@luckypd 행운아, 피디가 되서 열심히 살고 있었구나. 언제 또 만날 기회가 있겠지? 건강 잘 챙겨라.
@luckypd 행운아, 피디가 …
May 23rd, 2010Some of the recent cases
March 17th, 2010
Full Mouth Rehab.

Front Crowns
I have to confess that a big part of my works are done with cooperation with my wonderful dental lab technicians. we’re so fortunate to have them around and make use of their excellent skills to restore the teeth to the fullest function and beauty.
Trouble thinking? Better see the dentist
November 16th, 200911/12/2009
By: Reuters Health
NEW YORK (Reuters Health), Nov. 12 - A new study hints that good oral care - regular brushing and flossing and trips to the dentist — may help aging adults keep their thinking skills intact.
In a study, researchers found that adults aged 60 and older with the highest versus the lowest levels of the gum disease-causing pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis were three times more likely to have trouble recalling a three-word sequence after a period of time.
Dr. James M. Noble of Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City and colleagues also found that adults with the highest levels of this pathogen were two times more likely to fail three-digit reverse subtraction tests.
The findings, reported in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry this month, are based on more than 2300 men and women who were tested for periodontitis and completed numerous thinking skills tests as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III conducted between 1991 and 1994. Overall 5.7 percent of the adults had trouble completing certain memory tasks and 6.5 percent failed reverse subtraction tests. Participants with the highest (greater than 119 units) versus the lowest (57 units or lower) pathogen levels were most likely to do poorly in these tests.
Research has already established a strong association between poor oral health and heart disease, stroke and diabetes, as well as Alzheimer’s disease. Gum disease could influence brain function through several mechanisms, the researchers note; for example, gum disease can cause inflammation throughout the body, a risk factor for loss of mental function.
In a related commentary, Dr. Robert Stewart, of King’s College in London, United Kingdom, says this study adds to a “quietly accumulating” body of evidence tying oral and dental health with brain function.
Copyright © 2009 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
Looking for a better job?
October 12th, 2009

The above case is one of the most recent ones. Patient came from work injury, he broke the middle front tooth and has lost the vitality on the tooth next to it possibly due to trauma. two teeth are root canaled and restored with Procera crowns with zirconia copings. all the copy rights belong to Seung H Baek, DDS and drbaek.com the image can’t be copied or reproduced without permission.
the following article is taken from agd.org and I thought many will find it intriguing. I agree on that females are more sensitive to health issues and they tend to come when problems are still in early stage compared to males that put up/ man up and seek professional help at the last minute although there’s a personal difference of course. I have a number of patients who had low self esteem or confidence due to unattractive smiles they had before they got some work done and once they get a nice smile, I see their entire life changes which in fact is priceless reward to myself as well.
An online poll of 289 general dentists and consumers confirms the traditional stereotype that men are less likely to visit the dentist than their female counterparts, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), an organization of general dentists dedicated to continuing dental education.
Why? Nearly 45 percent of respondents felt that men don’t see a need to go to the dentist, and about 30 percent of those polled reported that men may not visit the dentist because they are afraid or embarrassed to go. Almost 18 percent revealed that men just don’t have the time for a dental visit, and about 5 percent felt that men don’t even have a regular dentist.
This long-standing trend and excuse, however, may be disappearing as more men are climbing back into the dental chair – for a surprising reason.
“In my practice, more men are coming in and requesting bleaching, veneers and bonding,” says AGD spokesperson J. Nick Russo, Sr., DDS, FAGD. “Many have noticed the positive effects from a colleague’s improved smile and realize that a great smile has a lot of value in the business world.”
Dr. Russo also points to the fact that not long ago, most men worked for one or two employers throughout a lifetime and many did not think about the way their overall appearance affected their professional life.
“That’s not the reality today, with lay-offs and company closings across the board,” says Dr. Russo. “Today middle-aged men are competing for jobs with younger men, making appearance a heightened factor in their lives.”
Taking a back seat to new cosmetic concerns for men is the increased awareness of the overall health benefits of seeing a dentist biannually.
“As a dentist, I want men to come see me because they’re concerned about their health, however I’m glad to see them for whatever reason they come in,” says Dr. Russo. “Many times after men come back to the dentist they realize that proper maintenance and biannual checkups are the key to improving the way one looks and feels.”
Updated: February 2007
The prevention is the most cost effective treatment option.
September 3rd, 2009My small philosophy as a dentist is ‘minimum dentistry is the best dentistry’. And to achieve the minimum dentistry, prevention is a must. I find people come to see me at the last minute, pain is the strongest driving force making them come. but it is not smartest choice. not only because it is more damaging financially, but you need more dental/ surgical intervention accompanied with more suffering during/ after the procedure. for example, if you come every 6 month for check up, chances are I may be able to detect small cavaties in a very early stage and depending on the severity, It would be restored before it becomes onlay, crown, or even a root canal treatment.
Most PPO insurances provide full coverage for regular check ups and regular cleanings. if you don’t use the insurance benefit this year you may end up losing yearly benefit as most of them don’t roll over. I can’t believe the year end is just around the corner again. call your dentist today and make a preventive appointment before you get bigger problems. our number is 714-736-0100. tell Tom you found us online.

Stop Smoking
July 27th, 2009one of the most frequent questions that I get from my patients since I became a dentist is if they have to stop smoking. and my answer is always YES. there are many reasons why you should stop smoking than not. the followings are just a few of those.
- Improve my personal appearance by eliminating such things as stained teeth and fingers, bad breath, coughing, and smoking odor on clothes. Prevent wrinkles and keep my skin nice.
- Regain my sense of taste and smell, feel more energized and active, sleep better, and eliminate ‘hairy tongue’ and ’smokers cough’ or wheezing.
- Regain control of my behavior, gaining a sense of freedom, and owning myself again.
- Reduce health risks, such as the risk of heart disease, cancer, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. I do not want a heart attack or to have problems breathing.
- Reduce risk to unborn children and provide a healthy environment for children and others living with me.
- Save money.
- Increase productivity by regaining the time I now spend maintaining my smoking habit.
- Avoid possible injury or upset to others by such things as smoking in restaurants or dropping ashes on them.

Cleaning your teeth and gums
July 13th, 2009The ADA recommends the following for good oral hygiene:
Brush your teeth twice a day with an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste. Clean between teeth daily with floss or an interdental cleaner. Decay–causing bacteria still linger between teeth where toothbrush bristles can’t reach. Flossing removes plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line. Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks. Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral exams.
Replace your toothbrush every three or four months , or sooner if the bristles become frayed. A worn toothbrush will not do a good job of cleaning your teeth. Children’s toothbrushes often need replacing more frequently than adults because they can wear out sooner.
How do I brush my teeth?
- Place your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against the gums.
- Move the brush back and forth gently in short (tooth-wide) strokes.
- Brush the outer tooth surfaces, the inner tooth surfaces, and the chewing surfaces of the teeth.
- Use the “toe” of the brush to clean the inside surfaces of the front teeth, using a gentle up-and-down stroke.
- Brush your tongue to remove bacteria and freshen your breath.
How do I floss my teeth?
- Break off about 18 inches of floss and wind most of it around one of your middle fingers. Wind the remaining floss around the same finger of the opposite hand. This finger will take up the floss as it becomes dirty. Hold the floss tightly between your thumbs and forefingers.
- Guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Never snap the floss into the gums.
- When the floss reaches the gum line, curve it into a C shape against one tooth. Gently slide it into the space between the gum and the tooth.
- Hold the floss tightly against the tooth. Gently rub the side of the tooth, moving the floss away from the gum with up and down motions.
- Repeat this method on the rest of your teeth.
- Don’t forget the back side of your last tooth.

Buena Park
July 12th, 2009Buena Park is a city located in northwestern Orange County, California. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 78,282. The city is located adjacent to the city of Anaheim and is located 12 miles (20 km) northwest of downtown Santa Ana. The Current OMB metropolitan designation for Buena Park and the Orange County Area is “Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA.” Buena Park is home to several tourist attractions, most notably Knott’s Berry Farm (quoted from wikipedia.com) and to my knowledge, Buena Park is where James Jannard first started the famous Oakley, Inc.

Interview with Patient, Zoom Experience
June 26th, 2009An interview with our real patient, Sunny H. She is a mom of 3 month old daughter and she works full time at government agency.
1. How did you hear about the Zoom and what was your preconception about the Zoom?
I heard about the Zoom through my brother when he had it done before me. He recommended the Zoom treatment because it was fast and convenient. My preconception of this treatment was that I would have to endure considerable amount of pain, but it wasn’t that bad.
2. How do you like the result and what is the best and worst part of the result?
I really like the fact that my teeth are back to white and look really presentable to others. I can’t really find worst part of this procedure as of now.
3. How long was your procedure and did you have any pain or discomfort during the procedure? The procedure consisted of four fifteen minute sessions. First two sessions were painless. I felt a slight pain on my lower teeth during third and fourth sessions.
4. We provided massage on our dental chair and soothing music during the session, how did they help you or would it be better if you brought your own music? I really enjoyed the overall environment provided by the office. Music was great and the chair was awesome!! I slept like a baby during the first thirty minutes of the treatment.
5. Did people notice the difference in color of your teeth? What was people’s response? My husband really liked the new color of my teeth. He said it was beautiful. I also got lot of good comments from other people as well.
6. Would you like to recommend the Zoom to your family or friend? If you would, who would be the first person that you recommend the Zoom to? I would recommend the Zoom to other people because it was a good experience for me. I would especially recommend the Zoom to my husband because his teeth look like as if corns are stuck on it (joke about the husband part).
7. When you look at other people’s face, how important is the color of their teeth in terms of the impression? Really important because a smile with white teeth are pleasant to look at.

Retreatment of Root Canal
June 24th, 2009Why do I need another endodontic procedure? As occasionally happens with any dental or medical procedure, a tooth may not heal as expected after initial treatment for a variety of reasons:
Narrow or curved canals were not treated during the initial procedure. Complicated canal anatomy went undetected in the first procedure. The placement of the crown or other restoration was delayed following the endodontic treatment. The restoration did not prevent salivary contamination to the inside of the tooth. In other cases, a new problem can jeopardize a tooth that was successfully treated.
For example:
New decay can expose the root canal filling material to bacteria, causing a new infection in the tooth. A loose, cracked or broken crown or filling can expose the tooth to new infection. A tooth sustains a fracture
<the above quoted from AAE.org>
The following case x rays are of Seung H Baek, DDS, Inc. and can’t be copied or reproduced without permission. they were initially treated by previous doctors and came with complications, final x rays show healing after the retreatment from Dr. Baek.


