Facebook Smiles

Facebook, Orkut and other social networking sites have ensured our presence everywhere. You can be seen in an instant by relatives in Canada, potential suitors in Gurgaon or even your old student now posted in New Zealand.


The fallout of the above is a heightened awareness of how we look. Every time the camera click is heard - the first thought in a lot of people's mind is - " Can this be my next facebook profile pic?" :)


Of course not everyone necessarily is that eager to keep changing profile pictures - but if you are honest with yourself - whenever you do post a picture - you do try to find your most flattering picture, don't you? We all hate having our unflattering pictures plastered all over.


So what makes for a flattering beautiful picture? Is it flawless skin and a perfect set of teeth? Is is an outfit or makeup? Is it the camera man's talent or the lighting?


There is no doubt that all of the above contribute, but they are NOT a foolproof technique of ensuring a good picture. 


Pick up a magazine, take a look at the television - what is it about a person that makes you look twice at them? What makes you turn around and take a second glance at a person? What makes a person stand out in a crowd?


It is their CONFIDENCE. Not arrogance, not pompousness. Just Confidence. A feeling which comes when you are comfortable in your own body. When you know your strengths, you are aware of your weaknesses and you know they are not the end of the world.


Confident people know what is wrong with their bodies, faces, smiles and correct them if they are can. If something cannot be corrected - they accept those flaws and love themselves.


Confident people get jobs and keep them.
Confident people do not worry about how to begin conversations.
Confident people are liked and admired.


Sparkling eyes, a healthy energy and a great smile go a long way in ensuring you are filled with confidence.


You shouldn't need to leave your visiting/calling card anywhere. Your face is your calling card. People should remember you as the smiling, confident man/woman they met a year ago. 


Work on your confidence. And it will work for you!


www.aryasdentalcare.com


mail us at draryasclinic@gmail.com

Impractical Budgeting

It never fails to surprise us the lengths people go to save a couple of bucks at the wrong time and over the wrong things. Now don't get us wrong - we are all for sensible living and budgeting. We understand that in today's world saving and budgeting is the only way to ensure a comfortable retirement. But sensible budgeting. Budgeting that doesn't involve what we term as being impractical.

So what is impractical budgeting ?

Silly budgeting is buying your kids expensive jeans that they will grow out of in 6 months and cribbing about a filling in a tooth that is going to help them chew food for a lifetime. Show your love for your kid by ensuring his health first.

Being impractical is paying a 25000/- EMI on a car loan for a second car when you are wearing removable dentures which can be easily converted into fully fixed teeth by implants for less than what you spent on that car you don't really need. 

Crazy budgeting is buying that 1 carat diamond to adorn your ears but having no smile to go with that look because you have huge gaps in your front teeth which you are hesitating to fix because of the cost involved.

If you can't afford certain treatments because you need to spend on household necessities - it is understandable that you ask for cheaper options. But if you have money to spend on the luxuries of life - you must put your health first.

The problem is that when we think of our teeth, we do not think long term. We choose short term solutions because they cost less and then grumble that dentistry doesn't have the answers.We choose dentists based on location/cost and then set ourselves up for a disappointment.

Do you tell your cardiologist that I will not do that angioplasty because it is so expensive and then go across the road and book the latest luxury car? Do you tell your skin specialist that I won't apply these creams because they cost so much and then jump into the first shop and buy a month's salary worth of clothes? Do you ask your general surgeon to use cheaper materials so you can afford that new sofa set?

No. You don't. Because you value your life and health don't you?Then why the step motherly treatment with your teeth? Your teeth are part of your body. The health of your mouth determines health in many parts of your body including important processes like your digestion.

Dentistry costs. Quality dentistry costs more ( not all but most of the time). Save for it.

Buy one less stuffed soft toy for your kiddo. Get that filling for him instead.He will forget that soft toy in a jiffy. He will remember that toothache and subsequent loss of that tooth for a lifetime.

Post pone buying that car by a year. Get those dental implants.Your stomach and digestive processes will thank you.

See only one movie in a multiplex this month. Use the rest of the money to get your teeth cleaned. Fresher breath and a brilliant smile will ensure that you get asked out to many more movie dates in the future. ;)

You don't need to buy that handbag today. You do need that root canal treatment today though.your handbag will not deteriorate sitting in that showroom - your tooth will.

Label each of your teeth. Call one a Mercedes, the next a Fendi handbag, another a platinum ring, the next  Roberto Cavalli sunglasses, Promod jeans....and so on and so forth.

So the next time you have to spend at the dentist - it will be easier. You can just tell yourself - " I am getting my Merc serviced... buying a Fendi handbag....polishing my platimun ring etc etc"

It will be just as hard on the pocket but much easier on the mind :)

Smile more at www.aryasdentalcare.com 

Tell us about your Merc and Cavalli sunglasses at draryasclinic@gmail.com

Injections??? Ha....piece of cake!

Most of us remember those days when we were particularly mischievous. Our harassed mothers would use one of three threats -

1. You are getting too much - we are going to send you to a boarding school.

2. For acting so rude and naughty - no more chocolates/TV/Friends

3. If you don't behave - we are going to take you to Dr. XYZ and ask him to give you an INJECTION!!

Now I don't know about the first two threats but the fear of the last one sticks with us for years. We always interpret injections as horrible experiences - always painful - always traumatic. Always a punishment.

And a couple of visits to an old style dentist sets that ideology in stone. 

The good news is that injections aren't that bad anymore. First and foremost - a lot of things have changed. 

According to us - a good injection is Half the battle won. A painless injection relaxes the patient and makes him/her more co-operative during the rest of the procedure. Moreover it ensures happy memories of the dentist which is what we particularly love. 

So here's what we say helps:

1. The size of needle diameters have dropped drastically. So we now use 27-30 G needles as opposed to the thicker 25 gauge used previously. This makes the needle penetration almost painless. Ask your dentist what is the gauge of needles he/she uses and request for a finer one if they are using a thicker gauge.

2. Better still - a gel or a spray is generally applied in the area of the injection before the injection. This makes the mucosa numb. The subsequent prick of the needle may be hardly felt if at all. Request a numbing gel/spray to be applied before the injection. A dentist who cares about your comfort will not refuse you.

3. Most good dentists do not use those plastic syringes anymore. The plastic syringes though disposable have to be loaded from a bottle. So you see the dentist tear out a new syringe and stick it to a bottle of anesthetic which has been previously opened. Now for anesthetic to remain in bottles opened and stored - it must contain a preservative called methyl Paraben. This preservative is what causes the rare allergies people experience with local anesthetic. However with sealed glass cartridges which are use and throw - the local anesthetic does not have to be stored open at all. Therefore the need for a preservative is eliminated thereby virtually eliminating all chances of an allergic reaction. Most dentists today prefer metal syringes used in combination with sealed glass cartridges with fine gauge needles. 

The future is needle free anesthetic options and laughing gas - patients will have be able to rid themselves of the fear of needles forever. The time when this will be available at most leading clinics is not far.

But till then - you don't have to suffer barbaric injections. A good dentist with a combination of excellent technique and a good armamentarium can ensure a comfortable injection. 

So in the future when you threaten your kids by saying "we will ask Dr Arya to give you an injection" - they might actually stick out their tongue and say - " We know - it doesn't pain. And we get to eat ice cream later. And they give us a sticker too". It is time  you find other ways to get your kids in line!!!!

Mail us at draryasclinic@gmail.com or visit www.aryasdentalcare.com for more information.