Most of your cases are open and shut. An under-bite here, a chipped tooth there, and you can call it a day. However, every dentist, orthodontist, and cosmetic dentist receives patients with unusual symptoms or surprising x-rays or where a diagnosis is difficult to make. In these situations, it can really help to have a second set of eyes to review the patient’s file.

It may surprise you to know that SML Global offers diagnostic services. Our digital team includes expert consultants who can review your data and help you arrive at a diagnosis and treatment plan.

If you are interested in presenting a particularly unique case, we can also help you develop your presentation. We can even create a cephalometric tracing and superimpose it directly over a soft tissue profile or cephalometric film so you can understand the tracing in relation to the patient’s skeletal and soft tissue profile.

Don’t struggle with difficult cases alone! Contact SMLglobal to schedule a consultation or to learn more about our diagnostic services. 

Little headaches can drag down your productivity and put a serioius “ding” in an otherwise good day. Migraines are a whole different ball game.

Migraines can completely incapacitate you… suck all joy from your life…make an otherwise good day a Hell on Earth.  Oftentimes, it is difficult to pinpoint the cause of regular migraines, but one common cause is “bruxism” -- the habit of grinding teeth while sleeping.

Many people brux and don’t even know it! Grinding your teeth, puts intense pressure on the TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) in your jaw, causing pain and muscle tightness which contribute to regular headaches and migraines.

If you regularly awaken with jaw pain; sore or sensitive teeth; or a tight neck, your dentist can help by ordering you a custom dental sleep appliance from SML -- one that works like a mouth guard to help cushion and de-stress the jaw, thus eliminating a likely cause of Migraine. 

Opening your own orthodontic office? Congratulations! What an exciting time for you. Starting an office takes a lot of hard work, and your head is probably spinning with all the things you have to do -- from ordering computers to hiring your very first employees. You have a lot of big decisions to make.

One of the most important?  Whether or not you should manufacture appliances in your office.

Of course there are both benefits and drawbacks to manufacturing your own appliances. On the one hand, you’ll be able to keep a closer eye on the manufacturing process. You’ll (hopefully) improve appliance delivery time and satisfaction. On the other hand, you will likely have to hire a specialist to oversee the lab…and cover the cost for all the materials and equipment. You’ll also need to find an office with sufficient space for accommodating a dental appliance lab.

Oral surgeons recognize that stents can be used in a variety of ways to help them successfully treat their patients. Stents are often considered a CT appliance, because they can be used in conjunction with a CAT scan during a surgical procedure to help a surgeon properly place an implant.

Surgeons also rely on clear acrylic stents for use during a surgery or a CAT scan procedure. What’s more, CT stents can help to stabilize a patient after surgery as well as protect implant sites. Surgeons often use a CT appliance to protect open wounds from infection and to control bleeding.

At SML (Space Maintainers Laboratories), the expert dental labs in our network can manufacture a variety of CT stents and CT appliances perfect fit for your needs. Not sure which option to choose? They can also guide you in the correct stent selection. Contact us today to learn more. 

A FREE WEBINAR featuring one of the worlds leading authorities on the integration of appliance therapy into dental practice for profit and growth…

 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17,  5:30 pm PST

                 
 
Join us for this first in a series of enlightening, empowering FREE Webinarpresentations for the upcoming year.

You’ll learn:
 
• The basics of Appliance Therapy - what it is, how it works, and how it can best profit you and serve your patients.

• Simple, easy minor tooth movment techniques for providing your patient with the smile they want and deserve

• The power and simplicity of the Inman Aligner - an ideal "gateway" solution for ensuring appliance therapy success  

When the braces finally come off, your orthodontist will fit your child for a retainer -- a removable device that helps the teeth maintain their final straightened position. It is important for parents to teach their children to take responsibility for their retainers, and that includes cleaning them of bacteria and other unpleasant gunk.

Wash the retainer in water and scrub it with a soft-bristled toothbrush. You can use toothpaste or dish soap or even denture cleaner – all will work just fine. Make sure your child cleans all around the retainer, including wire areas. Then wash it thoroughly with water again to get all the soap/cleanser off. NEVER boil or bleach the retainer – it may warp the plastic.

Cleaning retainers isn’t as glamorous as a mouth full of straight, shiny teeth, but it is necessary for achieving that beautiful smile. 

As rewarding as it can be to successfully treat children for dental and orthodontic issues, said children aren’t always the most cooperative patients -- especially when it comes to continue proper use of their oral appliances. Retainers get lost, neglected, broken, or simply not worn.

As a dentist or orthodontist, you can’t realistically police your young patients to make sure they follow all of your instructions to the letter, but there are things you can do to increase appliance retention. One simple and easy method? Give your patient (or their parents) a call a week after fitting them with the appliance. Ask if the child is wearing their appliance according to your instructions, remind them of how to clean the appliance, and ask if there are any challenges or issues. Oftentimes, this simple reminder can be just the incentive your patient needs to stay on track.