Cindee was born and raised in Orange County, CA. Wanting to make a difference in peoples lives, Cindee traded her 17-year career as an escrow officer, graduated college, and now holds her license as a Registered Dental Assistant. Cindee has been with Aliso Smiles since 2012. She has a great rapport with patients, treating people with compassion and humor. Cindee is driven by her love and care for people. She strives to build long lasting relationships, make patients feel comfortable, educate, and help create beautiful smiles. Cindee enjoys the beach, traveling and spending quality time with her two grown daughters.
Bridget first realized she had a passion for dentistry at an occupational program she took in high school for dental assisting. After completion of her assisting program Bridget worked front office for a general practice while she applied to colleges with a dental hygiene program. Upon admission into West Coast University Bridget transitioned to back office assisting for a periodontist to try to stay sharp on her chair side manner while she finished school. Bridget worked as a dental assistant while she completed her Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene. Dentistry has always been her passion and main focus from a young age. She truly enjoys caring for and educating patients on ways to improve and achieve optimal oral health.
Meet our newest team member, David! David brings with him 15 years of experience in the dental field. David has been working in the capacity of Registered Dental Assistant with his certificate of completion in extended functions since 2007. During Davids youth he trained to be a race car pilot and later decided to trade in his superior driving skills for his superior dental skills! David grew up in Mexico City and moved to Seal Beach, Ca. in 2010. He takes pride in his ability to treat his patients as if they were family and truly cares about every single smile! In his free time, David enjoys traveling, working out and volunteering.
Gum disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss. Gum disease has two primary stages. If diagnosed and treated in the first stage, the condition can be reversed and tooth loss can usually be prevented. In order to prevent gum disease,practice good oral hygiene and visit your dentist for cleanings and check-ups twice a year.
This stage only affects the soft tissue of the gums, and the patient may not experience any discomfort. Although the symptoms may be very mild, it is important to diagnose gum disease in this early stage before it progresses to periodontitis.
Periodontitis is the name for more advanced periodontal disease and if permitted to progress to this point, not only the gums are affected but the bone structures supporting the teeth will be compromised.
A build-up of bacteria causes Gingivitis. In its early stages, inflammation around the gums is observable, with gum tissues appearing red and swollen. Gums that are easily irritated or that bleed during tooth brushing indicate the presence of Gingivitis. Removal of the plaque buildup is necessary to prevent the development of gum disease.
As the gums become more inflamed, they start to pull away from the teeth, forming spaces known as periodontal pockets. Food, bacteria, and plaque begin to collect in the pockets, leading to infection. The surrounding bone becomes damaged both by bacterial toxins and by the immune systemsresponse to infection.
Dr. Chong is one of a few dual Ivy League Trained Endodontists in the state of California. He attended the University of Pennsylvania for his dental studies where he earned his DMD with Honors. Dr. Chong earned his Masters in Medical Science and certificate in Endodontics at the prestigious Harvard University.