Category Archives: Mens’ Health
Why Does Invisalign Prefer?
Crooked teeth not only pose a cosmetic problem, but these can also cause trouble when you speak or eat. But with innovative solutions like Invisalign now available, you don’t need to live with distorted teeth anymore.
You can get Invisalign in Springfield just as in any big city. Experienced cosmetic dentists in your city are likely to offer Invisalign as a treatment.
About Invisalign
Invisalign involves the use of nearly-invisible aligners to straighten teeth. The aligners are developed after obtaining 3-D imaging of the patient’s mouth. Essentially, plastic aligners are customized for every patient.
The aligners are changed every two weeks or so depending on individual needs. The aligners help the teeth to straighten up and move to the desired position over a period of time.
The Popularity of the Invisalign Treatment
There are various good reasons for the popularity of the Invisalign treatment.
Nearly-Invisible
Invisalign aligners are made with clear plastic material. Unlike metal braces, it is difficult to notice them from afar. A person will need to be really close to your mouth to notice them. When you choose Invisalign to straighten your teeth, you won’t need to deal with the embarrassment of sporting wireframes.
Oftentimes; kids or even adults may refrain from teeth straightening treatment as they might feel shy about walking around for 12-18 months with metal wires inside their mouths. But there are no such hassles with Invisalign.
Safe
Invisalign aligners are made with a plastic material safe for human use. So, there is no need to worry about the plastic inside your mouth. Medical-grade plastic materials are often used to make medical appliances and devices.
When you wear metal braces, it is quite possible to cut your lips or tongue with it while eating or talking. Those who play sports can sustain injuries due to wires when they fall on the ground or collide with another player. There are no such risks with Invisalign.
Comfortable
Invisalign aligners are custom-made for each patient. So, these are very comfortable to wear even for many hours at a time. You can even remove them easily while eating.
If you need to attend an important event and you do not wish to wear your aligners to it, you can easily remove it. It is possible to remove Invisalign aligners for 1-2 hours daily without negatively impacting the effectiveness of the treatment.
Easy to Clean
You can remove the aligners while brushing your teeth. You can even clean the aligners properly by taking them out and giving them a good rinse with water. Such easy cleaning of aligners means that there will be no food stuck inside them. Your teeth and gums will be clean and free of infections.
Fewer Dental Visits
Your dentist will need to check on the aligners only every 4-6 weeks on average. You will be given aligners to change every two weeks or so. But you are not required to necessarily visit the dentist’s office very often during your Invisalign treatment. Fewer dental visits translate into convenience for the patients.
Effective
Invisalign is actually effective in correcting misaligned or crooked teeth. If your teeth have gaps or are crowded, Invisalign can help to treat the problem.
Wide gaps between teeth can cause gum disease. Crowded or misaligned teeth are more prone to cause dental problems. It is not easy to clean misaligned teeth. Hygiene issues can lead to bad breath and infections. But with one simple treatment, you can get rid of such dental problems.
It can also be used for rectifying troublesome bite function (when the lower and upper jaws don’t align). Bite problems can lead to gum infections, cavities, increased trouble in speaking and talking, etc.
A beautiful smile and healthy teeth are easy to achieve with the help of treatments such as Invisalign. Kids and even adults no longer need to suffer with self-esteem issues due to crooked or misaligned teeth; or due to the use of metal braces.
The clear aligners used in the Invisalign treatments are the perfect solution to tackle crooked teeth with the most ease and convenience for the patients.
Step-by-Step Guidelines for Finding the Best Dentist
The right dentist can make a difference to your oral health. The best dentists not only offer the best treatments; they also diagnose potential problems and recommend the right products to use for your perfect oral health.
If you are having a hard time, find a dentist suitable for your dental care requirements, consider the step-by-step guide below for help.
Search Online
One of the easiest ways to search for anything is to conduct an online search. You can do the same when looking for a dentist. Use search terms such as best dentist McLean VA or use your location. You will be able to find the names of leading dentists in your area using such keywords.
The first step to finding the best dentist for you and your family is to collect some names. It will help you to research properly and look for a dentist that fits your dental care needs.
Conduct your own Research
Yes, you can also ask for referrals from your friends or acquaintances. But it is best to do your own research, whether it is for the referrals or for the names you found through the online search.
Check the websites of the dentists from your list of names. The best dentists always maintain a website with all the information about their services, credentials, and clinics. So, this step can be very helpful for you to find the best dentist in your area.
First, check the website for information about the dentists. Look for their educational background, dental school training, any special training (such as for pediatric dentistry), licenses, and professional affiliations.
Education and training – Professional dentists will have completed their four years of dental school training. For any additional training, they will study for at least two more years. For instance, pediatric dentists undergo additional training for at least two years to practice in this field.
Licenses – Dentists cannot practice (legally at least) without obtaining the requisite licenses from the state where their clinic is located.
Professional associations – The best dentists always obtain their board memberships. So, always check if a dentist is board-certified or not. Many dentists are members of not only national organizations (such as the Academy of General Dentistry) but also of their state’s and even international associations.
To obtain board certification; dentist needs to take stringent tests. They also need to take these tests every few years (depending on the organization) to retain their memberships. So, when you choose a board-certified dentist, you can be assured of their training and expertise.
Services – It is best to check beforehand if the service you want is offered by a dentist or not. Some dentists only practice pediatric or cosmetic dentistry, while others may offer comprehensive services along with general dentistry. If you are looking for a dentist for you and your kids, it is best to choose one who offers comprehensive services including pediatric dentistry.
Schedule an Appointment
Once you have identified one or two clinics that fit your requirements, you can schedule an appointment with them. Start with the dental clinic you like the best and then take it from there. You can schedule an appointment for general cleanup if it’s due or for any specific treatment that you require.
Scheduling an appointment will also help you assess the ease with which you were able to secure one. If there is no proper response to your inquiry from the clinic staff or if the waitlist is too long; you may want to check other clinics in your list.
Visit the Dental Clinic
It is important to visit the clinic to know for sure if it’s for you. Check the clinic for cleanliness. Assess the behavior of the staff (professional, courteous, and helpful?).
Do you feel the dentist offered you the best treatment? Did the dentist explain the treatment and informed you about the costs beforehand? Did you feel comfortable with the clinic’s setup?
Make your Assessment
Once you have gone through the above steps, it is time to assess if the dentist and the clinic are right for you. If you feel even a tad uncomfortable with something, feel free to choose another clinic.
Invisalign Advantages and Disadvantages
Invisalign is an innovative way to correct misaligned teeth. These are aligners made with a clear material that remain almost invisible. Like braces, these clear aligners help to straighten teeth but without being embarrassingly visible.
But before you opt for Invisalign, it is important to consider their pros and cons.
Invisalign Advantages
Using Invisalign can be helpful in many regards.
Not Apparently Visible
The number one benefit to opt for Invisalign is that these aligners are not visible. Teenagers and even adults are often reluctant to use braces. But if they might need to align their teeth in some way then Invisalign offers them a great solution.
There are a number of problems associated with misaligned teeth even when you neglect the cosmetic aspect of perfectly-aligned teeth. Crooked or misaligned teeth can cause problems with eating and speaking. Crooked teeth can also cause pain in the jaw and the cheeks. The constant wear and tear on the jawline can also cause headaches. If the teeth are severely misaligned then it can get very difficult to clean them. Difficulty in cleaning the teeth can cause gum diseases, bad breath, and other problems in the mouth.
Many people refrain from getting their teeth straightened in a timely fashion due to the embarrassment of using metal braces. The fact that Invisalign is not apparently visible makes it a very attractive option for people of all ages to use them with ease.
But ensure that your dentist has sufficient experience in providing this treatment. For instance, if you want Invisalign Springfield VA then chooses a dentist with extensive experience in offering the treatment. Invisalign treatment requires customization and frequent reviews to work properly. So, you will need a dentist who is an expert in offering it.
Convenient to Maintain
Unlike braces that require a lot of maintenance (the amount of cleaning after eating a meal can be tremendous); it is rather easier to use Invisalign aligners. You can lightly clean them with a toothbrush and bleach every once in a while (or as your dentist recommends) and you are set. You can easily remove your Invisalign aligners during meals to keep them relatively clean.
Easy to Use
Even if you have no direct experience of using braces, you probably know that the metal aligners can be very painful. Often the wires on the braces can cause cuts on the side of the mouth or the lips. For example, the wires or the clips can get tangled with a cloth napkin that you might use after a meal. It can get stuck on your sheet if you cover your mouth with it while you sleep. But there are no such problems with Invisalign aligners. These aligners are made with smooth material and cause no pain. Invisalign is easy to use without causing any problems that are common when you use metal braces.
Invisalign Disadvantages
There are some disadvantages to using Invisalign. But these disadvantages do not outweigh the benefits of using them.
Higher Costs
Invisalign can cost you more than braces and the cost is not covered by insurance. If this is a concern for you then you can choose a dentist that offers flexible payment plans. For instance, if you need Invisalign in Springfield, VA and can’t afford the cost of the treatment then choose a
Springfield dental clinic that offers easy payment options to their patients.
You can always find reputed clinics in your city by conducting a simple online search and check their websites for the information on payment options.
Need to remove them before Meals
Yes, you need to remove Invisalign aligners before every meal, which can seem like an inconvenience at first. But it helps to ultimately keep the aligners clean and there is no risk of food getting stuck on them.
Discomfort
If the fitting of the Invisalign aligners is not proper, it can cause discomfort and pain. If the work is performed by inexperienced dentists then you can also experience pain during your initial fitting for new aligners. To avoid such problems, it is important to work with dental professionals with adequate experience in fitting Invisalign aligners on patients of different age groups.
Cosmetic Dentist – Five Questions to Ask
Cosmetic dentistry refers to oral care procedures that can improve the appearance of your teeth, gums, and smile. There are different kinds of cosmetic dentistry procedures that can offer restorative benefits to anyone suffering from crooked or broken teeth or other problems that can affect their oral health.
Here are five questions to ask a cosmetic dentist.
What kind of cosmetic dentistry services you offer?
Cosmetic dentistry comprises of different kinds of procedures such as fixing implants, veneers and crowns, performing inlays and onlays works, teeth-whitening, teeth-shaping, bonding, and other restorative treatments.
Your family dentist may not be qualified or trained to offer all kinds of cosmetic dentistry procedures. For instance, a clinic for cosmetic dentistry in Springfield may offer all or only a few of the cutting-edge dental procedures. So, if you are looking for a new cosmetic dentist then be sure to ask them about their service offerings.
Are you qualified to offer all the cosmetic dentistry procedures listed on your website?
For medical professionals, it is not enough to merely get a degree from an accredited college. They need to qualify for the field they wish to practice in by getting certified by medical boards.
Cosmetic dentists must have memberships with different dental associations depending on the procedures they offer.
Do you have sufficient experience in providing treatment for the procedure I want?
Depending on the procedure you want, it is imperative that you ask your dentist about his or her experience in offering it. Dental procedures like fixing implants and veneers require precision and care otherwise infection can occur in the tooth cavity. If the implants are not fixed properly then you may have to undergo the procedure again at the risk of damaging your gums. It will also cause a waste of your time and money, in addition, the extra discomfort you are likely to endure. So, finding the right dentist is very important.
For example, let’s say you are looking for a cosmetic dentist in Springfield. Then check different clinics for cosmetic dentistry in Springfield by checking their websites and looking into the dentists’ experiences in the services on offer. When it comes to cosmetic dentistry, it is best to take your time in finding the right dentist for your needs. Feel free to ask the dentists you like about their experiences and training. Good dentists will always respond to your queries in a professional manner to put your mind at ease about the treatment you wish to seek.
Can I undergo multiple procedures at the same time?
If you wish to undergo different cosmetic dentistry procedures, it can be worth your while to ask your dentist if they can be performed at the same time. For example, if you need a dental crown but also a root canal in another tooth, you might or might not be able to get them in one session depending on your unique problem. Your dentist should be able to offer you a solution if undergoing multiple procedures at the same time would be possible for you.
Some dental procedures require a lot of time to complete. So, if you are short of time then it can be a good idea to discuss the same with your cosmetic dentist. An experienced dentist will be able to offer you the ideal solution even if the answer to your question is in the negative.
What kind of financing and insurance options are available with you?
Some cosmetic dentistry procedures can be expensive. So, it is important to know about the approximate cost of the treatment you need. Many dentists offer convenient financing options to their patients so that they don’t have to do without the oral care they need. Your cosmetic dentist must be part of the PPO network with different insurance partners.
Many dentists also offer flexible payment terms to their patients. So, it is important that you ask about insurance beforehand. If the out-of-pocket treatment cost of a procedure is more than what you can afford, you might want to go with installment payment plans offered by a qualified cosmetic dentist.
Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Dental Clinic
Choosing a dentist is something that needs to be done with care. A lot of things matter when finding the right clinic or practice and here are a few factors to consider when looking for the best Springfield dental clinic.
Training and experience
The first and foremost on the list is the training. Your dentist should be well qualified for the job and certifications to back up the same. What matters also is the clinical experience that he/she has had. Typically, longer the dentists have been in practice, the more well-equipped he/she is to treat you. However, this doesn’t mean newbies can’t help. They could also be well equipped in the latest technologies and medical approaches to treatment. So, look for a balance between the two.
Membership and credentials
Always choose a clinic with board-certified practitioners. This helps to ensure that the doctor has is certified to provide treatment and care in his chosen field. Also, do research online to see if the clinic has a history of malpractice or disciplinary action against them. You will want to avoid being treated by such dentists at all costs. Besides certification, see if the dentist is a member of a dental association of the city or state. This adds to the credibility and trustworthiness.
Reputation
Having a good name among the dental and patient community in Springfield is yet another feature of a professional dental clinic. To see how the practice fares on this aspect, check the clinic’s website for testimonials from past patients or case studies on the various kinds of treatments provided. For more honest feedback, search for patient reviews online. Google business listings and those on other directory pages can give you a clear picture of what the patients feel about the dentist and the practice. You could also find out more in this regard from healthcare aggregator apps and the like. Remember to go through positive and negative reviews to learn about the doctor’s proficiency, the attitude, shortcomings, etc., so that you have a clear idea about the kind of person(s) who will be treating you. Look also for the feedback on the clinic settings, hygiene, staff attitude, and waiting time as all of these have a direct impact on how comfortable or uncomfortable you feel at the dentists.
Treatments offered
Dentistry is a vast practice that includes many specializations such as endodontics, periodontics, orthodontics, prosthodontics, dental surgery and so on. When choosing a clinic, look for one that offers treatment across multiple disciplines that just in general dentistry. It helps to have a doctor who can perform multiple specialized procedures. However, since most dentists have one core focus areas, you could opt for a clinic with a team of specialists who can treat you when the need arises. This helps save on the time and effort otherwise needed with referrals.
Emergency care
Dental emergencies may occur rarely, but in such cases, it helps to have a clinic that addresses them promptly. Such emergencies may be from a chipped or broken tooth, a serious infection, bleeding and excessive pain, complications arising from orthodontic treatment, an allergic reaction to medicines, and so on. Look for a practice in Springfield that offers emergency care so that you won’t have to go through the trouble of being referred to a hospital room and being treated by someone you barely know.
Cost and insurance
Dental treatments are expensive, and it becomes important that any clinic you choose be willing to accept insurance or be listed on a network or panel of clinics of insurers. Also make sure that they accept multiple payment options such as cash, credit cards, checks. Ask for typical costs of different kinds of treatment to see how they compare against other clinics in the city. Some treatments may not be covered under insurance and in such cases, you would incur an out of the pocket expense. In such cases, see if the clinic is willing to accept payment plans or those from networks. This helps ease the burden that comes with expensive treatments. Review your prospective dental clinic in Springfield against each of these aspects of the practice to see how well it fits your needs.