Archive for September, 2011

Miami Holistic Dentists Recommend Invisalign

Tuesday, September 27th, 2011

Miami Holistic Dentists Recommend Invisalign Miami Invisalign treatments are becoming popular among both holistic dentists as well as the patients they treat.  Invisalign has gained support from the holistic dental community primarily for its minimally invasive method of straightening teeth.  These revolutionary “removable” orthodontic braces effectively straighten teeth without disrupting the normal eating, brushing, and flossing habits of the patient.  As a result, patients are able to comfortably straighten their teeth while minimizing the chances of developing tooth decay and gum disease!

Invisalign:  Minimally Invasive Orthodontic Technology

Invisalign is considered “minimally invasive” because of how the technology goes about straightening teeth.  Invisalign uses clear surgical-grade plastic aligners that slip over the teeth and gently shift them into alignment.  By contrast, traditional metal braces require permanently affixing metal brackets to each tooth that needs shifting.  A wire is then threaded through those brackets, and an Orthodontic professional periodically tightens the wire to pull the brackets, and teeth, closer together.

 

Invasive is a medical term used to describe the extent to which a procedure penetrates the body cavity.  A minimally invasive procedure, then, is one that performs a specific operation while penetrating bodily tissues to the lowest degree possible.  Invisalign is considered minimally invasive because the patented Invisalign aligners are smooth, comfortable, and removable.  They incur very little damage to the inner cheek and gum areas, whereas traditional metal braces commonly scratch, cut, and irritate those tissues.

Choose Invisalign and Prevent Tooth Decay

Invisalign comes with a second advantage:  minimized risk of tooth decay.  To better understand this concept, let  us first review how tooth decay forms:

 

1. Food particles get stuck in the cracks and fissures of the teeth, as well as deep between teeth and along the gum line

2. Particles that are not removed during brushing and flossing form plaque on the surface of the tooth

3. Bacteria begins to fester, feeding on plaque to grow

4. Bacteria spreads and produces an acidic byproduct that eats away at the surface of the tooth

5. As this process continues, the tooth literally begins to decay and cavities start to form

 

The foundation for tooth decay is built by food particles that are left in the teeth after meals.  Patients with traditional metal braces cannot remove their orthodontic devices before meals or prior to brushing and flossing.  It is very easy for food particles to get tangled in the brackets and wires of metal braces, making it very difficult for these patients to thoroughly clean their teeth on a daily basis.  This causes patients with metal braces to experience a higher incidence of tooth decay during treatment.

 

Invisalign aligners are fully removable, however, allowing patients the convenience of removing their orthodontic devices to eat, brush, and floss like normal.  As a result, Invisalign patients are able to maintain cleaner smiles during treatment, which decreases the chance of developing tooth decay.

Speak to a Miami Invisalign Professional Today

Are you interested in learning more from a Miami Invisalign professional?  Assure a Smile is a holistic dentistry practice with over 20 years experience providing superior quality of services to the Miami area.  Our team takes a genuine interest in the well being of our patients and provides only the best quality holistic health services to our patients.

 

Assure a Smile invites all South Florida residents to schedule an appointment online to learn more about the Invisible Braces System that has created “over 1 million smiling faces!”  South Florida residents may also call Assure a Smile directly at 305-274-0047.

Miami Invisalign: Create the Smile of Your Dreams

Tuesday, September 20th, 2011

Miami Invisalign:  Create the Smile of Your DreamsMiami Invisalign professionals recommended the Invisible Braces System to patients for many reasons.  Invisalign is highly effective as a teeth-straightening solution.  This is no secret, and the company has been proudly vocal about “creating over 1 million smiling faces” nationwide.  Assure a Smile has assembled this easy-to-follow Frequently Asked Questions article to help patients learn more about this exciting new teeth-straightening procedure.

Ask a Miami Dentist About Invisalign

How does it work?

Invisalign works to slowly shift the teeth together over time.  While bringing teeth close together with Invisalign is common, the revolutionary Invisible Braces System may be used to treat a number of additional conditions including underbites, overbites, and crossbites.

 

Patients must first schedule an appointment with an Invisalign professional.  The Miami Invisalign professional will then conduct a quick and comfortable examination to determine the best course of treatment.  This examination includes taking images of the oral cavity that will later be used to create a custom set of Invisalign aligners.

 

Invisalign aligners are then delivered to you and are worn for intervals of about 10-14 days, depending on the plan your Invisalign professional designs for your unique needs.  Each set of aligners gently moves your teeth closer together.  This process is repeated until your teeth are smoothly shifted into beautiful alignment.

 

What are the benefits of Invisalign?

The greatest benefit of the Invisalign Invisible Braces System is that they are completely removable!  Patients are free to remove their aligners prior to eating, brushing, and flossing.  This benefit makes Invisalign the most comfortable and convenience teeth-straightening procedure available.

 

What’s more, the removable nature of Invisalign allows patients to thorough clean their teeth as if they weren’t wearing braces at all.  This dramatically decreases the incidence of tooth decay among Invisalign patients compared to those wearing traditional morning braces.

 

How common is Invisalign?

Over 1.3 patients have created beautiful smiles with the Invisalign system.  That number continues to grow each day.

 

How are Invisalign aligners made?

Invisalign aligners are made of USP Class VI medical-grade polyurethane.  This material is completely free of Bisphenol-A (BPA).  This smooth and comfortable material passes all of the strictest of requirements for wear in the human mouth (i).

 

Are Invisalign aligners approved by the FDA?

Yes.  Invisalign aligners are classified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as Class II medical devices.  They are made of BPA-free medical-grade polyurethane that is bio-compatible and cleared for use in the human mouth.

 

My teeth shifted after I had my metal braces removed.  Can Invisalign correct this problem?

Yes.  A number of individuals experience slight- to-moderate shifting of the teeth after they have their metal braces removed.  Invisalign is becoming a popular follow-up treatment for these patients because it is clear, comfortable, and convenient.  Patients may follow up metal braces with Invisalign without feeling embarrassed or prolonged discomfort.

Assure a Smile Miami Dentistry:  Experienced Invisalign Professionals

Would you like to know more about Invisalign?  Assure a Smile invites you to schedule an appointment to learn more about the Invisible Braces System that has over 1 million Americans smiling the beautiful, straight smiles of their dreams!

 

(i) http://www.invisalign.com/Pages/Frequently-Asked-Questions.aspx

 

 

Research Suggests Walnuts Reduce Breast Cancer

Tuesday, September 13th, 2011

walnuts reduce breast cancerMiami dentists and holistic health care professionals are nutty.  That is, they have long recommended that individuals add nuts to their diets to attain a plethora of health benefits.  Such benefits are many and varied, but a major advantage include increased cardiovascular health and longevity.  Now, research from the Marshall University of West Virginia indicates that a very specific type of nut may help reduce the risk of breast cancer.  Enter:  Walnuts.

 

Walnuts are tightly packed with an arsenal of healthy B vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants.  It is the omega 3 fatty acid content of walnuts, however, that has made recent headlines.  Specifically,walnuts are high in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) that may reduce the risk of breast cancer.  Research suggests that the ALA content of walnuts works synergistically with the naturally occurring vitamins, minerals, fiber, and protein of the nut, significantly reducing the development of cancerous tumors.  For more information, we turn to Dr. Elaine Hardman.

 

Dr. Hardman closely studied the development and proliferation of cancerous cells in mice at the Marshall University.  Her goal:  To determine if a diet rich in walnuts may reduce the rate at which cancer develops.  Dr. Hardman divided mice in two groups, one “control group” that received normal nutrition and one “test group” that received a diet rich in walnuts and ALA.

 

The results were overwhelmingly positive:  those with a diet rich in walnuts developed cancer at half the rate of those in the control group.

 

What’s more, walnuts had this profound impact on mice that were already destined for cancer.  “These reductions are particularly important,” contests Dr. Hardman, “[considering] the mice were genetically programmed to develop cancer at a high rate,” (i).  This implies walnuts may be even more powerful in preventing the formation in cancer in human beings, as we are not genetically programmed to develop cancer.

 

Dr. Hardman was the leader of the research team that led this ground-breaking investigation.  More information may be found in the journal of Nutrition and Cancer.  Dr. Hardman’s research serves as a powerful follow up to a 2004 statement issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, stating “1.5 oz of walnuts per day, as party of a low saturated and low cholesterol diet […] may reduce the risk of coronary hear disease,” (ii).

Holistic Dentists:  Nuts About Nuts!

Holistic dentists focuses on more than just the teeth and gums.  Holistic dental professionals view the human body as a large an intricately connected system.  Not surprisingly, proper nutrition is a fundamental concern for holistic professionals as it directly impacts the overall health of the body.

 

Walnuts are a powerful mega-nutrient that patients are smart to incorporate into meals whenever possible.  Not only are walnuts linked with a decreased incidence of cancer, as documented above, but they also contain basic nutrients that help to energize and fortify the body.

 

Moreover, walnuts are a perfect substitute for meat on salads, pastas, rice, and stir fry dishes.  Whether vegan or simply opposed to fluoride –contaminated meats, walnuts are a great way to dramatically increase the nutritional value of daily meals!

Have You Visited A Holistic Dentist?

South Florida Residents:  Contact Assure a Smile to schedule an appointment with a leading South Florida holistic dentist, and learn more about the “big picture” of oral health!

 

(i)  http://www.naturalnews.com/033536_walnuts_breast_cancer.html

(ii) http://www.healthcastle.com/walnuts-benefits-heart.shtml

Holistic Dentistry News: Cognitive Therapy Helps Patients Overcome Dental Fears

Wednesday, September 7th, 2011

Holistic Dentistry News:  Cognitive Therapy Helps Patients Overcome Dental FearsMiami dentists and other health care professionals are looking at a new, all-natural way to curb patient anxiety.  According to the August issue of British Dental Journal, a single session of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, could significantly aid those who suffer with doctor related phobias and anxiety.  Holistic dentists are embracing these findings, pointing to the fact that CBT is a minimally invasive way to get patients to visit health care professionals in comfort, confidence, and a timely manner.

More on the British Health Journal

The mission of the British Dental Journal (BDJ) is to inform readers of the ideas, opinions, developments, and key issues in dentistry (i).  A dental industry standard, the BDJ draws a professional audience of dentists, dental undergraduates, and dental team, hospital, academic, and general practitioners.

 

The publication released its most recent study on the subject of dentistry and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in late August, detailing the many benefits CBT may offer to patients with mild to severe dentist-related phobias.

 

The study was based on a survey of 60 patients who routinely relied on intravenous sedation before all dental procedures.  Half of the patients were then offered CBT to alleviate their fears, while the remaining half were left untreated.  Of the 30 patients offered CBT, 21 accepted the treatment.  Of those 21 patients, 19 returned to the dental chair to receive procedures without the use of intravenous sedation.  What’s more, these patients were reviewed 10 years later and none had returned to sedation dentistry after having embraced CBT to explore their medical fears.

Holistic Dentistry and CBT

This discovery is important to holistic dentistry professionals for at least two reasons.  First, it exemplifies a common problem:  patients are afraid to visit health care professionals.  Most of these fears are buried deep within the subconscious, rooted in reasons we may not understand.  CBT is just one method of overcoming these fears, and it may help patients find the optimistic courage needed to keep healthy through routine check-ups with medical professionals.

 

The study also indicates that all-natural means of overcoming fear and anxiety are effective.  As illustrated by the study, the patients treated by CBT were able to steer-clear of sedation dentistry for at least 10 years.  While sedation dentistry helps get fearful patients in the dentist chair, it nevertheless represents a maximally invasive and unnecessarily dangerous means of performing simple procedures.  Alternatives to sedation dentistry are considered relatively lower in risk, and CBT is poised to become the front-runner in viable options for patients with dental phobia.

Holistic Dentists:  Miami

Holistic Miami dentists offer minimally invasive procedures to patients, emphasizing the importance of overall wellness in achieving oral health.  To learn more about holistic dentistry, schedule an appointment with the holistic professionals at Assure a Smile!

 

Assure a Smile Miami Dentistry:  Helping Miami Residents Create Healthy Teeth and Gums for Over 20 Years.

 

(i) http://www.nature.com/bdj/about/index.html