Medical

Many don’t consider all their eyes do for them, until they are in need of help. With all they see and take in daily, it’s an endless collection of information and data. However, what many fail to see is the need for great care.  Caring for the eyes is so specific; they have medical experts who are designated solely to keeping them well. Many just take their eyes and their vision for granted. Vision isn’t just something you have; it is in fact more of a gift. Millions of people have had to learn life-changing skills due to losing their sight. Often times, this is something that can be prevented. With the right knowledge and attitude, you too can have long lasting healthy eyes and enjoyable sight.

There are two purposes to use crown lengthening.
The first is to have a good crown by providing enough retention structure.  A crown is an excellent way to cover and protect a tooth that has fractured or been damaged by decay or injury.  Sometimes, however, the damage is so extensive that there simply isn’t enough tooth structure to support a crown.  In these cases, we can often use a minor surgical procedure called crown lengthening.

Whenever I teach a course in back and neck care, someone inevitably stands up and states, “you can’t help me, I have scoliosis – my spine is curved.”
Actually, everyone’s spine is curved, like an “S,” with two curves in (at the neck and in the lumbar area) and one curve out (at the back).  Each “in” curve is called a lordosis; the “out” curve, a kyphosis.  Scoliosis refers to a lateral curve, meaning the spine is curving to the left or right.

We would like to thank our loyal patients for the growth of our business and local physicians for trusting us to give quality hearing solutions and care.  We have been voted best hearing aids and service for four years in a row.
Therefore we have moved to a larger facility to serve you better, located at 23822 Valencia blvd. suite 103, between AAA and the atrium building in the Owen Patterson Building.

Today, orthodontic treatment is very different from what it used to be.  Over the last few decades, there have been many advances in technology that have greatly improved the esthetics, efficiency and comfort of braces.
You probably are aware of the fact that tooth-colored ceramic braces are available for the image conscious patient.  And you may have heard about high-tech, self-ligating braces, which make treatment gentler and more efficient.  The exciting news is that now, you can get all these features together in one bracket- the Damon Clear.

As we begin the New Year, we continue to be confronted with the recent fear of coming down with the “Swine Flu.”  Of course, it is reasonable to be somewhat concerned, but we all must be reassured that very few people develop severe cases.  Those at greatest risk are under age five and over age 65; also, individuals with chronic diseases which impact the immune system, including asthma, diabetes, emphysema, pregnancy, and even chronic smoking. 

As a dentist and physician who specializes in anesthesia, I find myself asking this same question.  It seems that many dentists advertise sleep dentistry, as a means for the anxious patient to complete needed dental procedures.
But “sleep dentistry” can be misleading.

Dental veneers are custom-designed porcelain shells of tooth-like material that, when applied over the surface of a tooth, can cover worn tooth enamel, uneven tooth alignment or spacing and chips or cracks.
Dental veneers fall into the category of cosmetic dentistry because they create a bright, white smile with beautifully aligned, shapely teeth.  Even better, the translucent ceramic quality of today’s veneers provides a more natural look than what’s been available in the past. 

In our modern society more and more emphasis is placed on looks and appearances. Constant exposure in the media along with greater health awareness has caused an increasing number of adults to seek orthodontic treatment.

More than 25,000 people sprain their ankles every day, according to the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society.
There are four key reasons why an ankle sprain should be promptly evaluated and treated.  An untreated ankle sprain may lead to chronic ankle instability, a condition marked by persistent discomfort and a “giving way” of the ankle.  You may also develop weakness in the leg.  You may have suffered a more severe ankle injury along with the sprain. 

What is the Functional Movement Screen?  The Functional Movement Screen (FMS) is a screening system used at the highest level to evaluate professional athletes.  It is great for evaluating young athletes as well.  The screen challenges movement patterns that are essential to normal function and general athletic ability.  The purpose is to quickly identify functional limitations and asymmetries. 

Whiplash is a non-medical term used to describe injury caused by a rapid jerking of the neck either forward and backward or side-to-side.  It is most often associated with motor vehicle accidents, but can also occur from falls, blows to the head, or sports accidents to name a few.  The sudden, forceful movement with whiplash causes the neck to move beyond its normal range of motion.  This can cause tearing in the muscles, tendons and ligaments, which support the neck and can lead to damage to the intervertebral disc, spinal nerves or even spinal cord.

Relief is in sight for those suffering from back pain due to herniated or degenerative discs, joint problems, arthritis and sciatica.  Dr. Jeff Bowne is now using a new machine, the DRX-9000, a break-through in the treatment of back pain.  He is the first doctor in Santa Clarita to use this state of the art technology. 

With the New Year comes the chance to start fresh. One of the best ways to do this is to make health care a top priority in your life and in the lives of all of your family members.
Samuel Dixon Family Health Centers, Inc., your community health center, is here to help you. We have three locations in the Santa Clarita Valley. Our compassionate, bilingual health care providers can help you get on track with your health for the new year.

We’re the lucky ones.  We’re the generation that grew up with fluorides, gum treatments, and high dental health expectations.  Not that long ago, popular wisdom held that you held onto your teeth for a while, then began having the problems extracted, and finally at about 60 or so, settled into dentures.  Today we know that doesn’t have to be.

As an eye care practitioner, it is my job to know what to look for in infant and toddler visual development.  As a proud new parent, I thought it would be a good editorial to list the expected visual performances of infants and toddlers for parents.
Birth to six weeks:

Hippocrates once said, “The natural healing force within each one of us is the greatest force in getting well.”
Detoxification/Cleansing is the process of addressing the toxins in the body.  The liver, digestive tract, kidneys, bladder, lymphatic system, lungs, and skin are the major systems/organs that are involved in the neutralization and elimination of toxins.  Because we are exposed to high levels of foreign substances (medications, pesticides, fumes, synthetic materials, cigarette smoke, caffeine, preservatives) and over consume chemically-treated, synthetically-produced food, extra purification is needed.  In addition to these challenges, our bodies produce waste by-products (such as ammonia, carbon dioxide, and free radicals) as a result of normal metabolism that need to be eliminated.

Nearly every day I speak to a new patient who is complaining of chronic health concerns.  Maybe it’s constipation, headaches, acid reflux, leg pain or numb fingers.  I begin by questioning the patient about old injuries, car wrecks, falls, sports – all the usual events in life that cause physical stress on the body.  Almost universally people tell me that some, if not all of these apply, but continue by saying, “Yeah, but I really didn’t get hurt.”