Botox Therapeutic and Botox Cosmetic

                                           

           

I am very excited to tell you about new procedures that I am introducing to my practice in both Uptown and in Cannon Falls:

Botox Therapeutic and Botox Cosmetic.

Now you may think, what does a Dentist have to do with Botox?

Here is how it happened.

 About three years ago at a Seattle Study Club Regional Seminar on creating great smiles and facial aesthetics, the speaker was talking about treatments for what is known as a “gummy smile”.  That is, showing a lot of gum tissue above your teeth when you smile.  He commented that today rather than a surgical procedure to reduce the amount of gingiva showing above the upper teeth, Botox can be used to relax the upper lip to achieve the same result. That got me thinking that it would be useful to have that ability to do that in my practice.  I looked online for courses that were available, but one thing or another kept me away for two years. Then I received a flyer announcing courses that were going to be given in Minneapolis. They were on Botox and oral facial pain and on Botox cosmetic.  I've never really heard of Botox being used for oral facial pain so I was intrigued by that. I made arrangements and signed up for the courses.  After reviewing anatomy, we studied symptoms, deferential diagnosis, treatment options and treatment planning. We then went into the facts about Botox, how it works, its chemistry, its limitations, its safety and limited side effects. Finally we had hands on experience, practicing on our “lab” partners, just like in dental school. 

I have always held tension in my jaw and have been a “bruxer”. That is grinding my teeth when under stress. I have worn through night guards and tried many different things to help reduce stress.  Those muscles kept getting stronger and stronger. My lab partner injected 10 units of Botox into each of my major jaw muscles (Masseter), within a week I started to notice a difference, the tension was less. Some people have much more complex muscle involvement than I did, and require more units of Botox to achieve the goal. The effects of Botox can last for up to three months. Pain symptoms may return three months after initial treatment but with a series of treatments Botox can retrain your muscles to relax and you will notice your symptoms resolved for longer periods of time.

                                  

As I said, I also learned and became certified in Botox cosmetic. Dentists use needles every day more than most any other healthcare professional. Being gentle and accurate with injection is what we do.  Once the anatomy was learned, the injections were very simple and came second nature to me. Just as using Botox therapeutically helps the muscles to relax, using it aesthetically allows the muscles of the face to relax and the skin to be refreshed and renewed.

Relaxing the muscles of the face not only relieve the tension that causes temporomandibular joint disorders but can also help with other pathologies such as migraine. Are you wondering if you're good candidate for Botox treatments? Botox may or may not be the right treatment for you.  The best candidates for treatment with Botox are between the ages of 18 and 65, diagnosed with or experiencing discomfort from TMJ disorders, looking for a non-surgical skin treatment for removing wrinkles and fine lines, in good physical and psychological health and willing to discuss their concerns and desires with their dentist before treatment. If you feel you are a good candidate for Botox treatment and are interested in learning more please contact our office to schedule a consultation .We will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

 Patrick J Prochaska DDS

Ortho-Tain

Ortho-Tain

 

 
Ortho-Tain offers an advanced orthodontic treatment to straighten teeth without braces. Ortho-Tain is quickly becoming a leader in teeth-straightening treatments.  More than 2 million satisfied clients have used Ortho-Tain to straighten their teeth without braces.  The treatment is quick and invisible.
 
Ortho-Tain advantages:

• Straighten teeth with Nite-Guide® for the 5-7 year olds in months, with passive nighttime wear while sleeping, guiding the growth of permanent teeth into alignment. Occlus-o-Guide® for the 8-12 year old treatment lasts 4-10 months. Adult Ortho-T® appliances show results in 1-12 months.
• Gently straighten teeth without braces and the discomfort of wires and bands.
• Allows you to enjoy everyday activities, your favorite meals, and maintain excellent oral health.
• Correct overbite, overjet, rotation, crowding, spacing, and align the joints for TMJ treatment.
• Provide a healthy, attractive smile that naturally resists relapse for years to come!
• Put advanced orthodontics affordably in your reach at about 1/2 to 1/3 the cost of braces or even the cost of Invisalign.
• Enhance the smiles of adults, the mixed dentition age group (between 8-12), and children as young as age 5.
• Shorten treatment time of traditional braces, retain and maintain correction, prevent snoring with a Snore-Cure® appliance, and protect enamel during sleep.

 
Making the right choice for you and your family in cosmetic dentistry is important. Here are a few factors to consider about Ortho-Tain:

• Ideal cosmetic results
• Faster treatment completion
• Significantly reduced cost
• Achieve your ideal bite easily, even in complex cases
• Fewer office visits

 Please contact Uptown Smile with any questions you have about Ortho-Tain and schedule your consultation with us at (612) 822-1484!

Citation: www.orthotain.com

                

iTero Technology now at Uptown Smile.

 

iTero Intra Oral Digital Scanner

 

At Uptown Smile we strive to be on top of new technology that can provide our patients more comfortability and a better overall service during their visits.  One of our most recent product purchases does just that.  The iTero Intra Oral Digital Scanner.  This new device allows us to scan your teeth with great accuracy and eliminates having to make goopy impressions of your teeth.  This means much less discomfort to you!

Precision Scanning: iTero technology captures whole-tooth images without data sampling for precise scans.  This allows for more accurate restorations and virtually eliminates remakes to less than 0.5% and for those restorations to seat more easily. 

A Better Patient Experience!

• Eliminates the discomfort of impressions and re-impressions
• Restorations seat and fit more easily
• Powder-free scanning for patient comfort
• Provides real-time, high-impact visualizations to help educate patients

Compatibility with Invisalign! 

• Treatment plans are posted 50% faster than for cases using traditional impressions
• Scanning with iTero translates to 7 times fewer aligner fit issues
• No more mess and gagging associated with traditional impressions
• The Invisalign Outcome Simulator helps patients visualize how their teeth may look at the end of treatment

We hope that you find this information helpful.  You may contact us to make an appointment for restoration or Invisalign Treatment at (612) 822-1484.

citation:
www.itero.com 

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Here at Uptown Smile we are passionate not only about your dental health, but also your overall health.  Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, with the exception of skin cancer.  Statistics state that about 1 in 8 (12%) women in the US will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime. 

The American Cancer Society's estimates for breast cancer in the United States for 2013 are:

• About 232,340 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women.
• About 64,640 new cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) will be diagnosed (CIS is non-invasive and is the earliest form of breast cancer).

The following statistics are received from breastcancer.org:

• About 2,240 new cases of invasive breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in men in 2013. A man’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 1,000.
• Breast cancer incidence rates in the U.S. began decreasing in the year 2000, after increasing for the previous two decades. They dropped by 7% from 2002 to 2003 alone. One theory is that this decrease was partially due to the reduced use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) by women after the results of a large study called the Women’s Health Initiative were published in 2002. These results suggested a connection between HRT and increased breast cancer risk.
• About 39,620 women in the U.S. were expected to die in 2013 from breast cancer, though death rates have been decreasing since 1989 — with larger decreases in women under 50. These decreases are thought to be the result of treatment advances, earlier detection through screening, and increased awareness.
• For women in the U.S., breast cancer death rates are higher than those for any other cancer, besides lung cancer.
• Besides skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women. Just under 30% of cancers in women are breast cancers.
• White women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer than African-American women. However, in women under 45, breast cancer is more common in African-American women than white women. Overall, African-American women are more likely to die of breast cancer. Asian, Hispanic, and Native-American women have a lower risk of developing and dying from breast cancer.
• In 2013, there were more than 2.8 million women with a history of breast cancer in the U.S. This includes women currently being treated and women who have finished treatment.
• A woman’s risk of breast cancer approximately doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. About 15% of women who get breast cancer have a family member diagnosed with it.
• About 5-10% of breast cancers can be linked to gene mutations (abnormal changes) inherited from one’s mother or father. Mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are the most common. Women with a BRCA1 mutation have a 55-65% risk of developing breast cancer before age 70, and often at a younger age that it typically develops. For women with a BRCA2 mutation, this risk is 45%. An increased ovarian cancer risk is also associated with these genetic mutations. In men, BRCA2 mutations are associated with a lifetime breast cancer risk of about 6%; BRCA1 mutations are a less frequent cause of breast cancer in men.
• About 85% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer. These occur due to genetic mutations that happen as a result of the aging process and life in general, rather than inherited mutations.
• The most significant risk factors for breast cancer are gender (being a woman) and age (growing older). 

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, exceeded only by lung cancer. The chance that breast cancer will be responsible for a woman's death is about 1 in 36 (about 3%). Death rates from breast cancer have been declining since about 1989, with larger decreases in women younger than 50. These decreases are believed to be the result of earlier detection through screening and increased awareness, as well as improved treatment.  

 

At this time there are more than 2.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. (This includes women still being treated and those who have completed treatment.)  

 

We offer hope for the fighters, peace for the survivors & prayers for the taken.

 

citations:

cancer.org

breastcancer.org

American Cancer Society 

Dental Anxiety and You.

Dental Anxiety and You

If you are like most people going to the dentist is not on your “things I love to do list.”  But for some people, the thought of going to the dentist can bring on such a fear that they avoid getting the dental care they need. In fact, nearly 15% percent of Americans avoid seeing a dentist due to fear. 

For those who get sweaty palms, or feel their stomach getting sick before their trip to the dentist, it is good to know that this type of fear can be easily managed, and is even preventable as dentists these days focus much more on the comfort of their patients.  Technology has also advanced so far as many procedures are of a shorter duration than those of the past.

Ways to Manage and Prevent Anxiety for Your Next Dental Visit

Choose a dentist that you TRUST and communicate with them.  Remember that your dentist is also a patient, too!  Talking about your fears and anxieties will allow your dentist to listen and address your specific concerns and be gentle with you in those areas.  Use hand signals during the procedures to let your dentist know what is making you uncomfortable.

Daydream away!  Use your imagination and picture a place that makes you relaxed.  This can be a beach or by the lake, taking a walk in nature or being with someone you love.  Find a focus that creates a relaxing environment until the procedure is done.

Give yourself plenty of time.  Schedule an appointment for a time when you're less likely to be rushed, such as early morning, evening or weekend.

Create your own sound environment.  You may be bothered by the sounds drills or scraping, if so, bring an mp3 player or ipod and listen to your favorite music.

It could very well be that the unknown is what you fear, so don’t be afraid to ask questions before a procedure and make sure that your dentist does everything he or she can to make you feel comfortable during your visit. And getting regular dental care is vital to not only your oral health, but also your overall health, so it's well worth the effort.

Citations:

www.medicalnewstoday.com

www.medicalhealth.com

Sensitive Teeth

Do you have sensitive teeth?  What causes teeth to be sensitive?

Is the cold of frozen custard or a sip of hot tea a painful experience for you? Does brushing or flossing make you wince occasionally? If so, you may have sensitive teeth. Sensitive teeth begins when the dentin, underneath your teeth, becomes exposed to receding gum tissue. The roots, which are not covered by hard enamel, contain thousands of tiny tubules leading to the tooth's nerve center. This allows the stimuli (hot, cold, or sweet food) to reach the nerve in your tooth, which results in the pain you feel.

It isn't one factor that leads to sensitive teeth, but many.  Here's a list of possible culprits.

• Brushing too hard. Over time, brushing too hard or using a hard-bristled toothbrush can wear down enamel and cause the dentin to be exposed. It can also cause recession of the gums (the gum tissue pulls away from the teeth).
• Tooth decay near the gum line.
• Recession of the gums. As gums move away from a tooth due to conditions such as peridontal disease, the root surface becomes exposed.
• Gum disease (gingivitis). Inflamed and sore gum tissue may cause sensitivity due to the loss of supporting ligaments, which exposes the root surface that leads directly to the nerve of the tooth.
• Cracked teeth. Chipped or broken teeth may fill with bacteria from plaque and enter the pulp causing Inflammation.
• Teeth grinding. Grinding or clenching your teeth may wear down the enamel and expose underlying dentin.
• Tooth whitening products. These products may be major contributors to sensitive teeth.
• Your age. Tooth sensitivity is highest between the ages of 25 and 30.
• Plaque build-up. The presence of plaque on the root surfaces can cause sensitivity.
• Mouthwash use. Long-term use of some mouthwashes. Some over-the-counter mouthwashes contain acids that can worsen tooth sensitivity if you have exposed dentin (the middle layer of the tooth). The acids further damage the dentin layer of the tooth. If you have dentin sensitivity, ask your dentist about the use of a neutral fluoride solution.
• Acidic foods. Regular consumption of foods with a high acid content, such as citrus fruits, tomatoes, pickles, and tea, can cause enamel erosion.
• Recent routine dental procedures. Sensitivity can occur following teeth cleaning, root planing, crown placement.  Sensitivity caused by dental procedures is temporary, usually disappearing in four to six weeks.

How do you reduce tooth sensitivity?

It's easier than you think. Sensitive teeth can be treated. The type of treatment will depend on what is causing the sensitivity. Your dentist may suggest one of a variety of treatments:

• Maintain good oral hygiene. Continue to follow proper brushing and flossing techniques to thoroughly clean all parts of your teeth and mouth.
• Use a soft bristled toothbrush. This will result in less toothbrush abrasion to the tooth surface and less irritation to your gums. Brush gently and carefully around the gum line so you do not remove more gum tissue.
• Use desensitizing toothpaste. There are several brands of toothpaste available for sensitive teeth. With regular use you should notice a decrease in sensitivity. You may need to try several different brands to find the product that works best for you. Another tip. spread a thin layer of the toothpaste on the exposed tooth roots with your finger or a Q-tip before you go to bed. Do not use a tartar control toothpaste; rather, use a fluoridated toothpaste.
• Watch what you eat. Frequent consumption of highly acid foods can gradually dissolve tooth enamel and lead to dentin exposure. They may also aggravate the sensitivity and start the pain reaction.
• Use fluoridated dental products. Daily use of a fluoridated mouth rinse can decrease sensitivity. Ask your dentist about available products for home use.
• Avoid teeth grinding. If you grind or clench your teeth, use a mouth guard at night.
• See your dentist at regular intervals. Get professional tooth cleaning, oral hygiene instructions, and fluoride treatments every six months (or sooner depending on your condition).

Citations:
web.md medical reference

What Are Restorative Dental Services

What Are Restorative Dental Services?

Restorative Dentistry is very common among people of all ages.  It is the treatment, and often preventative treatment, of diseases of the teeth in order to restore or bring them back to their best health.  We at Uptown Smile, in order to provide nothing but the best to our patients, use state-of-the-art technologies in all our procedures. These new technologies allow us to detect dental concerns at early stages, treat your dental issues with precision, and provide stunning and customized restorations. Procedures that can be considered restorative dentistry include:

• pulpotomy, the treatment of the nerve
• crowns
• fillings
• bridges
• implants
• dentures

Pulpotomy
A pulpotomy, or nerve treatment, is done when there is a large amount of decay (such as a deep cavity). If not treated properly and promptly, you could develop a serious infection or lose the tooth. The entire nerve or a part of it may be removed, depending upon the amount of decay. It is likely that a crown will be needed to fit over the remaining part of the tooth.
Crowns
Teeth that are not formed properly, have a lot of decay or fractures (cracks), or have undergone a pulpotomy may require a crown in order to cover the remaining tooth. Crowns are also used when a very wide and/or deep cavity has done so much damage to the tooth that it needs to be protected in order to save it. The procedure can be done right after a pulpotomy, at the same appointment. The dentist will fit the crown over the top of the remaining tooth to keep it protected. 
Fillings
A filling is used to fill in an area of a tooth that has been drilled out to remove decay (a cavity). Cavities that require a filling usually are not cavities with deep decay. To fill a cavity, the dentist will begin by using a special dental drill to clean out the decayed area of the tooth. The decay then is removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned. Silver fillings called “amalgam” or white fillings called "composite" can be used to fill the area.
Bridges
Bridges are false teeth that are designed to "bridge" the gap created by one or more missing teeth. Bridges can be anchored on either side by crowns and cemented permanently into place.
Implants
Dental Implants are replacement tooth roots. Implants are actually a small post made of metal that are placed into the bone socket where teeth are missing. The implant is covered with a replacement tooth called a crown.
Dentures
Dentures are a removable replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissues. They are made of acrylic resin sometimes combined with metal attachments. Complete dentures replace all the teeth; partial dentures are considered when some natural teeth remain and are retained by metal clasps attached to the natural teeth.

Uptown Smile offers all of these services to keep your mouth healthy and happy!  Our special for the month of July is $50 OFF any restorative service. Call us today to talk about your preventative needs and any other concerns you may have about restorative dental treatments.

Uptown Smile
3100 W. Lake Street #305
Minneapolis, MN 55416
Phone: (612) 822-1484
www.uptownsmiledental.com


Citations:
www.webmd.com
www.chp.edu/dental+restorative+patient+procedure