The Smile Is The Window To The Soul: Final Installment

As a cosmetic dentist, we go to work each day cognizant of our philosophy. Colleagues remind each other that it is appropriate to dig deeper, to question standard practices, to pull back the layers of our profession and look at the truths we reveal. Maybe that makes us mavericks, but we don’t necessarily see it that way.

What we see is people coming through our doors. Some of those people have something locked inside that hasn’t quite found a way out. We have the power to help bring it out.

Brightly, soulfully, vividly, truthfully, we help bring it out.

This is why Creating Beautiful Smiles everyday is my Passion! I truly believe that the Smile is the Window to the Soul. And I love helping people bring out their soul with a beautiful smile.

The Smile Is the Window To The Soul: Part 3


My philosophy has developed from my education and training in the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

The Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry’s stand: We, as a dentist, must think twice before erecting a new smile without regard for the human being to whom that smile belongs. The disconnected, disembodied smile is the result of an approach neither safe nor esthetically responsible. Just as a home renovation must take into account the home’s origins and intentions, a smile renovation must be based on something deeper than a set of rigid right angles and the most garish shade of white available through modern cosmetic technology.

Be esthetically responsible! For us, the learning and exploring of our field has never stopped, and it’s led us to believe that responsible esthetics means dealing in a beauty that’s deeper than skin-deep. It means striving for a smile that connects. Resonates. Rings like a bell.

Part 2 continued from May 9, 2010...

Now, that sounds a little intense—after all, it’s just a smile, but that’s only because we take the smile seriously. It is, after all, our business. We are dentists, and passionate ones at that; the smile is our field of expertise, our chosen avocation, our life’s work. We think about it. We analyze it. We consider its personal, social, and ethical implications.

And we defend it. We defend the true smile against the fake smile. The fake smile is a fearful thing, roughly as warm as fluorescent lighting and about as believable as a politician. Faintly ominous, entirely unnatural, and more like a sensory assault than a show of confidence.

Needless to say, that’s not our thing.

The smile is the window to the soul: Part I

Recently I attended the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry session in Dallas, Texas. We have a new logo and more important, we have a new statement about what we do. “We have the Power to help bring it out.” Brightly, soulfully, vividly, truthfully, we help bring it out.” Of course we are talking about Beautiful Smiles.

Ever heard someone say the eyes are the window to the soul?

Well, maybe it’s because we are dentists, but we beg to differ. Nothing against eyes, but if you really want a glimpse into someone’s soul, it’s their smile you should be looking for.

Yes, their smile. Not an anatomical part, per se, but a moment—an expression. A smile is a brief pulling apart of the clouds, a clearance through which light and levity, humor and humility, kindness and compassion may all simultaneously pass. It’s a complex cocktail of personality distilled into one fleeting instant when defenses fall and guards drop and the truth of a person is laid bare for all to witness.

To be continued…

Where is my crown from? Does my dental crown have lead in it?



You may have heard recent news reports about lead in dental crowns made in Chinese labs. Who knew? Who would have thought, right? Most Americans have probably never given any thought to where their dental restorations are being made. Most probably assumed they were made here. And, historically that has been true.

The new global economy is changing everything, and that includes the dental profession... or SOME of the dental profession. Cheap overseas labor and shrinking profit margins have forced some dentists to outsource their lab work to foreign labs. These dentists are typically those who participate in low-fee "managed care" insurance programs such as HMOs or DMOs. When a dentist signs a contract with these plans, he or she must agree to the insurance company's fee schedule, which is typically 50% or even LESS than their normal fees. Ultimately, to remain in business, corners MUST be cut if you're reducing your fees by 50% or more. One way to lower expenses is by sending lab work to China where the costs are pennies on the dollar compared to American labs.

The potential problem is quality control. At least in the U.S. there is accountability. If a lab used contaminated or poisonous materials, there would be significant liability. If a lab in China does it, what is the American consumer to do? What recourse can we have with a lab 7,000 miles away? Is there some regulatory body in China whose purpose is to protect American consumers? Of course not. In the U.S., the materials used by dental labs in making dental restorations must meet very strict quality standards.

Here's the bottom line: Ask your dentist where your dental restorations are being made. And, remember the saying, “The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price has faded from memory.” And, in the case of lead-contaminated dental crowns, that poor quality may have negative effects on your health. There are certain things for which you shouldn't shop for the lowest price.

At Jeanette Kern DDS, our dental crowns are made only in U.S. labs. Only certified, high-quality materials are used. Jeanette Kern DDS is located in Monterey, California. We can be reached at 831-372-8011, or visit our website at: http://www.jkerndds.com.

As Spring begins, you may be reflecting on your health and how you are feeling. While your thoughts turn to being healthy, all too often, people fail to follow through with their resolutions once a busy and hectic life begins to get in the way.Perhaps the best way to ensure success is to commit to an attainable goal that has concrete meaning in your life. A perfect example would be a resolution to focus on maintaining proper dental health. Besides the obvious benefit of ensuring healthy teeth and gums, maintaining proper dental health also plays an important role in your overall general health. If your body is constantly fighting off infections in your teeth and gums, it can adversely affect its ability to fight infections, viruses, and bacteria elsewhere in your body.The first step to taking care of your dental health is to brush and floss regularly. By regularly, we recommend at least twice a day, although there is no harm in increasing your brushing and flossing regimen beyond this level. Furthermore, reducing your intake of sweets can also help prevent the development of cavities.While regular brushing and flossing will greatly improve your dental hygiene, it is not enough to prevent the build-up of plaque and tartar on your teeth, which ultimately leads to tooth decay and gum disease. It is important to visit our office at least twice a year for regular check-ups. This will ensure that your teeth and gums stay healthy, and if any problems do arise, regular check-ups will enable us to treat the problem before it becomes serious.The Kern dental office offers excellent dentistry for people of all ages. We recognize that different stages of life present different dental needs. Therefore, we offer a variety of services that will treat the entire spectrum of dental health issues affecting different members of your family. The easiest way to ensure a healthy smile throughout your life is to maintain proper dental hygiene and go for regular dental check-ups at least twice a year. This is certainly an attainable goal. We hope it makes your list.

Get a Brighter Smile & Help Kids in One, Simple Visit.

For the fifth year in a row, we are taking part in Smiles for Life! Through Smiles for Life, the Kern Dental practice provides patients, their friends and families with Half-Priced Whitening Kits, then gives all of the money raised to help children’s charities.

Smiles for Life is a charitable giving campaign created by the Crown Council, an association of independent dentists dedicated to excellence in their field. With the Smiles for Life campaign, our practice creates custom, professional whitening kits at half-price.

Here’s How It Works:

Step 1 : We teamed up with Discus Dental, the nation’s premier dental products company, to get the best whitening materials for free.

Step 2: Our team donates their time to make your whitening kit.

Step 3: We give every single cent raised to children’s charities. It’s awesome!


With Smiles for Life, half of the money we raise stays right here in the community. For the fifth year in a row, Dance Kids, a non-profit organization dedicated to serving underprivileged children though arts education is our designated recipient. The other half of the funds we raise are given to the Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation, to be spread around the nation, helping children who need proper nutrition, education and love.

If you have been thinking about whitening your smile, now is the time. Whiten with us now through June 30 and help kids here in Monterey County and all over the country!

http://jeanettemkern.forgreatdentalcare.com/