The Aesthetics Advisor

In this interview (below), Dr. Val Kanter, a board-certified endodontist and biological dentist with a practice in Beverly Hills, California, discusses the oft-ignored dangers of root canal procedures and modern technologies with which these issues can be effectively addressed and corrected. Unfortunately, few regular dentists fully appreciate the intimate links between your oral health and overall physical health and, as a result, some of their interventions can actually cause catastrophic health challenges. The sad reality is that if we knew how to eat properly from the time we were born, the need for just about any type of dentistry would, in my view, decrease by at least 90%, because we just wouldn't develop cavities. Thankfully we have trained professionals who can help restore our health, and Kanter is one of them. Her transition into holistic dentistry occurred after she moved from Florida to California and started doing some self-exploration.  "I had some enlighteni...

No-prep veneers are gaining popularity as a less invasive cosmetic dental option. Traditional veneers require tooth shaving, leading to long-term damage concerns. No-prep veneers can be costlier but align with the trend of subtle cosmetic enhancements. For decades, celebrities, influencers, and high-fliers have relied on a technique to give them perfect smiles: veneers. Or at least, they did. Demand for flawless teeth is still high. Getting your teeth shaved down irreversibly? Not so much. Now, "no-prep veneers" are becoming the new "it" procedure. The result is similar to traditional veneers, but there's no filing, drilling, or grinding involved to make room for the porcelain shells. It's all part of the "quiet glow-up" trend. Forget Botox; people want  microtox . Instead of face and neck lifts, cosmetic surgeons are fielding requests for biostimulators and skin boosters. ...

Keloids are more than just scars — they’re an overreaction of your body’s wound healing process that leads to thick, raised growths that continue expanding beyond the original injury. Unlike normal scars that fade over time, keloids persist indefinitely and even cause pain, itching and discomfort. However, recent research is shedding light on an overlooked factor that could change the approach to keloid treatment — vitamin D. Your body relies on this essential nutrient for everything, from immune regulation to calcium absorption, but its role in skin health is just as important. Blocking This Enzyme Could Be the Key to Stopping Keloid Growth Keloids are fibrotic scars that form when there’s an overproduction of extracellular matrix components like Type I collagen. They develop when there’s an imbalance in tissue repair mechanisms and are particularly common in people with darker skin tones. 1  Some estimates suggest Africans, Asians and Hispanics are up to 15 times more likely to d...

Vitamin D is more than just one vitamin. It’s a family of nutrients that shares similarities in chemical structure. Vitamin D helps your body absorb calcium and maintain strong bones throughout your entire life. Your body produces vitamin D when the sun’s UV rays contact your skin. Other good sources of the vitamin include fish, eggs, and fortified dairy products. It’s also available as a dietary supplement. In your diet, the most commonly found members are vitamin D2 and D3. While both types help you meet your vitamin D requirements, they differ in a few important ways. Research even suggests that vitamin D2 is less effective than vitamin D3 at raising blood levels of vitamin D. Dietary vitamin D comes in two main forms: Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) The two forms of vitamin D differ depending on their food sources. Vitamin D3 is only found in animal-sourced foods, whereas D2 mainly comes from plant sources and fortified foods. Your skin makes vitamin D3 whe...