INMAG.COM - September 2004
"The Soft Touch, High-Tech Dentist"
"Do you still go for teeth cleanings and watch while they scrape and pick? Do you still have old-fashioned dental x-rays? There's a new kind of dentist out there who says all that is ancient history. At the Millennium Dental Spa, Dr. Eddie Siman has spent thousands of hours in extra study to create a spa experience unlike any dentist visit you've ever experienced. The ambience is muted blue, with aromatherapy candles and an indoor-outdoor courtyard waiting room. There is no clipboard of information to fill out, just a visit with Dr. Siman while you review your instant digitalized x-rays, which reduce radiation by 90%. You can sit with Dr. Siman and choose the kind of smile that best suits your personality - Hollywood, Dominant, Natural, or a dozen other choices. Not only do you never see a dental instrument, you can watch TV on the ceiling, or have a reflexology treatment while you're having your teeth done. A graduate of UCLA and the University of the Pacific in San Francisco, Dr. Siman also practices neuromuscular dentistry. Just by looking at the way you hold your neck, shoulders, or head, he can tell what kind of head, shoulder, neck, or back pain you may be experiencing, and he can relieve the pain by realigning your teeth.
in!: What made you create the Millennium Dental Spa?
Dr. S.: So many people are afraid of the dentist. I thought, what if they came into a spa, where the entire experience was relaxing? That's why we offer hot towels, manicures, pedicures, and car detailing. There is nitrous oxide (laughing gas) in every room, if our clients want it. Each chair shows only a view of the sky; there's a TV and DVD player and headphones in every room. You can bring your own music or we have a whole library of CDs.
in!: Why do you personally interview all your patients?
Dr. S.: I don't want them to fill out forms and feel like a number. I talk to each person about what their concerns are, we take instant digital x-rays, and go back to my office and look at their teeth together on the computer. I want to make sure I give my patients what they want.
in!: How is cleaning different at Millennium?
Dr. S.: For teeth cleaning, we use a sonic cleaner, not those old-fashioned picks and tools. It's about 70% more efficient, and it's painless. For every procedure, I make sure all the instruments are behind the patient. Why watch your teeth being fixed? Watch TV or the clouds instead.
in!: What's the Wand?
Dr. S.: It's an alternative way of numbing the mouth that's easier on the patient.
in!: Why do you call the rooms dental studios?
Dr. S.: Because we are creating art in those rooms. Creating a smile that changes your self-image and maybe removes your back pain at the same time is a wonderful and artistic event.
in!: How are fillings different?
Dr. S.: We use an air abrasion system, compressed particles of air instead of a drill, for small cavities that people may have.
in!: Tell me about Sleep Dentistry.
Dr. S.: Some clients, even Fortune 500 CEO's, are just afraid of the dentist. I have them take a pill before they come that makes them very drowsy, so they need to be dropped off and picked up. I devote the whole morning to them, and take care of all their dental issues in one visit. Sometimes they need two visits, but that's it. They can have an entirely new smile in one day, if I put a rush on the lab work.
in!: Is Sleep Dentistry popular?
Dr. S.: Many people don't have the time for 10 or 12 visits to the dentist. I have a limo pick up someone at the airport, they check into a nearby hotel, and have all their dental work done in one or two mornings. I see people from New York, the Midwest, Europe, and Asia.
in!: Tell me about your Smile Design.
Dr. S.: You can remake your smile to match your personality. I can put your smile on my Video Imaging system, and we design the smile that you want. For example, I recently gave a 44-year-old stockbroker an Aggressive smile. I have an entire catalogue of smiles, including Hollywood, Dominant, Natural, Youthful. Tom Cruise has a Dominant smile, Sandra Bullock has a Hollywood smile, and Jennifer Anniston has a Youthful smile. It all depends on the way the teeth are aligned and shaped.
in!: What's an intraoral camera?
Dr. S.: That's where I put your teeth on TV, and we both see the little flaws or hairline cracks that you can't see with the naked eye. People can discuss changing their fillings to white, or removing old veneers, and see the difference on TV.
in!: Tell us how gum disease is related to heart disease.
Dr. S.: If there is bacteria in the gum, it can get into the blood stream. And if you have heart valve problems, you could get an infection in the heart. Pregnant women should also be very aware of gum disease.
in!: What is Neuromuscular Dentistry?
Dr. S.: I can tell by just by looking at your posture if you have headaches, neck and shoulder pain, or back pain. It's too bad that no one goes to the dentist for a headache, tinnitus, chronic ear infections, sleep problems, a jaw ache, or back pain or neck and shoulder pain. Neuromuscular dentistry recognizes that the muscles that move the jaw must be in a comfortable, relaxed position in order to not be in conflict with the teeth and joint. Teeth grinding is mostly caused by the muscles trying to push the teeth back into the correct position. Thus you have migraines, headaches, neck aches, shoulder pain, back pain, and jaw pain. Build-up of lactic acid in the muscles makes them sore.
in!: You can relieve back and shoulder pain and migraines with proper teeth alignment?
Dr. S.: Absolutely. We make a temporary retainer that patients wear, and within a week or two, the results are remarkable. The pain is gone. Sometimes overnight.
We want to make sure that the muscles and the teeth are in harmony - the muscles want to be in one position, and the teeth want to be in another position - we put the teeth in a position where the muscles are happy. The cosmetic benefits are almost a side effect."
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Los Angeles Magazine - January 2004
"Healthy start - 2004: Hoping for a healthy year"
"... GET A CHECKUP
If fears are keeping you from scheduling doctor appointments, news of improved technology may allay your concerns.
Going to the dentist need not be something to fear any longer. Dr. Eddie Siman has created a calming atmosphere in his office with candles, aromatherapy, reflexology, soft lighting, and tranquil music. If these steps don't get you into a relaxed state, he also offers sleep dentistry. Through the use of nitrous oxide you're transported to sleep, awaking with no memory of the procedure.
Dentists like Donaty are using laser instead of drills when performing procedures like root canals or cavity-filling. With a laser patients experience less pain, and no anesthesia is required. A natural sterilization process occurs, and the procedure is more accurate than traditional drilling.
New technology to the dental industry is CAD/CAM Technology. "This is the biggest impact on the field of dentistry that we've seen in a long time," says Armen Mirzayan, DDS, of Esthetic Dentistry Dental Group. Through the use of CEREC 3D, or Chairside Economical Restorations of Esthetic Ceramics, computer-aided design and manufacturing of crowns and veneers can be done on the spot. "It takes a block of ceramic and carves out whatever is needed in the restoration, and within ten minutes your tooth is restored," says Mirzayan. The process is beneficial to patients for various reasons, among them only needing to be numbed once and a single office visit.
More than just cosmetic, braces can also correct many dental-related problems. Grace Sun, DDS, performs accelerated orthodontics for adults. She says treatment should start with good diagnosis. "We're not just trying to solve the problem but to understand what causes the problem," says Sun. Issues to be aware of are chipping, a need for numerous root canals, and discoloration. Self-esteem, too, is often linked to the smile. When it comes to braces for adults, Sun says it's never too late to change your pearly whites. "A lot of people expect two years standard for braces," says Sun. "With proper design you can accomplish alignment in six to nine months." Options vary from traditional braces to Invisalign, removable, clear aligners.
You've been religious with sunscreen all summer, and now winter dryness is taking its toll. Dermatologist Rhonda Rand says it's time to switch up your regime. "In terms of the gold standard of antiaging, many people use a vitamin A derivative cream," Rand says. "You won't be able to tolerate it the same in the winter. Also, back off on your glycolics, alphahydroxys, and retnoids." If you've been considering having procedures such as laser, microdermabrasion, or chemical peels, Rand says this is the ideal time to do them. "Typically these types of treatments are done several times a year at monthly intervals for three months," she states. "You have to avoid the sun for four to six weeks afterwards..."
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Los Angeles Magazine - April 2004
"Millennium Dental Spa"
"At the Millennium Dental Spa, Dr. Eddie Siman designs natural and beautiful smiles to make you look younger, healthier, and more confident. It's a new kind of dental experience where clients can relax by enjoying aromatherapy, a manicure or pedicure and a reflexology treatment. Please call (800) 92-SMILE for a complimentary consultation..."
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