ArashBakhtari is a South Bay native, having grown up in Manhattan Beach. Dr. Bakhtari received his DDS from the University of Southern California School of Dentistry, his MPH from Keck School of Medicine at USC, and his MS and specialty certificate in Orthodontics from Marquette University School of Dentistry in Milwaukee.His research on galvanic corrosion between different types of orthodontic brackets and wires was published in theAmerican Journal of Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedicsin 2011.
Dr. Bakhtari has been in private practice since 2006.His philosophy is on the conservative side, choosing to recommend treatment when a patient is truly ready in order to avoid having braces more than once if possible.He is well trained in traditional metal and ceramic braces, lingual (behind the teeth) braces, and is a highly experienced Invisalign provider. He treats every patient like a member of the family, and this attitude is shared by all of the staff at Riviera Orthodontics. When not making beautiful smiles, Arash enjoys running, photography, visiting his niece & nephew, and spending time with his lovely wife Lisa.
Thank you so much for visiting our website. You are probably here because you were either given a referral to see us, or found us through your insurance directory or Google/Yelp search. Most patients will first click on the doctors bio to see what he/she looks like, what their qualifications are, etc. to help decide if the doctor will be a good fit for them. I just wanted to let you know that if you choose us for your braces or Invisalign, I will do everything I can to make you or your child happy. You have my word. Thank you again for your interest in our office. Please enjoy browsing the rest of the website and, hopefully, we will soon have the privilege of your company as a valued patient in our practice.
Value: We do not charge our patients an extra fee for appliances such as expanders or space maintainers as a part of comprehensive orthodontic treatment (i.e. full braces). One set of retainers is included with your treatment fee. Weare committed to giving you straight teeth and a beautiful smile, while also giving you the most value for your hard-earned money. No gimmicks, no surprises, and no excuses.
Erika is Dr. Bakhtaris lead assistant and comes to our office with many years of experience as an RDA in a busy dental office near Santa Clarita. She also takes care of the front office duties when not working on patients, and is a valuable addition to the Riviera Orthodontics family.
Your dentist may have discussed the benefits of having healthy teeth and proper jaw alignment with you. Crooked and crowded teeth are harder to keep clean. This can result in cavities, gum disease, and eventually tooth loss. Other orthodontic problems can cause tooth surfaces to wear abnormally or at an advanced rate (attrition), contribute to difficulty biting into and chewing food, cause abnormal speech such as lisping, and put excessive stress on gum tissue and the bone that holds the teeth in place.
For most patients, a healthy beautiful smile is the main reason for undergoing orthodontic treatment. After your treatment is completed, you will very likely feel better about yourself and have more self-confidence.
Technological advances in braces and other forms of orthodontic treatment have greatly reduced the level of discomfort associated with movement of the teeth. However, we are honest with our patients and the truth is that for the first few days after your braces have been placed, you will probably feel some discomfort, especially while eating. Also, your teeth will become slightly loose. This is completely normal and is actually a good sign, because it means your teeth are starting to move! You can take any over-the-counter medication you (or your child) normally take for pain or headaches. The two most common medications are Tylenol or Advil/Motrin.
A nice benefit of this is that it also gives our patients an easier time getting accustomed to brushing, flossing, and taking care of their braces because they only have half their mouth to deal with. And only half the discomfort as well!
Now that you are getting braces, your oral hygiene routine is more important than ever. Braces have rough, irregular surfaces on them. These are exactly where bacteria love to grow, so you must take extra time while brushing to make sure that you thoroughly clean around the brackets. Also, you need to brush at least 3 times per day and floss once daily as well. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you have a travel size toothbrush with you at work or school. Don't worry, we will cover the correct way to brush and floss with you after your braces have been placed and we will give you a handout with photos and written instructions to take with you in case you ever need a reminder.
Most orthodontic emergencies are very minor and can be handled over the phone. On rare occasions, trauma to the teeth may require immediate attention. Please call us first so that we can make sure to create a time to see you. Otherwise, the most common problems are a loose band or bracket, or a wire that is poking and causing discomfort. These are easy to correct, and we may even be able to guide you over the phone on how to fix the problem at home. If we are unable to solve the problem over the phone, we will happily schedule a time for you to come in and get it taken care of. Please click on the link below to see how to correct most orthodontic emergencies.