Blog Articles

A missing tooth can put you at risk for dental problems and compromise your facial structure. Dental implants offer a safe, permanent, and ideal solution to your tooth gap.

A tooth extraction is sometimes necessary, but it doesn’t have to be feared. Learn about the procedure, aftercare, and options for filling the gap created by losing a tooth.

If you find yourself becoming more and more hesitant to show your teeth to the world when you talk or give a grin, veneers may be the solution you’ve been yearning for. They’re safe, long-term, and beautiful smile enhancers.

The symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder, commonly known as TMJ, can cause significant pain. But they’re also confusing because many TMJ signs are similar to those of other conditions. Learn more here.

Did you know that when you come to the dentist for your routine cleaning, you’re actually receiving critical preventive care at the same time? Here’s what you’re being screened for biannually that you might not have known about.

Are you bothered by stained, crooked, or damaged teeth? If you don’t like your smile, you don’t have to hide it. Consider a customized smile makeover for a personalized smile transformation that gives you whiter, straighter, more beautiful teeth.

It’s true that crooked teeth don’t look great in photos. But it’s more important to realize that crooked teeth can seriously impact your oral health. Learn why straight teeth are healthy teeth and how you can straighten your pearly whites.

You may know that gum disease leads to early tooth loss, but were you aware of its negative effects on your heart, brain, and pancreas? Learn more about what happens if you leave gum disease untreated.

Do you wish there was a less noticeable way of filling in the flaws left behind by tooth decay? There is. Find out how easy it is to switch out those old silver fillings for tooth-colored composites that won’t detract from your fabulous smile.

If you’re missing some or all of your teeth, today's modern dentures make a great alternative for tooth replacement. Learn how easy it is to adjust to life with your new pearly whites.

Don’t be discouraged if you’ve not had success with the CPAP machine for treating your sleep apnea. Learn about some noninvasive alternatives that could restore your nighttime breathing and your long-term health.

Mercury is a toxic material that accounts for up to 50% of amalgam fillings. Learn more about your silver-colored fillings and whether it’s worth having them removed and replaced with tooth-colored porcelain fillings.

Your jaw pops, grates, or gets locked when you try to open wide or close your mouth. Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder can hurt so much that it prevents you from chewing and speaking normally. But TENS can help your jaw feel good again.

Santa Monica Dentist Outlines The Quickest And Most Cost-Effective Way To Improve Your Smile

Struggles to get to the clinic? Trying to reduce your exposure to COVID-19, as well as other contagious illnesses, and still need to see your doctor? Telehealth is safe and easy — receive quality care from anywhere.

Whether it’s discoloration, spacing issues, or crooked teeth, getting the smile that you’ve always wanted is no longer impossible. What once took months or even years to accomplish can be done with the help of zirconia implants...

A bright white smile is something that everyone would love to have. This isn’t so surprising when you consider that a smile is one of the first things that you share with both your loved ones and strangers alike...

YOUR MIGRAINES WITH AURA MAY HAVE A DENTAL CAUSE

3 Ways Your Body Tries To Warn You Through Your Mouth

Foods That Can Trigger Headaches: Explained By A Santa Monica Dentist

A Santa Monica Dentist Explains

SANTA MONICA DENTIST EXPLAINS THE 3 STEPS OF A FULL MOUTH RECONSTRUCTION

Santa Monica Dentist Explains Symptoms Of A Jaw Joint Disorder

3 REASONS TO HAVE METAL FILLINGS REPLACED AT A SANTA MONICA DENTAL CLINIC

Getting a brand new smile can work wonders and give anyone a bit more confidence. If you have any chipped, missing, crooked or stained teeth, you have probably even glanced in the mirror occasionally...

2 WAYS TO RESHAPE YOUR TEETH

4 NATURAL FOODS FOR BETTER ORAL HEALTH

Healthy gums are often taken for granted, and a little blood on your toothbrush is easily dismissed. After all, gum disease is something that happens to other people...

Gum Disease Affects Your Heart? Here’s What A Santa Monica Dentist Thinks You Should Know

2 COST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR SMILE

IS IT BAD TO HAVE CROOKED TEETH IN SANTA MONICA?

3 THINGS YOU MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT TEETH WHITENING IN SANTA MONICA

3 CONSEQUENCES OF CROOKED OR DAMAGED TEETH IN SANTA MONICA

3 SANTA MONICA OPTIONS TO STRAIGHTEN YOUR TEETH

How Your Teeth Could Be Causing Your Headaches, Migraines, And Muscle Pain

TMJ pain is no laughing matter, and if you are one of the millions of Americans suffering from this jaw joint disorder, you know the symptoms very well.

Have you experienced a change in insurance plans, recent move or a desire to see a specialist? Whatever your reason may be, finding a local dentist near Santa Monica can run up a long list of potential doctors nearby.

When your bite is misaligned, the symptoms are often chronic and can be difficult to understand. At Brightleaf Dental, Dr. Brightleaf is specially trained and experienced in finding solutions for patients who have an improper bite.

Have you recently experienced neck pain, headaches or pain in your jaw? Chronic teeth grinding, clenching or pain when you bite, chew or yawn may be indicative of a joint disorder known as TMJ pain or TMD.

Better Sleep, Better Life

ARE YOU A CPAP HATER?

Holistic dentistry is a way of caring for your teeth and gums that contributes to your overall health and well-being. As a holistic Santa Monica dentist, Dr. Ana Brightleaf gives you the best that modern dentistry has to offer while minimizing toxicity...

At Brightleaf Dental, we believe in holistic dentistry, the whole health approach to oral health. We use this approach to treat oral health and dental problems, neuromuscular issues (TMJ) and sleep disorders in adults and children.

Dental X-rays are a necessary part of dental care, and, while they are safe, they do expose patients to a small amount of radiation. Digital dental X-ray technology requires much less radiation than traditional X-rays, as well as other benefits.

At Brightleaf Dental in Santa Monica, we support our patients in all aspects of their dental health. If you or a loved one has experienced dental anxiety or are looking for a gentle means of feeling more relaxed at the dentist...

Whether you have recently moved to the Santa Monica area or you are simply looking for a new dentist in your long-time city, there are many different things you should take into consideration...

At our Santa Monica dental offices, we are asked on a regular basis what our patients can do in order to have the healthiest smile possible. In this day and age, it seems that people are more prone to look for quick-fixes that will...

If you are someone who visits the dentist as often as you should, it’s not unlikely that you have had to have a dental x-ray at one time or another...

It is not uncommon for people to suffer from jaw pain from time to time. On the other hand, if the pain is associated with clicking or popping while the person is chewing or moving their jaw, it could be something more serious...

Many people find themselves quite overwhelmed when they discover that it is once again time to visit the dentist. While we understand that some of the anxiety that comes along with going to the dentist derives from...

At our Santa Monica dental office, we are constantly being asked by people how they can form the very best dental hygiene habits in their home so that their whole family can have the healthiest smiles possible...

Wisdom teeth are our third set of molars that are most commonly known for coming in during the late teens to early twenties. While it was not and is not always required to have these teeth removed, over time...

There are a number of reasons someone would need dental implants. Regardless of what your reason is, the process for getting them is the same for everyone...

We think that the majority of dentists out there would agree that the most important tool you have at home to make sure you are maintaining good oral health is a clean toothbrush.