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Nowadays, many adults want to try out Invisalign, a relatively new product bringing drastic changes to modern orthodontics.

In contrast to old-fashioned metal, clear braces can straighten your teeth without you having to give up nice smiles.

This way of straightening your teeth works just as well, while not being so noticeable. People around you may not even notice you’re undergoing treatment.

One of the first things an Invisalign specialist will do is try and get accurate bite impressions of your mouth. The bite impressions taken will most likely be used to create virtual images of the teeth alignment changes that need to occur.

From these computer images, an Orthodontist can create a series of appliances designed to gradually put your teeth into proper alignment.  You must learn to be patient because each appliance has to be worn for about 2 weeks.  The succession of appliances works to slowly align teeth to their correct places.

Today, nearly Orthodontists offer their patients Invisalign. There are also several cosmetic dentists who are qualified to do this type of dental treatment.

If you want to find a doctor for invisible braces, ask family and friends who have undergone the procedure. Doing this may shorten the time it takes to find a good dentist or Orthodontist.  Don’t forget to ask your family dentist for a referral to a good Invisalign specialist.

Compared to traditional metal brackets, Invisalign braces take just about the same length of time to work.

However, in addition to the aesthetic appeal of Invisalign, other factors make it a better option for you. The appliances used for this method can be removed, which is in contrast with metal brackets that are attached to your teeth.

This means that there are no forbidden goodies like chewy candy, gum or chips. Consider too, that being able to remove the corrective tools means you can clean your teeth better.

Patients will be counseled to wear their braces 24 hours a day for best results, with the exception of eating and brushing time. A patient who wears the appliances as instructed will generally enjoy a shorter treatment time than those who don’t.

During the entire course of treatment, don’t be surprised if you’re asked to put on 20-30 corrective appliances. The total number of appliances created and used for the process determines costs in a big way.

Most wearers complain of tightness when the next appliance is put on. This discomfort is perfectly normal and is usually short lived.  It’s quite similar to having traditional braces tightened.  And, of course, the minor discomfort is easier to tolerate with mild pain meds and a clear vision of what the end result will be.

If you are interested in learning more about Invisalign, contact an Orthodontist or Cosmetic Dentist who is experienced in this procedure.

Straightening your teeth does NOT necessarily mean having metal braces…

Amalgam Fillings – Amalgam vs. Composite

Key Meyer lost 60 lbs when she developed food allergies about a decade ago. She couldn’t seem to think clearly, as she suffered from fatigue and pounding headaches on a daily basis. Mayer wasn’t overly sure what had made her sick, but she did have a suspicion that it was mercury – she not only ate a ton of fish, but, she worked as a dental assistant who handled mercury on a daily basis. She also had a number of dental fillings herself, which contained about 50% mercury.

After undergoing a medical exam, doctors found elevated levels of mercury in the 65 year old by testing her blood, hair, and urine. When asked about her experience, Mayer stated that “it was determined that a combination of all three of those things led me to have pretty high elevation of mercury in my system and organs and blood stream, which caused a myriad of health problems including fatigue, brain fog, inflammation throughout my body particularly in my digestive system and bladder. I was diagnosed with high mercury elevation. Eventually, I found a dentist in Skowhegan who over several months very carefully removed all my fillings. Over time, my symptoms got better – some of them went away.”

More than half of Maine dentist have stopped using fillings that are mercury based as of today; this, due to health and cosmetic reasons, says Matt Prindiville of the Natural Resources Council of Maine. Now, filling materials are a basic composite of tooth colored resins. Original amalgam fillings, which are made up of mercury and other metals, are seemingly being replaced according to Frances Miliano, the Director of the Maine Dental Association.

When asked about the old style fillings, Prindiville said “over half of the dentists offices in Maine no longer use mercury … mostly it’s consumer driven. We’re moving closer to not using (amalgam fillings), and in all probability, in the next decade, we’re not going to be putting mercury in people’s teeth anymore.”

The US government, however, doesn’t see things this way. They feel that the amalgam mercury fillings are still safe to use. Amalgam is a less expensive way to fill teeth, and is very durable. When questioned on price, Miliano stated “I’ve heard composite fillings may be as much as 50 to 80 percent more, although we don’t track what dental offices charge.” She went on to say that a lot of people are using the fillings for aesthetic reasons “…choosing to use the composite type of materials even for the back teeth. There certainly is a gradual decrease as composite fillings get better and easier to use. They are more expensive, but are usually covered to some degree by insurance companies.” Click for a full product list of dental suppliers.

By: Paul Guenther

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Steps to Successful Dental Implants

Dental implants are artificial roots and teeth placed directly into the jaw via a surgical procedure. Dental implants are great for people who are in good health, but, who have lost teeth due to any number of misfortunes. Implants are very natural looking and feel almost exactly like “regular teeth” when you bite or chew food.

Since they are connected to the gums and bone in your mouth, a periodontist will normally be the primary member of any tooth implant team. They will usually give you an initial consultation, and let you know where the implant(s) will be placed.

Depending on the type of implants you wish to use and your mouth’s current condition, the periodontist will create a custom tailored treatment plan. Many things can alter this plan. For instance, will you be replacing a single tooth, or several teeth?

It’s also quite common for Prosthodontists and Oral Surgeons to perform dental implant procedures.  And in larger, multi-disciplinary clinics or dental groups, it’s commonplace for the three specialists to work together on implant cases.  Particularly if the implants are part of a full-mouth reconstruction project.  But even outside of larger clinical settings, it’s not at all uncommon for the primary dentist to consult with and possibly refer you to one or more other specialists.

Single tooth replacement can be carried out with an implant and a dental crown. This procedure replaces not only the tooth, but also the tooth’s root. It also carries a number of advantages over other options; it looks like a natural tooth and the implant can be placed in the mouth without harming neighboring teeth.

Since the dental implant replaces the root in addition to the crown, your bone usually remains intact. In the long run, a single tooth replacement can be easier to keep clean than a dental bridge and your gums will not recede around the metal.  Single tooth implant is a great option.

When replacing multiple teeth, a dental bridge is usually necessary. These bridges will replace all of the lost natural teeth and many of the roots.

First, implants that look like screws are placed within your jaw and left to heal. A few months later, the implants and bone will have usually bonded together. Next, abutments (small metal posts) are installed to complete the foundation. Your gums are then allowed a few weeks to heal before the process continues. Finally, bridges (or replacement teeth rows) will be created for you, and installed by your periodontist. These replacements are attached to the before mentioned abutments.

After your implants have been installed, the recovery process begins. Full recovery and healing usually takes about 3-6 weeks.  This, of course, will depend on the number and type of dental implants used in your procedure – the more implants, the longer the healing time.

To avoid complications while healing, one should avoid smoking cigarettes. It can also be beneficial to use ibuprofen or another non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (your provider will most likely prescribe), which will decrease swelling and ease pain.

Also, proper oral hygiene is imperative while you heal.  And the use of a non-alcoholic mouthwash may help to keep the implant areas more sanitary, which will speed healing.  Your dentist will most likely provide you with several products and thorough instructions that will enable you to properly clean and maintain your new appliance at home.

Though they aren’t nearly as good as the real thing, properly installed dental implants are currently the best alternative for replacing lost teeth.  If both the installation and maintenance are done correctly and the patient maintains good physical and oral health, these devices can perform well and last for several decades.

By: Paul Guenther

Getting anxious during a dental visit may seem silly to some. But there are people whose anxiety levels increase tremendously at the thought of dental appointments, let alone an upcoming dental procedure.

These patients may have gone through a traumatic experience in the past or they simply have a low tolerance for pain. Further, hard to restrain children who are obviously anxious about going through the dental treatment are unable to stay put in the dental chair for a long period.

There is a solution to reduce the anxiety and calm the patient during dental visits and treatments: sedation and sleep dentistry.

Administering these dental techniques depends on the patient’s needs and the type of procedure they’ll go through. Local anesthetics are typically used to numb the area so that you won’t feel any pain or discomfort during the treatment.

There are two kinds of anesthetics utilized in dentistry today: topical and injectable.

Topical anesthetics are applied on the gum using a swab or an adhesive patch. This reduces the stinging sensation the patients experience when an injectable anesthesia is used.

Injectable anethesia is introduced to prevent pain and discomfort in the area where the treatment will take place. It blocks the nerve endings and temporarily numb the tissues around the mouth. Injectables are administered during root canals, tooth extraction and other tooth restoration procedures.

Despite the introduction of anesthetics to reduce the pain and discomfort, some patients need to deal with anxiety which local and injectable anesthetics don’t provide. In such cases, the dentist will use anti-anxiety medication or sedatives to provide relief for anxious patients. Conscious sedation can be administered through pills, gas or intravenous injection. The most commonly used sedative agents are nitrous oxide and intraveous sedation.

Nitrous oxide or commonly known as laughing gas or happy gas is administered by mixing it with oxygen and inhaled through a breathing mask. The sedative properties wears off once the mask is taken off. Intravenous sedation is generally administered in the vein on the arm. After a few minutes, the patient will be put in a relaxed state; breathing on their own and able to respond to verbal commands.

As a patient, you need to openly discuss your dental anxiety concerns with your dentist. There are options available to you such as conscious sedation that can help alleviate the discomfort and anxiety levels during dental treatment and procedure.

Leff, Weiss and Walde DDS are a team of Ft Lauderdale dentists specializing in sedation dentistry. For more information about eliminating anxiety and discomfort during dental treatment, visit sleepdentists.com.

Many people are unaware of the fact that having white teeth is important when making an impression and a nice white smile can cause you to look much younger.

But many ordinary, daily habits can make our teeth less white, including smoking, specific beverages and even medications such as tetracycline.

For this reason more and more individuals are trying a variety of different tooth whitening options these days.

There are many choices out there to help you get a whiter smile, including implants and veneers. But these procedures can be very expensive, so you may want to look at some of the available tooth whitening alternatives, a number of which will take years off your age.

And in case you aren’t able to pay for one of the more pricey treatments that a cosmetic dentist can provide, there are lots of other alternatives.

When looking over your teeth whitening alternatives, you will find that laser treatment will be the most price prohibitive option.

According to how bad the stains are on your teeth, you may need more than one treatment. Even though it’s expensive, laser whitening is also the fastest way to get the whitest smile of any of the choices.

Due to the high cost of professional teeth whitening, though, many individuals try more cost-effective methods at home.

But before making use of a cosmetic teeth whitening product, it’s prudent to talk with your dentist. They can provide you with information about what to expect, whether picking a home product or professional treatment. Your dentist can assess your teeth and gums to find out which whitening product will work best for you.

When cosmetic teeth whitening home kits were first marketed they were not as easy to use as they now are. You can find home teeth whitening systems in an array of formats like gels or strips, for example.

Get a home kit with at least 21% carbamide peroxide to get your whitest smile. Folks need to be aware, though, that there aren’t any home teeth whitening systems that work instantly. Results will become obvious over a period of time, so the more consistent you are with usage, the better the ultimate results.

We all want to look our best at all times.  However, unfortunately, most individuals do not have naturally white teeth. This is the reason that cosmetic teeth whitening has really taken off recently.

One thing is certain, you’ll feel more self-assured with a brighter smile, regardless of which teeth whitening method you choose.

The popularity of teeth whitening products and procedures has grown enormously in the last few years.

Lots of people are becoming aware that a white smile is a great way to look more attractive, not to mention younger.

Find out what the choices are in teeth bleaching kits at the Teeth Bleaching site.