Dr Schuman answers common questions about orthodontic treatment, braces and invisalign.
The most frequest questions asked about braces, orthodontia and invisalign.
Schuman Center for Dental Aesthetics
1. What are braces and who should consider getting them?
2. Are there alternatives to braces?
3. What's the best age to get braces?
4. How long does someone need to wear braces?
5. If someone is already an adult, should they consider braces?
6. What is "invisalign"? Who should consider this type of dental correction?
7. What should someone ask during an othodontic consultation?
Dental braces (also known as orthodontic braces, or braces) are devices used in orthodontics that align and straighten teeth and help to position them with regard to a person's bite, while also working to improve dental health. They are often used to correct underbites, as well as malocclusions, overbites, cross bites, open bites, deep bites, crooked teeth, and various other flaws of the teeth and jaw. Braces can be either cosmetic or structural. Dental braces are often used in conjunction with other orthodontic appliances to help widen the palate or jaws and to otherwise assist in shaping the teeth and jaws
Invisalign is an alternative to wire braces that uses transparent, incremental aligners to adjust teeth. It is manufactured by Align Technology, a multinational medical device company headquartered in San Jose, California. The Invisalign treatment process involves taking a mold of the patient's teeth that is scanned in order to create a computerized model. Using the doctor's treatment plan, the computer model creates stages between the current and desired teeth positions that are used to create molds for individual aligners.
Frequently Asked Questions regarding Health Management Services Organizations:
What is a Management Services Organization (MSO)?
1. For those who are not familiar with the term, can you please define what exactly a Management Services Organization is?
2. What is the scope of services generally offered through a MSO?
3. What are the primary reasons a medical practice would utilize a MSO such as Pavilion Services? (To Increase revenue and decrease expenses)
4. What are the benefits to the client when they outsource medical practice business functions?
5. How does a physician practice or organization engage your services?
6. What costs/ fees are associated with utilizing your services?
7. Are your services centered upon a contractual time frame or project based?
8. How do you advocate utilizing an MSO for a small practice that may have limited staff resources to dedicate to central business office functions?
A healthcare Management Services Organization MSO is an organization owned by a group of physicians, a physician hospital joint venture, or investors in conjunction with physicians.
MSOs generally provide practice management and administrative support services to individual physicians and group practices. One purpose of MSOs is to relieve physicians of non-medical business functions so that they can concentrate on the clinical aspects of their practice.
They can generally achieve economies of scale because MSOs purchase their services as a group instead of individually. These cost savings may be passed on to physicians, who may use this cost advantage when negotiating with health plans and healthcare purchasers.
In other cases, MSOs purchase the tangible assets, such as buildings, equipment, and supplies, of their client physicians and lease these assets back to the physicians. In these situations, the physicians continue to own their own medical records and health plan contracts and continue to practice in their own offices.
MSOs have been able to develop discounted outsourced billing, malpractice discounts, discounted equipment leasing, shared staffing and benefits, and EMR. In recent situations we have seen the core MSO operate as a "group practice without walls". The advantage is to develop clinical guidelines and care standards for the practices, thereby meeting clinical integration definitions, and also being able to harvest a shares savings relationship with third party payers, including insurance companies and employers
Are you considering dental implants? Maybe you have questions regarding dental implant surgery? Are you located in the St Louis area? Here are the answers to 5 common questions we receive about this procedure:.
1. Are There Risks Associated with Dental Implant Procedures?
All surgeries carry some risks. With dental implant surgery, the risks include infection, damage to surrounding teeth, nerve damage, or blood vessel damage. In some cases, dental implants placed in the upper jaw could interfere with sinus function.
2. Who Can Have Dental Implants?
As long as you have a stable jawbone and healthy oral tissues-- and you have no medical conditions that would complicate healing-- you may be an ideal candidate for dental implants. Smokers and heavy drinkers are generally not good candidates for implants.
3. How Do I Prepare for a Dental Implant?
Be sure to tell your dental implant dentist about all medical conditions, and any prescription and over-the-counter drugs and supplements you take. Your anesthesia options include local anesthetic injections, conscious sedation, or general anesthesia.
4. What Happens During the Implant Procedure?
First, if you have a damaged tooth, your dental implant dentist will remove it. Next, your jawbone will be prepared for the implant. After the bone heals sufficiently, a metal post will be placed. It may take several months for the bone to heal before the extension-- called an abutment-- is inserted into the post. The crown of the artificial tooth will be positioned on the post.
5. What Should I Expect While the Implant Site is Healing?
While your implant site heals, there will likely be a period of swelling, bleeding, and sensitivity. Once fully healed, your new implanted tooth will look, feel, and function just like a natural tooth.
Affordable dental implants can restore missing teeth and are often used to replace natural teeth when other procedures such as dentures and bridgework don't provide satisfactory results. A dental implant is a natural-looking artificial tooth that is attached to the jawbone with metal posts similar to screws.
Please give us a call at (314) 202-6627 to set up appointment today.
Are you considering dental implants? Maybe you have questions regarding dental implant surgery?
1. Are There Risks Associated with Dental Implant Surgery?
All surgeries carry some risks. With dental implant surgery, the risks include infection, damage to surrounding teeth, nerve damage, or blood vessel damage. In some cases, dental implants placed in the upper jaw could interfere with sinus function.
2. Who Can Have Dental Implants?
As long as you have a stable jawbone and healthy oral tissues-- and you have no medical conditions that would complicate healing-- you may be an ideal candidate for dental implants. Smokers and heavy drinkers are generally not good candidates for implants.
3. How Do I Prepare for a Dental Implant?
Be sure to tell your dental implant dentist about all medical conditions, and any prescription and over-the-counter drugs and supplements you take. Your anesthesia options include local anesthetic injections, conscious sedation, or general anesthesia.
4. What Happens During the Implant Procedure?
First, if you have a damaged tooth, your dental implant dentist will remove it. Next, your jawbone will be prepared for the implant. After the bone heals sufficiently, a metal post will be placed. It may take several months for the bone to heal before the extension-- called an abutment-- is inserted into the post. Finally, the crown of the artificial tooth will be positioned on the post.
5. What Should I Expect While the Implant Site is Healing?
While your implant site heals, there will likely be a period of swelling, bleeding, and sensitivity. Once fully healed, your new implanted tooth will look, feel, and function just like a natural tooth.
Affordable dental implants can restore missing teeth and are often used to replace natural teeth when other procedures such as dentures and bridgework don't provide satisfactory results. A dental implant is a natural-looking artificial tooth that is attached to the jawbone with metal posts similar to screws.
Please give us a call at (314) 202-6627 to set up appointment today.
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is placed into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge. Dental implants may be an option for people who have lost a tooth or teeth due to periodontal disease, an injury, or some other reason.
TYPES OF DENTAL IMPLANTS
Endosteal (in the bone): This is the most commonly used type of implant. The various types include blades, cylinders or screws surgically placed into the jawbone. Each implant holds one or more prosthetic teeth. This type of implant is generally used as an alternative for patients with bridges or removable dentures.
Subperiosteal (on the bone): These are placed on top of the jaw with the metal framework's posts protruding through the gum to hold the prosthesis. These types of implants are used for patients who are unable to wear conventional dentures and who have minimal bone height.
ARE YOU A CANDIDATE FOR DENTAL IMPLANTS?
The ideal candidate for a dental implant is in good general and oral health. Adequate bone in your jaw is needed to support the implant, and the best candidates have healthy gum tissues that are free of periodontal disease.
Dental implants are intimately connected with the gum tissues and underlying bone in the mouth. Since periodontists are the dental experts who specialize in precisely these areas, they are ideal members of your dental implant team. Not only do periodontists have experience working with other dental professionals, they also have the special knowledge, training and facilities that you need to have teeth that look and feel just like your own. Your dentist and periodontist will work together to make your dreams come true.
WHAT IS A DENTAL IMPLANT PROCEDURE LIKE?
This procedure is a team effort between you, your dentist and your periodontist. Your periodontist and dentist will consult with you to determine where and how your implant should be placed. Depending on your specific condition and the type of implant chosen, your periodontist will create a treatment plan tailored to meet your needs.
Replacing a Single Tooth: If you are missing a single tooth, one implant and a crown can replace it.
Replacing Several Teeth: If you are missing several teeth, implant-supported bridges can replace them.
Replacing All of Your Teeth: If you are missing all of your teeth, an implant-supported full bridge or full denture can replace them.
Sinus Augmentation: A key to implant success is the quantity and quality of the bone where the implant is to be placed. The upper back jaw has traditionally been one of the most difficult areas to successfully place dental implants due to insufficient bone quantity and quality and the close proximity to the sinus. Sinus augmentation can help correct this problem by raising the sinus floor and developing bone for the placement of dental implants.
Ridge Modification: Deformities in the upper or lower jaw can leave you with inadequate bone in which to place dental implants. Ridge modification has been shown to greatly improve appearance and increase your chances for successful implants that can last for years to come.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT AFTER RECEIVING A DENTAL IMPLANT?
As you know, your own teeth require conscientious at-home oral care and regular dental visits. Dental implants are like your own teeth and will require the same care. In order to keep your implant clean and plaque-free, brushing and flossing still apply!
After treatment, your periodontist will work closely with you and your dentist to develop the best care plan for you. Periodic follow-up visits will be scheduled to monitor your implant, teeth and gums to make sure they are healthy.
Improved appearance. Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth. And because they are designed to fuse with bone, they become permanent.
Improved speech. With poor-fitting dentures, the teeth can slip within the mouth causing you to mumble or slur your words. Dental implants allow you to speak without the worry that teeth might slip.
Improved comfort. Because they become part of you, implants eliminate the discomfort of removable dentures.
Easier eating. Sliding dentures can make chewing difficult. Dental implants function like your own teeth, allowing you to eat your favorite foods with confidence and without pain.
Improved self-esteem. Dental implants can give you back your smile and help you feel better about yourself.
Improved oral health. Dental implants don't require reducing other teeth, as a tooth-supported bridge does. Because nearby teeth are not altered to support the implant, more of your own teeth are left intact, improving long-term oral health.
Individual implants also allow easier access between teeth, improving oral hygiene.
Durability. Implants are very durable and will last many years. With good care, many implants last a lifetime.
Convenience. Removable dentures are just that; removable. Dental implants eliminate the embarrassing inconvenience of removing dentures, as well as the need for messy adhesives to keep them in place.
Since periodontists are the dental experts who specialize in precisely these areas, they are ideal members of your dental implant team. Sinus Augmentation: A key to implant success is the quantity and quality of the bone where the implant is to be placed. Dental implants are like your own teeth and will require the same care. Dental implants function like your own teeth, allowing you to eat your favorite foods with confidence and without pain.
Dental implants don't require reducing other teeth, as a tooth-supported bridge does.
Call Us Today For A Free Consultation! (719) 836-8511
LASIK Eye surgery is a good choice to enhance your vision. There are millions of people who can benefit from this procedure. If you are farsighted or nearsighted, you may be helped with one of the LASIK procedures. You will need to consult with a physician who performs LASIK eye surgery to ask about the procedure that may fit your needs best.
Not all individuals are good LASIK Eye surgery candidates. Just because some people have successfully improved their vision with LASIK Eye surgery does not guarantee the same results for you. Presbyopia, or the type of vision problems that occur when a patient ages, does not usually qualify for this type of surgical intervention. For these patients only one eye can be treated and it may not be totally successful. Presbyopia is not a structural defect, but is a result of aging and hardening of the lens of the eye. If LASIK is not for you, your physician can recommend some alternatives.
There are some general qualifications in order to be considered for LASIK eye surgery:
1. A candidate's eyes must be considered to be healthy to qualify for LASIK.
2. Females who are pregnant or nursing should not attempt to have this procedure done.
3. 18-21 is the general minimum age requirement, and there is no age limit to having LASIK Eye surgery.
4. A person's corrective lens prescription must be stable and cannot have changed in the past year prior to surgery to qualify for LASIK. Some very strong lens prescriptions will also disqualify you.
5. Some prior health conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and immune disorders can also disqualify you from seeking LASIK Eye surgery. Some medications can also disqualify you.
With laser precision and computer guided instruments and new technology, there are several specialized techniques that can actually be chosen by the patient and his doctor. PRK or photorefractive keratectomy has been around for about 20 years and was the first laser vision surgery. A doctor uses an ultraviolet light to actually reshape and refine the cornea by removing fine layers of tissue. This corneal reshaping lets your eye focus light accurately and works well with both nearsighted and farsighted patients. There may be some mild discomfort post operatively and patients must allow several days before the improvement is apparent.
Another procedure is named laser assisted in situ keratomileusis. This is the precise and complete name for LASIK eye surgery. This is a different procedure from PRK because there is a small incision made in the tough outer eye layer and the laser work is done under this flap. Almost no discomfort will be noted with this eye procedure and vision improvement is quick.
There is also a procedure known as all laser LASIK and this is bladeless, no incision. The technique uses the lasers and computers to correct your vision. Custom Wavefront LASIK is also available. This is also known as custom LASIK or custom PRK. This surgery minimizes night glare problems and the halo side effects that some patients have after eye surgery procedures. This LASIK eye surgery is computed especially for each eye on every patient and is mapped specifically to your vision needs. The computer makes adjustments second by second so that you end up with the best vision procedure possible.
Patients having LASIK Eye surgery procedures have a probability of about 60% of getting 20/20 vision as a result. The actual figure may be over 75%. An incredible 90% of all patients end up with vision of at least 20/40. This is great news for many people who want to see the world clearly without relying on contacts and glasses. These procedures take less than 30 minutes and you go home from the outpatient clinic. The cost can be 1-3 thousand dollars per eye and is not usually covered by insurance. You will need to check with your doctor to see if one of the LASIK Eye surgery procedures is right for you.
In 2006, a study was done that concluded that contact wearers are at a greater risk for infection than individuals who have had Lasik eye surgery [http://onlinelasikinfo.com/]. In the past 10 years, over 3 million people have experienced the benefits of Lasik with nearly perfect results. Would you like to be one of them? Find out today what Lasik eye surgery could do for you: [http://onlinelasikinfo.com/]
