James Ku, D.D.S., a University of Southern California (USC) School of Dentistry graduate, worked at the first New York hospital to receive patients on the morning of 9-11 where he treated patients in emergency and cosmetic facial repair. Dr. Ku was awarded Resident of the Year at his New York City hospital-based dentistry program. He was a USC Clinical Faculty Instructor and a staff member of California based Hoag Hospital. Dr. Ku was one of the first USC Clinical Faculty Instructors to teach both Restorative Dentistry and Oral Surgery. The only USC dentist to graduate with formal training in fine arts and painting, Dr. Ku offers patients the benefit of esthetic artistic talent.

Routine dental care is the foundation of a beautiful, healthy smile. When you get exams and professional cleanings on a regular basis ideally at least every six months you will be taking important steps to reduce your risk of oral diseases that can devastate your smiles appearance as well as your oral health.

When Dr. Ku monitors your teeth and gums for signs of issues such as cavities, gum disease, and even oral cancer on a regular basis, its much easier to diagnose those conditions at earlier stages when more conservative treatments can be effective in addressing them. In the case of oral cancer, semiannual checkups can be a lifesaving endeavor because the prognosis for this disease is good when it is identified early. Unfortunately, though, many cases of oral cancer arent diagnosed until they have already spread to surrounding tissue, making it much harder to treat. These checkups are short and painless, but they have tremendous benefits.

In some cases, patients may want to include additional preventive treatments beyond cleanings and exams. Fluoride treatments help to promote re-mineralization of your teeth to keep them strong and healthy. Fluoride also protects the teeth from the effects of the acid byproducts of oral bacteria, which cause tooth decay. Dental sealants can serve a similar purpose. Be sure to ask Dr. Ku which preventive treatment will be most beneficial for you.

Going to the dentist regularly, even if youre not having any troublesome dental symptoms, is important for maintaining your oral health. Advanced dental diseases can cause serious consequences for your smile, as severe as tooth and bone loss. Such issues often require more extensive treatment. However, when you see a dentist regularly for exams, you are much more likely to receive treatment before a cavity or gum disease or other oral diseases can cause significant damage. Its also good to establish a relationship with a general dentist because if you do experience an urgent issue, that dentist is already familiar with your case and better prepared to treat you for it.

We recommend that patients brush twice each day for two minutes each session. You should brush your teeth before eating breakfast in the morning, as brushing after eating can expose your teeth to extra wear from any acids left behind in the mouth. You should also brush your teeth before going to bed. Additionally, you should floss daily to disrupt plaque and calculus (tartar) formation along the gumline. You should also be sure to use proper technique when brushing and flossing to get the maximum benefit from these activities. Check in with your dentist or hygienist if you need a refresher on correct brushing and flossing technique.

Patients should have their teeth cleaned at least every six months to clear away any tartar and plaque buildup that has developed despite brushing and flossing. If you tend to accumulate plaque and tartar more quickly, your dentist may recommend that you schedule cleanings at shorter intervals.

A tooth extraction doesnt have to be a painful experience for a patient. A local anesthetic is applied to the area, and the patient may also opt for nitrous oxide or oral conscious sedation for increased comfort during the procedure if they wish. There may be some tenderness at the extraction site after the tooth is removed, but that can usually be managed with over-the-counter painkillers. Patients should also follow all post-extraction instructions closely in order to reduce their risk of discomfort.

James Ku, D.D.S., a University of Southern California (USC) School of Dentistry graduate, worked at the first New York hospital to receive patients on the morning of 9-11 where he treated patients in emergency and cosmetic facial repair. Dr. Ku was nominated Resident of the Year at his New York City hospital based dentistry program. He was a USC Clinical Faculty Instructor and a staff member of California based Hoag Hospital. Dr. Ku was one of the first USC Clinical Faculty Instructors to teach both Restorative Dentistry and Oral Surgery. The only USC dentist to graduate with formal training in fine arts and painting, Dr. Ku offers patients the benefit of esthetic artistic talent. Dr. Kus patients say they appreciate his caring nature, active sense of humor, and exceptional expertise.

Your smile is an important part of making a first impression, and you undoubtedly want to put your best face forward in that department. However, many people arent satisfied with their smiles appearance. Fortunately, cosmetic dentistry treatments are available to correct any defects in your smile, from dingy yellow teeth to chips and cracks or teeth that are misaligned. A dentist can draw on a wide variety of cosmetic treatments to help patients achieve their smile goals, and those treatments can be provided in combination as part of a comprehensive smile makeover or individually to address more minor aesthetic issues.

Patients have a great deal of input into the cosmetic dentistry process, so dont hesitate to ask for exactly what you want. We will do everything possible to help you achieve the desired results, and your satisfaction is our priority. Cosmetic dentistry is one part science and one part art, and Dr. Kus unique background that includes formal training in fine arts and painting makes him particularly well-qualified to provide these treatments for patients.

Protecting and supporting our patients long-term dental health is our business. We are committed to serving your dental needs with care and professional expertise. Your comfort is our continuous focus when helping you achieve and maintain your best smile possible. We pride ourselves in customer service excellence, superior dental health support, timely comprehensive services and exceptional cosmetic dentistry.

Cosmetic dentistry is the art and science of repairing aesthetic flaws in the teeth to help patients smile with confidence and boost their self-esteem. Patients may turn to cosmetic dentistry to address issues such as staining or discoloration, damaged teeth, missing teeth or a crooked smile. Cosmetic dentistry techniques and interventions designed to enhance the smiles appearance may include teeth whitening, dental veneers, dental crowns, dental bridges and dental implants. A dentist will look at the smiles overall appearance and may recommend multiple cosmetic interventions or just one or two, depending on the patients treatment goals.

Dental veneers are tooth-shaped shells that are bonded to the front surfaces of patients biological teeth to conceal a number of flaws ranging from deep stains to chips and cracks. Veneers are so versatile that they may also be used to make a slightly crooked stretch of teeth appear straighter or help an undersized tooth look more proportional to its neighbors. Veneers can be made of porcelain or ceramics, and they are custom-designed according to a patients unique specifications. Depending on the thickness of the veneer, the patient may need to have the teeth prepped by removing a thin layer of enamel before the veneer can be bonded to the tooth. Dental veneers are quite strong after they are bonded to the teeth and can stay in place for a decade or more with proper care.

Some patients do report increased tooth sensitivity as a side effect of teeth whitening, especially if they have received repeated treatments. However, that doesnt mean that existing tooth sensitivity needs to keep you from a brighter, whiter smile if thats on your wish list. Bring this to your dentists attention during the treatment planning process, and the dentist can make recommendations, such as brushing with a specially formulated toothpaste, to help reduce the severity of this symptom.

Dental implants are the most technologically advanced tooth replacement option available to patients who have experienced tooth loss. Consisting of a root-like structure and a prosthetic crown component, the structural completeness of dental implants is the most effective replacement option for both form and function.

Dr. Ku places the dental implant, which is the small titanium cylinder that functions as the artificial tooth root, in the jaw in a surgical procedure. For the next several months after dental implant placement, the bone tissue in the vicinity will fuse with the implants titanium surface. Although dental implant placement does involve surgery, patients are usually able to resume most normal activities within a matter of days.

After the dental implant has been osseointegrated, Dr. Ku will fit the patient with the restoration. In some cases, it may be possible to place the restoration at the time of implant placement, as well. Dental implants can replace a single tooth or multiple teeth, so that restoration may be a prosthetic crown, dental bridge or denture. The restorations supported by dental implants are specially designed to fit closely atop the implant. These restorations are made of materials that share many optical qualities with biological tooth enamel, so they look remarkably lifelike.

Dental implants have a number of benefits and advantages in comparison to conventional appliances. Because they can anchor the jaw in the same way a biological tooths root does, the likelihood of jawbone atrophy is much lower with an implant-supported appliance. This means that the jaw and the appliance are more stable over time. Patients with dental implants also can continue to chew a wide variety of foods, even fibrous ones like fresh fruits and vegetables. The connection between the bone and the implant allows for the toleration of stronger chewing forces, so dental implant patients wont have to eliminate as many items from their diet. Also, because dental implants stand alone without support from neighboring teeth, it is unnecessary to alter surrounding teeth by placing crowns on them.

A dental implant is a small titanium cylinder that is surgically inserted into a patients jaw at the site of a missing tooth. Because titanium is biocompatible, the surrounding bone tissue is able to form a strong bond with the dental implant, and over the course of several months, it becomes integrated into the bone structure. As a permanent fixture in the jaw, a dental implant functions as a pseudo root, which has important functional roles in addition to securing a prosthetic crown, bridge or denture. Dental implants help to preserve the integrity of the remaining jaw bone, which means that the implant-supported appliance will retain its fit over time and the risk of losing the surrounding teeth is reduced when dental implants are in place. In contrast, the jaw will atrophy over the course of time when the missing tooths root structure is not replaced, resulting in negative consequences for the patient.

Dr. Ku surgically inserts dental implants into the patients jaw at the location where the tooth had been. An incision is made in the gum tissue at the dental implant site, and the dental implant is then placed in a small hole created in the empty socket. If necessary, Dr. Ku can use cone beam CT (computerized tomography) as a guide during surgery for more precise implant placement. After the implant is in place, Dr. Ku will seal the incision. Over the next few months, the bone begins to fuse with the implant. Depending on the design of the implant, an abutment may need to be added after the implant has completely healed. The abutment then connects to the crown, bridge or denture that is supported by the dental implant(s), which are placed in the final step of the treatment process.