Your dentist will most likely be your dental healthcare partner for a long time. Hence, it is imperative that you choose the right dentist for yourself as well as your family. Apart from experience and expertise, you need to consider many other factors, so that you don’t end up spending too much money, time or effort in reaching your doctor.
Does the dentist work with all insurances?
First, look at the dental procedures covered by your dental health plan. As it becomes necessary to find if the dentist you choose can submit claims to all insurance providers, including yours. In some cases, dentists who belong to certain networks cannot submit claims to providers who belong to the same networks, thus leaving you in a fix if your healthcare insurance provider belongs to the said category. Keeping in mind such details will aid you when the payments take place.
Does the dentist discuss treatment plans and cost estimates up front?
This is another important aspect to take note of when choosing a dentist. The dentist you choose should discuss the treatment plan in detail with you, including the time taken for the treatment, the medications used, the procedures followed, and the number of visits needed to complete the treatment. The dentist should also provide you a detail of the costs involved, up front, including all hidden costs, taxes and extra costs. This will give you a clear idea, as you can prepare yourself to know what to expect before, during, and after the treatment.
Is the clinic located close by and does it offer convenient timings?
If you are a working professional, you will need to choose a dentist who could provide a schedule for treatments and follow up visits as per your convenience. The doc should be flexible enough to accommodate your appointments at short notice or provide alternate dates for missed appointments. A clinic that is close to your home will also be an added advantage for hassle-free treatment. All in all, see the services closely as they need to suit your preferences and then go for one.
What kind of anesthesia does the dentist use?
Though it may sound like an out-of-context question, this is a very important aspect to take note of, especially if you always doubt the expertise the dentists have and their dental treatments. A dentist must make his/her patients feel as comfortable as possible in the clinic. Most importantly, the dentist should offer oral sedation as part of the treatment. If you know all this, you can tell whether you are in safe hands or not.
Does the dentist offer consultation prior to treatment?
Once you have a list of dentists in your list, call them to book appointments with each one of them. Visit the dentist in person, and get an insight into how well he/she knows about the treatment, which network or organization he/she is affiliated with, and all the other details mentioned above. This will allow you to narrow down your choices to those who meet your requirements.
Choosing the right dentist for your dental treatment is important. This way, you will know what things to consider and other important aspects before you finalize the one, who meets your requirements and budget.
Oral hygiene practices like brushing and flossing are incredibly essential. Not caring for the teeth can cause them to decay and even fall off in extreme cases. Consequently, missing teeth can make chewing food complicated and cause extreme discomfort. To manage the problem, dentists affix dental implants in the jawbone that replace the lost teeth. Here is a quick guide on how implants work and their popular types and benefits.
How do dental implants work?
A dental implant effectively works both as a root and a tooth. The three components of a dental implant are:
Types of dental implants
The following are a few popular types of dental implants one may come across:
The best implant for a person will depend on their oral health and how much stress their bone structure can support at the time of the diagnosis. So, it is vital to do a detailed analysis and diagnosis before committing to a dental procedure.
Benefits of dental implants
There are several benefits to getting dental implants. Here are a few of them to explore:
Individuals suffering from missing teeth should speak to a dentist about the best treatment plan for them. The dentist can recommend a suitable type of dental implant to make chewing easier and lessen discomfort. The expert can also suggest tips to maintain the implant and prevent tooth problems in the future. However, it is important to note that dental implants are not the only solution to lost teeth. In some cases, the dentist may recommend using removable dentures or other alternatives.
Chronic migraine is a condition where the affected person experiences at least 15 headache days a month. It is observed that at least 8 out of these 15 days are migraine headaches with severe symptoms, and this pattern of discomfort remains consistent for 3 months. Initially, it may not be a frequently occurring episode, however, with time, the episodes may get regular with chronic headaches. If left untreated, this condition can affect a person’s life.
Causes
Several factors determine the onset of this kind of migraine. One of them includes a steady increase in the frequency of episodic headaches. Over-the-counter treatment options that are used to treat frequent headaches stop affecting over time, leading to side effects that develop into chronic headaches. Some other factors that can put an individual at a high risk of developing this condition include mood disorders like anxiety or depression, snoring, excessive caffeine intake, ongoing disturbed sleep patterns, and a history of stressful life events causing emotional or physical trauma. An unhealthy lifestyle leading to an increase in the body mass index (BMI) can also be a causal factor.
Symptoms
There is no difference between symptoms of chronic migraines and episodic migraines. However, the only thing to notice is the increased frequency of episodic headaches in a month. Some typical symptoms of this illness can be observed for timely diagnosis and treatment.
Transitioning symptoms (episodic to chronic migraines)
Diagnosis
A health professional will take a look at the affected person’s health history. If needed, the doctor may ask questions that help understand the migraine patterns. The questions include how and when the migraines begin, how long they last, are there any notable physical factors or triggers that worsen the condition, and where the location of the pain is.
The professional may also ask for a detailed history of other health conditions like anxiety, depression, lifestyle choices that may trigger these headaches, any treatment options used, and possible side effects that could be factored into the diagnosis. Based on the results, appropriate treatment methods will be advised and implemented.
Treatment options
Most of the treatment methods focus on managing the symptoms, the migraine attacks, and reducing the episodes and pain.
One of the treatment therapies includes focusing on lifestyle changes.
Some other treatment options for managing migraine attacks include:
Other techniques include:
Also, maintain a headache diary and note down the possible triggers and the number of migraine attacks in a month. If there’s a notable increase in the attacks, consult a doctor at the earliest. Knowing the triggers can help the doctor chalk out an effective treatment plan.
Preventive treatments and methods
Apart from treatment options that help manage the symptoms, there are preventive treatment methods that reduce the episodes of these headaches to a certain extent. These include using beta blockers and other therapies. One such treatment method also includes using an Allergan product named BOTOX®, which doctors recommend for those 18 years and older. The intravenous treatment method is administered around the neck or the head, where the migraine pain usually affects the person. This ten-minute procedure is not painful and can prevent headaches for three months. The procedure takes place in a doctor’s clinic under close supervision.
Chronic migraine can be painful and disrupt everyday life activities, so choosing the right treatment plan is crucial. Get all the information from a licensed health professional and seek the best possible treatment plan according to a detailed diagnosis.