Missing Teeth - Restoring Your Smile!

Restore Your Smile & Improve Your Health

Did you know that the average adult between the ages of 20 and 64 is estimated to have three or more decayed or missing teeth? Your dental care and oral health are necessary to maintaining your overall health and wellness. Untreated dental disease in decaying teeth can lead to more serious health issues, including infection or damage to your bones and nerves. Learn more about preventive dental disease

If you are missing one or more teeth, or have teeth that need to be removed, there are many ways to restore your oral health and your beautiful smile. At Total SmileCare, Dr. Giri Palani offers several dental methods to restore your smile.

Dental Bridges - your existing teeth are literally used to build a bridge to cross the area where your tooth is missing. Bridges can be a good option for people that have areas of decay on the adjacent teeth to the missing area, since bridges can be more invasive for surrounding teeth. Learn more about dental bridges.

Dental Implants - implants are a great option for restoring missing teeth. Dental implants set into the jawbone (to mimic the tooth's root) and a natural looking porcelain crown is placed. Implants act like a natural tooth and are a beautiful addition to your smile. Are dental implants right for you?

At Total SmileCare, Dr. Giri Palani will meet with you for a personalized consultation, to evaluate your dental needs and the goals you want to achieve. From professional cleanings and regular check-ups to complex smile makeovers, Dr. Giri Palani can deliver the cosmetic dentistry you are looking for. Call us today at (310) 547-1128.

CEREC Crowns - One Easy Appointment!

No Temporary. No Messy Impressions. One Easy Appointment.

CEREC® is an advanced dental technology that is utilized for the restoration of decayed, cracked, or chipped teeth. CEREC® can create full crowns, inlays, onlays, and veneers. The CEREC® machine crafts a restoration in a matter of minutes, and these restorations are made of compressed porcelain. It is for this reason that they are stronger than laboratory restorations, which are layered porcelain. The most beneficial feature of receiving a CEREC® restoration is that it is accomplished in one visit. In addition to the benefit of a one visit restoration, there is no uncomfortable impression material to bite on or temporary to wear.

Procedure
The procedure for placement of a CEREC® restoration is very simple. The first step is to remove all decay from the tooth. The doctor will then shape the tooth in preparation to take a digital picture. The tooth is then sprayed with a very fine powder. This allows the digital camera to take an acceptable image. Once this image is captured, the tooth will appear on a computer screen in 3D. This will allow the doctor to design the restoration right in front of you. Once the design is completed, the CEREC® will mill the restoration. This step takes approximately 15 minutes. You can actually watch this process if you would like. When the restoration is finished milling, the doctor will place the restoration. The entire process should take just over an hour.

If you're interested in learning more about CEREC restorations, or our other cosmetic and restorative treatments, please contact Dr. Palani at his Beverly Hills, CA office at 310-547-1128.

Your Cosmetic Dental Questions Answered

Cosmetic Dentistry can truly be for everyone. Whether your goal is to improve your overall oral health, or to enhance your beautiful smile, Dr. Palani has a treatment that will meet your needs! Read belowf or some of our frequently asked questions about cosmetic dentistry.

I don’t like my teeth or my smile – what can I do?
A wide variety of options are available to improve tooth function and how your smile looks. Check out our “Cosmetic Procedures” section to see how other patients with similar problems were helped, and call our office in Beverly Hills, CA to get started on your new smile.

 

How much does it cost to get a great smile?
Like most services, cost varies based on the amount of time required and the difficulty of the procedure(s). Generally, improving a smile requires a combination of treatment options such as bleaching, reshaping gums, and using bonded materials (resin or porcelain) to improve the appearance of the teeth. A great way to start is by having a consultation with Dr. Giri Palani to determine how you can reach your goals. Improving your smile is an investment in you.

I have dental insurance. Will it pay for my new smile?
Most dental insurance has very low total benefits per year, which may offset the cost for regular checkups, but probably won’t pay toward cosmetic services. Insurance is a business; thus, your carrier will often contract to pay for the least expensive option instead of the best solution for your particular needs or desires. Dr. Palani will work to maximize your benefits, and may have suggestions for alternative methods of financing so you can obtain the treatment of choice.

What are some benefits of cosmetic dentistry?
A great smile should improve your self-confidence, which can have a positive impact on the social and professional aspects of your life. Cosmetic dentistry is not just about pretty smiles though. New techniques and materials are available for back teeth as well as those seen when you smile. Now your mouth can look great, get healthy, and function better, all at the same time.

Ready to Schedule Your Consultation?

Call us today to schedule your appointment with Dr. Giri Palani to discover your smile makeover!

Use Your Dental Insurance Benefits Before They Run Out!

Toward the end of the year, our office typically gets an increase in phone calls from patients looking to schedule an end of year cleaning or restorative appointment and use their insurance benefits before they lapse December 31st.

Many patients sometimes don't realize that they can't carry over benefit maximums from year to year (with limited exceptions - check with your plan administrator to see if your plan qualifies for a rollover.) With premiums increasing in cost from year to year, it's important that you use the monies that you've been allotted - otherwise you've just given the insurance company back a chunk of free cash.

We still have appointments available in our Beverly Hills, CA dental office with Dr. Giri Palani, and we'd love to see you! Please call our office at 310-894-8301 to schedule your appointment before time runs out!

World Class Dental Implants in Beverly Hills, CA

Award-winning dentist Giri Palani, DDS, FICOI, is a world-class implantologist. He is a Member of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and has been certified as a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. This internationally recognized leader in restorative and cosmetic dentistry has helped hundreds of patients restore their teeth with dental implants.

With Dr. Palani's extensive training and utilization of the latest dental technology, Dr. Palani's office is unique, making it a one-stop location for your dental implant.

From initial consultation to completed crown, we will help you restore your teeth using dental implants – all in one location, all directed by Dental Implant Expert, Dr. Palani. You can be sure that you will get only the highest standard of care, to ensure that your dental implant procedure is gentle, rapid, and finishes with a beautiful, natural tooth that only you know is a dental implant.

Unlike many dentists in the community, Dr. Palani is skilled in the both the surgical placement of the dental implants and the restoration with crown and bridgework. He is one of few dentists in the area to have attained Fellowship status with the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. This is a significant advantage for the patient who requires not only a restoration of the natural function but also a beautiful cosmetic result.
 

Ready to learn more about dental implant restorations? Schedule Your Appointment Today!

Your Cosmetic Dental Appointment: What Do You Need To Know?

While we all feel we know a beautiful smile when we see one, there is no perfect smile. That's because each person has a different perception of what is beautiful; you and your cosmetic dentist may even have a difference of opinion. So it's important that you discover what you really like and then communicate that to your dentist.

The Dentist's Perspective
Studies have been conducted to determine what dentists and other dental professionals see, and what the patients see, when looking at a beautiful smile. While non-dentists typically focus on a single element, cosmetic dentists like Dr. Giri Palani in Beverly Hills, CA look at the entire complex – the lips, gums, teeth, bite, face, personality type, hair and skin color, and more. They examine the smile and analyze the length of the teeth, how the teeth line up with other facial features, gum-to-lip distance, and other characteristics.

Your Perspective
To get the most positive results from your experience with Dr. Palani, communicate clearly, from the beginning, and have a good understanding of what you want from your smile. As materials and techniques have improved over time, our aesthetic has made way for the more naturalistic result. Dr. Palani's patients are often pleased with teeth having a sense of regularity and alignment, more like nature intended...[Read More]

Your Smile Makeover Consultation
A smile makeover consultation between you and Dr. Palani will consist of a conventional evaluation and an esthetic evaluation. The conventional part of the consultation will be a physical examination of your teeth, gums, and bite, and the taking and evaluation of x-rays. The esthetic part of the consultation will be more subjective, and this is where communication between you and Dr. Palani is important.

The only way to get what you want in a smile is through open, honest, and clear communication between you and the cosmetic dental professionals at Total SmileCare. Ready to embark on your smile journey? Schedule Your Appointment online today!

Transform Your Smile From the Inside Out

Cosmetic dentistry is dentistry aimed at creating a positive change to your teeth and to your smile. Most think of tooth whitening or veneers when cosmetic dentistry comes to mind, but a cosmetic dentist can provide much more. A skilled, experienced cosmetic dentist like Dr. Palani can help to improve your appearance, your smile, even your self-esteem, and confidence. Today, cosmetic dentistry has continued to evolve to where cosmetic dentists can address functional and esthetic patient concerns.

Patients who have undergone treatment are often transformed from the inside out because knowledge in the dental profession is constantly growing. It means striving for a smile that connects. The changes that Dr. Palani can make to your smile, through a wide variety of procedures, techniques, and the newest materials, are remarkable.

Today's cosmetic dentistry includes tooth whitening, bonding, tooth-colored restorations and fillings, porcelain veneers, orthodontics, dental implants, and more. You may be surprised by how dentistry has evolved and what can be done by an experienced cosmetic dentist. We invite you to notice the difference in cosmetic dental treatment in Beverly Hills, CA. Book your appointment today!

Dental Checkups - More Than A Cleaning: Oral Cancer Screenings

Oral cancer is the largest group of those cancers which fall into the head and neck cancer category. Common names for it include such things as mouth cancer, tongue cancer, tonsil cancer, and throat cancer. Approximately 40,000 people in the US will be newly diagnosed with oral cancer in 2012. Published studies show that currently less than 15% of those who visit a dentist regularly, report having had an oral cancer screening. Historically, the greatest strides in combating most cancers have come from increased awareness and aggressive campaigns directed at early detection.

It is important to realize that a visit to the dentist is no longer about a filling, a crown, or a postponable cleaning, but is actually a matter of life and death. Dental examinations, when properly done and which include a screening for oral cancer, will save lives. Oral cancer screenings are a very important part of the dental visit for the patient. With the advances in modern technology, we are now able to pinpoint the start of a potential problem much earlier in its evolution. The ability to do so is extremely important in being able to treat any issues prior to them becoming a major irreversible problem.

At Dr. Palani's offices in Rancho Palos Verdes and Beverly Hills, CA, the oral cancer screening is often completed with an ultraviolet light or similar device that allows us to view issues that can't always be detected by the human eye under normal conditions.

Certain lifestyle choices can have a great impact on the health of tissues and your overall health in the mouth. If you are a smoker or heavy drinker, make sure to get regular screenings when you visit the Dr. Giri Palani. To learn more about oral cancer and why screening works, click here.

We encourage you to make an appointment today at Total SmileCare in Beverly Hills, CA for your annual dental exam and cleaning, and make sure that you are on the path to wellness. Contact us today for your Oral Cancer Screening!

History of Sedation Dentistry

Going to the dentist can be a great source of stress. Thanks to the invention of sleep or sedation dentistry, things have changed. Apprehensive patients can relax and everyone can experience pain free dentistry. At Dr. Palani's offices, he offers a full spectrum of sedation dentistry to custom fit your needs. Before explaining the services offered, let Dr. Palani tell you about the history of sedation or sleep dentistry.

Often referred to as "sleep dentistry" or "sedation dentistry", minimizing or eliminating fear or anxiety around dental procedures is not new or unique. Dentists have been working on ways to ease discomfort or fear of dental procedures since the 19th century. In 1845, Connecticut dentist Horace Wells convinced his partner John Riggs to use nitrous oxide to extract his aching tooth. The extraction was a success and no discomfort was felt. Dr. Wells realized that he had the opportunity to change dental experiences for everyone.

Wanting to share his discovery, Dr. Wells attempted to demonstrate the use of nitrous oxide during a dental procedure at Massachusetts General Hospital. Unfortunately, the gas bag was withdrawn too soon and the patient experienced pain. The audience booed Dr. Wells and walked out of the auditorium, leaving him humiliated. However, in that audience was one of Dr. Wells' students, a young man named William Morton. Believing in the procedure, William Morton decided to try and [...] Read More

To experience sedation dentistry and relieve anxiety about your dental treatment, call us today at (310) 601-7950 and schedule your consultation with Dr. Palani, Beverly Hills' premier sleep dentist.

6 Ways Waterlase Dentistry Improves Your Dental Care

At Total SmileCare, Dr. Giri Palani uses Waterlase Technology to improve patient comfort and increase the efficiency and precision of dental treatment. There are many ways that Waterlase has provided a more relaxing dental experience, but we have chosen six to share with our readers today.

1. Patented Hydrophotonic™ Technology
Waterlase® Dentistry uses a patented technology combining YSGG laser energy and a spray of water, a process called HydroPhotonics™, to perform a wide range of dental procedures on teeth, gum and bone more comfortably. Typically, Waterlase Dentists use fewer shots and less anesthesia reducing patient anxiety and providing a more relaxing dental experience.

2. Fewer Shots & Less Anesthesia
Waterlase® is a versatile tool that allows dentists to cut teeth, bone and gum tissue with less trauma and do procedures that can't be done with traditional tools such as the drill and scalpel. Your Waterlase® dentist will determine what type of treatment is appropriate for your needs.

3. Proven Technology, Comfortable Care
Lasers have long been the standard of care in medicine for many surgical and cosmetic procedures such as LASIK, wrinkle removal, hair removal and many others. The Waterlase® was approved for hard tissue procedures in 1998 and since has been cleared for numerous additional dental procedures. Thousands of dentists around the world have performed millions of procedures with less need for shots, anesthesia, drills and post-op numb lips.

4. Patient Comfort
Heat, vibration and pressure are the primary causes of pain associated with the use of the traditional dental drill. Since cutting both hard and soft tissues (teeth and gums) with the Waterlase® does not generate heat, vibration or pressure, many dental procedures can be performed with fewer shots, less need for anesthesia, less use of the drill and fewer numb lips! Additionally, using the Waterlase® for gum procedures reduces bleeding, post-operative pain, swelling and the need for pain medication in many cases.

5. Fewer Dental Visits
Since you often do not need shots or anesthesia, a Waterlase® dentist can perform cavity preps in all areas of the mouth in just one visit. This technology also gives trained Waterlase® dentists the ability to perform many procedures that were previously referred to specialists.

6. Versatility
The Waterlase® is extremely versatile. It can be used for a wide range of hard and soft tissue procedures. From decay removal, cavity preparation, root canals, smile design, gum and bone surgical procedures and many others.

To learn more about Waterlase, or our other dental technologies that we use for our dental implant patients, Smile Makeover cases, and restorative treatment appointments, please visit our website or call our Beverly Hills, CA office at 310-547-1128.

Enjoy the Ultimate Stress Free Dental Experience at Total SmileCare

At Total SmileCare our mission is to create the ultimate stress free dental experience. From your first contact with our office we are committed to your individual attention. We will listen to your needs, understand your concerns and do everything we can to give you the best dental experience you have ever had.

Whether you are interested in general dental care, a Full Smile Makeover, or dental implants, a consultation with Dr. Palani provides you the opportunity to discuss how you feel about your smile and the desired outcome. We also offer sedation dentistry to assist with our patients that have dental anxiety.

We look forward to meeting you and discussing your wants and needs, so that we could work together to accomplish the healthy and beautiful smile you deserve.

Visit us today and enjoy exceptional quality dental care in Beverly Hills & Rancho Palos Verdes, CA.

World Class Dental Implants in Beverly Hills, CA

Award-winning dentist Giri Palani, DDS, FICOI, is a world-class implantologist. He is a Member of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and has been certified as a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. This internationally recognized leader in restorative and cosmetic dentistry has helped hundreds of patients restore their teeth with dental implants.

With Dr. Palani's extensive training and utilization of the latest dental technology, Dr. Palani's office at Total SmileCare is unique, making it a one-stop location for your dental implant.

From initial consultation to completed crown, we will help you restore your teeth using dental implants – all in one location, all directed by Dental Implant Expert, Dr. Palani. You can be sure that you will get only the highest standard of care, to ensure that your dental implant procedure is gentle, rapid, and finishes with a beautiful, natural tooth that only you know is a dental implant.

Unlike many dentists in the community, Dr. Palani is skilled in the both the surgical placement of the dental implants and the restoration with crown and bridgework. He is one of few dentists in the area to have attained Fellowship status with the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. This is a significant advantage for the patient who requires not only a restoration of the natural function but also a beautiful cosmetic result.

For more information or to schedule your dental implant consultation with our Beverly Hills dentist, call us today at 310-547-1128.

Veneers for your Smile Makeover

At Total SmileCare in Beverly Hills, CA and serving Rancho Palos Verdes, CA, Dr. Palani often uses veneers in his smile makeovers. Veneers are an excellent way to redesign and reshape your entire mouth. Veneers are a very thin ceramic shell that covers your existing tooth structure. In placing these new veneers on your teeth, you are able to fix the look of issues such as staining, cracked teeth, spaces, misaligned teeth, chipped teeth and many other issues.

In terms of the process to place veneers, it is a process that takes approximately two to three visits. In the first visit, Dr. Giri Palani, your dentist in Beverly Hills, CA will discuss the new shape and look of what we are going to accomplish by placing the veneers. Once we have put a plan in place, we will carefully prepare the teeth for the placement of the new veneers. As we complete this piece of the process, the next step is to take an impression of the newly prepared teeth. This impression will be sent to our laboratory for the final product to be fabricated. We only utilize the highest standard laboratory for fabrication of all of our work. This process at the laboratory takes between 10-14 days. While the new veneers are being fabricated at the lab, we will provide you with a beautiful temporary solution to wear for this time.

As the veneers are finalized, we will make every effort to make sure that your new veneers will feel just like your natural teeth. We will bond them into place ensuring that you can enjoy your new smile for a very long time! For more information on your cosmetic dental makeover, please contact our office today!

Holistic Dentistry in Beverly Hills

An important aspect of Dr. Palani's practice is Holistic Dentistry. Dr. Palani's interest in Holistic Dentistry stems from his Indian heritage where using natural remedies and herbal supplements is an important aspect of treating disease and total wellness.

Holistic Dentistry is based on the understanding that the mouth is connected to the rest of the body, and disease in the mouth can affect other body systems. His approach combines western and eastern medical philosophies and focuses on the most harmonious and natural treatments currently available.

The patient's health and safety ALWAYS comes first. The materials used by Dr. Palani are the most biocompatible, and the office is environmentally friendly. His treatment plans can include a package of vitamin complementation, herbal toothpastes and gum conditioners, exercise, co-enzymes, relaxation techniques and behavioral therapy, and nutritional counseling.

For more information about Dr. Palani and his philosophies of care, contact us today at 310-547-1128.

Sleep Dentistry - The Wave of the Future

What if you could have all your dentistry that you have been putting off for years in the conventional dental office in one or two comfortable visits? What if you could finally receive all of the treatment while sleeping- free of fear and pain?

Sedation dentistry can put you at ease and virtually eliminates the pain associated with dental procedures. There are several options that give you a range of comfort and relaxation during your dental appointment.

For more information on Dr. Palani and his sedation dentistry offerings, visit www.sedation-dentistry-beverly-hills.com.

Advanced Technology for Cosmetic Dentistry

Dr. Palani believes in the value of advanced technologies for his patients. Much has changed in dentistry over the last 40 years and there are many new ways to make dentistry comfortable, efficient, and more cost-effective than in years past. One of the technologies Dr. Palani makes available in his Beverly Hills, CA and Rancho Palos Verdes, CA office is the CEREC machine.

CEREC® is an advanced dental technology that is utilized for the restoration of decayed, cracked, or chipped teeth. CEREC® can create full crowns, inlays, onlays, and veneers. The CEREC® machine crafts a restoration in a matter of minutes, and these restorations are made of compressed porcelain. It is for this reason that they are stronger than laboratory restorations, which are layered porcelain. The most beneficial feature of receiving a CEREC® restoration is that it is accomplished in one visit. In addition to the benefit of a one visit restoration, there is no uncomfortable impression material to bite on or temporary to wear.

The procedure for placement of a CEREC® restoration is very simple. The first step is to remove all decay from the tooth. The doctor will then shape the tooth in preparation to take a digital picture. The tooth is then sprayed with a very fine powder. This allows the digital camera to take an acceptable image. Once this image is captured, the tooth will appear on a computer screen in 3D. This will allow the doctor to design the restoration right in front of you. Once the design is completed, the CEREC® will mill the restoration. This step takes approximately 15 minutes. You can actually watch this process if you would like. When the restoration is finished milling, the doctor will place the restoration. The entire process should take just over an hour.

For more information about CEREC restorations, or other cosmetic dentistry questions, please contact Dr. Palani today!

A Beautiful Smile in 6 Treatments

Your smile is often the first thing others notice about you, and can drastically affect the impression they carry of you. Feeling confident with straighter, whiter teeth, even correcting an aesthetic problem that has been with you for years, communicates strength, poise, and self-assurance to those you meet.

Cosmetic Dentistry can help you achieve the smile makeover you've been looking for. Here are 6 common ways that your cosmetic enhancments can be achieved:

1) Dental Bonding
This technique is composed of a ceramic resin that is brushed onto the tooth and hardened with intense light. Tooth bonding can repaire decay damage, improve alignment, and fill gaps between teeth.

2) Dental Crowns
After the tooth surface is cleaned and prepared the crown is placed to cover the remainder of the tooth, improving the tooth's look, shape, and alignment. Dental crowns (caps) can restore fractured teeth, cover a discolored tooth, and has many other restorative applications.
 
3) Dental Bridges
Bridges are used to replace a missing tooth in both a cosmetic and functional fashion. A bridge structure is one or more artificial teeth anchored in place by natural teeth, crowns, or implants, on each side of the bridge.

4) Dental Implants
Implants may be the best option for replacing a single or multiple missing teeth. Implants are the closest dental structure in durability to natural teeth and have greater cosmetic appeal.

Dr. Palani has extensive experience with the placement of dental implants and has the prestigious honor of being named a Fellow in the Congress of Oral Implantologists (FICOI). For more information about dental implants, please click here.

5) Teeth Whitening
Whitening is the act of lightening teeth and therefore making them more attractive. Teeth whitening can be used to whiten stained, discolored, or dull teeth to improve your smile. Whitening is one of the most cost effective ways to improve your smile and is relatively painless. There are two primary methods of teeth whitening; in office and at home trays.

6) Dental Veneers
Veneers are a porcelain or ceramic cover for the visible portion of teeth to dramatically improve the esthetics of your smile. Veneers usually require a couple dental visits. Veneers require less tooth material removal and the procedure is more comfortable than crowns.

For more information about achieving your smile makeover, contact Dr. Palani at his Rancho Palos Verdes, CA or Beverly Hills, CA cosmetic dentistry office today!

Introducing Dr. Giri Palani

Giri Palani, DDS, FICOI, has been highly trained at some of the world's most outstanding medical facilities. He is known as a leading dentist at the forefront of Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry, and serves patients in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA and Beverly Hills, CA.

After graduating from Marquette University School of Dentistry, Dr. Palani completed a rigorous Hospital Dentistry Program at world renowned Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, California, learning from and working with some of the top Oral Surgeons, Cosmetic, and General dentists in Los Angeles.

As a top resident at Cedars-Sinai, he was selected to serve as Chief Resident at the prestigious Advanced Education in General Dentistry Program at UCLA. During his time as Chief Resident at UCLA Dr. Palani honed his skills in Implant and Aesthetic Dentistry. This advanced training and expertise in dental implants have allowed him to rehabilitate numerous healthy and beautiful smiles.

To learn more about dental implants, cosmetic dentistry, and the dental team at Total SmileCare, please visit our website at www.drpalani.com or call us at 310-547-1128.