Dental Appliance Specialties for your Dental Practice

In the interest of better serving the various specific oral health needs of the dental patient community, the field of Dentistry is divided into a wealth of specialties. In the interest of better serving the dentists themselves, SML offers a multitude of appliances and appliance therapy options to practitioners in the primary specialty areas.

  • Orthodontics: Orthodontists specialize in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of dental and facial irregularities, primarily focusing on correcting misaligned teeth and jaws using braces, aligners, and other orthodontic appliances.
     
  • Endodontics: Endodontists specialize in diagnosing and treating diseases and injuries related to the dental pulp and root of the tooth. They commonly perform root canal therapy to save infected or damaged teeth.
     
  • Periodontics: Periodontists specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases that affect the gums and supporting structures of the teeth, such as periodontal (gum) disease. They also perform procedures like gum grafting and dental implant placement.
     
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20th Annual Medical Sleep 2-day Conference.

20th Annual Medical Sleep 2-day Conference.

The SEC Provides the 20th Annual Sleep Conference: 2024 Bridging Brains and Bites: From Infants to Elderly 
Exploring the Nexus of Neurology, Sleep Pathologies, and Dental Malocclusion to Enhance Collaborative Care for Medical Professionals

APRIL 5-6, 2024 DOUBLETREE HOTEL HOUSTON TX

https://medicalsleepconference.com/

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New Product: OraKlenz Dental Health Gel Available

Kills Harmful Bacteria
Reduces Chronic Gum Inflammation And Bleeding
Soothes Oral Irritation And Sores
Enhances Your Oral Health Care Routine
Provides Post Procedure Gum Care And Protection

Logo New 2 is specifically formulated to be used as part of your daily oral home care. The hydrogen peroxide-based gel kills disease causing bacteria while promoting and supporting the growth of your mouth's beneficial bacteria. For use with our without trays (trays require a prescription).
Ask Your Dentist About The New
SML 
Logo New 2 Dental Health Trays

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Talon Splint: Best of Both Worlds!

"One of the biggest problems observed in adult dental patients.

Abnormal wear patterns. They eventually cause a decrease in the vertical dimension of the patient—wearing down teeth to the point where full mouth reconstruction is inevitable.

The solution? Prevent the problem from ever occurring in the first place. Deliver an orthotic or splint early on as part of proactive patient care protocol."

— Dr. Rob Veis

TALON SPLINT    

Talon Splint combines the comfortable fit and positive retention of a soft splint with the adjustable occlusal surface and superior protection of a hard splint. Excellent retention without the use of metal clasps.

The Talon Splint’s hard occlusal surface makes precise adjustment easy – ensuring a proper proprioceptive response with the opposing dentition. No speech-inhibiting lingual extensions, either.

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Comprehensive Treatment Seminars, Dr. Joseph Yousefian, DMD, MS

As the public's faith in expert opinion continues to grow in dentistry and medicine, there is an increased demand for specialized care in areas such as airway and sleep-related disorders. This demand is expected to persist, even in a high-inflation economy, which means that clinicians who possess the knowledge and skills to address these conditions will remain in high demand.



The expanding understanding of the interplay between oral health, airway, breathing, temporomandibular joint disorders, and systemic health highlights the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and the unique role that knowledgeable dental and allied medical clinicians can play in improving patient outcomes.

One significant area of focus is pediatric sleep apnea, which has gained attention due to its negative implications on the growth and development of children. Recognizing and addressing sleep apnea in children is crucial to ensuring their overall health and well-being.

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RECESSION-PROOFING YOUR PRACTICE: Realities & Remedies

Appliance Therapy and the Use of Interim Appliances

Let’s begin by talking about a word on everyone’s hot list these days: Recession. Whether we all end up in an actual recession down the line or experience some level of discomfort as a result of recession-related conditions that are in existence already, this is a vital, viable concern for all dental practitioners.

As a practicing dentist, I have always held to a three-pronged approach to mindful, successful dentistry, regardless of outside influences.  

  1. Provide the best care for your patient. This means creating a comprehensive treatment plan. It also means creating a method to accomplish that plan: one that allows you to do your part in helping the patient get and stay healthy. Everything flows from this. I consider it a matter of ethical integrity.
  2. Devise an individual treatment approach that will end up being the most economical plan over the patient’s lifetime – regardless of each patient’s particular financial constraints. The ultimate goal: get each patient to the point where they only have to go to the dentist for regular oral maintenance – periodic exams, cleanings and x-rays.
  3. Secure a fair living for yourself and your staff. The definition of “fair” is largely subjective, of course, but does invite self-assessment.

That’s the goal -- the foundational model of what I think should be every dental practitioner’s S.O.P.

So what happens when REAL LIFE impacts this model? Let’s say someone needs two or more implants, but simply cannot afford them. The adjusted goal is to keep the patient functional and healthy until the necessary advanced work can be done.

Let’s be clear. I am not talking about patchwork dentistry. However, if a patient is unable to function in the outside world without embarrassment or fear -- or physically unable to chew, eat, speak or swallow comfortably -- something needs to be done to address those conditions. If the patient can’t get a job or sustain a public presence, how are they going to pay for the dentistry they need to function?

How are you, the dentist, going to provide the best care when the patient can’t afford it…or isn’t healthy enough to ensure an optimal outcome…or simply doesn’t want to begin treatment right away due to other conditions or concerns?  And how are you going to keep your practice ethical and operational and financially solvent?

The key is to keep your patients functional and as healthy as possible until they ARE ready.

Traditionally, a standard temporary partial is made for those patients who have had teeth extracted or lost teeth or are about to get implants and need a temporary appliance for six months while the implants are integrating.

                                           Upper and Lower Temporary Partials            

 partials

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Become a Certified ApnoDent Provider

The ApnoDent Certification Course is a FREE online program that will walk you through the process of properly identifying sleep patients in your practice, diagnosing and prescribing them with a new and unique FDA-cleared sleep appliance designed to achieve effective treatment outcomes while comfortably managing your patients without any of the traditional side effects associated with dental sleep appliances.

The course will incorporate techniques to properly take scans/impressions of your patients in order to achieve a proper fit for their sleep appliance. This course is aimed at new and experienced providers that are seeking an effective solution to counter the various issues that most dental sleep appliances produce: from changing bites to TMJ pain and discomfort.

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Become POD® Certified - The Process is Free

Do your patients suffer from…

  • Clenching and Grinding
  • Jaw Pain (TMJ/TMD)
  • Headaches
  • Disturbed Sleep

The POD® is an FDA (510k) cleared night guard used to protect the teeth while treating the symptoms of TMJ Dysfunction such as jaw pain, facial pain, and headaches.

The POD® is the appliance for our times!

The POD® is a patented, custom fit, laboratory fabricated intraoral mandibular splint designed to aid in treating bruxism and TMJ Dysfunction. Worn during sleep, the device protects the teeth and restorations from the destructive forces of bruxism and helps to alleviate TMJ/TMD, headaches, and facial muscle pain.   Read More

Should You Consider Stainless Steel Crowns for your Patients?

Stainless Steel CrownsYour dentist or orthodontist has informed you that you need a crown (or even multiple crowns). During this conversation, you learn that there are several different types to choose from -- including ceramic, porcelain, gold, and stainless steel crowns.

On the surface, you may be turned off by the idea of stainless steel crowns. While not as aesthetically attractive as ceramic and porcelain crowns, they do have their advantages. 

Stainless steel crowns are ideal for back teeth. Stainless steel crowns are strong and highly resistant to wear and tear. Many people appreciate the fact that they require the least amount of tooth removal install. And stainless steel crowns are also the least expensive option. If you need more than one, that can make a big difference. 

 

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Location

United States
40° 45' 21.7368" N, 94° 49' 25.266" W

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