Day: July 26, 2021

Orthodontics is the study of the growth and development of the jaws and face. This specialty of dentistry also covers internal and external influences on the development, prevention, and correction of teeth concerns. Dr. Yon Lai is an orthodontist in Flushing, NY, and the founder of House of Braces. This institution offers a variety of tooth services to improve the functioning of oral and facial apparatus.

The most common reason for seeking orthodontic care is to improve the appearance of the teeth and face. Many malocclusions are associated with the unsightly appearance of teeth and can thus affect the individual self-image; thus, orthodontic treatment should improve the aesthetics of an individual’s teeth. The oral-facial region consists of dental, skeletal tissue, and soft tissue, including musculature. Stable orthodontic treatment maintains a balance between these three components.

Five major characteristics of an orthodontic patient

When diagnosing a patient, dentists place their findings into five categories:

• Facial proportions and esthetics: Patients are usually concerned about their lip posture and smile.
• Alignment and symmetry: This class involves issues of teeth crowding, spacing, and rotations.
• Transverse: Most patients in this category complain about having a posterior crossbite.
• Anteroposterior: Over jets and Angle Class are the significant issues in this class.
• Vertical: Dentists deal with overbites and curve of spee.

The list shows that the categories are not clean cuts; they overlap each other.

Basics of an orthodontic exam

A thorough assessment focuses on the following:

• Teeth are part of an intraoral exam.
• The face makes up an extraoral exam.
• The dentist also gets additional information from radiographs, particularly the cephalometric.

Teeth diagnosis

During an intraoral exam, your doctor will evaluate your teeth, specifically looking for:

1. Malocclusion

This condition presents as misaligned teeth and is also known as a bad bite. Patients with severe malocclusions may have difficulty performing essential oral functions like chewing correctly. A dental health professional may recommend specific treatment options like using braces to reposition your teeth, dental appliances for realignment, or surgery to reshape your jaw.

2. Molar classification

This system classifies malocclusions through molar relationships. There are three classes:

• Class 1: The first molar on the upper jaw is positioned posteriorly to the lower jaw.
• Class 2: The maxillary molar is inclined forwards to the mandibular molar.
• Class 3: The posterior position of the maxillary molar to the mandibular molar is severe.

3. Incisor overlap

This condition is also known as an overbite and involves the overlap of the bottom incisors on the upper jaw. Dentists use braces to correct this dental concern.

4. Crossbite

When the teeth in one jaw are closer to the cheeks and tongue than the other jaw, dentists classify this as a crossbite. This condition affects the alignment of teeth and may result in an odd-looking smile.

5. Bolton Analysis

When diagnosing teeth, dentists pay attention to a patient’s tooth sizes in the upper and lower jaw to develop an ideal treatment plan.

Contact House of Braces to learn more about the state of your teeth by booking an appointment to get a comprehensive orthodontic diagnosis.

Chronic pain occurs as you age and is more common in older women than older men. However, you should seek advice about the coping mechanisms that can work for your condition. As such, it is advisable to consult a New Jersey Back Pain occupational therapist. Here are effective pain management strategies that can work for your condition.

Managing Pain without Medications

You can treat chronic pain at home without medications and administer different therapies that help curb pain. At the initial stages of pain, you can use hot or cold therapy by pressing a hot pad or ice on the muscles. Heat pads relieve pain by increasing blood circulation, leading to the removal of toxins and oxidation of the inflamed body parts. An ice pack wrapped in a towel offers pain relief as well as reduces any swelling that may occur.

You can opt for physical therapy activities like walking, stretching, and anaerobic activities which elevate your mood and reduce pain. When starting physical therapy, it could be wise to increase the exercise very slowly to improve mobility. Relaxation and stress management techniques such as meditation and yoga may help patients deal with chronic pain at home.

At-home massage is better suited for soft tissue injuries and might not be a great option if the pain is in the joints. You can contact pain therapists who offer alternative pain relief management such as acupuncture which involves inserting needles on specific parts of the body to relieve pain.

Medications and Surgery

If the pain does not go away with at-home remedies, you may opt for over-the-counter medications to deal with the pain. Consequently, you can ask your doctor for pain prescription medications such as opioids, and topical gels. You can also opt for nerve-blocking injections such as epidural injections on a specific body part. If the pain does not subside, you can opt for surgery as the last resort to pain management.

Suggestions on Handling Persistent Pain

When handling persistent pain, you should remember to focus on how to improve your everyday function, as well as stopping the pain. Certain symptoms might not go away. Prepare for the flare-ups that may occur, and talk yourself through the tough times. If you suffer from depression, professionals can also teach you how to cope with depression since being depressed can intensify the pain.

You should find out more about the underlying cause of the pain and learn how to manage and prevent chronic pain. Increasing the dosage of the pain medication without talking with the doctor might lead to severe side effects such as addiction to the pain medications, and building a tolerance to certain medications. As you heal it is wise to reintroduce activities that you enjoy and cut on the activities that trigger the pain. Find fun activities that do not make the pain worse and seek further coping mechanisms from the professionals at each stage of pain management.

Final Thoughts

Chronic pain can make it impossible to accomplish everyday activities. Practice at-home remedies such as massage, heat therapy, and physical therapy to deal with pain. If the pain does not improve, talk with professionals, use the correct medications, and get professional help if surgery is needed as the last resort to your pain management.

Foot and ankle pain can occur at any time and complicate your regular activities like taking a walk, going to the gym, or other activities. If you encounter persistent pain in your feet, you should visit Nicolas Manriquez, DPM, FACFAS for lasting relief. Seek an expert Katy foot and ankle surgeon, contact the team at Katy Foot & Ankle for precise diagnosis and effective treatment.

What is Foot and Ankle Pain?

Foot and ankle pain denote any stiffness, swelling, or general discomfort affecting your feet or ankles. Commonly, it results from overuse or general wear and tear. However, it may indicate severe underlying health problems such as tendonitis, arthritis, or a fracture.

Most foot and ankle pain instances respond to conservative at-home treatments like ice, rest, and elevation.  If your symptoms persist longer than a week or they disrupt your quality of life, schedule a consultation with Katy Foot & Ankle, PLLC, immediately.

Signs of Foot and Ankle Pain

Common signs of foot and ankle pain include:

• Bruising
• Swelling
• Burning pain
• Difficulty sustaining weight on the faulty foot or ankle
• Redness

If your discomfort results from nerve damage, you may also experience tingling, numbness, or breathing difficulties.

Causes of Foot and Ankle Pain

Foot and ankle pain may result from multiple reasons, including:

Medical Issues

A myriad of medical issues can trigger foot and ankle pain. Such include diabetes, arthritis, plantar fasciitis, Morton’s neuroma, and warts. You are increasingly vulnerable to foot and ankle pain if you are overweight or pregnant.

Lifestyle Choices

One of the primary causes of foot and ankle pain is wearing shoes that do not fit appropriately. If your shoes are too tight or offer inadequate support, routine activities, including walking, can exert stress on your tendons, muscles, and ligaments. You may also experience foot and ankle pain from an intense workout, poor posture, or failure to work out properly.

Diagnosing Foot and Ankle Pain

To diagnose foot and ankle pain, your providers at Katy Foot & Ankle, PLLC, closely examine your feet and ankles, asking about your symptoms. Next, they will require that you perform a series of simple exercises to determine your range of motion while assessing your muscle strength and reflexes.

Treatment of Foot and Ankle Pain

Katy Foot & Ankle, PLLC specialists, apply measures to address foot and ankle pain where possible. Depending on your condition’s underlying cause and severity, they might recommend:

• Physical therapy
• Icing the affected area
• Wearing heel pads or inserts
• Activity modifications
• Custom orthotics
• Over-the-counter pain medications

Surgery might be necessary where the above measures prove inefficient. The providers deliver traditional and minimally invasive procedures to restore your mobility and enhance your quality of life.

Other Services

New and existing patients may also contact the practice to receive various high-quality treatments such as:

• Heel pain
• Bunion
• Fractures
• Ingrown toenail
• Foot and ankle pain
• Achilles tendon

To further explore your treatment options for foot and ankle pain, do not hesitate to contact Nicolas Manriquez, DPM, FACFAS at Katy Foot & Ankle, PLLC. Call to speak with the administrative team or click the online scheduler today.