Q: My five year old son snores loudly.  Should I be concerned?

A: Snoring can be a sign of sleep apnea.  Children who are obese and who habitually snore are very likely to have sleep apnea syndrome.
Children with large tonsils may have sleep apnea.

Children with sleep apnea tend to be hyperactive, aggressive, or rebellious, to not pay attention and to not be alert.  They tend to have academic problems and may have symptoms of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder.

If your child snores, please call us for a consultation or CLICK HERE.

If you don’t care about having a GREAT SMILE for a Lifetime, here are the top ten ways to wreck your smile:

1. If nothing hurts in your mouth, everything must be OK. This couldn’t be furthest from the truth. After the age of 30, the number 1 reason to lose teeth is to gum disease. If the dentist or hygienist doesn’t remove tartar from your teeth, your gums will become inflamed and bone may be permanently damaged. Not only will you have bad breath, but also your teeth may get loose and be permanently lost.

2. Drink acidic beverages with your meals. Many people think its OK to drink diet sodas because these beverages have no sugar. Little do they realize that acid softens the enamel (the outside layer of the tooth) and acid makes teeth more susceptible to wear and decay. Acidic beverages include regular sodas, diet sodas, Gatorade, energy drinks, Arizona iced tea.

3. Don’t wear a Night Guard to protect your teeth as you grind your teeth in your sleep. A high percentage of people grind their teeth in their sleep. This causes chipping and shortening of your teeth. This translates into a very AGED looking smile!

4. Use your teeth as tools. If you can’t open something and you use your teeth, this is a great way to chip the edges of your teeth.

5. Don’t floss your teeth. If you don’t floss your teeth on a regular basis meaning once a day, you will be leaving bacteria and food between your teeth and underneath the gum line. This can lead to bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease.

6. Use the hardest toothbrush you can find to aggressively do a great job of cleaning your teeth. WRONG!!! Although enamel is the strongest substance in the body, it can still be worn away with a hard brush. Plaque is soft. To get plaque off your teeth, use a soft toothbrush to effectively clean at the gum line taking 2 minutes to clean your mouth.

7. Smoke cigarettes. Smoking is bad for both your teeth and gums. It causes your teeth to yellow and smoking can make your gums more prone to developing gum disease with bone loss. Smoke to lose your teeth at an early age.

8. Abuse drugs. Illegal medications such as cocaine and crystal meth cause dry mouth. If your mouth is not well lubricated and buffered by saliva, you can get decay practically overnight. These substances also cause you to feel jittery and clench your teeth, thus chipping the edges of your teeth.

9. Drink lots of red wine, coffee and tea. If you want to yellow your teeth the fastest, eat a lot of colored foods such as blueberries and drink a lot of colored beverages!

10. Eat frequently throughout the day without brushing your teeth. Every time you eat, the byproduct of bacteria munching on the food you eat will cause an acid attack. Keep that acid coming, don’t brush and don’t drink a lot of water to wreck your teeth the fastest!

Dr. Calvo is one of only 300 members in the world to achieve AACD Accreditation status.  Recently, she was honored by being selected as the featured dentist in an ad for Accreditation published in several dental journals.  Dr. Calvo is a well-respected Cosmetic Dentist in the Los Angeles and Beverly Hills areas.  Dr. Calvo is passionate about changing lives and increasing self-esteem in the patients she has helped serve through Smile Makeovers, Porcelain Veneers, Dental Implants and other artistic dental services. CLICK HERE: To become a member of her online community and receive her “5 Tips to a YOUTHFUL SMILE! – free special report. Click here to view her blog for more information or become a Fan of her Facebook FanPage by Clicking Here.

Tooth Colored Fillings Beverly Hills CA Areas…

One of the most common dental problems experienced all over the world today is dental decay. The usual treatment procedure for dental decay is the placement of a restorative. In earlier times, the restorative used was unsightly materials such as gold or silver amalgam. These days, it is much more common to see tooth colored or white restoratives. Tooth colored fillings are preferred restorative choices both in front teeth as well as in the back teeth.

In earlier times, the white colored restoratives that were available did not have much strength. This made them fragile and subject to breakage if any hard force was exerted on them. Therefore, for filling a molar tooth or a premolar tooth, materials such as silver amalgam or direct filling gold were commonly used. However, the advent of science has resulted in a lot of improvements in tooth colored fillings.

The advanced white fillings have better bonding to the structure of the tooth, do not need any etching process and have superior strength in comparison to the materials that were available in the past. The strength of tooth colored fillings that are available today are comparable to silver amalgam and direct filling gold restoratives. Thus,  they are suitable for use in any tooth including molars, where force of mastication exerts lots of stress on the material.

Advantages of Tooth Colored Fillings

There are many advantages of using these fillings over other materials used for restoring a tooth.

The main advantage that one can get by using white fillings is the esthetic finish of the restoration. The restorative material is available in many different shades to match the shade of the tooth to be restored, thereby providing superior esthetics, which is not possible when using materials like amalgam or gold.

When material like amalgam has to be placed, lot of tooth structure has to be compromised in order to hold the material in its position within the tooth. This is because, there is no direct bonding between amalgam and the tooth, and it is only held with mechanical retentive properties of the preparation. In tooth color fillings, a direct bonding between the tooth and the restorative occurs with the help of a bonding agent. This reduces the amount of tooth reduction that needs to be made, thus preserving the strength of the tooth being restored.

Earlier versions of this filling material had problems like development of sensitivity in the restored tooth. This was mainly caused due to the etching process before filling the tooth and also due to marginal leakage between the tooth and the restorative material. However, advent of the material has eliminated etching process and negated the marginal leakage, thereby reducing the occurrence of sensitivity.

The improved strength of the tooth color fillings has resulted in better resistance to fracture, especially in fillings that do not have much support from the tooth. So, fillings using tooth colored restorative materials seem to have better life in comparison to materials like amalgam or gold.

Procedure

During the initial visit, the dentist will examine the tooth and also take X-rays to evaluate the depth of the decay and determine if this filling material is suitable for restoring the tooth. In the following visit, the tooth will be prepared to rid all the dental decay.

Once the tooth preparation is completed, the tooth is isolated to avoid contamination from saliva. The prepared area of the tooth is then coated with a thin layer of a bonding agent and then cured with a suitable light source. After this, the tooth colored filling material is then placed in the prepared area, shaped to match the tooth anatomy and then cured with the light source.

This process is repeated in increments till the entire prepared structure is restored. After this, the bite is checked and adjusted to make the filling comfortable in the mouth. The restoration is then finished and polished using suitable polishing materials.

Tooth colored fillings is a suitable material for restoring the strength of a tooth that has been damaged by decay. These materials are not only strong, they are also esthetic, thus avoiding unnecessary embarrassment of having to see unsightly filling materials in the mouth.

Marilyn R. Calvo, D.D.S.
Accredited Member – American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
Marilyn Calvo, DDS is a Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist based in Encino, California. She is an accredited member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Her practice is built on the principle of providing highest quality care available, while focusing on both long-term health and aesthetics. Dr. Calvo is passionate about changing lives and increasing self-esteem in the patients. Click here to know more about Marilyn Calvo and the dental treatments as well as sleep apnea or sleep disorder treatments being offered at her clinic.
Dr. Calvo is currently a Visiting Faculty Member at the world-famous Spear Institute in Scottsdale, Arizona and also a clinical instructor at Esthetic Professionals, a post-graduate teaching facility, where she teaches the best of cosmetic dentistry to dentists from around the world. Her work has been published in the highly acclaimed Journal of Cosmetic Dentistry, which sets the standard for the field of cosmetic dentistry. Visit her blog to keep an update about dental health and you can also become a fan of Dr. Calvo on Facebook!

When we look at the fabric of our lives and the rich history of our families, we can usually find a common thread that utlimately defines our character and path to success. I have my loving, hard working, truly amazing Puerto Rican parents to thank for raising me with a stellar work ethic and belief in a dream –  NO MATTER WHAT.  It is in the following abbreviated story that led me to my celebrated career as an accredited cosmetic dentist helping women regain their confidence and self esteem.

My work ethic was shaped by my grandfather who worked in the sugar cane plantations in Dominican Republic and handed down to my mother and then me.  My grandmother, Maria Lajara Baez, decided it was better to be alone than to remain with the father of her children due to “dealbreaker” challenges she had with him.  Eventually, my grandmother connected with relatives in the US that helped her move to New York City.

It was here I was destined to live core values of hard work and perservernce. There’s a lot to be learned from my grandmother. She was an amazing woman and I love sharing this part of my story because you will come to see the importance of taking a stand about your life and believing in your dreams

It’s remarkable what my grandmother accomplished as a Single Mother back in the 40’s.

I was raised on believing dreams are possible with belief and hard work. My grandmother had a dream to bring her daughters to live in US from Puerto Rico and she worked hard to make that come true. Although there was no man in her household, it was a home full of love not only of family, but extended family and community.

I learned the value and importance of being an entrepreneur to make your dreams come true from my grandmother – she and her 4 daughters saved up enough money to buy a 3 story brownstone building in the Bronx.  My grandmother would rent rooms and cook, which became her first own little business.

Those generational values of wonderful morals, love of family and a very hard working ethic to succeed was carried on by my mother when she married in 1950.

THE DREAM TO BE A DOCTOR

Even though my mother who never graduated from high school and my dad who only had his high school diploma, they placed a high value on education and encouraged me to attend school and college when I decided I wanted to be a doctor at the age of 5!  I know. How can a child at 5 even know what they want! Well I did and never backed down!

Raised in the Bronx (New York) with my two younger brothers in a very poor neighborhood will turn any child into a survival-minded individual. School of hard knocks for sure.

After a serious incident in our neighborhood, my parents knew it was time to move us away to a better life. This was the beginning of learning how  to go after your dreams.  I was a happy and cute child with no awareness of lack because we had so much love from our parents. It was my mother’s adventurous spirit that brought us out to California to live a better life. The dream was alive and well. This would set the tone for me to not only go after my medical profession with gusto but allow me to survive rheumatic fever as a teen that created a heart condition along with a low self esteem. I was in for many experiences that would effect my life into adulthood BUT turned these challenges into a gift –  my passion to help others transform their lives through cosmetic dentistry.

I always excelled in my school work from a young age to graduating with honors from UCLA School of Dentistry. I had several emotional, physical and financial set backs along the way as I matured in becoming a strong, independent courageous woman.

One of the hardest challenges I had to overcome that would later be my biggest gift in life was my big nose as a teen and young woman. However, this challenge shaped my passion for being a transformation artist (cosmetic dentistry) for women. I was ever grateful for my parents (again) because they worked hard to pay for cosmetic surgery on my nose that would help eliminate some of my self esteem scars from my younger days.

It was at this stage in my life where the core of my passion was ignited to become a cosmetic dentist transforming my patients’ lives by helping them regain their confidence and self esteem much like I experienced.

MARRIAGE AND FINAL LESSONS IN LIFE

At 32 years old, I was doing well in business, owned my very first little house in North Hollywood, but still no one to share my life with.  I finally met the man who became my husband in 1984 and have been married for 25 yrs now.  Between having children, even though I was considered a “high risk” patient, having open heart surgery, and mentors who showed me how to be smart with my money, I have much to be grateful for – mainly my parents who instilled in me to go after my dreams NO MATTER WHAT!

My challenges – and there were many – only gave me the inspiration to keep climbing to the top of the mountain reaching for my dreams.

And I aspire the same for you.

Marilyn R. Calvo, D.D.S.

Accredited Member – American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry

Marilyn Calvo, DDS is a Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist based in Encino, California. She is an accredited member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Her practice is built on the principle of providing highest quality care available, while focusing on both long-term health and aesthetics. Dr. Calvo is passionate about changing lives and increasing self-esteem in the patients. Click here to know more about Marilyn Calvo and the dental treatments as well as sleep apnea or sleep disorder treatments being offered at her clinic.

Dr. Calvo is currently a Visiting Faculty Member at the world-famous Spear Institute in Scottsdale, Arizona and also a clinical instructor at Esthetic Professionals, a post-graduate teaching facility, where she teaches the best of cosmetic dentistry to dentists from around the world. Her work has been published in the highly acclaimed Journal of Cosmetic Dentistry, which sets the standard for the field of cosmetic dentistry. Visit her blog to keep an update about dental health and you can also become a fan of Dr. Calvo on Facebook!

Dental decay is one of the most common problems for which people approach a dentist. The dentist will correct this problem usually using a filling of various different types of materials. But, if the decayed area is very large, just placing a filling will not be enough as they might get fractured. In such cases, the tooth will need to be protected by capping it with an appropriate Dental Crown Beverly Hills.

A Dental Crown might also be used in a fractured tooth to restore the appearance as well as function of the tooth.

Dental Crowns Types

There are various different materials that can be used for making a dental crown Beverly Hills. Some of the different types that are usually made are:

Dental Crowns made of full gold. Although this was the sought after material for making crowns in the past, these are no longer used much as they are not esthetic while being highly expensive.

Another option that is highly popular for use in back teeth are full metal crowns. These are preferred due to their high strength and being more economical in comparison to crowns of other types.

Porcelain Fused with Metal is another popular option for making Dental Crowns in Beverly Hills. This popularity is due to the esthetic value that they provide while being strong enough for use. They are also less expensive than the dental crowns that are constructed only out of ceramic.

The most recent type of Dental Crowns in Beverly Hills is the full ceramic or the full porcelain crowns. By itself, ceramic is highly brittle and will fracture if high stress is exerted on it. As metal reduces the esthetic value in Porcelain fused to metal dental crowns, full ceramic crowns are gaining popularity. In order to counter the brittle nature of ceramic, these crowns are prepared by embedding zirconium in the ceramic to provide strength and improved esthetics. But, this type of Dental Crowns is more expensive compared to all the other types of Dental Crowns in Beverly Hills.

Procedure

When you approach your dentist for correction of a grossly destroyed tooth or a fractured tooth, the dentist will most likely suggest a crown to protect the tooth. However, some initial procedures will need to be done prior to placing the crown.

These procedures may include a root canal treatment (if the pulp of your tooth is involved) or just a restoration of the tooth.

Once the initial procedures are complete, the final step would be to prepare the tooth to receive a crown. To prepare for the dental crowns in Beverly Hills, your dentist may or may not provide sedation. This depends on whether or not a root canal treatment has been done on the tooth.

The concerned tooth or teeth that will receive Dental Crowns in Beverly Hills will be reduced in size on all sides. This is necessary to be able to insert the crown and to provide space for the crown (or else the crown will be bigger in size than the tooth).

After the tooth preparation is finished, the dentist prepares a model of your teeth using impressions which are then sent over to a Dental Crowns in Beverly Hills laboratory to prepare the crown.

Once the crown is prepared, the dentist will try it out on the tooth and see if the fit and size is proper. If it is satisfactory, the dentist will then use an appropriate cement to fix up the Dental Crown Beverly Hills.

This Dental Crowns Beverly Hills will need proper maintenance like your natural teeth in the form of brushing and flossing. You will need to undergo checkups once in a year to see if they are in place and to check for wear. In case they have become worn down, they will need to be replaced by another crown.

It is still not too late to save a tooth destroyed by dental decay. Dental Crowns in Beverly Hills is a good option that while replacing esthetics will also help you obtain proper function.

Dr. Calvo is one of only 300 members in the world to achieve AACD Accreditation status.  Recently, she was honored by being selected as the featured dentist in an ad for Accreditation published in several dental journals.  Dr. Calvo is a well-respected Cosmetic Dentist in the Los Angeles and Beverly Hills areas.  Dr. Calvo is passionate about changing lives and increasing self-esteem in the patients she has helped serve through Smile Makeovers, Porcelain Veneers, Dental Implants and other artistic dental services. CLICK HERE: To become a member of her online community and receive her “5 Tips to a YOUTHFUL SMILE! – free special report. Click hereto view her blog for more information or become a Fan of her Facebook FanPage by Clicking Here.

Dental Bridges Beverly Hills – Bid Adieu to Unsightly Gaps

Many people suffer from tooth loss due to a variety of reasons ranging from improper hygiene to trauma. What is the answer to correcting this tooth loss? A tooth lost or even a few teeth lost can be replaced using a fixed method of replacement such as Dental Bridges Beverly Hills. This is a convenient and less expensive method of tooth replacement in comparison to dental implants.

Many people give importance only to their smile and if a missing tooth (or teeth) hampers their smile then they go in for a replacement. But, this kind of misconception is not right. Every tooth in the arch is equally important. So, any tooth that is missing should be replaced or else the integrity of the other teeth will be hampered. This could cause movement of the other teeth in the long run causing them to be lost prematurely.

A dental bridge is a good option for replacing missing teeth. Dental bridges are fixed replacements making them far easier to handle than removable replacements. However, a bridge replacement might be much more expensive than getting a removable replacement although it is worth the money.

Dental Bridge Types

Depending on the tooth or teeth that need to be replaced, the dentist might opt for different types of dental bridges in Beverly Hills. Some types that the dentist would construct would include conventional bridges, resin bonded types and cantilever bridge.

Conventional bridges can be constructed for replacing any missing tooth or teeth but needs sound teeth on both the sides of the missing space for providing support to the bridge.

Resin bonded type of bridge is preferred for replacing front teeth. This type of bridge has a metal band that is bonded to the adjacent teeth of the missing space and will be the support to hold the replacement teeth. But, this type cannot be used to replace back teeth due to the hard forces generated during chewing.

Cantilever bridges are preferred when there are no teeth on one side and sound teeth on the other side for support as in a missing last molar. It is also preferred in missing teeth in the front area as support can be derived from the back tooth and changes to the front sound teeth can be avoided.

Preparation of Dental Bridges

During the preliminary visits, the dental specialist will take x-rays and conduct a visual examination to assess the soundness of the adjoining teeth that will provide support to the bridge. Once the type of support has been ascertained, the dentist will decide on the type of dental bridge that is apt for replacing the missing tooth or teeth.

The supporting teeth will be prepared and shaped so that it can support the dental bridge and hold it in place. During the preparation, the dentist might prefer to anesthetize the area with a local anesthetic.

Once the preparation of the tooth is complete, the dentist will then proceed to make impressions of your teeth which will then be sent to a lab for fabrication of the dental bridge. The fabrication process will take some days during which the dentist may provide with a temporary bridge.

The temporary bridge will be removed once the permanent one is ready. The fabricated bridge will then be placed and fixed to the supporting teeth with the help of some type of cements or even resins.

Any missing tooth or teeth should be replaced. Dental bridges Beverly Hills is one of the best methods of tooth replacement whether it is to replace your missing smile or to get your churners into sound shape.

Marilyn R. Calvo, D.D.S.

Accredited Member – American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry

Marilyn Calvo, DDS is a cosmetic dentist based in Encino, California. She is an accredited member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Her practice is built on the principle of providing highest quality care available, while focusing on both long-term health and aesthetics. Dr. Calvo is passionate about changing lives and increasing self-esteem in the patients. Click here to know more about Marilyn Calvo and the dental treatments being offered at her clinic.

Dr. Calvo is currently a Visiting Faculty Member at the world-famous Spear Institute in Scottsdale, Arizona and also a clinical instructor at Esthetic Professionals, a post-graduate teaching facility, where she teaches the best of cosmetic dentistry to dentists from around the world. Her work has been published in the highly acclaimed Journal of Cosmetic Dentistry, which sets the standard for the field of cosmetic dentistry. Visit her blog to keep an update about dental health and you can also become a fan of Dr. Calvo on Facebook!

Local American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) Dentist, Marilyn Calvo, DDS, Volunteers in Give Back a Smile Program for Domestic Violence Survivors.

Local American AACD member cosmetic dentist, Marilyn Calvo, DDS, volunteers for the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry Charitable Foundation’s (MCDCF) Give Back a Smile (GBAS) program to heal the effects of domestic violence by providing free consultation and dental treatment to restore the smiles of survivors of domestic violence.

"Through the Give Back a Smile program, AACD members assist survivors by treating their dental injuries that were sustained from domestic violence, so that they may reclaim their smiles, their self-esteem and, ultimately, their  lives,

Dr.  Calvo of  Encino,  CA.

How Give Back a Smile Works:

• Domestic violence survivors who have suffered dental injuries in the smile zone from abuse from a former intimate partner or spouse can contact GBAS Toll-Free at  800.773.GBAS (4227).
  
• Survivors must make an appointment with a counsellor, domestic violence advocate, social worker, or therapist to complete the advocate section of the GBAS application.
• GBAS conducts the initial review of the application, however, the dentist has the final say as to the eligibility of the applicant.
• If eligible, the AACD connects the survivor with a local GBAS volunteer who provides treatment at no charge to the recipient .

Helping   the  Community   by  Helping   Individuals

"Because more than 5 million people are affected by domestic violence every year in the United States and Canada, there is clearly a need for a program like GBAS to help survivors rejuvenate their lives through the caring hands of a local dentist,

Dr.  Calvo

In July 2001, the AACD was one of only eight organizations in the world to receive the Award of Excellence and the prestigious Associations Advance America Summit Award for its GBAS program. The American Society of Association
Executives (ASAE), of Washington, D.C., sponsors this yearly national competition to recognize the charitable organizations that make the most effort to advance American society.

For complete details about the GBAS program, visit www.givebackasmile.com  or  call  toll – free  800.543.9220. Those interested in finding help with the GBAS program can also visit the Website www.givebackasmile.com, cal l  the National Hotline at 800.773.GBAS (4227), or e-mail  givebackasmile@aacd.com

 

Dr. Calvo is one of only 300 members in the world to achieve AACD Accreditation status.  Recently, she was honored by being selected as the featured dentist in an ad for Accreditation published in several dental journals.  Dr. Calvo is a well-respected Cosmetic Dentist in the Los Angeles and Beverly Hills areas.  Dr. Calvo is passionate about changing lives and increasing self-esteem in the patients she has helped serve through Smile Makeovers, Porcelain Veneers, Dental Implants and other artistic dental services. CLICK HERE: To become a member of her online community and receive her “5 Tips to a YOUTHFUL SMILE! – free special report. Click hereto view her blog for more information or become a Fan of her Facebook FanPage by Clicking Here.

 

Ahhh…your wedding day.  

Whether it’s your first time walking down the isle or you found your soul mate the second time around, you have a long list of to-dos to get ready for that extra special day.

I can relate.

I spent the entire month of November 2010 preparing for my daughter’s wedding where we hosted international guests in our home, gave a dinner for our family, dealt with the last minute details of the country club, running my busy dental practice, and of course being there emotionally for my daughter as she navigated the last few weeks of her long to-do list!

Wow. It’s so overwhelming!

I’m here to give you a gentle but firm reminder about a very important detail to your wedding to-do list. This is often overlooked by many brides who are multi-tasking their lives to make sure their day is extraordinary.

This one item needs to be high on your list at least three months or more prior to your wedding day. It can make or break the quality of your photos and more importantly the emotional memory of your wedding day.

Your smile.

Depending on the condition of your teeth, will determine the lead time you need to prepare for your day. At Smile Studio L.A., my all-woman stellar dental care team carefully works with you to assure your smile is the best it will ever look for that one all-encompassing day!

Our services that might be appropriate for you are teeth whitening, Envisaging, bonding, veneers or even a smile makeover. Do make an appointment well in advance to begin the process even before you book your church, synagogue, reception room, or hotel. (Ok, so you have that done already…call us anyway!) 

Trust me, you will be so grateful you took time and care to assure that gorgeous smile illuminates the authentic you on your wedding day. Your smile creates memories lasting more than a lifetime; it builds incredible confidence that shines through in every area of your life. Call us for your special BRIDE & GROOM appointment – 818.788.1352

Dr. Calvo is one of only 300 members in the world to achieve AACD Accreditation status.  Recently, she was honored by being selected as the featured dentist in an ad for Accreditation published in several dental journals.  Dr. Calvo is a well-respected Cosmetic Dentist in the Los Angeles and Beverly Hills areas.  Dr. Calvo is passionate about changing lives and increasing self-esteem in the patients she has helped serve through Smile Makeovers, Porcelain Veneers, Dental Implants and other artistic dental services. CLICK HERE: To become a member of her online community and receive her “5 Tips to a YOUTHFUL SMILE! – free special report. Click hereto view her blog for more information or become a Fan of her Facebook FanPage by Clicking Here.

Dr. Calvo and her staff are all amazing! I went in for a "redo" of my two front teeth (crowns that didn’t look good at all) for my upcoming wedding. I was very nervous from my previous bad experience (and a lot of $$ later). I didn’t give her much time before the wedding. She was very thorough and also explained things well. I’m… probably not a dentist’s favorite patient; they scare me. Dr. Calvo made me very comfortable. Most importantly, the end result was excellent. Not only did she give me two new beautiful front teeth but she also did some bonding and made my entire smile look symmetrical. Several people commented at my wedding about how great my teeth looked – including people who had no idea I had any work done. I can’t wait to see my wedding pictures now! Thank you Dr. Calvo I came to you very self-conscious about my smile and it is so nice to feel comfortable smiling now!

~ J.S

Dr. Calvo is one of only 300 members in the world to achieve AACD Accreditation status.  Recently, she was honored by being selected as the featured dentist in an ad for Accreditation published in several dental journals.  Dr. Calvo is a well-respected Cosmetic Dentist in the Los Angeles and Beverly Hills areas.  Dr. Calvo is passionate about changing lives and increasing self-esteem in the patients she has helped serve through Smile Makeovers, Porcelain Veneers, Dental Implants and other artistic dental services. CLICK HERE: To become a member of her online community and receive her “5 Tips to a YOUTHFUL SMILE! – free special report. Click hereto view her blog for more information or become a Fan of her Facebook FanPage by Clicking Here.

This is so true. It is amazing how little we know or prepare for when an event actually occurs. We were taught incorrectly on what to do in the event of an earthquake. I stress and urge you all to read and take seriously, as this will really save your life. It is called The Triangle of LIFE.

Remember that stuff about hiding under a table or standing in a doorway? Well, forget it! This is a real eye opener. It could save your life someday.

EXTRACT FROM DOUG COPP’S ARTICLE ON ‘THE TRIANGLE OF LIFE’

My name is Doug Copp. I am the Rescue Chief and Disaster Manager of the American Rescue Team International (ARTI ), the world’s most experienced rescue team. The information in this article will save lives in an earthquake. I have crawled inside 875 collapsed buildings, worked with rescue teams from 60 countries, founded rescue teams in several countries, and I am a member of many rescue teams from many countries. I was the United Nations expert in Disaster Mitigation for two years, and have worked at every major disaster in the world since 1985, except for simultaneous disasters.

The first building I ever crawled inside of was a school in Mexico City during the 1985 earthquake. Every child was under its desk. Every child was crushed to the thickness of their bones. They could have survived by lying down next to their desks in the aisles. It was obscene unnecessary. Simply stated, when buildings collapse, the weight of the ceilings falling upon the objects or furniture inside crushes these objects, leaving a space or void next to them – NOT under them. This space is what I call the ‘triangle of life’. The larger the object, the stronger, the less it will compact. The less the object compacts, the larger the void, the greater the probability that the person who is using this void for safety will not be injured. The next time you watch collapsed buildings, on television, count the ‘triangles’ you see formed.

They are everywhere. It is the most common shape, you will see, in a collapsed building.

TIPS FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY

1) Most everyone who simply ‘ducks and covers’ when building collapse are crushed to death. People who get under objects, like desks or cars, are crushed.

2) Cats, dogs and babies often naturally curl up in the fetal position. You should too in an earthquake. It is a natural safety/survival instinct. You can survive in a smaller void. Get next to an object, next to a sofa, next to a bed, next to a large bulky object that will compress slightly but leave a void next to it.

3) Wooden buildings are the safest type of construction to be in during an earthquake. Wood is flexible and moves with the force of the earthquake. If the wooden building does collapse, large survival voids are created. Also, the wooden building has less concentrated, crushing weight. Brick buildings will break into individual bricks.  Bricks will cause many injuries but less squashed bodies than concrete slabs.

4) If you are in bed during the night and an earthquake occurs, simply roll off the bed. A safe void will exist around the bed. Hotels can achieve a much greater survival rate in earthquakes, simply by posting a sign on the back of the door of every room  telling occupants to lie down on the floor, next to the bottom of the bed during an earthquake.

5) If an earthquake happens and you cannot easily escape by getting out the door or window, then lie down and curl up in the fetal position next to a sofa, or large chair.

6) Most everyone who gets under a doorway when buildings collapse is killed. How? If you stand under a doorway and the doorjamb falls forward or backward you will be crushed by the ceiling above. If the door jam falls sideways you will be cut in half by the doorway. In either case, you will be killed!

7) Never go to the stairs. The stairs have a different ‘moment of frequency’ (they swing separately from the main part of the building). The stairs and remainder of the building continuously bump into each other until structural failure of the stairs takes place. The people who get on stairs before they fail are chopped up by the stair treads – horribly mutilated. Even if the building doesn’t collapse, stay away from the stairs. The stairs re a likely part of the building to be damaged. Even if the stairs are not collapsed by the earthquake, they may collapse later when overloaded by fleeing people. They should always be checked for safety, even when the rest of the building is not damaged.

Get near the outer walls of buildings or outside of them if possible – It is much better to be near the outside of the building rather than the interior. The farther inside you are from the outside perimeter of the building the greater the probability that your escape route will be blocked.

9) People inside of their vehicles are crushed when the road above falls in an earthquake and crushes their vehicles; which is exactly what happened with the slabs between the decks of the Nimitz Freeway. The victims of the San Francisco earthquake all stayed inside of their vehicles. They were all killed. They could have easily survived by getting out and sitting or lying next to their vehicles. Everyone killed would have survived if they had been able to get out of their cars and sit or lie next to them. All the crushed cars had voids 3 feet high next to them, except for the cars that had columns fall directly across them.

10) I discovered, while crawling inside of collapsed newspaper offices and other offices with a lot of paper, that paper does not compact. Large voids are found surrounding stacks of paper.

Spread the word and save someone’s life… The entire world is experiencing natural calamities so be prepared! ‘We are but angels with one wing, it takes two to fly.’

In 1996 we made a film, which proved my survival methodology to  be correct. The Turkish Federal Government, City of Istanbul , University of Istanbul Case Productions and ARTI cooperated to film this practical, scientific test. We collapsed a school and a home with 20 mannequins inside. Ten mannequins did ‘duck and cover,’ and ten mannequins I used in my ‘triangle of life’ survival method. After the simulated earthquake collapse we crawled through the rubble and entered the building to film and document the results. The film, in which I practiced my survival techniques under directly observable, scientific conditions , relevant to building collapse, showed there would have been zero percent survival for those doing duck and cover.

There would likely have been 100 percent survivability for people using my method of the triangle of life.’ This film has been seen by millions of viewers on television in Turkey and the rest of Europe, and it was seen in the USA , Canada and Latin America on the TV program Real TV.

http://www.amerrescue.org/
American Rescue Team International（ARTI）is said to be the
World’s most experienced rescue team and disaster management-mitigation organization.

Dr. Calvo is one of only 300 members in the world to achieve AACD Accreditation status.  Recently, she was honored by being selected as the featured dentist in an ad for Accreditation published in several dental journals.  Dr. Calvo is a well-respected Cosmetic Dentist in the Los Angeles and Beverly Hills areas.  Dr. Calvo is passionate about changing lives and increasing self-esteem in the patients she has helped serve through Smile Makeovers, Porcelain Veneers, Dental Implants and other artistic dental services. CLICK HERE: To become a member of her online community and receive her “5 Tips to a YOUTHFUL SMILE! – free special report. Click hereto view her blog for more information or become a Fan of her Facebook FanPage by Clicking Here.