Smile!

Most of us take things for granted. The worst part is we often don’t realize how much we need something until it’s gone.

Dr. Sherri Worth never had that luxury when it came to her teeth. She was born without the ability to grow a few of her front teeth – the baby and permanent teeth never developed – and she didn’t get them fixed until age 17.

“I was never happy with the results because I always thought my teeth looked fake and unattractive to the point that I would cover them up whenever I could do so,” says Worth, who consequently became a dentist and has been running her Newport Beach dental practice now for 15 years.

Worth took some time from improving people’s smiles to answer our questions about her life before dentistry and the importance of teeth for functions beyond chewing.  

Before you were a dentist, you were a model?

I modeled while I was in school – 11 years at UCLA. I enjoyed it, but realized that medicine was my passion. I still examine all of the fashion magazines for pictures of beautiful teeth to study.

How did your childhood dental problems inspire your mission for your practice?
My struggle with perfection of my own teeth inspired me to set out into my dental career to give people beautiful and natural teeth that they could feel great about. Teeth are very important because they say so [much] about who you are, how you take care of yourself. A gorgeous set of teeth can affect relationships, careers and self-esteem.

Describe your charity work.
People who are born with missing teeth, such as cleft [palate] kids, are my passion for charity. Also, our men who have fought in battle and had the unfortunate accidents where they lose teeth and bone due to trauma. The joy that comes from a child, young adult or one of our military men or women when they have new teeth is incredibly gratifying.

You’re quite the public figure, participating in so many shows – from “The Swan” to “Dr. Phil,” “Access Hollywood” and “The Tyra Show.” How did you get on the TV circuit?
When I was very young, just out of training, Farrah Fawcett came to me for dental work. She really set my career off to an incredible start. She shared with many people that I had helped her. It just grew from there. Having such an important person counting on me when I was very young made [me] strive for perfection in my work. I am thankful for all of the amazing people that trusted me at such a young age and helped me build my practice.

How do you balance everything you do for work with three kids and a husband?
I live in Newport Beach with my husband Jerry Nourse and three kids: Garret, 10, and Audrey and Nicole, [both] eight. Growing up in Los Angeles where many moms have big careers made me step back when planning my own, because I did not want to miss out on raising my children. It is definitely one of my biggest challenges to balance my career and be there for my kids. I am fortunate to have been born with a lot of energy!

Do you have any at-home tips so readers can improve their smiles?
One of my favorite tips is to rinse your mouth out with water after you have your morning coffee. For many of us it has become a ritual to go to Starbucks prior to going on with our day. Just take a swish of water to rinse the stain away when you have finished your coffee.

WEB EXTRAS

Among your services are one-hour Zoom! teeth whitening and Invisalign?
Invisalign is a great alternative to traditional braces. The clear trays are worn 24 hours per day and are taken out for eating and brushing. It is very convenient for those who are unable to wear traditional brackets or do not want brackets on their teeth. Impressions, photos and X-rays are taken of the teeth and sent to the Invisalign laboratory for fabrication of your trays.  The models of your teeth are used to digitally align your teeth. Every two weeks you are given a new tray that slowly pushes your teeth into place. The results are amazing.

I love the Zoom! product because of the viscosity of the bleaching gel. It tends to stay on the teeth better, which gives a better end result: white teeth. I have researched and used every product and I think the most [effective] is the in-office Zoom! bleach followed by take-home trays. For most people, bleaching their teeth is like coloring their hair: They have [an] appointment every few months to six months, so their teeth [stay] white and bright. The in-office bleach has taken over because you can couple it with your teeth cleaning and watch a movie for an hour while the bleach solution is applied to your teeth and a light is used to activate the material. Approximately one hour later, your teeth are [a] beautiful white. I always recommend to touch up a few days right after the in-office bleach, with trays to lock in the whiteness.