MARKHAM, ON--(Marketwire - Mar 26, 2013) - Dr. Susie Ang, a Toronto cosmetic dentist, strives to create smiles that complement her patients' facial features and boost their self-confidence. At her private practice, she works to improve the function and aesthetics of every component of the mouth, using a holistic approach to dentistry in order to achieve and maintain her patients' oral health.

A holistic approach to dentistry examines and takes into account the total well-being of a person rather than simply looking at the person's teeth and gums. By considering her patients' overall oral health and how it also affects their general health, Dr. Ang says she is better able to care for her patients.

According to Dr. Ang, a holistic approach to dentistry simultaneously yields aesthetic and bodily benefits. If she corrects a bite problem for patients while straightening their teeth, those patients will benefit from a more beautiful smile in addition to experiencing pain relief. Dr. Ang adds that once these patients are more relaxed and pain-free, they can smile with more confidence, which in turn leads to a boost in self-esteem and an increased sense of overall well-being.

The Toronto dentist highlights that many patients visit her practice with complaints of tooth pain and TMJ pain. Rather than treat the pain itself, Dr. Ang uses her holistic examinations to treat the cause of the pain: "I try to treat the problems instead of the symptoms. I approach each case as a problem solver, since every patient and their diagnoses are unique."

While tooth pain can have its root cause in the tooth itself (such as a cavity), there are other factors that can contribute to the pain. Other causes include bite problems or posture habits that place undue strain on the patients' head and neck muscles, says Dr. Ang. She adds that patients may also experience tooth pain due to grinding or clenching their teeth.

Another example of the holistic approach she takes at her practice involves the common link between tooth grinding and sleep apnea:

"Very often, in the discussion of tooth grinding, the topic of snoring and sleep apnea comes up. If I suspect the patient might have sleep apnea but has not been evaluated for it, I suggest they get a referral for sleep studies through their family physicians. Very often, the patients will come back to me with a positive diagnosis for sleep apnea and I am often able to treat them for both issues with a custom-designed snoring appliance. So, with the holistic approach, we are helping our patients towards an optimal overall health."

Ultimately, Dr. Ang believes that mental and bodily health are intertwined, and she aims to address each patient as a whole person. She says she makes sure to provide every patient with a personalized level of care in order to most effectively address his or her individual needs. In the end, Dr. Ang says she strives to get to know her Toronto cosmetic dentistry patients before treating their dental concerns, as her ultimate goal is to improve her patients' overall health -- not simply their teeth and their gums.

About Susie Ang, DDS

Dr. Susie Ang earned her dental degree from the University of Toronto, Faculty of Dentistry and attended a postgraduate program in Esthetic Dentistry at SUNY Buffalo. She is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry, the Toronto Crown and Bridge Study Club, the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain, the American Academy of Dento-Facial Esthetics, and several other professional organizations. Dr. Ang is also a member of the American Society for Dental Aesthetics, having been selected for the quality of her results as well as her dedication to continued education.