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ESTHETIC PROFESSIONALS FASHION BEAUTIFUL SMILES
By Kathy Highcove
Dental patients can bid farewell to long sessions of drill and fill in the dental chair. Modern dentistry is increasingly streamlined, pain free, and enhanced by modern technology. Thanks to improvements in dental instruments, appliances and prostheses, dental patients smile more brightly these days.
Dentists must commit to lifelong education. To stay current with new dentistry skills and technological information, modern dentists and their dental assistants regularly update their skills. Dentistry, like any medical profession, requires skilled hands-on procedures on a patient who might be anxious. A dental patient expects - and trusts the dentist and his staff - to feel safe and secure during a sensitive procedure.
Dentists and dental technicians in the Los Angeles area need regular workshops close to their community and place of business. Where to find a clean well-equipped site to practice and learn those new skills and work with new equipment and materials?
Answer: Esthetic Professionals on the corner of Tampa and Ventura in Tarzana at 18981 Ventura. A three story building houses a state-of-the-art center for continuing dental education, a full commercial laboratory, private dental suites for lease, and the private practices of Drs. Bruce and Kristi Crispin.
"Centers like Esthetic Prof-essionals offer the most modern equipment in their workshops. Most private dentists couldn't justify the expense of installing all those high tech machines in one office, but at the center dentists are able to practice and learn the latest methods." Dr. Robert Solow DDS (Woodland Hills, CA)
Since 1997, Esthetic Prof-essionals has offered its services to dental practitioners and the public in need of affordable dental procedures. This is "Dentistry's Best Kept Secret" for people who are looking for discount dentistry in the community. The business has grown from a small office with two employees to a three story dental center of multifaceted design and purpose. Drs. Bruce Crispin and daughter Kristi Crispin own the facility and guide its many programs of education and hands-on training. Dr. Kristi Crispin, a graduate of Tufts University of Dental Practice in Boston, specializes in cosmetic, reconstruction and implant dentistry. Dr. Bruce Crispin, a Professor Emeritus at UCLA for 23 years, is a 30 year practitioner of prosthodontics. The Crispin's have provided the community a multi-faceted hub of dental knowledge. The different departments mesh and function together as smoothly as a high tech machine.
"I like things to fit," said Dr. Bruce Crispin. "And in this building, our programs and technological features neatly fit together for a common purpose: to train better dentists. All our parts - dental stations, laboratories, lecture halls, high tech equipment - all fit together to produce a first class program that produces better dentistry in our community. I'm first, last and always an educator. Education is my basic mission here at Esthetic Professionals."
The dental stations are not only efficient and totally equipped, they're...esthetically pleasing. All rooms reflect the high tech focus of the center. Whether a classroom, a laboratory, or site for filming the latest procedures, the environment may be high tech and clinical in nature, but the aura is quiet competence.
Esthetic Professionals offers a full range of dental courses much appreciated by participating dentist/students:
"After practicing over 20 years you think you know enough to get by but this program is a residency program for one year with one of the best Prosthodontists in the country (Dr. Crispin) and his team of certified cosmetic dentists from the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. One of the things I liked about the program is the hands on sessions in their high tech clinics. They even supplied the patients for those who did not have that certain requirement procedure."
Dr. Jorge Montez DDS (North Hollywood, CA)
There are 20 operatories used for hands-on clinical training programs. Many patients are recruited by the center and may expect hefty discounts on dental work. Esthetic Professionals Dental Education Center is still in need of patients for the upcoming school year, starting September 26th, that are in need of extensive dental care.
Exclusive Dental Suites is a division of Esthetic Professionals where general dentists or specialists can lease a portion of the facility to open their own practice or second location. This is a unique dental community that has experience assisting dentists to grow their patient base into a profitable practice.
The Crispin father and daughter constantly consider ways to improve their facility. They hire lecturers for not only the new dental techniques, but also experts on the latest procedures, photography, imagery, marketing, and physical set ups of the work stations and offices.
They soon plan to initiate a program to train assistants. "Often the first person to meet the patient is an x-ray technician or a hygienist. They need to properly care for the dental patient before the dentist starts his work," observed Dr. Crispin.
Dr. Kristi Crispin enthused about Esthetic Professionals: "We are excited as a business and as a family about our 10 year anniversary! We have a successful business that can help other dentists to also be successful!" And a more skilled dentist means better dentistry for his patients. A nice fit all around.
Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles Performs First Makoplasty® Partial Knee Replacement Surgery
By Staff Writer
Westminster Ice Arena special events director and professional ice skater Sandy Lansdale fell in love with ice skating when she was only 6 years old. She liked the feeling of being able to glide on ice. As an active child, she did gymnastics, dance, cheerleading and of course, ice skating. As an adult, she became a professional ice skater, skating with Ice Capades and Holiday on Ice. In addition, she coached and taught kids, anywhere from 3 years old and up, the beauty of ice skating.
Then her life suddenly changed. She became one of the estimated 46 million adults in the U.S with Arthritis. It crippled her left knee. Last year at the age of 54, she had to put away the ice skates and settle into a life of pain until she met Lawrence Dorr, M.D., orthopedic surgeon at Good Samaritan Hospital who performed the first MAKOplasty® partial knee replacement surgery in Los Angeles County.
The MAKOplasty® surgical procedure was developed for patients who suffer from osteoarthritis damage in the inner portion of the knee and uses a robotic arm system that provides the surgeon a "virtual" view of inside the knee joint. The system allows the surgeon to map out the area of the bone to be resurfaced and the specific spot on the bone where the implant will be placed for best results. The procedure is so precise that only the diseased portion of the bone is removed leaving the healthy bone and tissue untouched. The implant is then secured in the knee joint allowing the knee to move smoothly and securely.
On July 23, 2008 Sandy was the first in Los Angeles County to undergo the procedure. "Depending on how I feel [after surgery] I might go back [to skating]," said Lansdale. "My daughter would like to see me on the ice and not have the pain."
For more information on the Makoplasty® Partial Knee Resurfacing procedure contact 1-800-GS-CARES.
First opened in 1885, Good Samaritan Hospital is a 408-bed tertiary care facility offering some of the most comprehensive care in Los Angeles. Good Samaritan Hospital offers Cardiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery services, Neurosciences program featuring the Gamma Knife radiosurgery, Opthalmologic Program including Retinal Surgery, Orthopedic Surgical Program including Sports Medicine, Oncology Program using the latest in radiation therapy - IMRT and HDR, Kidney Stone services, Transfusion-Free Med-icine and Surgery Center, and Emergency Services. For more information visit: www.goodsam.org.