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Dr. Suzman's Credentials

Dr. Suzman has been in practice since 1990 after graduating from the following dental schools:

• U.S.C. School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, CA Degree: D.D.S. (Graduated with honors)
• UCLA School of Dentistry, Los Angeles, CA Dental Refresher Program
• Univ. of Witwatersrand (WITS) School of Dentistry, Johannesburg, S.A. Degree: B.D.S.
• Numerous courses in the latest techniques and materials for cosmetic and general dentistry.

"A Master in the Art of Living draws no sharp distinction between his work and his play; his labor and his leisure; his mind and his body; his education and his recreation. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing, and leaves others to determine whether he is working or playing. To himself, he always appears to be doing both".

Francoise Rene Auguste Chateaubriand.
French writer and statesman
(1768 - 1848)

Message from Dr. Suzman

I have been meaning to write this for a long time and for my existing patients you probably already know this about me. Some of these comments are blatant and might be offensive to my colleagues, but please keep in mind that I am generalizing and this is merely my opinion based on 16 years of dental practice.

To my disappointment, the practice of Dentistry has become a big business rather than a health care profession, with the selling of unnecessary procedures to unsuspecting patients in exchange for financial gain. Every week I am giving second opinions to patients who have been grossly over-diagnosed not to mention the scare tactics used to push patients to make appointments immediately for unnecessary dental work. And to make matters worse, I see a good percentage of this unnecessary work being done at a sub-standard level.

I believe in treating all patients the way I would want to be treated. I have your dental health at heart. I practice honestly and abide by the Hippocratic Oath of do no harm. I am only interested in doing what is dentally needed to the best of my ability. I have seen the so called famous ‘dentist to the stars’ dentistry and it’s no better. I will merely inform you of the procedures I feel you need in order to maintain optimum oral health and it’s your decision whether to proceed.

I consider myself a conservative dentist with a philosophy on early intervention of dental work that is needed. Early intervention allows the dentist to conserve tooth structure. Preservation of tooth structure is the key to keeping your teeth for a long time. I believe the dentist of the future will be one that does less and not more. When I see a patient who has been seeing a dentist every 6 months and they have almost every tooth capped (crowned), I regard this as a failure.

I don’t recommend the removal of amalgam fillings unless it is absolutely necessary. To date, there is no material available which has such long term success as amalgam. I believe dentists who recommend the unnecessary removal are providing a disservice to their patients. These alternative ‘white fillings’ wear and leak more than amalgam fillings and should not be used to replace very large silver fillings especially in the back teeth. There are other more durable materials available but these as expected are not covered by most insurance companies.

I do not accept HMO insurance. The method of practicing in a HMO environment encourages dentists not to do required maintenance such as cleanings and fillings, but rather sell unnecessary dental services like gum therapies and caps in order to make up for the financial loss. Because dentists lose money by seeing HMO patients, they don’t want to see them and that’s why it takes months to get an appointment.

I will do my best to see you at your appointed time and respectfully request that you come to your appointment on time and give us at least 24 hours notice if for any reason you are unable to attend.

I will only recommend what you truly need to have done and guarantee my highest standards. If you are looking for a dental bargain or are leaving your dentist you trust to find one that will save you a few dollars, please look elsewhere.

Change your dentist if:

• They are too cheap to give you a new toothbrush when attending your recall hygiene appointment (tooth cleaning).
• The hygienist doesn’t inform you that you need to clean your tongue daily with a tongue scraper.
• They don’t offer you dental implants as the best choice to close a space for a missing tooth.
• They say you have many cracks in your teeth and they all need crowns (caps) or ALL the old silver fillings are leaking, cracked and decay and need to be replaced.
• If you have persistent sensitive teeth and they tell you to brush with Sensodyne only.
• They don’t offer you teeth whitening.
• If you feel pressured into doing supposedly urgent dental work.
• You feel uncomfortable for any reason (follow your instinct). Please also read what you should know before you visit the dentist …..
  http://www.nicedentist.com/InformationRequest/InfoRequest.htm

Staff

We have recently expanded our office, grown our team of dedicated and skilled individuals and added state-of-the-art digital x-ray equipment. The upgrades to our office, as well as our expanded staff give us the ability to provide greater flexibility to schedule an appointment time that is most convenient for you. We currently have a well trained professional staff of eight. Maria and Monica will answer all your questions, make appointments and process your insurance claims. Roxanne, Rachel and Staci will make sure that your teeth are always sparkling and clean, while Sarah, Fay, Josie and Dr. Suzman will see to it that you receive the highest standard of dental care. Doctor Ravon will take care of all your periodontal (gum) and implant needs while any endodontic (root canal) concerns will be handled by Dr. Angelidis

All of our hygienists are outstanding and your oral health is their priority. Dr. Suzman is proud to have Roxanne, Staci and Rachael working together as a team to ensure we maintain an optimum level of care. The extensive research directly linking poor oral health and systemic disease is overwhelming. By attending regular continuing educational courses allows our hygienists to provide you with the latest periodontal(gum) therapies to minimize these risks

Rachael

Rachael is a proud graduate of Cerritos College Dental Hygiene Program. She is originally from England but has spent more than half her life living here in Southern California. Rachael’s aspiration to become a dental hygienist began in high school while taking a Regional Occupational Program class for dental assisting. She was a dental assistant for 7 years prior to beginning her dental hygiene career and obtained her Registered Dental Assisting license during that time. After working some time as a dental assistant, she knew through her passion for dentistry and patient care that she wanted to further her career as a dental hygienist. Rachael graduated with highest honors and highly believes in lifetime learning through continuing education. She is very passionate about her career and educating patients with a caring and gentle touch. Not only does Rachael love dental hygiene, but she also enjoys hiking, rock climbing, mountaineering and cycling. Rachel is available Monday - Thursday.

Roxanne

Roxanne graduated from West Los Angeles College in 1985. She later attended the U.C.L.A. dental clinic and the V.A. Wadsworth Hospital to master her profession. Roxanne has had the pleasure of working with Dr. Suzman for over ten years. She feels very passionate about treating patients with care and compassion. She uses conservative approaches such as placing Arestin antibacterial medicine for periodontal patients and recommending homecare products to help achieve optimal dental health. Roxanne continually attends seminars to keep up to date with the latest advancements in dental hygiene. In her spare time, Roxanne enjoys traveling and raising her two teenagers. She looks forward to treating patients at Stonecreek Dentistry with personal care and is currently available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

Staci

Staci graduated from Pasadena City College with an Associate of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene, and has been a Registered Dental Hygienist since 2005. As an active member of the American Dental Hygiene Association, Staci actively furthers her education by attending the latest seminars in periodontal therapy. Staci's approach is simple: To treat with compassion and a gentle touch while proactively achieving optimal dental health. She enjoys treating a wide variety of patients with specialized dental needs such as pediatrics, geriatrics, special needs patients, and those who suffer from dental anxiety. Staci has had the pleasure of working with Dr. Suzman since 2005 and plans on practicing as a clinician for many years to come. In her spare time, Staci enjoys boating and outdoor sports with her family and friends. She has recently taken up running and is looking forward to completing her first marathon.Staci works on Monday and Wednesday.

Our Office

Stonecreek Dentistry Office Hours

We have a flexible office schedule for the convenience of all of our patients.

To make your dental care efficient and effective, our friendly staff will inquire about your dental needs when you call our office. This information will help us to schedule your appointment. Our patient information and records are always confidential.

Technology

KODAK 9000 3D Extraoral Imaging System

Dr. Suzman now has the KODAK 9000 3D Extraoral Imaging System. This new technology gives our practice the ability to take powerful 3D images, while using less radiation. The unit captures high-quality pictures and allows our practice to perform a wider range of diagnoses and treatments in the office, helping reduce multiple visits and rescheduling, saving our patients time and money.

Three-dimensional technology allows Dr. Suzman to better visualize the dentition, without having to send patients to a lab for radiology scans. Viewing an unprecedented level of anatomical detail helps Dr. Suzman diagnose more accurately and treat with confidence. The capabilities of 3D imaging offer a wide range of diagnostic possibilities such as implant placement, extractions, examination of oral pathologies, root fractures, and third molar evaluations. This breakthrough technology provides unprecedented x-ray views of the oral cavity.

Periapical and panoramic radiography have been augmented by the recent introduction of high-resolution cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), allowing 3D assessment of third molars, tooth extraction, surgical planning, oral pathologies, fractures, and implant placement. Because the 9000 system focuses only on the area in need of diagnosis, the amount of radiation exposure is significantly reduced, delivering 10-30 times less exposure than other dental radiography systems.

Intra-Oral Camera

The intra-oral camera broadcasts images of your teeth instantaneously to a computer screen so that both the patient and doctor can review your oral health together. This wonderful technology allows you to relax in your chair while simultaneously visually observing the inside of your mouth magnified beyond normal size on an adjacent computer monitor. This allows you to make an informed decision of what path of treatment would be best for you.

DIAGNOdent

Diagnodent is a laser that scans the teeth with harmless pulses of light to measure the density of the tooth. The Diagnodent greatly enhances our diagnostic ability by directly pinpointing the very beginnings of tooth decay. By detecting cavities early on when they are small saves you time, money and pain, while allowing you to keep as much of your natural, healthy tooth as possible.

ZOOM! Advanced Power Whitening

In two hours ZOOM! can transform your stained, discolored smile to one that can be up to 7 shades whiter. The advanced Power Whitening Light is the 3rd generation of Zoom lights. Once you are settled into a comfortable chair a high-powered hydrogen-peroxide gel is applied to your teeth. Then a special blue light activates the whitening agent. In about 2 hours, the treatment is over, your smile is whiter, and you look years younger.

Digital X-rays

Digital radiography (digital x-ray) is the latest technology used to take dental x-rays. This technique uses an electronic sensor (instead of x-ray film) that captures and stores the digital image on a computer. This image can be instantly viewed and enlarged helping the dentist and dental hygienist detect problems easier. Digital x-rays reduce radiation 50-90% compared to traditional dental x-rays. Your digital x-rays can be viewed online, emailed or stored electronically.

Velscope

Coming Soon! The Velscope System is a revolutionary hand-held device that enables the early detection of oral cancer. Velscope is the only adjunctive device cleared by the FDA to help discover oral mucosal lesions that might not be apparent or visible to the naked eye.

Oral CDx Brush Test

OralCDx allows for early cancer detection through a simple and painless BrushTestTM that uses a scientifically proven methodology to test common oral spots. This new strategy is making a difference. Thousands of dysplasias, pre-cancers and cancers have now been detected using the OralCDx BrushTestTM. Lives have been saved, thanks to the early detection ability of the BrushTestTM and the dentists who are using the test.

ViziLite Plus

Oral cancer is one of the most curable diseases when it's caught early. That's why the ViziLite Plus exam has been developed. ViziLite Plus uses technology that has proven successful in identifying soft tissue abnormalities in other areas of the body. A ViziLite Plus exam is particularly important if you are at increased risk for developing oral cancer.

The ViziLite Plus exam can help your dentist or hygienist identify abnormal tissue, that might develop into oral cancer.

An annual ViziLite Plus exam, in combination with a regular visual examination, provides a comprehensive oral screening procedure for patients at increased risk for oral cancer. The ViziLite Plus exam is painless and fast, and could help save your life.

Featured on ABC’s Good Morning America
ViziLite Homepage

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HIPPA Policy

Our Promise of Privacy and Consent to Patient Records (HIPPA)
Our office is fully committed to compliance with the HIPPA guidelines by:

• Providing appropriate security for our patient records.
• Protecting the privacy of our patient’s information.
• Providing our patients with proper access to their records.
• Appropriately maintaining our patient information and billing processes in compliance with national Hippa standards.

If you ever have any questions or concerns about your services or charges, we encourage to call our office (949.552.6334)

Directions

Please take a look at the map below to get a general sense of where our office is located. If you want specific directions please feel free to call us at (949) 552-6334, or click on the map for driving directions.