Dr. Partovy, your Marina Del Rey and Tarzana Lumineers provider

Are your teeth chipped or stained? Would you like to improve your smile permanently, without any painful processes? Dr. Ray Partovy is pleased to offer Lumineers as an alternative to traditional porcelain veneers.

Lumineers are available through experienced cosmetic dentist Dr. Partovy, who has been creating beautiful natural looking smiles for patients in Marina Del Rey, Tarzana and surrounding communities for years. Veneers provide a way to conceal stains, chips, discoloration and misaligned teeth, by covering your actual teeth with a permanent layer of tooth-colored material. Because Lumineers are as thin as contact lenses, their application requires little to no tooth reduction, and no anesthetic is necessary.

Lumineers are bonded to your teeth and set in place by Dr. Partovy with a curing light. Because the process is less invasive than with traditional veneers, Lumineers patients under Dr. Partovy's care find that they immediately enjoy their new smiles without any post-procedure discomfort or sensitivity.

Take control of your smile and give us a call to ask whether Lumineers are a good choice for you.

Wishing you a safe and happy St. Patrick's Day, from our team at Ray Partovy DDS

Dr. Partovy wants to know: Did you remember to wear green when you stepped out the door this morning? Whether Irish or not, millions of people in the U.S. and around the world celebrate St. Patrick's Day with toasts, parades and "the wearing of the green." Here are some fun facts about St. Patty’s Day Drs. Partovy and Baum know you will enjoy:

• St. Patrick’s Day is observed on March 17th because that is the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is also a worldwide celebration of Irish culture and history.

• The name “leprechaun” has several origins. It could be from the Irish Gaelic word “leipreachan,” which means “a kind of aqueous sprite.” Or, it could be from “leath bhrogan,” which simply means “shoemaker.”

• Some American towns have Irish names. They include: Shamrock Lakes, Indiana; Shamrock, Oklahoma; Shamrock, Texas; Dublin, California and Dublin, Ohio and Mount Gay-Shamrock, West Virginia.

• Despite what you may have heard, St. Patrick never banished snakes from Ireland. In fact, no snakes exist or ever existed in Ireland. Ireland is surrounded by icy ocean waters, much too cold to allow snakes to migrate from Britain or anywhere else.

• St. Patrick's Day was first celebrated in Boston, in 1737. Approximately 34 million Americans claim Irish ancestry. That’s almost nine times the population of Ireland, which has 4.1 million people.

5 tips to avoid plaque, from Dr. Partovy

Dr. Ray Partovy knows nobody likes getting plaque on their teeth, much less hearing the word 'plaque.' Here are five other ways you can avoid that dreaded enemy of the teeth, courtesy of our friends at WebMD.

Let’s start with not brushing regularly. Brushing your teeth twice a day with a fluoride-containing toothpaste is vital to a healthy mouth. Make sure you softly brush all the surfaces of your teeth.

Next on the list is not flossing daily: a simple daily flossing between teeth clears away plaque before it can cause damage and can also clean plaque at the gum line. Plaque is known to reach the spaces between teeth.

Also, avoiding a trip to visit Dr. Partovy's office is probably not a great idea. Let’s say you brush and floss daily. You’re still at risk for plaque. With time, the plaque hardens and turns into tartar. Consider visiting your dentist at least twice a year, and you have a lower chance of getting cavities or losing your teeth.

You’ll also want to stop avoiding those fruits and veggies. Believe it or not, there are foods out there that play a key role in keeping plaque off our teeth. They include apples, carrots, cucumbers and other raw fruits and vegetables. You can still eat these types of fruits and veggies if you have braces, but be sure to cut them up into bite sized pieces to avoid breaking off brackets.

Finally, before you pick that candy up, remember to not give in to your sweet tooth. Consuming sugary drinks or eating candy or other junk food allows sugar to stick to our teeth. The bacteria, then, becomes plaque, which turns into acid and damages our teeth. Avoiding these five bad habits keeps your plaque in check and your mouth as healthy as can be. If you have any questions, please give us a call or schedule an appointment!

March is National Nutrition Month! From Dr. Partovy

Remember February, which was also known as American Heart Month? Well, March has arrived, and that can only mean one thing: it's National Nutrition Month®. Every March, Dr. Ray Partovy and thousands of dentists and hygienists celebrate National Nutrition Month. This March, Dr. Partovy and our team want you to think diabetes, obesity and periodontal disease, and how healthful eating and physical activity may improve periodontal health.

Small changes really can make a big difference, and the American Dietetic Association (ADA) has some advice on ways to start improving your diet:

• Focus on fruits and veggies: Add a serving each day to one meal and increase it every few weeks. Adding more of these foods into your diet is important whether you buy frozen, fresh or organic.

• Look locally: From farmer’s markets to community-supported agriculture, you have many options to find new, fresh foods in your area.

• Make calories count: When you are choosing between options, focus instead on the one with more of the vitamins and nutrients that you need. Sometimes, foods with fewer calories aren’t always the healthiest options.

• Test your taste buds: Expand your horizons. Try a fish you’ve never eaten before or find a new vegetable recipe. By testing yourself, you might find new health favorites to add to your regular grocery list.

• Trick yourself with treats: If you have a sweet tooth, have fruit and yogurt for dessert. If you want a snack in the afternoon, have some trail mix or nuts.

We hope this helps! Give Dr. Partovy a call if you have any questions!

Dr. Ray Partovy, supporting American Heart Month

Since February is Heart Month, Dr. Partovy wanted to let you know about the importance of oral health and its connection to your heart's health! Cardiovascular disease remains American's number one killer, according to the American Heart Association. Studies have shown a correlation between gum disease and heart disease, underscoring the importance of good oral health care.

Visiting the office of Dr. Ray Partovy on a regular basis can help prevent gum disease or at least catch it in its early stages. And because people with dental insurance are more likely to visit their dentist when they should, a healthy mouth begins with a visit to our office. In observance of Heart Month, Dr. Partovy says it’s also important to know your numbers: blood pressure (less than 120/80), cholesterol (less than 200) and BMI (less than 25). If you have any questions about heart health, or about your treatment with Dr. Partovy, please give us a call today.

Dr. Partovy featured in Invisalign video!

Check out this cool and interesting video about Invisalign and what patients can expect from the treatment. Notice anyone in particular? That's right! Dr. Partovy himself!

Did you know Dr. Partovy was Marina Del Rey's premier Invisalign provider in 2009? If you have been thinking about Invisalign treatment, please give us a call!

Enjoy the rest of your week!

Dr. Partovy wants to know: What do you love about our community?

The office of Ray Partovy, located in Marina Del Rey and Tarzana and serving surrounding communities, is situated around some pretty special neighborhoods here in L.A. County. Each is unique with its own personality, created by the people and places (and our valued patients) living within.

Today, Dr. Partovy and our team thought we'd ask: What are your favorite things about our community and southern California? Is there a local event you attend every year? Do you have a favorite eatery? Perhaps a favorite California getaway? Do you love the relatively nice weather we get year-round?

Please feel free to share some information about your favorite local hang-outs in Marine Del Rey and Tarzana, and everything you love best about “your neck of the woods.” And, who knows, Dr. Partovy and team just might post your response on our social networks!