Posts Tagged ‘insurance’

The Facts On Invisalign Braces

February 20, 2010 - 5:54 am No Comments

Are you an adult that wants to straighten your teeth? Maybe you have a child that you think needs braces. Have you been putting off seeing your dentist about these issues because of the common fear of metal braces? If you answered yes to any of these, there is an alternative and less scary option; invisalign braces.

Invisalign braces are different from metal braces because they do not contain any metal at all. They are instead made of thermoplastic material. The aligners are clear and are custom made to fit. They are similar to traditional braces only in the way that they move teeth little by little. Align Technology Inc. Is responsible for making them and the company was founded in 1997.

These are a good option for anyone who suffers from the anxiety and fear of metal braces, which many people do. Some adults do not think metal braces are appropriate for their age even though they want straighter teeth. It is widely thought that it is typically children enrolled in elementary schools and high schools that have braces. Yet, many younger people do not want to opt for metal braces as an option either because of the appearance of them. It is known that young people, especially teenagers, are at a point in their lives where looks are very important to them. They see the metal as being an embarrassment and as unattractive.

Discomfort can be caused by traditional metal braces. Having them put into your mouth means that your teeth will be bound by brackets and wire. Afterward, patients are advised to take painkillers due to the pressure exerted by them onto their teeth. Clear braces do not cause irritation and the process does not cause pain since it does not require tightening them monthly.

To find out if you are a good candidate for clear braces, your dentist will take a bite impression to see if the treatment would be an effective one. Not every case is suited for Invisalign braces as a solution. If you do qualify, you will be fitted will aligners and will have to see your dentist about one time per six weeks to assess your progress. The clear aligners also have to be replaced every two weeks.

Another benefit of invisalign braces is that they can be removed. When you drink, eat, brush, and floss your teeth, you can take them out. Though, they will need to be worn for twenty to twenty-two hours per day. They should only be removed at times for those reasons.

The price, insurance coverage information, and time it will take for you to straighten your teeth depends on your doctors assessment. Every patient has a case that is different and unique. Also, not every orthodontic office offers this service, so look into which local offices do.

So if you are unsure about the metal braces option, consider the invisalign option instead. They are not made of metal, they do not need tightening monthly, and they do not cause pain. They are ideal for those who want to straighten their teeth yet have convenience. With any questions and concerns, see your dentist because they will supply all the information needed.

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Facts About The Achilles Tendon

July 11, 2009 - 2:19 am No Comments

The Achilles Tendon: Injuries & Treatment

The largest tendon is the Achilles tendon. It connects the calcaneous (heel bone) to the muscles in the back of the calf. This tendon must be able to tolerate a lot of force during exercises, sports and pivoting activities.

There are two types of injury to which the Achilles tendon is particularly susceptible:

#1 Achilles tendonitis is inflammation caused by overuse.

#2 The Achilles tendon can be torn during strenuous activity.

Achilles Tendonitis Information

When you suddenly increase the intensity of your training or change to a new kind of training without completely conditioning your body to it, you may be subject to Achilles tendonitis. You may be particularly prone to it if you add sudden vigorous activity like uphill running to your training schedule. Additionally, if you take a long break from training and then start right back up at your peak level, you may cause Achilles tendonitis.

This may manifest as mild pain following exercise that gradually becomes worse. You may experience mild stiffness, swelling, and tenderness upon arising. These symptoms may improve as you move around during the day. You may feel very severe pain in the tendon several hours after you have completed your exercise routines.

In the case of a torn Achilles tendon surgical repair may be indicated. Toughened, fibrous tissue and tears can be removed with surgery. Following surgery, rehabilitation will speed recovery and help avert future ankle weakness.

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More Information About A Torn Achilles Tendon

During strenuous activity, it is quite possible to tear the Achilles tendon. This is especially likely to happen while participating in sports. When the Achilles tendon tears, you may actually hear an audible snapping or cracking sound. You may have a partial or complete tear. This injury usually occurs just above the heel bone.

If this happens, you may find that you are not able to bend your foot into a downward position or even to walk normally. This type of injury is very painful and causes a lot of swelling around the heel.

A complete rupture is usually treated with surgery. After surgery, your doctor will have you wear a walking boot or a cast to stabilize your ankle. You will need to do this for about three months.

Torn ligaments can be treated non-surgically by using a below-knee cast; however, this is not as effective as surgical treatment. It takes longer, and the healing is not as complete. You are more likely to have problems in the future when you allow the tendon to heal naturally.

With surgery, there is a much better chance of recovering fully. This is why athletes prefer to have the surgery. It allows them to return to their former level of activity with confidence after an Achilles tendon injury.

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Surgery of the Knee: Cartilage Restoration – Osteochondral Allograft, OATS, Microfracture, and ACI

July 7, 2009 - 8:15 am No Comments

Treatments of biologic origin are best when treating knee disease or injury. This type of treatment can restore the knee to a near-normal state. Reconstruction of the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), meniscal repair, and anatomic knee fracture repair are three kinds of biological surgical repairs that have good success with knee injuries.

Orthopedists as well as patients often find managing a full-thickness, symptomatic chondral lesion of the knee to be problematic.

Injury leading to articular cartilage cell death can best be treated by restoring the surface cells of the joint. The surface cells are the articular cartilage. This is the shiny white surface of which all joints in the body are made.

Four separate treatment options are possible: Osteochondral Allograft, Microfracture, Osteoarticular transfer system (OATS), and Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation (ACI).

Click here for more on Arthroscopy of the Knee.

If the patient is young, a small lesion can be repaired with Microfracture surgery. When using this method, a pick-like tool will be used to enter the marrow of the knee multiple times under the chondral defect. These entries will stimulate the bone marrow. This causes repair tissue to be created. The repair tissue fills the chondral defect with fibrous cartilage tissue.

In this scenario, the patient will be on crutches for a month to eight weeks. The patient must not participate in sports for a six months to year. Additionally, the patient must realize that it may take up to eighteen months to be completely pain free.

It is possible to restore the knee surface to a near-normal condition with a procedure called autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI). This procedure is used if the knee defect is large.

Articular cartilage cells can be harvested from the healthy part of the injured knee for utilization in ACI. There are very specific criteria that must be met for this surgery to be used.

The patient must have a full-thickness, weight-bearing, symptomatic chondral injury to the femoral articular surface. Additionally, the patient must be physiologically young. Furthermore, the patient must agree to an 18 month rehabilitation process.

There is no guarantee of successful surgery to the tibia and patella. In fact, insurance companies will often refuse to pay for this type of surgery. It is important to note that ACI is not a workable procedure for the treatment of osteoarthritis. In this condition, two reciprocal joint surfaces experience damage. X-rays will reveal narrowing of the joint space. Additionally, bone spurs will be in evidence. 3T MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) may be used to assess for ACI. By using this procedure, the proper treatment can be determined.

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