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Now and Zen
A Brighter Smile, Instantly and Permanently
By laura ricci / Photos courtesy of zen diego
Dr. Christopher Walinski is a widely
respected expert in Laser Dentistry. He
practices Minimally Invasive Dentistry
in Hillcrest, and has published a book
that’s been translated into 10 languages.
Between patients, Dr. Walinski took a
moment to tell us about the spa located
inside his clinic and why chewing gum
with Xylitol is the worst kept secret in
Europe.
What inspired your dentistry career?
Dr. Walinski: I’m really not sure. I hated
going to the dentist when I was a kid.
Hated the pain. Hated the smell. Hated
the sound of the drill. In hindsight,
I think that’s why I’ve become so
compassionate with my own patients.
What sets your dentistry practice
apart from others in San Diego?
Dr. Walinski: Three things. Obviously,
the fact that Zen Diego has a fullblown
spa is just a bit different.
Secondly, I practice Minimally Invasive
Dentistry (MID), which is a very
conservative approach to patient care,
where we try to do as little as possible
and leave as much of the natural,
healthy tooth structure as possible.
And, the fact that I’ve been called an
expert in Laser Dentistry is also pretty
unique. My book on laser dentistry has
been published around the world in ten
languages. That still amazes me!
Why the marriage of spa care and
dental needs?
Dr. Walinski: I always thought it would
be really nice to offer our patients a head
and neck massage after longer dental
appointments. I didn’t think people
would book their massage appointments
at a dental office, but offering a
unique service would be a great way to
differentiate our business from other,
more established dental offices in the area.
Well, at the same time I was actively
adding staff to Zen Diego, a very
prominent spa in La Jolla was shutting
its doors. This gave us an amazing
opportunity to bring on some highly
experienced spa staff members and gave
us a boost right away, since they were
able to start working even before our
dental equipment had been installed.
We now offer the services of a male or
female massage therapist, aesthetician
and acupuncturist who has a Masters
degree in Chinese medicine.
What’s one thing most non-dentists
don’t know that we really should?
Dr. Walinski: When I get a chance to
step up onto my soapbox, I tell everyone
about Xylitol. It is a naturally-occurring
sugar that STOPS cavities PERIOD. Two
of my favorite brands are Zellies (www.
zellies.com) and Epic (www.epicdental.
com), which actually comes with a
cavity-free guarantee. If you use Epic
gum or mints and ever get another cavity,
they will give you a full refund. Xylitol
is also very effective in decreasing ear
infections in infants and toddlers, since
cavities and ear infections are caused by
similar bacteria. Ask a friend or relative in
Europe about Xylitol, and you’ll find that
it’s benefits are common knowledge.
Why do you think some dentists still
drill instead of using a laser?
Dr. Walinski: It’s just a matter of
educating them so they completely
understand the benefits of using a laser
instead of a drill. One of my most
gratifying experiences as an instructor is
when a dentist “gets it” and changes their
practice philosophy to incorporate some
of the less invasive technologies like lasers
and digital radiography instead of regular
x-rays. Drills cause heat and vibration,
creating tiny cracks. If you have ever had
a tooth break for apparently no reason,
you have experienced the result of these
tiny cracks caused by drilling the tooth.
Drilling also causes the cavity preparation
to be coated with debris. This results in
fillings that are sensitive or fall out. There
are so many more advantages to using
a laser instead of a scalpel or drill, but I
don’t want this to turn into a lecture.
There are so many
more advantages to
using a laser instead
of a scalpel or drill,
but I don’t want this
to turn into
a lecture.
Zen Diego Dental Arts 501 Washington Str #704
San Diego CA 92103 619-49—SMILE (7-6453) www.zen-dentistry.com