The main focus of cosmetic dentistry is the improvement of a person’s teeth as well as his mouth and his smile. It differs from traditional dentistry in that it does not focus on oral hygiene or the prevention of oral diseases. Cosmetic dentistry focuses on treatments or services that are not required or necessary but are more desired.
The use of lasers is quite common in cosmetic dentistry and is used by many cosmetic dentists to preserve natural teeth structure. There are a number of different cosmetic dentistry treatments. Indirect fillings also known as inlays and onlays are a cosmetic way of filling decayed teeth.
Composite bonding is use to repair broken, decayed, chipped or discolored teeth to enhance a person appearance. It involves the use of a dental material with the look of enamel to restore the natural look of your teeth. (more...)
The dental implant procedure known as All-on-4 was developed in the late 1990's as a means to efficiently place implants in both jaws. This procedure is often performed on those patients who have very few or no teeth.
The All-on-4 procedure makes use of four different implants and positions the back implants to help take advantage of any last existing bone in the jaw. There are also specially designed implants that are used to help facilitate immediate customization of the replacement teeth, to better fit the patient's mouth. This kind of treatment is especially advantageous to those patients who already have dentures and are now in need of full upper and/or lower dentures.
By using the all on 4 implants procedure, patients are able to receive their treatment in only one appointment. During this appointment, the patient is given four implants along with replacement teeth. This is all done without having to use any bone grafts, which is another highly attractive design of the procedure. Patients are able to leave the dental office with full functioning fixed that will not be removed or fall out and can be used almost immediately. (more...)
Heel pain is one of the most common foot problems there are. A lot of people experience it with their first steps in the morning, after getting out of bed. The pain may vary from a dull ache to a sharp stabbing pain at the bottom or sometimes at the front of the heel bone. A lot of those who suffer from heel pain are those adults over 40 who live relatively active lifestlyes. The theory behind this is that later in life, the body can no longer keep up with rigorous physical activity and heals more slowly than when it was younger. Heel pain also occurs among younger people who exert excessive strain on their heels such as long distance runners and the likes.
Usually, heel pain is caused by plantar fasciitis, which is an inflammation of the plantar fascia, a band of tissue under the foot that connects the heel bone to the toes. Abnormal stress and heavy weight can cause this muscle to become irritated and inflamed. When you are at rest, the plantar fascia relaxes and shortens. When you get up on your feet, the weight of your body presses down on your feet and the plantar fascia stretches and quickly lengthens. This causes tiny tears in the muscle thus causing the heel pain .
People who have a tendency to suffer from this condition are those who stand or walk on hard surfaces for long perionds of time, do a lot of running and/or sports, are overweight or pregnant, have tight calf muscles or are over 50 years of age. There are various treatments available for heel pain. Medical measures include surgery, although this is seldom required and is often the last resort when all else fails. It involves partially cutting the ligament to release the excess tension. A common treatment is the shockwave treatment. Here shockwaves are targeted onto the affected area in order to stimulate the inflamed ligament to heal. The treatment lasts for about 3 to 4 months. Drastic pain relief is usually provided by anti-inflammatory injections. In many cases, cortisone-steroids are used. Pain relief is almost instant but the injection process itself is very painful and relief can only last up to 6 weeks. It also does not address the root of the problem itself. (more...)
