McGuire Dental: Are You Interested in Whitening for a Lifetime? Zoom

Dr. McGuire is now offering our patients an exciting teeth whitening program called "Whitening for a Lifetime".  If you whiten your teeth at our office and you maintain your regularly scheduled professional dental cleaning appointments, you will receive free whitening touch-up gel for as long as you are a patient of Dr. McGuire's.

If you have been considering whitening your teeth and just haven't gotten around to it, there isn't a better time to do it. Visit us at www.mcguiredental.com

McGuire Dental: Investing in Your Dental Health

A professional dental cleaning and oral health exam are two of your best investments in a recession.  Health is your number one asset.  Visit us at www.mcguiredental.com
An abscess tooth can end up costing you time off work, money, and of course pain.  Most dental abscesses are preventable and are discovered through your routine exam and xrays.  Detected decay, with early treatment, may save you over a thousand dollars.

We are finding that many of our patients are delaying exams, even when they have  insurance to pay for the visit.  They do not want to take time off from work or hear any bad news.  We understand this, but a routine filling is better than a root canal and crown.

We have had several patients in recent months that have delayed their exams and now are coming in with large cavities. Root canals and crown are needed. If they had come in in the last year, we could have treated the problem quickly.

We have Saturday appointments so you do not have to take time off from work.  Please take advantage of your work benefits and come in for your professional dental exam and cleaning.  It will save you time, money and keep you pain free.

McGuire Dental: Test for Gum Disease Bleeding Gums

Do you have bleeding gums?  Periodontal disease effects three out of every four Americans.  We now offer a DNA test for Gum Disease.  We recently became trained in DNA bacterial testing.  It is a simple, painless test in which a sample is taken directly from your mouth's bleeding site.  We have the sample tested and the results are back in about one week.  The DNA test identifies the bacteria type and the antibiotic treatment necessary for your mouth's infection.  This is the first specific test for pathogenic bacteria that causes Periodontal disease.
We now have the ability to treat the specific bacteria that is causing your mouth's infection.  We look forward in acheiving optimum dental health for all our patients.  Please ask us for more information and whether this test would benefit your dental health at your next visit.Visit www.mcguiredental.com

McGuire Dental: To My Teenage Dental Patients

A bright smile fresh breath - that's what a healthy mouth means. It also means you can talk and laugh with confidence.Here are facts, ideas and tips on keeping a healthy smile in your teenage years.
What You Need To Know about Your Dental Health

FACT 1: You have not outgrown tooth decay. In fact, dental decay may be more of a problem for you during the teen years than it ever has been before.

FACT 2: Gum disease (gingivitis) is a risk to your dental health. It is also a threat to your appearance. Gum disease causes red and swollen gums, bleeding gums and bad breath.

FACT 3: You will have all your permanent teeth with the possible exception of your wisdom teeth (third molars). During these growing years, your face and jaws will undergo many changes. You can be healthy and attractive through these changes by taking good care of your teeth and visiting your dentist.

How You Can Keep a Healthy Smile
It is up to you! What you do and do not do is important. Here is a checklist for a healthy smile:

Eat intelligently! Life is going to be hectic now. Choose fresh fruits and vegetables instead of junk foods when you eat on the run.

Snack smartly. Be careful of snack foods containing sugar; they can cause damage to the teeth and gums.

Practice good prevention at least twice a day. Brush effectively using a fluoridated toothpaste. Floss to prevent gum disease and tooth decay on the sides of the teeth.

Keep up with your dental checkups. Tooth cleanings, fluoride treatments and sealants are important preventive services for you.

Do not smoke or chew tobacco! The warnings you hear and read about are true. Besides lung and heart problems, tobacco can cause oral cancer. Of all cancers, 2.4 percent occur in the mouth and tobacco use has been estimated to account for over 90 percent of cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx.* If you are using tobacco and notice any changes in your mouth, contact your doctor immediately.

Wear a mouth guard for any sport or activity in which your mouth can be hit.

Buckle up in the car. A seat belt and shoulder harness can keep your face from striking the steering wheel, the dashboard or windshield during minor accidents.

Quiz on Eating Disorders
You (or a friend) may have an eating disorder if you answer YES to the following questions:

Do you weigh yourself more than once a day?
Are you obsessed with being very thin, even while you are below a normal weight?
Do you have a fear of not being able to stop eating?
Do you vomit after a meal – or have the urge to do so?
(For females only) Have you missed three consecutive menstrual periods?
All eating disorders have health risks. The worst cases can lead to death. Eating disorders associated with vomiting can damage the teeth because of stomach acid. If you suspect you have an eating disorder, please see your doctor as soon as possible.

Tips For Smart Snacking

Be careful of between-meal snacks.
Clear the snack from the teeth as soon as possible. Even a simple swish and rinse with water will help.
Do not let snacks take the place of nutritionally balanced meals.
How Your Dentist Can Help
There are many things a dentist can do to help assure your oral health for a lifetime. Preventive dentistry techniques such as tooth cleanings, sealants and fluoride treatments are just as important as ever for you. Tips on flossing and brushing, and ideas on snacking and choosing a healthy diet, are available to you from your dentist and staff as well.

Your dentist will be glad to talk to you about how your teeth look. If you feel your teeth are too dark, there are techniques now to whiten them. If you have broken teeth, teeth with defects or spaces between your teeth, there are a number of esthetic dentistry techniques to help you look better.

If you are concerned about your bite, crooked teeth or the appearance of your smile, your dentist can give you advice about correcting such problems.

During your teen years, your wisdom teeth (third molars) will be developing. Although some third molars come into the mouth normally, others need to be removed because of poor position and lack of space. Your dentist will make sure the proper treatment is prescribed at the right time.

*U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Oral Health in America. A Report of the Surgeon General. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, 2000.

McGuire Dental: Teeth Grinding 101

Bruxism or Teeth Grinding

 Most people refer to bruxism as "grinding" or "gritting" the teeth. When you "brux", you tightly clamp your top and bottom teeth together, especially your back teeth. Many people who clench also grind their teeth at the same time. Grinding is when you slide your teeth over each other, generally in a sideways, back-and-forth movement. Many people clench and grind their teeth during the day, but the nighttime bruxing is of most concern, because it is harder to control and can lead to eventual jaw, tooth and gum damage.  Please visit us at www.mcguiredental.com

Experts don't agree on what causes bruxism. Some researchers believe that it's caused by a bite that is not correctly aligned, while others believe it is a central nervous system disorder. Children frequently exhibit bruxism behaviors in response to pain and discomfort of illnesses such as colds, ear infections or allergies. Excess intake of alcoholic beverages may affect your level of grinding and clenching, and stress is also a huge factor in bruxing, with most experts saying that you may show elevated stress levels in your mouth before any other area of your body. Many experts believe it's a combination of these and other problems and that different people brux for different reasons.

Almost everyone "grinds their teeth." The problem is the degree of bruxing. Some people only grind their teeth a bit and show few symptoms, but for those who brux frequently and over a period of many years, the effects on teeth and the surrounding structures of gums and bone can be severe.

The pressure that you can apply to your teeth can range from 100 to 600 pounds per square inch! Severe bruxism can result in wearing or breaking of teeth, sensitive or loose teeth, receding gums, loss of supporting bone around the teeth, bony ridges in the gums, cheek irritation, sore muscles, headaches, earaches and TMJ (temporomandibular jaw) dysfunction. Pain caused by bruxism can also lead to insomnia, depression and even eating disorders.

If you or a family member shows signs or sounds of bruxism, ask your dentist for an evaluation. An examination will rule out disorders, such as an ear infection, that could be causing the symptoms. Once a diagnosis is made, the goals of treatment are to ease pain, prevent damage to teeth and surrounding areas, and reduce bruxism behavior as much as possible.

To prevent damage, your dentist may prescribe a mouth guard or some other appliance, such as a splint, for you to wear at night. Appliances may protect teeth from the pressure of clenching and may even reduce clenching, however some patients find that it makes their bruxism worse. There is no one cure-all for bruxism, so it may take a team effort between you and your dentist and perhaps other dental professionals, such as an orthodontist, to find the cure for your problem.

Just remember that bruxism is not a dangerous disorder and that with conscious effort and professional help, you can prevent damage to your oral and overall health.

McGuire Dental: Mouth Protection During Sports

 Dental injuries are the most common type of injuries to the face, and 60% of facial injuries occur during sports practice. An athlete is 60 times more likely to suffer damage to the teeth when not wearing a mouth guard.Please visit our website at www.mcguiredental.com

A mouth guard is a flexible piece of plastic that fits around the upper teeth and protects them from injury. In addition to protecting against direct damage to the teeth, by cushioning the lips and cheeks from the teeth or orthodontic appliances, a mouth guard helps prevent laceration and bruising. A mouth guard can also prevent serious injuries caused when the lower jaw is jammed into the upper jaw, including concussion, cerebral hemorrhage, jaw fractures and neck injuries.

There are several types of mouth guards. When choosing one, remember that a mouth guard should be flexible, comfortable, durable, odorless, tasteless, and easy to clean. A mouth guard should fit properly so that it protects your mouth, but does not interfere with breathing or speaking.

The least expensive mouth guard is a stock one sold in sporting goods stores. They come in small, medium, and large and are held in place by biting down. The disadvantage of these mouth guards is that the fit is not adjustable and may not protect your teeth as well as a more fitted model would. Holding these guards in place requires that you bite down, so they can interfere with speech and breathing.

The most commonly used type of mouth guard is also sold in sporting goods stores. They're called "boil and bite mouth guards," because they're softened in boiling water and then formed to fit your mouth. This type of mouth guard costs a little more than the stock types, but because it is formed around your teeth, it fits and protects your mouth better. However, it still may not cover all your teeth properly.

The best mouth guard for preventing injury is one that is custom made for you by your dentist. This type is a bit more expensive, but it is the most effective at protecting your mouth, face and head. Because it is custom fit to your teeth, it's also the most comfortable to wear. When you consider that the cost of fixing one broken tooth is more expensive than having a mouth guard custom made, the value is obvious.

Whatever type of mouth guard you choose, you should wear it for any activity in which there is a chance of contact with other participants or hard surfaces. Mouth guards aren't just for football and hockey. If you or your child rides a bicycle, participates in gymnastics, volleyball, skateboarding, or any sport or activity in which a facial or dental injury might occur, a mouth guard is a necessity. Half of all dental injuries can be prevented, and a mouth guard is an important aid in protecting your teeth, face and mouth.

Remembering Robert Bob Lee : Memorial Bus Shelter

Click HERE for original article:
LONG BEACH, CALIF. -- Aurora Lee holds a City of Long Beach proclamation during the unveiling of a new bus shelter dedicated to her late husband, Robert Bob Lee, on the corner of Santa Fe Ave. and the Pacific Coast Highway on April 21, 2010, in Long Beach, Calif. Lee was a Long Beach business owner who was active in both the West and Central Redevelopment Project Area Committees. The Long Beach Redevelopment Agency (RDA) joined Councilmember Tonia Reyes Uranga, Long Beach Transit and the West Project Area Committee at the unveiling of a memorial bus shelter in West Long Beach. Mr. Lee passed away in March 2008. Phillips Steel kindly donated the steel panels used in the artwork, created by Wayne Healy, which captured the vitality of Bob Lee.  Bob Lee was very active in both the West and Central Redevelopment Project Area Committees and left a huge mark on the community of Long Beach.  Click HERE   to read more.

       

Robert Bob Lee Bus Shelter Memorial - Located on the corner of Santa Fe Ave. and the Pacific Coast Highway

McGuire Dental: ILWU Local 13 Dentist

The new kind of unionism born of the 1934 maritime strike was not confined to the docks. The warehouse workers, with their close ties to the waterfront that in the early days of the union came from working near the docks and handling cargo brought on and off the ships by longshoremen, also helped build the ILWU and they too shared in its achievements.

Today the Warehouse Division of the ILWU is a dynamic section of the union, tested and fortified by rank-and-file sacrifices and victories. Its members, men and women of all races and beliefs, are employed in public warehouses, coffee and spice warehouses, liquor and bottling plants, laboratories, open pit mines, hospitals, sugar refineries and chemical plants, flour and feed mills, food processing establishments and grocery and hardware warehouses. Some work in large establishments, others in companies with but a handful of employees.

Warehousing involves the storage, processing and distribution of goods, as well as some manufacturing. Though warehouse workers suffered low wages, high job insecurity and frequent speed-ups, the old AFL craft unions never considered organizing the men and women who earned a precarious living in the distribution centers up and down the West Coast. But under the impetus of the successful 1934 maritime strike, the warehousemen organized. In August 1934 new members of Weighers, Warehousemen's and
Cereal Workers Union Local 38-44 (later to become ILWU Local 6 in the San Francisco Bay Area) re-activated the local's ILA charter, which had been inactive since 1923, and immediately started a vigorous organizing campaign.

In addition to ILWU Local 6, there is our San Pedro or Los Angeles Port ILWU Local 13.  At McGuire Dental, our proximity to San Pedro Long Beach, we support our local ILWU Local 13.  One of our first ILWU Local 13 patients was Joe.  He initially came in as an emergency.  Apparently, he had a cracked tooth from a work related accident and rushed in.  He has been a loyal patient of ours for over 10 years now.  We also provide his entire family with their dental needs.  He has even referred us to other ILWU Local 13 coworkers and longshoremen of San Pedro.  Please visit us at McGuire Dental or visit us at our website, Click HERE. 

McGuire Dental: Biolase Waterlase

Biolase Waterlase: Gum Disease

Overview

BIOLASE Technology develops and markets advanced medical and dental laser products, including specialized biomaterials for medical and other dentistry specialties. BIOLASE products incorporate new patented and patent-pending technologies that achieve results not available through other products. 

BIOLASE is the manufacturer of dentistry's #1 selling Waterlase® YSGG dental laser. 

Lasers are widely used in a variety of medical fields such as ophthalmology, gynecology, urology, dermatology, otolaryngology (ear, nose, throat), gastrointestinal tract ailments, and cosmetic and general surgeries. In many applications, lasers have become preferred method of treatment. In October 1998, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared BIOLASE's HYDROPHOTONIC laser for hard tissue dental procedures.  Along with previous clearance for soft tissue procedures, BIOLASE believes that this unique patented HYDROKINETIC laser cutting technology can become the standard for hard and soft tissue cutting instruments. 

McGuire Dental Zoom! Whitening

Click HERE to view YouTube Video

As a person ages, mineral exposure causes the teeth to gradually darken. Over time, some food, drink, or tobacco products also create unattractive yellowish-brown stains.  Less commonly, you may experience discoloration due to some medications or bacterial infections.

We offer Zoom! Teeth Whitening procedures for eliminating discoloration to give you a brighter, more attractive smile.  Most often, stains have gotten deep below the outermost layer of the tooth.  Zoom! Whitening uses light treatment to remove the deeply rooted stains and restore your teeth to their natural white color.  Over-the-counter products, such as whitening toothpastes, remove only surface stains.Whitening procedures are not a solution for all discoloration (e.g. darkening caused by cavities). Similarly, whitening does not work on all stains.  Your dentist will discuss your options for care with you.  Some cases that are not appropriate for whitening procedures can be effectively treated with restorative options.

McGuire Dental: The Trugh About Dental Insurance

Use It or Lose It Dental Coverage

Every year, dental insurance companies count on employees to ‘forget’ to use their dental insurance in the month of December.  That way, these companies benefit from unused monthly premiums and seek greater end-of-the-year profits.  Most often, dental insurance starts at the new calendar year and unused benefits are NOT carried over to the following year.  Don’t let this happen to you!  Call us today and schedule that crown or filling you’ve been putting off all year today.  Remember, Orange County Dental Specialists offer all dental services provided in a gentle, caring and professional environment.

McGuire Dental: Children and Tooth Decay

Article Sponsored by Dr. John McGuire DDS. 

Click for Article on Oprah.com
Every year, children across America develop infections and die from illnesses related to tooth decay, says Dr. McHenry "Mac" Lee. Dr. Oz talks with Dr. Lee, a third generation dentist, about educating parents and children on the dangers of tooth decay and how to prevent it.

Dr. Lee says tooth decay should be a public health enemy because many children are suffering from the problem. "Children with decay, they can't eat, they can't sleep, and socially they are laughed at," he says. "We believe that dental disease should be on the same level as diabetes and obesity in the schools, as far as education is considered."

Dr. Lee suggests a few things any parent can do to improve their family's dental health.

Avoid foods with sugar and acid such as:

    * Gum made with sugar
    * Sports drinks
    * Hard and sticky candy

Check for these signs of dental health problems:

    * Bleeding gums, which could be a sign of gum disease.
    * Black or brown areas on teeth, which could indicate tooth decay.
    * Worn or flat spots on teeth, which usually mean your teeth no longer fit together properly.

McGuire Dental: Calfornia Dental Board: Department of Consumer Affairs

Check Dental License for Dr. John McGuire DDS

McGuire Dental : About Dr. John McGuire

After completing his undergraduate studies at Cal State Long Beach, Dr. John McGuire earned his dental degree from USC Dental School. In practice for 20 years, Dr. McGuire is a member of the American Dental Association, California Dental Association and the Harbor Dental Society. Dr. McGuire is married with twins, a boy and a girl. In his free time, he enjoys bicycling, snow skiing and home improvements. Dr. McGuire also gives back to his community through his work with the Boy Scouts of America, Cure Autism Now and the Long Beach Twins Club. CLICK HERE. 

Our Mission

Our mission is to provide the highest quality of dental care, making a difference in our patients’ lives, health, appearance and well-being. We are committed to doing this in a safe, comfortable and caring environment with the highest standard of clinical excellence.