Revolutionary Dental Procedures to Look Out For At Your Dentist

A beautiful smile starts with the perfect dental health but this is not easy. Most people suffer teeth problems from an early age and these become major issues leading to teeth decay, loose teeth, periodontal disease, and oral cancer among other serious dental issues. Ultimately, a smile for such people becomes a mirage.

Luckily, advances in dental technology have seen new revolutionary dental procedures to remedy even the worst dental cases. If you have always wanted to restore that beautiful smile but you have a problem with your teeth, it is time to learn more about the latest dental procedures and how they can transform your life.

Importance of New Dental Procedures

People with dental problems struggle with low self-esteem and other mental health issues. A smile might not sound like much but for anyone with discolored teeth or missing teeth; it is something they would give anything to regain. 

The latest dental procedures not only help with smile restoration but also help overcome dietary problems such as an overbite.  It is also possible to prevent periodontal disease by protecting the gums. These procedures can also keep off serious dental issues such as oral cancer.

Dental Procedures Your Dentist Should Use

Your dentist first carries out a thorough dental assessment and an evaluation of your dental history. A recommendation for treatment only comes after this assessment. Some of the main dental procedures dental professionals use today includes:

1. Dental Implants:  If you have a missing tooth, it is easy to understand how frustrating this situation can be in your life.  A dental implant is a permanent replacement and includes a titanium screw fixed deep into your jawbone and a crown replacement which looks and feels like a natural tooth.

2. Laser Dentistry: Some dental procedures involve discomfort and pain but with laser dentistry, such problems no longer occur. From tooth fillings, cavity detection, reducing tooth sensitivity, eliminating tumors to teeth whitening, laser technology has revolutionized modern dentistry.

3. Invisalign: Braces have for a long time helped correct dental issues but the problem with traditional braces is the discomfort they cause. Invisalign are invisible braces custom-made to fit perfectly over individual teeth. They straighten teeth without causing discomfort and you can remove them any time you wish.

4. Computer Aided Design (CAD) Technology: Dental visits have become shorter with CAD technology. Preparing a crown is faster with this technology and the tooth replacement fits better.

5. Porcelain veneers: These veneers made from porcelain shells help correct tooth defects such as discoloring, chipping or cracking. They look natural and last longer than other tooth coverings.

6. Better Bonding and Filling Materials: Modern bonding materials include resin which is thinner and lasts longer. "Tooth-colored" composite or porcelain fillings perform better compared to traditional materials used in these procedures.

7. Gum disease treatment: Some of the advanced procedures in diagnosis and treatment of gum disease include laser technology, membranes, Scaling and root planning, bone grafts, or proteins for tissue growth, flap surgery/pocket reduction surgery and Guided tissue regeneration are a few of the new approaches treating gum disease.

During your next dentist appointment, ask about the latest dental procedures and ask which can help improve your treatment.   These advanced dental procedures will restore your smile and make a huge impact on your life.

This is a guest blog posting.

Bladder Scanning: Preventing Unnecessary Procedures

One of the most common infections in the hospital is a catheter-associated urinary tract infection or commonly known as CAUTI. This infection is caused by germs which enter the body via a urinary catheter, a tube inserted into the urinary tract to drain urine. If patients get affected with it, these infections can lead to serious complications, even death, especially for critically ill patients.
Hence, the role of nurses plays a very important part in preventing this infection to occur. Through the help of a bladder scanner, many patients can now prevent costly and painful procedures, such as unnecessary catheterization and cystoscopy.

What is a Bladder Scanner?

Bladder scanners are revolutionary tools that use technology to noninvasively and accurately evaluate the need for catheterization of the patient. It is a portable, hand-held ultrasound device, which can do an easy and painless scan of the bladder.

All bladder scanners have a transducer or probe and each piece determines the type of procedure your physician will conduct. Basically, a bladder scanner mainly uses high-frequency sound waves which are transmitted through the probe that provides a virtual 3D image of the bladder and the volume of urine retained within the bladder. This data will be documented and registered on a computer for examination and analysis of the physician afterwards. The data also includes images of the internal soft tissues of the bladder and other related organs.

This ultrasound procedure is known as bladder scanning which normally takes only a couple of minutes to complete and does not require the supervision by a sonographer. Most physicians use different medical approaches for diagnostic purposes. This usually varies on the organ that needs scanning. For instance, external organs such as bladders, breast, and muscles require higher frequency application while lower frequencies are applied in assessing deep structures such as the kidneys, and the liver.

Benefits of a Bladder Scanner

Bladder scanning is an innovative medical procedure as it provides painless medical assistance to patients and eliminates the risks associated with an unnecessary medical procedure, such as catheterization. There are several bladder scanners now available in the market consists of a battery-operated LCD display console, an ultrasound probe that scans the patient's bladder, and a pair of rechargeable batteries with a charger.

A bladder scanner is an effective device which is now commonly used by many medical professionals in ascertaining post void residual left in the urinary bladder of the patient. No wonder why this powerful device is considered as a powerful medical tool as aside from providing noninvasive medical assistance, this medical device also provides a cheaper procedure compared to other procedures like cystoscopy and catheterization. In fact, bladder scanning has superseded urethral catheterization as the latter medical procedure has been linked to unnecessary pain and other potential medical risks.

Bladder scanning has so many benefits to offer which include:

• Bladder scanners can provide data about the prostate size, diverticula, stones and large tumors in the bladder.
• Bladder scanners are utilized to identify the main causes of bladder irritability, urinary frequency, and identify bladder distention. It is an effective tool in bladder training, too.
• It is proven to be a powerful device in assisting in an accurate examination of a patient's hydration status.
• Bladder scanners are useful in the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of postoperative urinary retention or commonly known as POUR. It is likewise essential in avoiding catheter-associated urinary tract infections. 

Conclusion

The utilization of ultrasound bladder scanner is not only imperative but necessary in order to prevent the aggravation of bladder illnesses such as urethral stricture, urosepsis, urinary tract infections and bladder dysfunction. This is important to save the patient from excruciating pain, damage to his/her renal structures and most especially, to avoid unnecessary medical care that can only lead to additional medical expenses and may lead to other potential medical risks to the patient.

Indeed, the benefits of bladder scanning cannot be overemphasized and medical experts, as well as patients, should take advantage of these. Many medical suppliers, such as Emech Medical Supplies, sell high-quality bladder scanner that helps medical experts easily gather accurate data of the patient’s bladder status.

This is a guest blog posting

Have You Ever Experienced Transient Global Amnesia?

Transient global amnesia is a sudden temporary occurrence of memory loss. What happens is that if you suffer from transient global amnesia, you can’t remember recent events. Most incidents will lead you to repeat the same question despite being answered.

Note, with transient global amnesia, you know who you are, and you can recognize people. The condition is quite rare but is harmless. It will most likely not occur again after it happens the first time.  It is characterized by short episodes with it lasting a couple of hours. After that, you regain your memory fully.

You suddenly can’t remember how you got where you are. You certainly can’t remember the answers you’ve been given which makes you ask questions repeatedly.  During the recovery process, you may slowly begin remembering stuff.

This condition mostly affects the middle-aged and the elderly.

Symptoms

For transient global amnesia, it is mainly characterized by a person’s incapability to form new memories. Below are some other signs to diagnose transient global amnesia. They have to be present to confirm that a patient is suffering from the condition.

• Knowing one’s name despite the memory loss
   
• Sudden memory loss which has to be verified by a witness
   
• An absence of any physical damage to particular areas of the body such as the brain
   
• Normal cognition of ordinary objects or ability to follow directions
   
• The condition staying no more than 24 hours or less
   
• No history of epilepsy
   
• No seizures during the amnesia period
   
• The gradual return of memory
   
• Repetitive questioning

Possible action

When you notice your loved one having the above symptoms, seek urgent medical attention. This is the only way to distinguish other serious illnesses that also cause memory loss.

Causes

The primary cause for transient global amnesia is not known. However, there is a slight link to migraines. Also, another possible cause is overfilling veins with blood due to some blockage or venous congestion.

In as much as the primary cause is unknown, there are reported events that have been associated with this condition:

• Strenuous physical activities
   
• Sexual intercourse
   
• Some medical procedures including endoscopy and angiography
   
• Mild head trauma
   
• Prompt immersion in hot or cold water

Another cause could be stress. Stress could be due to the loss of a loved one or having a bad credit score which deters you from accessing loans. However, there are service providers who can give you a personal loan without checking credit. This should help reduce your stress levels to avoid episodes of transient global amnesia.

In most cases, transient global amnesia is likely to occur 4.5 more times in people aged 50 and above than in young adults. However, if you experience migraines, you risk getting transient global amnesia more than people who don’t experience migraines.

This condition should be treated as an emergency. Schedule an emergency appointment and take the affected person to the hospital.
 
How to support the affected person in the hospital

1. Ensure that you stay with the person all through. Take notes as the doctor gives useful information that will help in making the decisions after that.
    
2. Notify the doctor of any emotional or physical events that could have triggered the memory loss such as immense debt.
    
3. Provide the doctor with any previous conditions or diagnoses the person may have received.
    
4. Don’t forget to point out any medication your loved one is taking.
    
5. Since the loved one is not in a position to ask some questions, do so on their behalf. For example, ask about what causes the symptoms, what are the recommended tests? Will it be a full recovery?

Tests to be performed to rule out other illnesses

Memory loss can be due to other conditions such as seizure and stroke. This is why it is crucial for physical examination such as checking reflexes, coordination, and sensory function.

The doctor may also ask questions that will test judgment and thinking.

Imaging and brain tests are also necessary. The doctor may perform an MRI, CT scans or an EEG.
The EEG is necessary mostly to rule out epilepsy in case you have more than one episode of transient global amnesia.
 
Remember, the condition in most cases occurs a maximum of two times.

In the case that you bring the affected person, the doctor will ask some common questions to help understand the occurrences. Some of the questions will be:

• Has the person had seizures since the condition started?
   
• Does the person have a history of migraines?
   
• When did the memory loss start?
   
• Did the person accidentally fall and injure his or her head?
   
• Is there any recent surgery the person underwent?

All of these questions are meant to help the doctor understand what happened precisely to rule out other severe conditions. Transient global amnesia does not need any treatment. As mentioned earlier, the episodes are, and the affected person regains his or her memory fully.

This is a guest blog post.

Allergic Reaction or Something More? Common Rashes You Shouldn’t Ignore

Everyone gets a rash at some point in their lives. More often than not, rashes are minor and pop up as a reaction to an external irritant, like changing soap or laundry detergent or coming in contact with certain plants or animals.

These rashes typically go away on their own or with a simple over-the-counter treatment and are nothing more than a temporary annoyance.

Sometimes, though, a rash is an indicator of a more serious health issue. In fact, doctors often look at patients’ skin as a sort of window into what’s happening inside the body, as many serious illnesses often appear as hives, rashes, lesions or other skin issues. The kinds of rashes requiring medical attention are usually, but not always, accompanied by additional symptoms that need to be addressed. If you have a rash or skin irritation along with any of the following signs and symptoms, or you simply don’t feel well, don’t ignore it, and see a doctor right away.

Bullseye Rash
One of the most common types of rashes that needs immediate medical attention is a bullseye or circular rash, whether it appears with additional symptoms or not. One of the classic signs of Lyme Disease, the bullseye rash appears after you’ve been bitten by an infected tick; it can take up to 30 days for the rash to appear, and it might appear in several places on your body. If you notice this rash, get to a doctor right away as a course of antibiotics can cure the disease. It’s especially important to see a doctor if this rash is accompanied by a fever and chills, fatigue, headache, body aches and a stiff neck.

Purple Rashes
Any time you notice a rash that appears purple, you should see a doctor right away as these rashes are often indicative of chronic disease. For example, rashes that are purple and velvety feeling and appear on the back of your neck and in the folds of your body (like your underarms) are often a sign of Type II diabetes, especially when accompanied by other symptoms including fatigue, unexplained weight changes, excessive hunger or thirst, headaches and vision problems.

Another purple rash that shouldn’t be ignored is one that appears as spots on your hands and feet, which may indicate a bacterial infection in the heart. Lesions that look like bruises and are located all over your body can also be an indicator of a circulation issue or vasculitis, which indicates that your blood isn’t clotting properly. And finally, a purple rash that is limited to your lower legs and feet can be a sign of hepatitis C, so a visit to the doctor is in order.

Butterfly Rash
Facial rashes are commonly caused by sun exposure or cosmetics, but one type of rash in particular requires medical attention. The so-called “butterfly rash,” named because of the way it spreads across one’s cheeks, is a classic sign of the autoimmune disease lupus. While the rash isn’t typically painful, it can itch and burn. This type of rash may be accompanied by fatigue, stiff or sore joints, headaches, mouth or nose sores, hair loss and extreme sensitivity to cold temperatures; if this sounds like you, you need to see your healthcare provider for testing and treatment.

Itchy, Dry Skin
Itchy rashes aren’t necessarily a sign of a serious health problem, but they can be if they don’t clear up quickly or they come with other symptoms. For example, many people suffer from eczema, characterized by dry itchy skin that appears inflamed and might be thickened or crusty. Most eczema can be managed with topical treatments, but you should see a doctor to rule out more serious illness, including thyroid conditions or autoimmune diseases that could be causing the problem. It’s especially important for women to see a doctor if the itchy rash appears on the breasts and is accompanied by discharge from the nipples, as that may be indicative of cancer in the breast ducts.

Ultimately, any rash that is accompanied by pain or fever, has blisters or any type of pus or discharge or isn’t readily explained by a change in your environment — especially if it appears to be triggered by your diet or medication — needs to be evaluated by a physician. It might be dry skin or a reaction to something unexpected, but it’s better to be sure and take care of the issue quickly.

This is a guest blog posting. 

Radical treatment of moyamoya disease

Moyamoya disease is a chronic pathology that affects cerebral vessels. In patients with moyamoya, main arteries of the brain become narrow and can’t provide sufficient blood supply. In order to compensate deteriorated blood flow, smaller arteries begin to widen and new tiny vessels grow.

It is believed that the pathology is caused by a genetic factor, as it is often diagnosed in members of one family. Other possible causes include autoimmune disorders, fibromuscular dysplasia and cranial trauma.

Symptoms of the pathology

Symptoms of moyamoya disease are caused by two factors: cerebral hypoxia due to blockages of vessels and formation of new, abnormal artery clusters. Patients usually have the following complaints:

●    Headaches
●    Blurred vision
●    Numbness and/or weakness in the extremities, usually unilateral
●    Seizures or seizure-like episodes
●    Uncontrolled and involuntary movements
●    Speech disturbances
●    Psychomotor retardation in children
●    Decline of cognitive functions in adults

Symptoms usually reveal themselves during the physical exertion – sports training, intensive coughing, crying. Other trigger factors include fever and arterial hypertension.
Moyamoya disease diagnostics

Diagnostics of the pathology includes a number of investigations that allow visualizing cerebral vessels and checking their function:

●    MRI and CT scans provide a comprehensive picture of the whole brain
●    Cerebral angiography is a direct vessel examination that includes highlighting them with special contrast agent
●    Transcranial Doppler ultrasound examination provides information about vessels’ structure and intensity of blood flow
●    PET and SPECT scans reflects brain functional activity
●    Electroencephalography measures electrical activity of the brain

Only well-equipped hospitals abroad are able to carry out all the necessary examinations and ensure reliable result of the diagnostics.

Approaches to treatment of moyamoya

 Moyamoya disease treatment tactics includes drugs administration and surgery. Drug intake can
prevent stroke in some measure and improve headache and seizures.

During the direct revascularization, or direct bypass surgery, a doctor connects a superficial scalp artery to a brain artery. This allows for passing narrowed vessel segments and restoring normal blood flow.

Indirect revascularization, or indirect bypass surgery, involves gradual growing of normal superficial arteries into the brain tissue. A healthy scalp artery is attached to the brain surface through a hole in the skull. Over time, the artery forms new branches inside cerebral tissue.

Surgery is more preferable than drug treatment, as it reduces hemorrhage risk more significantly and doesn’t require lifelong medications intake.

Clinics that help patients with moyamoya

In order to provide effective treatment with a low rate of complications, hospitals should have state-of-art equipment for neurosurgical interventions and a well-coordinated team of doctors (neurosurgeons, neurologists, therapeutists). World leading hospitals that offer moyamoya disease treatment include:

●    University Hospital of Ludwig Maximilian, University of Munich, Germany
●    Charite University Hospital, Berlin, Germany
●    University Hospital HM Monteprincipe, Madrid, Spain
●    University Hospital for Neurosurgery, Salzburg, Austria
●    Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Israel

All of these hospitals admit patients from abroad provided that they have a visa, correctly prepared medical documents, and invitation for treatment.

Cost of treatment
 
Patients with moyamoya disease usually require thorough diagnostics followed by individually chosen neurosurgical intervention. Moyamoya surgery cost mainly depends on the country, level of the hospital, and doctor. Surgery price starts from 7,215€ in Thailand, from 8,485€ in India, and from 9,793€ in Spain. Price for diagnostics starts from 535€ in Thailand, from 876€ in Turkey, and from 1,725€ in Germany.

In order to choose the best hospital exactly for your case, you should contact Booking Health. Booking Health is the only international certified medical tourism operator. We will guide you through the whole process of treatment abroad, assisting with all medical and organizational aspects.

This is a guest blog entry.

Implementing Responsible Gambling Using Online Casinos

Gambling is something that most people enjoy. Currently, online gambling is a huge trend among people all around the globe. Online casinos guarantee a safe gaming environment. But is it really safe for you to gamble at these online casinos?

The Online Gambling Trend

 The gambling community has gone digital with online gambling. There are several online casinos which offer an extensive range of games for you to select from. People are rapidly adjusting themselves with this new industry.

The different leading online casinos offer an ultimate gambling experience. But along with that, there are certainly other things that must be taken care of as well. These are things that can easily destroy the well-being of any person. And must therefore not be neglected by the online casinos.

Things to Consider

The online casinos must take preventive measures to protect their customers from all kinds of problems. Too much gambling can turn into an addiction. The privacy of the members of these online casinos could be at risk by hackers. Here are some tips for responsible gaming that you need to know about.

-    Protecting users against Gambling Addiction.

Did you know that online casinos can limit the amount of time their visitors are allowed to play? If you are looking to sign up for one, note if they have any such rules. The decision to limit the time is to prevent people from getting heavily addicted to gambling.

-    Not Allowing Underage Gambling.

In many countries, it is illegal to gamble if you are under the age of 21. So, care must be taken to make sure that the age of the visitors is at least 21 or higher than that.

-    Securing Private Details of Customers.

When their members register at their online casinos, they enter a lot of personal details on their servers. These details must not become available to any other person without the consent of the customer.

-    Protecting their Members against Criminal Offenses.

The online casinos must host a protected server for their customers. They will be entering a lot of personal details including their credit card and bank account details. No one should be able to compromise their privacy.

Effect of Responsible Gambling

Online casinos must implement responsible gambling at their casinos. This will develop trust among the people and will, in turn, be good for the casinos themselves. All the measures mentioned above must be taken seriously by every online casino. These are necessary to make gambling a secure and safe experience for people around the world.

Gambling is not illegal, but it can be disastrous when a person gets addicted. With the option of online casinos, people are more at risk of getting addicted than ever. For this reason, implementing responsible gambling has been a necessity. And it must not be overlooked by online casinos to provide their customers maximum satisfaction.

How do you gamble and what is your strategy to ensure that you do not go overboard? Let us know below.

This is a guest blog entry.

Brief Overview of Coping With Heavy Periods

Unfortunately, menstruation is a problem women have to deal with on a monthly basis. You're most likely infinitely familiar with the cramping, fatigue, and irritability that accompany your week-long flow. But are your symptoms more serious than average? If you're consistently experiencing extreme bloating, gut-clenching stomachaches, and a very heavy flow, this is not normal. Use the following information to help yourself cope with heavy periods and finally put an end to your monthly suffering.

What Classifies as a Heavy Period?

Generally, most women don't lose more than 80 milliliters (16 teaspoons) of blood per cycle, with the average blood loss being about 6 to 8 teaspoons. Your flow will be considered heavy if you have 80 milliliters or more of blood loss or if your period lasts more than seven days. A good way to measure this is to use a menstrual cup, which often comes with measurement lines below the rim.

Get Help From Your Doctor

If you suspect you're dealing with a heavy period, your first step should be to contact your doctor. They can better diagnose your condition and also look for what might be causing it. They might ask you a number of questions about your period, such as how often you have to change your sanitary products, if you have any blood clots in your flow, or if you need to use two sanitary products at one time.

In many cases, your doctor will prescribe hormonal birth control to help. Contraceptives make coping with heavy periods easier because the estrogen in the pill, patch, or ring increases the clotting factors in your blood, helping to slow your bleeding.

Take Ibuprofen

Image via Flickr by timsackton

Ibuprofen has a multitude of benefits for women on their period. Not only can it help reduce cramping, but it can also limit your flow. In fact, research has shown that taking high-dose anti-inflammatories can reduce your flow by as much as 10 to 20 percent. Just keep in mind that ibuprofen isn't a permanent solution; you'll need to take continuous doses each period to limit how much you actually bleed.

Change Your Diet

Eating better and drinking more water on your period can definitely influence how you feel. In addition to eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, you'll want to add a few specific foods to your diet to help lessen your flow. Turmeric, in particular, has been shown to block the enzyme aromatase, which can naturally lower estrogen and prostaglandin levels. To get the most effects, take it daily and then increase the dose while you're on your period.

Iron is another good nutrient to supplement, as women with heavy periods often become anemic because of the extreme blood loss. Eating plenty of red meat, eggs, and leafy greens are the best way to boost your iron intake.

You don't have to keep suffering each month. Instead, take back control of your body with the above tips. These heavy flow hacks won't get rid of your period, but they should make it far more manageable than it was before.

This is a guest blog entry.