Aesthetic dentistry: helping patients achieve their ultimate smile.

Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.

--Thich Nhat Hanh

More and more American people I meet across the United States continue to want to enhance and whiten their smiles, whether it occur in the dental office using laser or non-laser procedures or at home with tray bleaching, whitening strips or paint-on gel applications. Having that beautiful white, healthy smile is still something many of us want to achieve year after year.

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Our November issue of Access focuses on the excitement of aesthetic dentistry and the important therapies that can be conducted with patients in many dental offices across the country. I interviewed Larry Rosenthal, DDS, PC, and Michael Apa, DDS, and the dental hygienist in their practice, Barbara Zangrilli, RDH (who is our cover dental hygienist for this issue); David Little, DDS, and the two dental hygienists in his practice, Kathy Danko, RDH, and Carla Green, RDH; and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry's president, Mickey Bernstein, DDS, to learn what they provide patients who are seeking that beautiful smile and how other practices can continue to optimize their choices to offer their patients more aesthetic treatments and how the dental hygienist plays an important role in the aesthetic dentistry process.

Clinical Features--Veneers and Laminates and Kidney Dialysis and Transplant Patients

We have two interesting clinical feature articles for you to read. Katherine Russell, RDH, MS, authors the article on dental veneers that provides an overview of porcelain and composite veneers, helping patients choose veneers or whitening procedures and the important role the dental hygienist plays in the office caring for patients with dental veneers. Kathy Dockter, RDH, MS, and Kirstin McCarville, DDS, write about the management of kidney dialysis patients and provide a case study.

November's Columns!

"Strive--The Student View"--Ever think about Coenzyme QIO as a potential treatment for periodontal therapy? Well, new graduates Kristina Pavone, RDH, and Paula Nguyen, RDH, discuss the important benefits this nutritional supplement provides in terms of improvement in periodontal therapy.

"SuccessTrack"--Deborah Dopson Hartley, RDH, writes about the tips for saving time in dental hygiene practice.

"Risk Management"--Lisa Vaughn, RDH, BS, MSA, and Linda Harvey, RDH, MS, discuss the risk management protocol for reviewing the informed consent form.

"Accessing Life"--Learn about Carol Lee's, RDH, passion for tai chi.

"Product Focus"--Check out the information on at home whitening products in this month's product focus.

"Profile"--Get to know Angie Stone, RDH, BS,who shares her love of dental hygiene, her commitment to ensuring oral health care for dependent adults and her views on the importance of mentoring.

On a personal note, in this month's editorial picture, I was very excited to receive my certification as a dental editor through the American Association of Dental Editors' meeting in San Antonio, Texas, last month. It was a wonderful honor to receive!

Our Access team wishes you and your family a healthy and happy Thanksgiving holiday. We must count our many blessings and be grateful for the wonderful things we have in our lives.

Best wishes for a wonderful holiday,

Christine Hovliaras Delozier, RDH, BS, MBA, CDE

Editor-in-Chief, Access

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