Medical

Orthodontic treatment can have life changing benefits.  It can transform smiles, improve speech and function, and increase overall self esteem.  However creating a beautiful and healthy smile is not an overnight process.
The most common question I am asked from patients is “when are my braces coming off.”  This can be a very difficult question to answer.  The average orthodontic treatment can last anywhere from 18 to 24 months but may sometimes take much longer depending on the severity of the case and each patient’s response to the braces. 

Acupuncture is one of the oldest and best known types of alternative medicine. Originating in China, the practice has reduced pain and cured ailments in the East for over two millennia. It wasn’t until the 1970s, with Richard Nixon’s trip to China, that the West was exposed to this revolutionary technique. Despite initial reservations, Americans have fully embraced acupuncture. Celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, Elle Macpherson, and Jim Carey rave about the increased quality of life derived from acupuncture, and Sarah Michelle Gellar even sends her dog for treatment.

When it comes to tooth replacement, we live in a good time.  Whether a single tooth has been lost, or a slippery denture is causing trouble, dental implant technology has the problem covered.
For the right patient—healthy bone, healthy remaining teeth and tissue, healthy body—implants are a stable, safe and successful alternative to removable bridges and the average denture. 

Ever wondered why your eye is expected to give an exam? Well, the eye is one of the most important parts of your body. It is essential to protect the eye and keep it in good shape.
The best way to determine the condition of the eye is to undergo regular eye exams. These exams tell you whether your eye is in a good condition or not. If you are suffering from diabetes or high blood pressure, then regular eye exams are a must.
Regular eye exams provide you with the following advantages:

With the diet craze of today, it’s important not to forget the eyes.  Losing your eyesight is not just something to worry about when you retire.  What you do now can and will save your vision.
1. Stop smoking – Smokers are four times more likely to develop the sight threatening macular degeneration.  Smoking produces vascular inflammation and can cause the most delicate blood vessels in your eyes to become damaged.  Over time these blood vessels break down.  They are also two times more likely to develop cataracts.

And why shouldn’t our feet hurt?  We cram them into ill-fitted shoes with inadequate support; we gain weight and expect them to carry it; and we run them into the ground.  Foot pain means something is wrong and feet are more complex than you may realize.  Did you know that 25 percent of the bones in the body are in your feet?  Our feet are a complex system of 52 bones, 66 joints, 214 ligaments, 38 muscles and tendons.  It is no wonder that 75 percent of North Americans will experience foot health problems of varying degrees, at some point in their lives.

Parents and educators everywhere are concerned about the burdens that children are lugging around each day in the form of poorly designed, improperly packed and inappropriately worn backpacks.  This phenomenon has also become a major focus of chiropractors who have recognized that early childhood back stress is a major cause of spinal instability and nerve related health problems.

Many have found the medical billing career to be an excellent choice for them. This particular position in the industry of health care is a very important one. The professionals that serve on the medical billing panel work to ensure that the medical professionals receive the proper compensation for the services that they provide. This allows the professional medical doctors and their assistants the funding that is necessary to continue in their practices. Here, you will receive a glimpse into this exciting profession. If you have always wanted to take part in the industry that is directly responsible for optimizing the health of individuals around the world, but never found an area where you feel you would fit, this may just be it!

Dental care is integral part of general health, and good oral health gives the sense of overall well-being. Tooth decay is the most common health problem in many countries, and it shows the poor emphasis on the dental care by the general public. Unbalanced diet, poor brushing habits and negligence to daily oral care leads to various dental problems calling for dental treatments, which can be time consuming, expensive, painful and complex. Most of the dental problems can be avoided by paying attention to the daily oral hygiene.

Acupuncture has been effectively used for the treatment of back pain, headache, migraine, and sports injuries. However, acupuncture provides more than pain relief. It is helpful in treating anxiety, insomnia, digestive problems, abdominal, menstrual cramps, weight control, infertility and much, much more.
Acupuncture is considered a holistic approach to curing disorders and discomfort in the body’s system. It is the Asian way of cleansing the body from these illnesses, working its way to clear the natural flow of energy inside the body, as they are weakened or blocked by certain conditions, whether physical or psychological.

Arthritis refers to a variety of joint problems that cause pain, swelling, and stiffness.  Simply put, arthritis means inflammation of a joint.  Arthritis can occur at any age, but it affects older people the most.
There are many different types of arthritis.  Common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and gout.  Osteoarthritis is the most common type and can usually be successfully managed at home.  Rheumatoid arthritis and gout will improve with a combination of self-care and professional care.

The sounds of back to school season include the ringing of school bells and cash registers, the slamming of locker doors, the noisy ruckus of school hallways and cafeterias, and the moans and groans of students over tests, homework, relationships, and increasingly, their aching feet.
Flip-flops are the summer footwear of choice for many students.  But while these sandals are inexpensive and stylish, they don’t cushion or support the foot, leading to problems.  After wearing flip-flops all summer, some students will head back to school this fall with foot pain and even injuries. 

Based on our upbringing and societal influences, we grow up feeling that we’re entitled to certain things.  Our expectations depend on our experiences.  These expectations can range from basic survival to being treated like royalty.  The most realistic expectation is that whatever exists will continue to exist, though even that may change.
When it comes to believing that we deserve something special, we have to explore the origin of that belief. 

Facial reconstructive surgery advances in technology has allowed patients with facial deformities because of infectious disease, cutaneous neoplasms, congenital anomalies, and other accidents to alter the physical part to appear more aesthetically pleasing. Most patients that undergo facial reconstructive surgery are categorized as either suffering from congenital or developmental deformities. Since a face is often the most obvious bodily aspect during interactions, having deformities can cause psychological and emotional difficulties for a person. The ability to alter these deformities through facial reconstructive surgery has allowed a high number of children and adults to feel confident about their appearance.

The loss of a tooth can be a traumatic and emotional experience.  When faced with such a “crisis,” there are several options to consider.  Our number one recommendation for replacing lost dentition is dental implants.  In today’s world of dentistry, dental implants are the most advanced tooth replacement system available.  They look and function like real teeth without the concerns of developing decay. 

Orthodontic treatment is used to correct a “bad bite.” This condition, known as a malocclusion, involves teeth that are crowded or crooked. In some cases, the upper and lower jaws may not meet properly and although the teeth may appear straight, the individual may have an uneven bite.
Protruding, crowded or irregularly spaced teeth and jaw problems may be inherited. Thumb-sucking, losing teeth prematurely and accidents also can lead to these conditions.

Hate feeling like your lip or tongue is about five sizes too big once you’ve completed dental treatment?
This is just another way that our office is making the dental experience less stressful and pain-free for patients!  Thanks to the wonders of numbing agents such as Novocaine, patients can have their dental work performed in a pain-free fashion.  Of course, the problem with dental anesthetics is that for some people, it takes hours for their mouths to recover from the numbing effect. 

True or false: You only need to apply sunscreen when you go to the beach, not when you are running day-to-day errands.
False. Although we need some sun exposure because of the vitamin D it provides, allowing us to absorb calcium for stronger bones, it is important to apply sunscreen daily to protect against harmful ultraviolet rays.