2 mm of gums shown in the front and 6 mm of gum shown in the back or 0 mm of gums showing in the back of the mouth.

If that happens, then your teeth will not look proportional because some teeth will look bigger and some smaller.  The reason being, your teeth start and end with the gums.

You Self-Diagnose a gummy smile… now what?

As a dentist in San Diego, I’ve seen how patients can be shocked when I mention their gummy smiles.  It’s because no other dentist mentioned it as most dentists look at teeth.  I like to say that I look at smiles and the whole body.  The teeth are a small component.

Anyway… what can you do if you have a gummy smile.  The real answer is….  as one of my mentors told me, “it depends!”

It depends on why you have a gummy smile.  As you know, treatment should be driven by a diagnosis.  All too often treatment is done without figuring out what really went wrong.

Now I know what you are thinking.  If it doesn’t hurt, then don’t fix it.  If that is true, then why do you put makeup on…. why do you put deodorant on… why do you take a bath?

A gummy smile to me is not pretty and if I point it out to you, then you may feel the same way.

So there are 4 main reason why you have a gummy smile and each requires a different treatment.  The treatments can range from full blown jaw surgery to orthodontics to minor gum surgery to restorative dentistry.

If you want to know more… I’ll be sharing more in my newsletters.  Just go to my site drmarvin.com and sign up.

One funny article about ways to save money listed dentistry as a disgusting way to save money.

As evidence in this article on former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee.

This goes to show that even in Arkansas, people want to look their best.

And remember if “good ‘ol boy” Mike Huckabee can do it, so can you.

Cosmetic Dentistry is natural good-looking dentistry… not the bling bling everyone thinks it is.

Click here for information.

Bad Breath is more than a social issue…. it is an issue about health.

Did you know that bad breath is a SIGN of more serious underlying problems… the most common being a systemic candida infection.

The best way to get rid of bad breath and the fungus in your body is to do a supervised full-body cleanse.

Of course it is not easy but most everything important or worth doing requires work.

Rhea, my wife went through one and now she feels great.  (and her breath is better because of it).

One sign of fresher breath is a pink (not white) tongue.  Check in the mirror and see if you have a white tongue.  If so, 1. get a system to fight bad breath locally then 2. find a health professional in cleansing to get rid of those nasty overgrowth of candida.

As always, I recommend BreathDr. Brand

Dr. Marvin

In this article, a hotel, which has come under investigation because of Legionella pneumophila

A bacteria found in the water, installed a chlorine dioxide water purification system. That instantly solved a lot of their problems as the bacteria was no longer found.

The Legionella pneumophila initially caused 10 people to seek hospitalization due to the infections. Fortunately, there are chlorine dioxide systems present that help with this kind of problem.

For more information about, visit www.breathdoctor.com

It is common however for dentists to jump on the bandwagon.  Though lately I’ve given more thought to it than most dentists, here ar e few things that any dentist may consider when going green.

1.  Removing mercury fillings and SAFELY discarding them.  I’m not going to mention too much about the mercury toxicity debate but I am going to mention that it is a requirement to dispose of the hazardous material properly.  I know that in my previous office, strict protocols were needed to monitor the substance and extra equipment like amalgam separators.

2.  Energy savings in the office.  As dentists, we want to have nice well-lit offices to create a pleasant environment, but is it right to do at the expense of energy?  Not to mention, the added costs to light up and power the computers and other dental equipment.

3.  Conserve on disposables.  A lot of dentists use barriers to cover up surfaces but all of these plastics and paper products add to landfills.  Dentists should instruct their staff to use spray and wipe techniques to disinfect surfaces.

4.  Paper in the office.  Whenever you go to the dentist for the first time, the first thing they do is give you a clipboard with several pieces of paper… commonly called “The Paperwork.”  Nowadays, offices are computerized and an online form is becoming more popular.  They even have signature pads for you to sign.  The term paperless would be difficult these days but a chartless dental office is now feasible with current software.

5.  Chemicals.  With the advent of digital xrays, dental offices are able to eliminate the need for x-ray developing chemicals.  Choose an office with digital xrays.

6.  Text and email communications instead of postcards and mailed statements.  Another way to cut down on paper is with the use of the internet and cell phones.  People actual prefer a text or email reminder as opposed to a phone call.

This list could be a whole lot longer but these 6 tips are a good way to start.  Feel free to print this out and give it to your dentist.  They may even give you a discount on your next cleaning!

Dr. Marvin

ps.  I’m still working on a book for dentists on how to be environmentally friendly.  Subscribe to this feed for the latest updates.

China in an effort to better their image before the Beijing Olympics, they’ve instructed their taxi drivers to not eat any garlic.  Their goal is for them not to have any bad breath for their out of town visitors.

Considering they’ve put a halt to their pollution causing autos and factories, I’m sure they could force their taxi drivers to improve their breath.

This goes to show that bad breath is a problem and can be a turn off especially in Asia.

Here’st he article:

http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2008/08/01/Officials_Bad_fashion_not_OK_at_Olympics/UPI-96361217645549/

That’s one of the top 3 question people ask when they first find out that I’m a dentist. It is a good questions because yes, dental insurance is a benefit for most people.

However, here are my thoughts from the standpoint of a dentist.

1. There are so many intricacies with dental insurance, most dentists and dental staff members are clueless when it comes to explaining all of the details. Plus, insurance companies and the employers that purchase these plans are always changing things around to save money (and make a profit). Welcome to capitalism. The problem with this is that your health is at stake. Look at the issues with medical insurance, costs, and the masses who don’t have any coverage.

2. Managed care makes dentists work harder and faster. That means more patients per hour just to make a profit. That means less time with you and your questions. More is delegated to other people (staff members) and less time with the dental professional. Dental insurance makes us dentist look bad but how can we stay in business if we don’t make a profit.

3. Dental insurance companies pay dentists a lot less, 10-80% less than their normal fees. That cuts into the profit margin for dentists which is by the way typically 30%. That’s right, pre-tax dentists only make 30 cents on the dollar you spend. Take into account all the years of schooling and knowledge, that’s very little. That’s why they have to work more and see more patients (which again makes people feel cheapened). Dentists can’t charge by the hour like attorneys (unfortunately).

4. Dental discount plans. Have you heard of them? They’re membership card companies that ask dentists (who are gullible enough to sign up) to participate thereby getting more patients. Just like dental insurance companies, the fees are ridiculously low compared to their normal fees. My recommendation is to stay away from these because they put a burden on the dentist and the quality will (if not already) be compromised.

5. It costs dentists a lot of money. Most dentists have to hire a full-time person dealing with just insurance. That’s added overhead for the practice because dentists have over the years provided the service of filing claims for patients. As dental insurance companies “twisted” things around, they’ve made it more difficult for dental offices to get paid. That’s just another scheme dental insurances use to “keep the dentist’s money longer” and make more money on interests. This leads to more fraudulent dentists trying to take revenge against the dental insurance company. That’s another bad situation.

6. Your dental benefits are small. Did you know that most dental insurances pay out a maximum of $1000 per person per year? That number hasn’t changed for over 30 years while cost of living and inflation has quadrupled. Don’t expect that to change. Here’s a lesson for you, if you have dental insurance, be happy but don’t expect it to turn around your smile when your were 19.

7. Dental insurance covers prevention services like regular cleanings and exams. The cost of those procedures have gone up and by the time you get to the actual fillings, crowns, dentures etc, you will have exceed your yearly max. Some dentists think this is a hassle and are not willing to deal with it.

There are many more reasons but these are 7 of them that really start to make my neck ache. I’ve dealt with these issues and I feel strongly that the happiest dentists are the ones that deal directly with patients without the interference of dental insurance. I’m in that boat. If you want to schedule an appointment with me, just call my number at 888 825 5351.

You’re in luck because many dentists are getting trained to do oral conscious sedation dentistry.

What is Sedation Dentistry?

To be thorough, there are many forms of sedation dentistry but the one that comes to my mind is the dentistry where you sleep (or almost completely be knocked out) and wake up not only revived but also relieved that the visit is over.

The most common method of “sleep dentistry” is oral conscious sedation where the dentist gives you a script or the pills themselves. They’re mainly sleeping pills that make your really drowsy. While sleeping, the dentist will complete the necessary work. That’s it.

Sometimes, the drug has some amnesia effects that literally causes you to forget a lot of what went on. For me, that’s a bonus but don’t count on it working for everyone.

That brings me to another point. Because every person’s body is different, you may experience something very different than someone else. That is one of the challenges every dentist has when administering this type of dentistry. They must think, Do I give one or two or even three pills?

As a rule of thumb, the bigger the person the higher the dosage. But just like any drug or substance (take alcohol for instance) everyone reacts differently with sedation dentistry.

So if you are looking for a way to avoid the whining of the drill, or if you just want to “get it over with,” then consider sedation dentistry as your new option to google.

If you need to find a dentist that does this type of dentistry, just google “sedation dentist [your city]” and you’ll surely find one that will suit your needs.

Previously, the FDA and American Dental Association agreed that mercury toxicity from dental amalgam fillings were safe, despite known facts about the toxicity in humans. Debates over the safety of amalgam fillings have been staged for decades with many individuals, doctors and dentists included, rallying against the placement of these poisonous fillings.

However, the stubbornness of these large associations still insisted (until a few weeks ago) that it is unlawful for dentist and other medical providers to recommend removing mercury fillings for “health”reasons.

But, since being sued, the FDA has changed their view “slightly” on the topic and it shows on their website. We hope to see the ADA and state dental boards changing their stance.

What does this mean to you?

Well… now you can go to your dentist and have them removed without the dentist fearing litigation. You can have your amalgams removed for the purpose of health. Run a google search on mercury toxicity or visit

IAOMT International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology …

for more information.

This association actually has a protocol for removing amalgams safely. Unfortunately, about 99% of dentists don’t follow up but I’m optimistic they will in the near future with this ruling.

A couple features of the protocol involve a change in technique when removing amalgams… such as using a rubber dam and breaking the fillings in large chunks. You should also have a mercury vapor ionizer because it has shown that the most mercury is removed during placement and removal of the filling.

Because of this recently news, I’m going to dig deeper into the subject and determine what I can do to help my patients to safely remove the mercury fillings. I may also write a report about it… we’ll see. It depends on how much time I have in the coming weeks. If you want to be notified, just sign up for my newsletter.

Dr. Marvin