Dental FAQs

You want to choose a dentist you can keep for a lifetime. Shifting from dental office to dental office may be necessary if you move to a new city. Some of the important factors to evaluate include the education, training, and experience of the dentist. If you are searching for a holistic dentist, you are one of the many people who are careful about what they put in their bodies. Various review sites can give you an overview and rating for the dentist. For example, Dr. Chow has a 5-star rating on HealthGrades – the highest rating. You should also feel comfortable with your dentist as a person. It is a long-term relationship!

Holistic dentistry is the art of dentistry practiced in a manner in which toxins that could impact whole body health are avoided. The underlying concept is that all body systems are interconnected and affect each other, including the teeth and mouth. The use of biocompatible materials, along with a focus on promoting optimal oral and dental health are part of a holistic dentistry practice. Another facet of holistic dentistry is that the least invasive, most conservative approach produces better long-term results.

If you want a brilliant, bright, white smile, an in-office whitening treatment is definitely the answer. A beautiful white smile is attractive and appealing. While there are many over-the-counter systems, from white strips to gels, our in-office procedure does the job in just an hour, with your teeth many shades brighter. Dr. Albert Chow has selected the most effective system for teeth whitening, with the added benefit of low to no sensitivity as a side effect. If you are planning to attend a party, event, or any special occasion – you won’t regret taking advantage of our advanced, in-office teeth whitening treatment. Your teeth will look picture-perfect.

It is not uncommon for patients to feel nervous, anxious, or even frightening about a dental procedure. This fear is typically the result of a negative experience in the past, whether as an adult or a child. If you have concerns about dental treatment, you may have even let your teeth get worse rather than make an appointment. We urge you to meet with us – we use modern, gentle dental techniques, and offer sedation dentistry as well as advanced, pain-free laser dentistry with no drilling or injections.

Modern dentistry is advancing, and Dr. Chow stays ahead of the curve. If you are interested in the most modern dental techniques, you will be pleased to discover that at our Thousand Oaks dental office, we offer “no injection dentistry,” or laser dentistry. This approach to dental health is virtually pain-free. You won’t hear a drill, won’t have an injection, and the sensation feels like air and cool mist. For children and adults, we invite you to experience this modern dental treatment.

You want to encourage good dental and oral habits in your children – and protect their health. At our holistic dentistry practice in Thousand Oaks, we advise parents to bring a child for the first visit at one year old. If your child has any dental issues arising prior to that age, early intervention could be important. We understand that parents have real concerns about dentistry and children. You will be happy to know that we offer pain-free laser dentistry – no shots, no drilling.

If you have concerns about toxic substances, such as mercury or other metals used in dentistry, we understand. Dr. Chow, as a holistic dentist, uses all biocompatible materials. If you are considering removing mercury fillings, it is imperative that this performed correctly. The removal of amalgam fillings can create mercury vapor without the proper technique. To avoid exposing our patients to toxins, we have a health protocol to avoid this problem. If you have concerns about mercury, Dr. Chow has established a mercury-free practice. Come to us for a safe removal of old metal fillings.

Custom veneers can completely transform your smile. Issues such as gaps, uneven teeth, chips, broken teeth, oddly-shaped teeth, or discolored teeth can all be corrected with porcelain veneers. For teeth that are slightly misaligned or rotated veneers could be a solution, rather than braces to move your teeth into position. For a brilliant, healthy, attractive smile, talk to us about custom porcelain veneers.

For patients 16 or older, Six Month Smiles could be the perfect treatment to straighten teeth. This program works more quickly than traditional braces and is appropriate for those who want a more attractive smile and do not have more serious bite issues. These clear cosmetic braces are barely noticeable to others – a strong benefit.

To be a good candidate for an implant requires enough bone in the jaw in which to place the post. For patients who lack enough bone, the problem can be resolved with another treatment. Whether you are a candidate for implants or require a bridge, you can be confident that we will create a tooth restoration will look and feel very natural.

If you believe you may have TMJ due to suffering common symptoms, which include clicking and popping sounds, headaches, migraines, dizziness, ringing in the ears, among others, you need to be examined by Dr. Chow. As a neuromuscular dentist, his skills include treating teeth, gums, and the entire jaw structure. The treatment involves a customized night guard you wear while sleeping to keep your jaw in the correct position. BOTOX injections may be appropriate for immediate relief of painful headaches due to jaw tension.