Invisalign, the clear, removable teeth straightening device can correct a wide range of dental problems. In the recent past, teeth could only be fixed with unsightly, and sometimes painful, braces that needed to worn for years at a time. Teenagers lamented. Today, Invisalign can correct dental problems without the same amount of pain and discomfort – social or otherwise.

Fix An Overbite

This type of dental issue is known in the profession as an ‘overjet’. The cause of this problem can be from a range of sources. It can be caused by bad habits, genetics or bone overdevelopment. No matter what the cause, Invisalign can correct the problem and straighten the teeth so the bite sits where it should.

Fix an Underbite

An underbite can have serious effects on the teeth. Because the teeth don’t function as they should, an underbite can cause jaw and joint problems along with damaging wear on the teeth. The problem is most commonly caused by an overgrowth or undergrowth in the jaw, but missing upper teeth can also be the root cause.

Fix Gapped Teeth

In some individuals, the jaw keeps growing while the teeth stop. The result is gapped teeth. The teeth are further separated from one another than on most people, and it can be a source of personal anxiety and oral problems. Invisalign can fix this problem, heighten your confidence and keep your oral hygiene at its best.

Fix an Open Bite

The open bite is often seen in people who sucked their thumbs excessively. It can also be caused by an abnormal jaw structure. In this issue, the front teeth do not meet when the jaw is closed, creating an open space even when the back teeth are shut. In the long-term, this can create chewing problems, speech impairment and even TMJ.

Another Correction

Children and teens are susceptible to social stigmas, and braces can be a defining social stigma in school, unfortunately. Invisalign devices help to prevent children and teens from experiencing the embarrassment and social pain that can sometimes result from traditional braces. They need not feel unable to smile or laugh when it feels natural.

If you’re suffering from any one of these problems, Invisalign braces may be right for you. Before you decide, speak with your dentist to determine the best course of action. They’d be happy to go over your options with you and find a solution.

Oh, the future of glorious. At one time the only remedy for cold sores and cankers were topical treatments and oral medications. Today, dentists make use of dental lasers to provide patients with pain relief and healing from cold sores and cankers.

Traditional Treatments

Traditional treatments for cold sores and cankers are limited to oral and topical medications. The downside to these creams and medications is that the healing process can take longer to start and you can never be sure if you’re going to have a reaction to new treatments.

Some treatments that contain steroids or vitamin therapy treatments can actually make the problem worse than it was before. For individuals who don’t want the pain of side effects, they might consider home remedies. Even though home remedies commonly create less side effects, they can also be less effective. There is another option.

Enter the healing power of lasers.

In the spirit of Star Trek, dentists have turned to lasers to make the world a better place. Dental lasers have been used since the 1990s, and they can be much more effective than any other cold sore or canker treatment.

When a patient visits their dentist for treatment, the laser used is completely painless. The only sensation felt during the procedure is a sensation of warmth where the laser is being applied. The laser works in two major ways:

• The laser deadens the nerve cells around the area providing near-instant pain relief.
• The laser promotes healing in biostimulation, meaning your body increases collagen formation.

While a medication can take weeks to have a full, healing effect, the healing process from lasers beings within a matter of days.

The Benefits

There are many reasons to opt for laser treatment rather than other traditional treatments:

• The treatment is affordable and may even be covered by your insurance provider
• Relief from pain is nearly instant when the laser is used
• You’re sitting in the dentist char for just a few minutes while the procedure is being done
• Cold sores can recur with less frequency and less intensity after treatment
• You won’t feel a thing when the laser is being used
• Individuals who get the treatment as soon as possible don’t develop a cold sore

Laser treatments, unlike traditional medications, can allow a person to move on with the more important things in their life.

TMJ, also known as a temporomandibular disorder, occurs when the jaw and chewing muscles don’t function like they once did. For various reasons, the jaw no longer opens and shuts in a natural position, causing oral problems and physical discomfort.

Diagnosis

If you think you might have TMJ, it’s best to visit a dentist to be diagnosed. A dentist can perform a simple examination and determine if further action is required. For many people, there are a series of actions that can be taken to cut down on the amount of discomfort that one feels. It’s not always necessary to take drastic action that can sometimes be irreversible.

If the symptoms persist or worsen, it may be time to return to the dentist. Your dentist will be able to present you with a number of different options that provide relief.

Medications

A dentist has the authority to prescribe you medications that provide pain relief for TMJ. It’s always best to start with medications like ibuprofen, but if they do not work for you, you can speak with your dentist about stronger medications.

Stabilization Splints

These splints can help with TMJ, although there is no conclusive evidence to support the claim of pain relief in individuals. For this option, your dentist will order the splint for you. This might be a good option if you constantly grind your teeth during the night.

Invasive Treatments

If other solutions prove ineffective, surgery and implants may be recommended by your dentist. Surgery should be avoided where possible and don’t guarantee 100% effectiveness. If surgery is recommended, your dentist will be able to let you know when that time comes and answer your questions.

Implants are another avenue that can be explored, but as with surgery, there is no guarantee. There are serious side effects that can occur with implants, so this option should be discussed at length with your dentist and with a physician before deciding.

Depending on how serious your TMJ is, your dentist can recommend solutions that work for you. Research every option before deciding and make sure you know all the possible side effects that come with each one. Your dentist should be able to answer all your questions for you, and if they can’t answer, they’ll know who you should ask. TMJ doesn’t have to affect your entire life.

Each year, your insurance company gives you a limited amount of funds to use at your dentist. If you don’t use them every year, you forfeit those funds. Now that the beginning of the year has come, it’s important for you to start using them now.

How Insurance Benefits Work

For most insurance providers, they allot a certain amount of funds every year. When the end of the year comes, the unused funds don’t go into your bank account – they go into the insurance company’s bank account. This is money dedicated to that particular year that could have gone toward any work you need done. This is why, if you’ve already started getting work done, it’s best to complete the entire process before the end of the year.

It’s Your Money

The money that is used for your benefits is money you worked for. You wouldn’t show up to work with the understanding that you’ll be working for free all day, so why would you throw money away by not using your benefits?

Your Benefits

The best way to start is to determine what your benefits do and do not cover. Break out your coverage booklet and go through anything you might need done over the year. Don’t forget about your annual cleaning. Be sure to think about any bridgework, dental surgery, root canals or any other problems you might experience. This is the perfect time to visit your dentist and discuss any oral problems you’ve been having.

If you don’t know how much you have remaining in your coverage, call up your dentist or your insurance provider to find out.

Putting It Off

We all put things off. Some of us have a hard time making appointments with the dentist, but every time you put off your appointments each year, you’re throwing money out the window and, more importantly, risking your oral health.

The benefit of using up those benefits now is that you get the work done when it’s still a smaller job. If you’re waiting, the problem may get worse and it’ll cost more down the road to fix it and cause you more health problems.

So before the clock runs out, make sure you call your dentist and make an appointment for that work you’ve been putting off. You’ll be glad you put your hard earned money to work.

Bell’s Palsy was first described in 1821, and the pathogenesis remains unclear. About 25 percent of cases are related to trauma, surgery, local infection, tumour and stroke. The remainder are now considered viral and associated with ischemia and compression of the facial nerve in the area of the temporal bone.

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) has been identified in some Bell’s Palsy cases. One patient, who developed typical symptoms of Bells Palsy simultaneously with an acute dental infection in the second and third molar area, had the following symptoms:

• Unilateral lack of forehead wrinkles
• Inability to lift the eyebrow
• Inability to close the eye
• Depressed nasolabial fold
• Inability to move the left corner of the mouth and smile
• Inability to purse the lips

Theories to explain the coincidence of Bell’s Palsy occurring at the same time as a dental infection include local compression theory, immune compromise theory and Bell’s Palsy pro-dromal theory. A neurologist can prescribe steroids and antiviral agents plus a tapering course of prednisone. The outcome of facial paralysis depends on the amount ofnerve damage. About 80 percent of patients have completed recovery, 15 percent have partial improvement and five percent have severe residual symptoms and permanent nerve damage. A better understanding of how the seventh cranial nerve is related to dental disease may come from further study of Bell’s Palsy cases.