Knowledge

Dermal fillers are non-surgical cosmetic treatments used to bring a more youthful appearance by bringing back volume or fullness to the face and lips. They work by diminishing or eliminating wrinkles, lines and folds in the skin and the result is seen immediately after treatment. As skin ages both naturally and because of other factors such as smoking, sun-damage and poor diet, we lose collagen and elasticity, fat and other natural moisturizing substances from our skin. These can be thought of as the natural ‘scaffolding’ that keeps it looking young and feeling firm. With less of these, our skin becomes thinner and we start to see wrinkles, lines and folds developing.
The basic reason for these changes to become noticeable is that the fat and collagen in the skin begin to diminish. This is usually more visible on our faces. Two kinds of dermal fillers are usually suggested for the face: semi-permanent and non-permanent. The semi-permanent type (e.g. Radiesse and Sculptra) lasts up to 18 months. The non-permanent fillers, such as Hyaluronic Acid (HA) derived Hydra Fill and Restylane, last for around 6-12 months, depending upon the site application and the formulation of the material used. Calcium hydroxyapatite, polymers, poly-l-lactic acid, collagen-related implants are other dermal fillers that are prevalent. None of these dermal fillers necessitate skin testing.
Facelift has been the preferred way some time ago. But facelift is a surgical procedure and is high-priced. The fact that it is a surgical procedure means that it is an invasive operation, hence there are risks involved. So people start looking for a minimally invasive procedure which also is not expensive. Dermal fillers are the most preferred solution in this modern time. They are supplied in a pre-filled sterile syringe for injection and manufactured in different thicknesses; some are more gel-like, and others are more liquid. The thicker ones are used to bring back the deeper folds or wrinkles such as those between the nose and the corner of the mouth. The thinner ones are used more superficially for fine lines such as crow’s feet. A local anesthetic cream is used to make the treatment as agreeable as possible. For treatments near the mouth, such as lip treatments, your practitioner will freeze the area with an injection which is similar to a dental anesthetic. After the treatment, your practitioner will give you aftercare instructions to maximize its benefits. Most people can return to their normal daily life right away after the treatment. Proper selection of dermal filler is the key in determining how long-lasting the procedure is. There are different types of dermal fillers and one should exercise delicacy before ending up in any preference. However, your practitioner will explain the possible side effects during the initial consultation.

The commonest form of hand injury requiring a visit to a hand clinic or hospital is torn tendons. Damaged tendons are not only painful but they also lead to loss of mobility in the affected areas. Even a minor injury can be painful enough to stop us from carrying out simple, everyday tasks.

The function of a tendon is to join bone and muscle together. They are located throughout the human body but are directly responsible for the movement of your fingers. In contrast it is the muscles which take responsibility for your arm movements.

Tendons can be damaged in one of three main ways; either by disease, injury or through normal everyday activities. In fact most minor injuries self-heal without us even noticing, and do not require any attention from a hand clinic or hospital. Obviously if you have damaged your tendons and are suffering a lot of pain you should seek medical advice.

If your flexor tendons are damaged you will be unable to move the affected fingers. You will find that even everyday actions such as chopping food or carrying out housework will be severely restricted because of the shooting pains in your arms. You may find it very difficult to lift or move items because of your restricted hand mobility. In these situations your doctor will advise you on possible surgery at the hospital or hand clinic.

Sometimes surgeons will carry out a procedure known as tendon transfer. As the name suggests he will take tendon from another part of the body to repair your damaged hand tendon. He will explain the procedure to you, and you should take the opportunity to ask as many questions as possible. Hand clinic surgeons will know about the procedure and will make a decision as to whether or not it is required in your case.

Trigger finger is a condition which can occur when you carry out repetitive tasks using your hands. It can also be caused by falling onto an outstretched hand, causing tears and scarred tissue to form in the affected area. Trigger finger itself can be painless but in severe cases it can be very painful and have a serious impact on your life. If the condition is left untreated for many years it can lead to long-term tendon damage which will have a detrimental effect on your work and social activities.

In many cases over the counter medications will be more than sufficient to deal with the condition. However, for more severe conditions you will need to visit your hand clinic doctor who may prescribe cortisone injections or apply a splint to the affected joint. Cortisone injections do not offer a permanent solution and you will need to go back to the clinic for further injections. Long term use of cortisone injections can lead to permanent damage to the tendons, so you will need to discuss your options thoroughly before making a decision because this is a metter of your life and you must not take it lightly!

Dental prosthetics or prosthetic dentistry is an alternative term for Prosthodontics. It is considered as one of the 9 areas of specialization in the field of dentistry. Prosthodontics is a special field recognized by the Royal College of Dentists of Canada, American Dental Association and Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons. Prosthodontics refer to the field of dentistry that pertains to the treatment planning, diagnosis, maintenance and reconstruction of the oral appearance, function, comfort and general oral health of patients experiencing medical conditions related with deficient or missing teeth and/or oral and maxillofocal deformities through the use of biocompatible alternatives.

Treatment procedures in the field of prosthodontics are designed in order to create a balance between aesthetics, longevity and functionality. The following are some of the prosthodontic treatment procedures:

1. Dental veneers and other bonded reconstructions – this fall into the category of cosmetic dentistry. They are used to make white and bright smiles with good-looking shaped set of teeth.
2. Dental bridges – are reconstructive dental appliances that are designed to serve as a treatment for lost teeth.
3. Ceramic and Metal Ceramic Dental Crowns – these are prosthetic teeth that are intended to reconstruct impaired teeth.
4. Removable complete dentures – these are full-mouth teeth replacements that are intended for edentulous individual or those people who have entirely lost their teeth.
5. Removable Partial dentures – are intended for partially-edentulous individuals
6. Fixed partial dentures – works much alike the removal dentures which are intended for partially edentulous individuals. They are also typically referred to as “dental bridges.” These dental bridges are more costly as compared to the removable partial dentures.
7. Aesthetic reconstructive dentistry – is considered to be the most up-to-date approach to offering partially or fully edentulous patients with the highest level of treatment in implantology.

Aside from the above-stated treatment procedures typically employed in the field of prosthodontics, the specialist is also skilled at offering cures for jaw disorders caused by TMD or temporomandibular joint disorder, sleep apnea disorders, snoring problems and some degree or rehabilitation following surgery or treatment for oral cancer. To bring out the finest rehabilitative outcomes, prosthodontists work closely with orthodontists, oral surgeons, endodontists and periodontists.

Smoking is injurious to health and it affects all the part of the body. It is a slow poison. It can lead to a slow and painful death. Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer.

Chemicals in cigarettes and cigarette smoke are known to cause not only cancer but also other serious health problems. Various poisonous chemicals are used in cigarettes. If a person ate one pack of cigarettes, he/she would die.

Smokers inhale around 4000 chemicals in cigarette smoke. Three of the most widely known chemicals are nicotine, tar, and carbon monoxide. The major constituent in cigarettes is nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive drug. The pharmacological effects created by the nicotine chronically addict the user. Nicotine can enter the blood and affect the brain. In its pure form, just one drop on a person’s tongue would kill him/her.

Following are the detrimental effects of smoking:

• Shorter life span
• heart attacks and stroke
• Causes fatal lung cancer, mouth cancer, throat cancer
• Cause of Heart Disease
• Causes ageing of the skin
• Causes emphysema
• Weak & Brittle bones
• reduce the blood flow and cause impotence
• Smoking while pregnant will harm the baby
• Reduces appetite
• Increases heart rate & blood pressure
• Cigarette smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of low birth weight, prematurity, spontaneous abortion, and parental mortality in humans.

Smoking harms the person who smoke and also to the persons around the smoker. Passive smokers are the worst sufferers. Non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke in the workplace have a 16 to 19% increased risk of developing lung cancer. Smoking is dangerous.

Smoking is a psychological addiction. It takes hold of one’s brain. To quit smoking is a difficult endeavor. But nothing is impossible. If one is addict of smoking, it does not means it can not be quit. There are treatments to quit smoking. One should be strong determined and have patience. Family and friends plays the major role in providing support to the smoker to quit smoking. However if family and friends are also smokers, then the person wanting to quit has very few options. One has to avoid those people who are smokers.

Family and friends should be supportive and try to inculcate “true pleasure of life lies in without smoking”. Family and friends help them in building a positive attitude, supporting their decision to quit smoking & listen them when they feel lonely. It will allow them to vent and help them to quit smoking.

While quitting smoking will give you the hold of your life once again. Qutting smoking treatments help you in many ways in regaining your health and will increase your life expectancy. You would be having minimum degree of risks to the chronic diseases. Look for other ways which bring pleasure in your life rather than using such a deadly weapon.

If one wants to live long and healthy life (free from diseases), he or she has to take strong and immediate steps to quit smoking.