How Long Can You Go Between Dental Appointments?

If you are part of the third of Americans without dental insurance, you're probably feeling the pressure to get it. As a member of the uninsured dental club, myself, I know a minor toothache can be frightening. Still, I justify continuing without insurance by tell myself that if my ancestors survived for thousands of years without dentists, I should be able to get by without them too? But in truth, there was no such thing as preservatives or high fructose corn syrup hundreds of years ago. The kind of full mouth rehabilitation we have available today was just out of the question. Food quality was more organic and more suited to maintaining good health.

So in today's world, do you really need dental insurance or will you survive ok without it. Here are a few ideas about how to answer that question yourself.

In the best case scenario, you are good friends with a dentist. He loves to answer casual questions about good dental habits and your concerns like whether or not you should worry about that tingling in your tooth when you eat ice cream.

If you have serious dental problems and have valuable professional skills, you might be able to work out a trade. This works best with new dentists. They are more concerned with getting people in the door and will entertain almost any offer. For example, if you are a tax accountant, offer to do his taxes for two or three cleanings. This happens more than you might think and is a great way for people to get dental care without having to dish out the cash.

If you don't know a dentist or are unable to find a new dentist to bargain with, you should at least keep up on your cleanings. The out of pocket cost for the recommended two cleanings per year might actually be cheaper than the cost of dental insurance for the same time period. Low cost solutions are available and are worth it. The best plan is to shop around. Don't be afraid to call dental offices and ask for their prices. Some may be willing to price match. Being from Florida, I expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $200 for a cleaning from a dentist in Orlando.

Remember, you are not alone being uninsured. You can still keep your teeth healthy without going into debt by always looking out for opportunities to get low cost dental care.

Dr. Elena Puig

Dynamic Smile Design

1600 Hillcrest St

Orlando, FL 32803

PH: (407) 895-5600

Risks With Breast Reduction Surgery

Breast reduction surgery is also called by its more formal name of reduction mammaplasty. Women who choose to have this type of operation are usually quite relieved and happy with the results. Extremely large breasts can be cumbersome, painful and the subject of ridicule and embarrassment. After achieving a more proportionate shape, post-op patients often feel a great sense of freedom. There are risks, however, that females who are considering this type of operation should be aware of. Here are some things to think about:

-Cumbersome: Excessively large bosoms make buying clothes a difficult process. It's hard to achieve a proper fit when one's chest is out of proportion. Participating in certain sports, especially those that entail running and jumping, can be out of the question. The pain experienced by toting this extra poundage cannot even be alleviated with a sturdy sports bra.

-Painful: Huge breasts rub against the skin on the midsection below them as well as against the lower portion of a bra. This can cause skin irritation and rashes which can be very uncomfortable. Bra straps often dig into the shoulders' flesh due to the weight of the bosoms. Posture problems, shoulder and neck aches, and backaches may occur, as well.

-Embarrassment: Many females develop these immense chests at young ages such as twelve years old. They may still be children, but they are often already the subject of men gawking, ogling, staring and making cat calls. This can be highly embarrassing for these pre-teens and something that they will likely experience into adulthood.

A reduction mammaplasty is a surgical procedure performed by a plastic surgeon in a hospital or clinical setting. The operation takes two or three hours and is performed under general anesthesia. An overnight stay is usually required before a patient is ready to be released. There will be pain and swelling initially which will recede over time. Pain medication is given at first in order to make the patient more comfortable. During surgery, the nipple and areola will be removed and reattached after a portion of the breast skin and tissue is removed. Liposuction may be done to remove excess fatty deposits. There will be scarring but it will fade over time.

Some risks that patients should be aware of before the procedure include:

-Unexpected scarring: No one knows ahead of time exactly how the scars will look. Some individuals' scars end up fairly light and barely noticeable while others have much more pronounced results.

-Infection: All surgical procedures carry some risk of infection. This is usually easily controlled with antibiotics.

-Breastfeeding may be impossible: A woman who is planning to have future children should realize that her ability to breastfeed may be limited or nonexistent.

-Loss of sensitivity: Nipple sensitivity may be lessened after the procedure.

Breast reduction surgery can lighten a woman's load both physically and emotionally. It can be a great change in her life but she needs to be aware of the risks of complications before going under the scalpel.