Invisalign – An Invisible Way to Straighten Crooked Teeth!

Cools

Let’s havea straight talk about crooked teeth.  There are many people who would like to straighten their teeth but do not want to wear those braces.  Relax, there is a new way to get straightened teeth through “brace-lift,” it is virtually an invisible way to improve your smile, straighten your teeth so that you can have a face without the braces.  Yes, you have  heard of it, you saw it on television, it is known as Invisalign.  Ask your dental provider for more information.  A little information never kills anyone.

Forget everything you’ve heard about teeth straightening. Because now there’s breakthrough technology that lets you get the smile you always wanted without bands, brackets, or wires.

A clear alternative: By using a series of clear removable aligners, Invisalign straightens your teeth right before your eyes. Change them about every two weeks, and your teeth will move—little by little, week by week—until they have moved to the final position your orthodontist or dentist has prescribed. Comfortable to wear, our aligners are also removable so you can eat, drink, brush, and floss as usual.Less treatment time: A typical Invisalign case takes about a year from start to finish. You’ll see your doctor everymonth or two to see how you’re progressing. Every few visits, you’ll be given additional aligners to continue your treatment. Commonly, the number of aligners worn during treatment is between 18 and 30, but treatment time and the number of aligners will vary from case to case.Invisible. And comfortable: Invisalign is a virtually invisible solution. So you won’t draw undue attention to your mouth while in treatment. In fact, virtually no one will know you’re wearing them unless you tell. Comfortable to wear, our aligners are also removable so you can eat, drink, brush, and floss as usual.

Is Invisalign for me? Invisaligncan be used to treat the vast majority of common problems for adults and teens. Whether your smile needs minor improvements or more extensive adjustments, Invisaligncan certainly help. It’s successful in treating overly crowded or widely spaced teeth. It can also relieve more complex issues, including overbites, underbites and even crossbites. In fact, an Invisalign Certified Orthodontist or Dentist can use Invisalign clear aligners in all or part of just about any treatment plan.Look your best during treatment: Invisalign is clear and practically invisible, so nothing gets in the way of your new smile. No wonder Invisalign is the choice of over half a million people.* Unobtrusive in business meetings or social gatherings * No metal wires or bands to irritate your mouth * Most people won’t notice you’re wearing aligners

Men’s Oral Health from Academy of General Dentistry.

SmileLine lineFind an AGD dentistOral health topics

Men’s Oral Health Why is Oral Health Important for Men? Good oral health recently has been linked with longevity. Yet, one of the most common factors associated with infrequent dental checkups is just being male. Men are less likely than women to seek preventive dental care and often neglect their oral health for years, visiting a dentist only when a problem arises. Men are also more likely to develop oral and throat cancer and periodontal (gum) disease. Read on to learn how men can take care of their oral health. Men’s Oral Health Under 30? Check for Oral Cancer In the past decade, the dental profession has seen a considerable increase in the number of oral cancer patients under age 30 who have no identifiable risk factors of contracting the disease, such as tobacco or alcohol use.  Although national surveys show that the U.S. adult population is ill-informed about the risk factors of developing oral cancers, as well as its signs and symptoms, most dentists perform oral cancer exams.  Learn how your dentist can help. Men’s Oral Health Looking for a Better Job? Start by Visiting the Dentist! Men are less likely to visit the dentist than their female counterparts, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). Why? Nearly 45 percent of respondents felt that men don’t see a need to go to the dentist, and about 30 percent of those polled reported that men may not visit the dentist because they are afraid or embarrassed to go. More men are climbing back into the dental chair – for a surprising reason. FAQs: Root Canal Therapy Root canal therapy is a procedure that removes the damaged or dead tooth pulp. The canal is reshaped and filled with gutta percha, a rubber-like material, to prevent recontamination of the tooth. The tooth is then permanently sealed. If your general dentist recommends a root canal, he or she will perform the treatment or refer you to an endodontist, which is a specialist who treats injuries, diseases, and infections of the tooth pulp.   Read on to learn more about this procedure.

The AGD has a strict policy that e-mail addresses will not be sold, rented or shared with any company or organization, including AGD sponsors without your permission. From time to time the AGD may send out e-mail of interest to our members. If you would prefer not to receive these notices, please visit your profile to unsubscribe or adjust your settings. 211 East Chicago Ave., Ste 900, Chicago, IL 60611-1999 Ph: 888.AGD.DENT (888.243.3368) Fax: 312.440.0559

Norway Bans Dental Amalgam (Silver Fillings)*

Dental amalgam was recently banned throughout Norway. The AGD has resources available to help you with questions from your patients. You can read the AGD’s position on dental amalgam   or  read the consumer article on the ban. Also, a fact sheet focusing on amalgam will be published in the March issue of AGD Impact.  We will bring it to your attention.

* Courtesy of Academy of General Dentistry (http://www.agd.org).

Dental/Functional Appliances

Some jaws are narrow and sometimes with a V-shape  palate that may have adverse effects on sequential eruption of teeth and proper positioning in the mouth.  Many parents are worried about such situations for their children and may seek help from orthodontist or general dentist or pediatric dentist that incorporates functional appliances into his/her practice.  One of the well-known laboratories in the US that fabricate such appliances is Space Maintainers Laboratory.  This laboratory will work with your dentist to produce appliance that your child can wear.

*

http://www.appliancetherapy.com/Global_Center/sml/MemRx.aspx

One of such appliance is known as *MemRx E appliance which features lateral expansion via unique Memory Expansion Screws. The special Memory Screw allows for multiple adjustments to be made at the time of seating the appliance. Expansion is achieved through the Memory Springs, which are integrated in the screw. This serves to increase patient comfort and compliance as well as less chair time in the doctor’s office, not to mention fewer patient appointments.  If this appliance is right for your child, ask your doctor.

Dental Examiner – Read All About It!

Starting in March 2008, we will begin a new segment that will deal with myths, old tales and stories about dentistry and dental care.  For example, it is believed in some quarters that a woman would lose at least one tooth on pregnancy.  This is certainly not true!!!!!!!!!!!!

You can also send in your own stories, myths, old tales, etc and all refined stories, tales, etc shall be published. Let’s have some fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do You Know A Dentist was the Father of General Anesthesia?

Sleepy & Ready for Dental Work! Back in the 1800s, a young dentist, Dr. Horace Wells was determined to make dental care as painless as possible.  He experimented on a number of techniques sometimes medical to find a way to ameliorate pain and discomfort during dental procedure.  He adopted many other health field’s techniques to dentistry and he was indeed very creative and energetic.  He even used himself as guinea-pigs in most of his experiments.  His original practice was in Hartford, CT and he introduced the use of nitrous oxide in pain management during dental treatment.  This discovery changed the field of dentistry and medicine forever and paved the way for the development of anxiolysis, conscious sedation and general anesthesia.  Dr. Wells was only 33 years old when he took his life and was honored  for his contribution to modern anesthesia by an honorary membership of the world-renounced Medical Society of Paris and both the American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Medical Association  (AMA) recognized him as a giant in the field of general anesthesia.

Oral Sedation Dentistry

General dentists and many other dentists now offer adult oral sedation to their fearful patients.  This offers many advantages to the fearful patients including getting the much needed dental care without stress and depending on the medication used to achieve sedation, patients often do not even remember.  Patients get more dentistry done in one single visit instead of requiring several returns to the dentist’s office. 

Some of the common medications used by dentists to achieve conscious sedation include valium (diazepam) which was first introduced in 1963, it is a benzodiazepines.  It has a half-life of between 20 and 100 hrs.  The problem is patient may not be able to return to regular routines after 24 hrs. such as driving.  Sonata (zaleplon) is a non-benzodiazepine but acts as if it were.  It has a most rapid onset and a half-life of just one hour so if you are planning to have extensive dental work done at one visit, this may not be for you.  Ativan (lorazepam), it has a half-life of 12-14 hours and it is widely accepted in the dental circle because it is safe and effective as an anxiolytic agent.  Xanax (alprazolam) is a moderate benzodiazepine with two active metabolites that extend the half-life to 11-12 hrs. in adults.  Interestingly, the half-life doubles in obese patients.  Halcion (triazolam), the blue pill is considered by many in the dental community as the “ideal” oral sedative because it has a fast onset, short-acting, anxiolytic, amnesic; half-life of 2-3 hrs., large margin of safety, and reversal agent is readily available.

So the millions of patients avoiding recommended and needed dental treatment due to fear, can now relax and look forward to relaxation dentistry.  With availability of safe and effective oral sedation dentistry protocols, the dental team can help these patients get care they need and deserve.  Dentists often consider patient variability as an important risk factor in deciding which anxiety-free protocol to use.  Indidivudal variables such as weight, anxiety level, age, and underlying disease states are often considered by the treating dentist.