Dr. Zabek personifies experienced dental care you can trust. A long-term associate professor at the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry in San Francisco, he taught hundreds of graduating dental students the fine art of dental restoration.

Both patients and other dentists have recognized Dr. Gregory Zabek for his excellence as a dentist, his leadership in mastering and using advanced dental techniques, and his dedication to providing quality dental care to his community.

Dr. Zabek graduated with honors from the Pacific School of Dentistry, is a member of the TKO honor society, and finished in the top 20% of his graduating class. He earned his undergraduate degree at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa.

Not content with knowing only the basics, Dr. Zabek has spent his entire professional career augmenting his excellent early training with continuing education classes. He was recognized with a Fellowship Award by the Academy of General Dentistry.

This award means that Dr. Zabek has completed over 500 hours of continuing education covering 16 separate fields of dentistry, including crowns, bridges, cosmetic dentistry, dental implants and much more. Dr. Zabek has also worked hard to encourage and aid others in the practice of dentistry, serving as both an editor of the Academy of General Dentistry Magazine, and as an associate professor of dentistry at the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry, teaching dental restoration, denture and implant techniques to multiple graduating classes.

In addition to his Fellowship Award, Dr. Zabek has twice been recognized as a Best of the Bay dentist, based on patient reviews. Dr. Zabek was also recently recognized as one of San Franciscos Top Doc dentists, an award which is based both on patient reviews and peer evaluations from other dentists. He is a lifetime member of Cambridge Whos Who, and is listed in the Whos Who in Executives and Professionals directory.

Dr. Zabek was once the editor of the Northern California Academy of General Dentistrys journal. During his tenure as editor, the journal earned an award for Most Improved Publication. He also is a former Expert Examiner for the California State Board, and a former member of the American Association of Dentistry for Children. He is a certified CPR instructor for the San Francisco Dental Society and a member and former president of the Alpha Omega dental fraternity.

The degree to which Dr. Zabek gives back to his community speaks volumes about the warmth and heart of this dedicated professional. A key contributor to the California Donated Dental Services (DDS) Program, he has been recognized by that organization as nothing less than a Local Hero.

Sponsored by the California Dental Association and the National Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped, DDS volunteer dentists make heroic differences in the lives of the often overlooked and at-risk populations of elderly or disabled people who cannot afford dental care. Dr. Zabeks extensive contribution to this program has helped many veterans and earned him the designation of Superhero Volunteer.

Dr. Zabek says that he is a DDS volunteer because he likes the concept of organized dentistry doing some good in the community for those who cannot get help in any other way, and he encourages other dentists to participate in the program.

Dr. Zabeks contributions to his community are not limited, however, to his professional contributions. A proud father of three children and three stepchildren, he enjoys working with young people. He helped develop connections for refurbishing used and discarded bicycles to disadvantaged youth and nurtured an existing cub scout pack into one of the largest, most active packs in the Bay Area. Dr. Zabek is also the Board Liaison for the Benevolent & Protective Order of the Elks Lodge #3 (the oldest continuously existing lodge) which is home to Cub Scout Pack 343, and he is a ten-year member of the Elks youth activities committee.

An Invisalign dentist can provide patients with a series of teeth-straightening aligner trays, which are ideal for those looking for a discreet tooth straightening option. Invisalign is a commonly chosen teeth-straightening option offered at Gregory Zabek Advanced General & Cosmetic Dentistry.

While most people invest in teeth straightening treatment for the uniform appearance they create, they can also benefit one's oral health. However, investing in various types of options will produce different results. As an Invisalign dentist, we can provide patients with a professional, efficient and customizable teeth straightening treatment.

Invisalign involves a series of clear plastic aligner trays that discreetly fit over the teeth. Along with being difficult to notice, they are easy for patients to remove when eating, brushing teeth, playing sports, taking pictures and more. As long as the patient wears the aligners for at least 22 hours a day, they can enjoy the versatility of Invisalign and avoid the frustration of traditional metal braces.

As an Invisalign dentist, our team straightens teeth using a series of aligners. First, an impression of your teeth is taken so that a series of aligners can be created in a dental lab. The aligners themselves are made out of a thermoplastic material that is strong and at the same time flexible in order to be comfortable when worn for long periods of time. The material is virtually invisible.

The aligners should be worn for 22 hours a day and every two weeks; they need to be switched out with the next one in the series. Over a period of months, the aligners will slowly move teeth into place, making one minor adjustment at a time that is targeted to specific teeth. This helps your teeth to be comfortable as they are moved into position at a manageable pace. Once you are done wearing your aligners, your teeth should be perfectly straight.

Some patients need to wear attachments or ridges in order to ensure that their teeth move into place perfectly. An attachment is a clear bump that is made of an enamel colored composite and secured to the teeth. Bumps on your aligners will grip them in order to hold the aligner in place. Ridges work in a similar way only an indent is created instead of a raised bump. This can be necessary for more complicated cases to ensure that a particular tooth, or several teeth, move into place like they should.

Unlike wearing traditional braces, Invisalign will not make a major impact on your quality of life. Since the aligners are clear, it will not impact your appearance. Additionally, since they only need to be worn for 22 hours a day, they will not interfere with eating. This is a huge advantage because you can eat your favorite plate of ribs, go out for a romantic date, eat a caramel apple without worrying about something becoming stuck in your teeth or a wire being pulled out of place. This time also allows you to take the aligner out when having an important conversation or making a presentation at work. Overall, this is a convenient way to straighten your teeth and provides the maximum level of flexibility.

Some people are concerned about whether or not wearing an aligner will impact their speech. Most of our San Francisco patients tell us that they have to get used to wearing aligners after the first couple of days. Sometimes, patients have a slight lisp which goes away once they become used to speaking while wearing them. This is standard with any orthodontic procedure but fortunately; most people can speak normally within a couple of days.

Does Invisalign really work? This treatment is often marketed as a more convenient alternative to braces, but some patients are concerned about its effectiveness. Invisalign may sound too good to be true patients do not have to worry about avoiding certain foods that may become stuck in traditional braces.Like traditional braces, Invisalign is designed

Understanding how to care for your clear braces is necessary in order for them to do the job they are supposed to do: straighten your teeth. When you decide that you need to wear braces so you can benefit from having straighter teeth, it means that you are making a commitment to the teeth straightening

While researching options for teeth straightening, many patients consider the use of clear braces instead of traditional metal braces. There are pros and cons to each option. Before making a decision, learning more about the differences between clear braces options and traditional teeth straightening can help patients decide which route works for their circumstances.Traditional metal

When comparing the home vs. dentist whitening solutions, consider what you are trying to accomplish. If your teeth are white but are starting to turn slightly yellow, you may see some positive results with a simple store bought solution. However, if your teeth have any stains, it is far better to skip this step and head straight to our office for a professional teeth whitening. If you do try something at home, there are a few things you should be aware of.

How long the solution remains on your teeth is important. When it comes to teeth bleaching, the whitening solution needs to be on your teeth long enough to work. This is why something like a whitening pen or whitening toothpaste can't possibly make much of a difference. The solution is washed off almost immediately. Simultaneously, when you buy whitening strips in the store, they tend to slip out of place and also lose their effectiveness.

The solution needs to get below the surface. Any time you look at whitening products, look for ones that say they penetrate below the enamel. When you schedule a professional bleaching, this will happen every time. When you buy something at the store, however, it is rare. Without penetrating below the enamel, you will never truly remove all of the stains.

If you would prefer to whiten your teeth at home, you can still have a professional teeth whitening. You can have whitening trays created at the dentist and wear them at home while using professional whitening solution. This will deliver impressive results and be more comfortable than any trays that you can buy in the store. Since store-bought whitening trays are made to fit everyone, they are typically loose, and the solution will leak out of them and into the back of your throat. This is entirely uncomfortable and completely avoidable when you use trays created by a dentist. If you live in San Francisco or the surrounding area, we invite you to visit our dental office to see how easy professional whitening is and how much more effective it can be than a store-bought solution.

Many people make the mistake of thinking that if something is natural, it must be good for them. This is simply not the case. Natural teeth whitening can actually damage your teeth through the process of erosion. Most natural remedies use acid to remove the stains or yellowing. For example, using lemons or limes. The problem is that anything high in acid content can permanently damage the enamel on your teeth so while they may look whiter, they may also become more sensitive.

Do not try teeth bleaching at home without reading this warning. It is possible for you to permanently damage your teeth when whitening them at home. Your teeth have a hard layer of enamel on the surface. They arrive this way, and once your enamel is gone, you cannot replace it. Underneath your enamel is porous dentin that contains your nerve endings. If the enamel wears away, the dentin will be exposed, and your teeth will become sensitive. Eating and drinking with sensitive teeth can be incredibly uncomfortable and the only way to permanently fix your teeth is to have a cosmetic procedure like bonding or having dental veneers or crowns placed on your teeth. The biggest problem that people can have, when whitening their teeth, is overexposure to the whitening solution. If you place teeth bleaching solution onto your teeth for too long or you whiten your teeth too many times in a short period, you can cause your enamel to erode permanently damaging your teeth. This is why scheduling a professional teeth whitening is so important. As Gregory Zabek Advanced General & Cosmetic Dentistry, we will make sure that your teeth are whitened correctly by using the right amount of solution and removing it before reaching the point of irritation. If you are looking to save money, at-home whitening may seem alluring. However, the risk that you run of damaging your teeth could create much higher expenses down the road. If you live in the San Francisco area, schedule a professional bleaching by calling 415-952-1146 so that you can receive the results that you want without the risk.

In-office teeth whitening is a procedure that is safe for most patients with healthy teeth enamel. However, there are some risks that are involved for some patients. Understanding how safe in-office teeth whitening is and what the potential risks are help with deciding about treatment.Anyone who is looking for a way to brighten their smile

Getting dental implants can be both exciting and scary for many people. The scary part of it all is the unknown, not understanding the process. Once they learn what is expected, many are surprised at how straightforward the process is from start to finish. One of the biggest questions that many people have is aftercare

Understanding the good, as well as the bad, of Invisalign allows those who are considering this teeth-straightening option to know more about whether or not this is the right choice for them. Straight teeth are important not only because they make for a great-looking smile, but they also make for a healthier mouth. Ready to

Curious about how to prevent cavities? Continue reading to learn some tips on how to prevent tooth decay. According to the Centers for Disease Control, dental cavities affect one out of every four adults, and more than half of all teens in the United States have had a tooth filled. Oral health is often overlooked,