Blog

SML Global promotes education about the use of dental appliances.  This is volume one of a two volume learning process.

This practical guide to effective treatment with orthodontic and orthopedic appliances features step-by-step chair-side procedural photography -- including appliance selection and adjustment – and provides information on ensuring healthy TMJ and achieving long-term stability. Emphasis: concrete advice for immediate application in the active practice.

Click to Buy the Book -  THE CLINICAL MANAGEMENT OF BASIC MAXILLOFACIAL…

You may think that your smile is fine…or fixed -- especially if you had braces as a kid. But then why does it seem like your teeth are still changing over the years? Perhaps one tooth is being crowded out. Maybe one is tilting forward more and more. The truth is, your teeth are always shifting, even as an adult.

One of the primary reasons is simply lifestyle habits. If you like to chew on the end of pens or are prone to grinding your teeth at night, the long-term pressure on your teeth can slowly cause them to shift. Another common cause is gum disease, which can weaken the bone that holds your teeth in place. What’s more, if you lose a tooth, the rest of the teeth in your mouth will likely shift in reaction to the empty space.…

We all know that dentists specialize in helping you keep your teeth healthy and beautiful, but what about your lips? If you tend to gnaw on your lips when you are nervous, anxious, or bored, then your lips are probably in need of some help! A lip biting habit can leave lips full of painful sores and scabs, not to mention unpleasant to look at and especially to kiss!If you want your lips to be healthy, beautiful, and oh-so-kissable, it’s time to get rid of that lip biting habit. Your dentist can help! He or she can actually work with a third-party dental lab, like SML Global to manufacture a personalized dental appliance that fits over your teeth and makes it impossible for you to chew or bite on your lips. The device looks a little…

The American Dental Association’s Health Policy Institute (HPI) released an analysis that showed dental care use by adults has not improved even with the enactment of the Affordable Care Act.

According to the analysis, the top two reasons adults they surveyed don’t intend to see a dentist in the next 12 months is because of the cost and they don’t see the need for preventative care. Respondents to the HPI survey also cited lack of transportation, anxiety, and difficulty finding a dentist who will take Medicaid payments as reasons for foregoing a checkup.

The HPI suggests several additional reasons for low dental compliance, including the fact that the Affordable Care Act does not require…

As a dentist, you are well versed in the art of asking your patients how often they brush and floss. You’re also probably pretty good at making small talk to get through longer appointments and procedures.

You might want to add a few new questions to your dental conversations. Though these questions may be a little awkward, they can help you provide help to your patients who need it.

Ask your patients if they snore. Ask if their partner complains about their snoring. Ask if they sleep soundly through the night or are experiencing unusual fatigue in the mornings.

…