Dental Insurance, Plans, and Products

3 Significant FAQs About Invisalign That You Need to Know

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A great smile is an asset of a lifetime. But for one reason or the other, most people do not feel confident with their smile as a result of which they start suffering psychologically as well as socially.

But, in spite of this, there are still people who do not seek any treatment for unsightly gaps, crooked smiles and crowding. One of the major reasons for this happen to be the fear of the awkwardness of traditional braces.

It does not take a lot to understand why such a thing happens. Although at the end, one get a beautiful smile, the traditional wired braces bring in their fair share of issues. Limitations on the diet, irritation and regular maintenance as well as the looks contribute to the aversion towards the braces.

Thankfully, this has emerged to the forefront as an alternative to traditional procedure. Here an attempt is being made to enlighten you about some of the most essential facts that you need to know about Invisalign.

  • What is Invisalign? What is its functionality?

This is a type of aligner system with the help of which you can correct your smile. The best part is that it is not visible. When you look at them you will think how something with same looks of your bleaching tray will be capable of moving your teeth? But these are made of a special thermoplastic resin that is capable of exerting transient force on the teeth and thus, aligns them. It is a very simple process where the orthodontist will take some special X rays, impressions as well as photographs and send them with the proposed plan of treatment to the Invisalign technicians.

Now, the impressions are scanned and 3 dimensional models of the teeth and occlusion are created. Then based on the treatment plan, the technician digitally positions the teeth in the right places. The gradual movement from the commencement to the end is made into an animated film called a CLIN CHECK video. As a patient you can now get involved in your treatment plan as the dentist will call you to watch this video. You can make changes to it or can accept the plan.

Once the plan gets approved, these aligners are then manufactured with the technology of CAD/CAM. In a couple of days the aligners are derived. You will wear each aligner for a couple of weeks and then shift to the next one until and unless the result that you want is achieved.

  • Is Invisalign Better then Traditional Braces?

At the time of weighing the pros and cons, you will need to consult with your dentist for discussing what is best for you. But there are still some of the advantages that you get over traditional braces by choosing this.

  • This is Comfortable – Mild discomfort can be caused at first by this method. But still most people find this to be much more comfortable than the traditional braces that can make eating very painful and can also make abrasions.

  • This is Invisible – It can be repeated. This because the greatest advantage of this is that your friends, colleagues, employer and family members will not get a mouthful of metal every time you smile.

  • You Can Remove This – Another reason why patients choose it over the traditional braces is that you can open them during meals and the dental treatments.

  • Who are the best candidates for Invisalign?

This can be used by most teenagers as well as adults for aligning their teeth. Nevertheless, there are some cases that require more precise control of teeth like that of impacted tooth, closure of extraction, teeth with poor bone levels and so on. These situations call for more control over the movement of the teeth that is tough to be achieved with an aligner that is removable. For such cases, partial fixed orthodontic treatment or completely fixed orthodontic treatment should be used.

Apart from that, patient compliance is of utmost significance in achieving successful results with Invisalign and if you cannot be responsible with removable aligners then it is better for you to go for the fixed braces.

The above are some of the most frequently asked questions about Invisalign that will give you a fair idea about it so that you can consult with your dentist about this if you are thinking of revamping your smile.

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Source by Derek Alam

4 Dental Braces That Are Fit for Adults

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If you are over 21-years-old and you want to acquire a perfect smile by having your teeth aligned, here are the four types of adult dental braces you can consider:

Metal Braces

This is the cheapest type of braces for use on adults. This is the original stainless steel brace that was the first to come out in the market. The good thing about this brace is its low-cost. However, it comes with a drawback as it is visible. It can also irritate gums and easy to be dislodged especially when the wearer eats hard food.

Ceramic Braces

This brace is a bit more expensive than the metal brace. It is not visible and it is held in place by elastic or metal ties. Ceramic braces don’t have as much drawbacks as their metal cousin. But they have two known concerns though. Their ties stain easily especially if you consume teeth-staining foods or beverages such as coffee. The discoloration of the ties prompts the dentist to have them replaced with new ones each time you visit his clinic.

Ceramic braces are also sensitive and breakable. They have to be handled with care especially during installation – a factor that raises its cost.

Lingual braces

This is a customized type of brace. It is installed behind the teeth which makes it invisible. It is more expensive than the metal or ceramic brace because its process is complicated and its installation requires the skillful hands of a knowledgeable orthodontist.

Lingual braces are may be ideal for adults because they don’t work quite well on small teeth. When the brace does not properly fit with the wearer’s teeth, it has the potential to get in the way of the tongue. This can cause speech problems and possible injuries.

Invisible braces

This is the most expensive type of dental brace for adults. It is invisible and it is designed for people with no serious teeth problems. An invisible brace does not come with brackets that are mounted to the teeth. A lingual brace is installed with custom-fitted aligners that the wearer puts on except when he is eating or brushing his teeth. Wearing of this brace also involves the use of different aligners once every two weeks. This will help to move the teeth to eliminate the gaps and align them.

These are the dental braces for adults and the respective attributes. If you are planning to wear a dental brace, the facts we have about each one of them can serve as your guide for making a decision.

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Source by Isabella D Johnson

All About Angular Cheilitis Treatments – Angular Cheilitis Treatments Revealed

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A lot of people suffer from angular cheilitis and do not even know it. They suffer from the sore mouth and chapped lips in silence as they do not know that there is a cure for their problem. Let us answer two questions; “What is angular cheilitis?” and “What angular cheilitis remedies do I use to cure it?” Angular cheilitis is a common problem and many suffers do not even know that they have it or that. Instead they suffer the painful sores around their mouths in silence. There is a cure! This article will tell you how to recognise the symptoms and what angular cheilitis remedies to use.

Angular cheilitis is basically sores in the corners of the mouth which are caused by bacteria and fungus which grow and prosper due to the collection of saliva in the corner of the mouth. The sore can dry and crack every time the mouth is opened and can turn into abscesses. The risk of contracting angular cheilitis is increased by having had head or neck irradiation and by diabetes mellitus. It can also be aggravated by a vitamin B deficiency. Having dentures can also increase the risk of contracting angular cheilitis. Dentures provide warm damp nooks and crannies for fungus and bacteria to develop and a set of ill-fitting dentures may also cause saliva to gather in the corners of the mouth both of which can stimulate the development of angular cheilitis. The symptoms of angular cheilitis are most commonly sores which start in the corner of the mount, They are caused by bacteria and fungi which grow and prosper in the saliva in the corners of the mouth. These sores dry and crack when the mouth is opened. repeated breaches may cause the sores to develop into abscesses. Having undergone head or neck radiation or being a sufferer of diabetes mellitus increases your chances of developing angular cheilitis. Other causes include vitamin B deficiency and ill fitting dentures which cause saliva to accumulate at the corner of the mouth which gives the fungus a place to live and prosper. Dentures also tend to have gaps and crevices in which the fungi or bacteria can hide until they are plentiful enough to cause a problem.

Now that you know what angular cheilitis is, how do you cure it?

Whilst most doctors will prescribe a topical anti-fungal cream or antibiotic, these often fail to completely clear the cause of the angular cheilitis. They will decrease the symptoms but will not prevent it from reoccurring. Many western doctors and dermatologists prescribe anti-fungal creams and topical steroids to combat angular cheilitis. Unfortunately, these treatments do not always stop the problem but only the symptoms. You need something else to properly stop it from reoccurring.

The more effective cheilitis treatments are the ones that actually prevent the infection from reoccurring. The cheilitis treatments that will be most effective will depend on why you are getting angular cheilitis. A very effective method is to eat correctly. Increasing the level of vitamin B12 and iron in your food will bolster your immune system against the bacteria. If it is your dentures that are causing an accumulation of saliva in the corners of the mouth, then it would be a god idea to get a new set of dentures that fit properly. Cheilitis treatments that are more effective actually prevent the infection from occurring in the first place. Which cheilitis treatments will be most effective for you will depend on why you have the problem in the first place. Following a diet that is rich in vitamin B12 and iron is an effective treatment as these nutrients will bolster the parts of your immune system that are unable to fight off the fungus and bacteria that cause angular cheilitis. However, if it is your dentures that are causing a problem, it would be beneficial to have them fitted correctly or even replaced for a set which do fit correctly.

Whilst this is not an immediate fix, it will definitely make the problem vanish in the long run. In the meantime, you can use one of these methods to help decrease the pain and irritation around your mouth.~None of these will provide an immediate cure. They will however cause the problem to stop reoccurring. Whilst you wait for your chosen treatment to take effect, you can use some of the following techniques to relieve the irritation caused by the sores.

Keep your lips moisturised by using an unflavoured lip salve, using saliva will aggravate the problem as your saliva is acidic. Moisturise your lips regularly using an unscented or flavoured lip balm. Do not lick your lips, saliva is acidic and will aggravate the problem.

Avoid acidic foods and drinks like citrus fruits and citrus based drinks. Spices and other harsh foods may also aggravate the problem. Try to avoid eating and drinking acidic foods and drinks. This includes citrus fruit and fruit juices as well as spicy food.

Rubbing olive oil or vitamin E oil on your lips will sooth the irritation ad help to keep you lips moisturised. Putting olive oil or vitamin E oil on your lips on a regular basis will help to keep them moist and ease the irritation.

Cheilitis treatments do not work in just a few minutes, changing your diet will take a few days to get consistent and you need to keep it up for the rest of your life. While you are waiting for your diet to take effect and your immune system to come to the party, keep the irritation at bay with moisturiser and no acidic foods or drinks. It is possible to cure angular cheilitis; you just need to find the right balance of nutrients in your diet. No cheilitis treatments will work in just a few minutes and most will take a few days to have an effect. So choose your treatment and stick with it. Some treatments will have to become a lifestyle, especially those that rely on a special diet and bolstering of the immune system. Whilst you wait for results, do not forget that you can ease your suffering by soothing the irritation. Angular cheilitis can be beaten and it does not have to cost an arm and a leg getting medication from a dermatologist or western doctor.

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Source by Gert Demsky

Tooth Extractions: Ouch!

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We all dread visiting the dentist; we try to avoid the unpleasant experience at all costs! But when your gum starts throbbing and there is no escaping a mouth full of pain, you have to put your big boy pants on and make the trip. Whilst your dentist should first put every effort in to save your tooth and eradicate the pain, often extracting the tooth will be the only solution. If this is the case for you, perhaps you would like more information on the procedure and what to expect, just to ease your mind.

What is a tooth extraction?

A Tooth Extraction is a medical procedure where a tooth is surgically removed from the mouth. This procedure usually takes place at the dentist’s office and is performed by a licensed practitioner or specialist. A local or general anaesthetic is administered and when done correctly, the extraction should be quick and pain free. With the technology and preventative care that is available today, tooth extractions should be accepted as the last resort after all other methods of saving the tooth have been tried or at least considered.

Why would you need to extract a tooth?

There are a few reasons why it might be necessary to remove a tooth. Usually extractions are done when a tooth has decayed and is causing pain and inflammation. Rotting teeth can be harmful to the overall health of one’s body so it is important to rectify or eliminate the problem. Teeth are also often removed because they overcrowd each other. When wisdom teeth grow skew, they are usually removed to prevent other dental problems. In some instances gum disease will result in the extraction of a tooth.

The tooth extraction process.

As mentioned before, a tooth extraction procedure will require general or local anaesthetic to be administered. It is a simple surgery and can proceed from a minute up to an hour, depending on how many teeth need to be removed and how complex the problem is deemed. The dentist will use sterilized dental forceps and sometimes a dental drill during the surgery. On rare occasions a small incision will be made.

Aftercare guidelines:

After the procedure your dentist should give you instruction on how to care for the extraction area to ensure a healthy recovery. You will be prescribed some light-medium pain medication and you might also be required to take a course of antibiotics to avoid an infection. The wound might take a while to stop bleeding, if this happens, don’t panic. If the extraction continues to bleed for more than a day however, inform your Dr for medical advice.

Try and keep the extraction area as clean and as dry as possible. After about 6 months, the hole will have completely closed up with gum tissue. If the extraction area continues to ache and swell however, it might be infected and you should seek immediate medical attention from your dentist.

It is important to practice proper oral care to avoid dental problems; a good tooth brush, tooth paste and some dental floss can go a long way and are sure to aid in preventing nasty visits to the dentist. Never avoid visiting you dentist for too long however as regular check-ups could foresee potential problems and thus eradicate them before they occur. Perhaps making an appointment with your dentist right now is not such a bad idea?

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Source by Amie F Harms

Dental Tips for Seniors to Keep a Healthy Mouth

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People of all ages should give importance to oral care especially as they get older, when dental hygiene is even more crucial.

Seniors can consider the following dental tips to avoid natural teeth loss, root decay and gum disease.

Check the toothbrush

Seniors have to think of the last time they changed their toothbrush. Is it the same style and brand of toothbrush since Nixon was still president? Does it have the proper bristle stiffness? What is best for them, manual or electric toothbrushes?

Aside from brushing with too much pressure, the bristles may be very stiff. They should ask their dentist about the type of toothbrush needed by seniors.

As suggested by dental professionals, a toothbrush needs to be replaced every 3 to 4 months or even sooner, when the bristles are irregular or worn out. When there is bacteria left behind on the teeth even after brushing, this can cause serious problems including periodontitis and gingivitis.

Floss

They need to floss their teeth everyday. Using a regular dental floss is the most effective way to clean tight spaces in between teeth.

There are some who like to use a water pick or an oral pulsated irrigator to remove the food remnants between their teeth. It may not be as effective as regular dental floss but it is a good alternative for flossing if this is not possible.

Avoid Smoking

Smokers have double the risk of non smokers in acquiring gum disease. Aside from the harmful effects of smoking tobacco, this weakens the immune system as well as overall health, which makes it harder to fight back gum disease.

Those who smoke more frequently and for a longer time have a greater risk of acquiring periodontal disease and treatments may not be effective for them.

Smoking any form of tobacco, whether pipes, cigarettes, dip or more modern forms, increases the risks of getting gum disease. So the best advice is to refrain from smoking. Or better yet, quit the habit.

Stay Healthy

Dental problems can be caused by some health issues, most especially diabetes. Therefore, it is best to eat healthy, nutritious meals from the basic food groups to promote healthy teeth and gums.

This is not only a great dental tip but also a lifelong advice for seniors.

Watch out for Dry Mouth

It is natural for people to experience changes in their body as they age. One example is a dry mouth. When they consult a doctor they may ask about the medications they take that make their mouth dry.

They should drink lots of water, avoid booze and chew gum that is sugar-free.

Visit the Dentist Regularly

Aside from the above mentioned great dental tips, seniors should observe regular oral care.

It is a must to visit their dentist every 6 months besides eating healthy, practicing proper oral hygiene, flossing once daily, drinking fluoridated water and seeking regular oral health care.

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Source by Karina Popa