Lab Processing Times

The current COVID-19 crisis has impacted the economic scenario of the global medical and dental market widely and negatively for some. These are unprecedented times. Dentistry is going to recover, although there may be one to two slow years of repair ahead.

Dentistry, as compared to medical procedures, will not be considered as vital in the public mind for the next several years. However, one benefit that dentistry may share with medicine is a renewed faith in expert opinion by the general public. The data suggests that treatment of temporomandibular joint pain and sleep related disorders will keep dentists busy and competitive.Parents will always sacrifice their own health for the health of their children, especially in the newly…

According to the National Sleep Foundation, sleep apnea affects an estimated 18 million Americans. Sleep apnea steals sleep, causing chronic exhaustion and a long list of other ailments, including heart disease, migraines, weight gain, and more. While Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machines are often the primary recommended solution, customized oral appliances are also used successfully to combat sleep apnea – particularly for those who cannot tolerate CPAP.

At SML (Space Maintainers Laboratories), one of the most exciting appliances that our labs make is the Full-Breath Solution™. This tongue-controlling oral appliance is designed to keep the airway open during sleep,…

Most of us think about mouth guards in relation to high impact sports, like football, wrestling, boxing, and basketball. In these instances, mouth guards can protect teeth from the impact of a stray elbow or knee. For many Americans, however, the greatest risk of tooth destruction comes from grinding, also known as bruxism.

Though some people grind their teeth out of habit during times of stress, anxiety, or boredom, most bruxism sufferers have no idea of their affliction. That’s because they tend to grind their teeth in their sleep. Over time, teeth grinding can wear away the enamel on teeth and cause chronic headaches and jaw pain.

One very simple solution to decreasing teeth trauma and alleviating the symptoms of bruxism is for a person to simply use a mouth guard. Just as it protects teeth in contact sports, a custom-fitted mouth guard can also protect teeth from grinding to decrease trauma. If you suspect that you grind your teeth at night, talk to your dentist…

I think it would be safe to say that 75 – 80% of all patients experience some relapse or crowding long term, when they stop wearing their retainer(s). Patients always want to know why. So, for the purposes of this blog, here is a sampling of potential causes:

The reality is…retention is forever. Educating your…

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SML Product Catalog With locations throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, and Taiwan, SML® services more than 150,000 dentists and orthodontists worldwide, providing direct and personal access to everything required for success in appliance therapy…and we’ve been doing it for more than 60 years. We specialize in the design and fabrication of orthodontic…

This Consortium includes lectures, hands-on experience,Q&A and panel discussions.Click Here to RegisterSML Product CatalogPrescription Forms | Shipping LabelsWith locations throughout the…

We’ve all heard the expression,”Fake it 'til you make it" The idea is that if you pretend to exude confidence and charm, eventually you will begin to believe your own act. Somehow, just putting on a certain face and temperament will make it more real.

The same thing happens when you smile. Even if you are in a foul mood and dogged by anxiety and frustration, showing a smile to the world can actually give your brain a happy boost. Smiling activates neuropeptides which are known to fight off stress.

Smiling also gives you a burst of dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin, all feel-good brain chemicals that can wipe away that bad mood or help you put a stressful situation into a better perspective.

Dentists, every…

The QCB™ System includes the items you need to treat a single patient with Quick Cosmetic Braces.The cuspid-to-cuspid retention splint (available in upper and lower) consists of a multi-stranded, lingual wire -- carefully contoured to the lingual of the six anterior teeth and bonded to each tooth. As part of our QCB™ Quick Cosmetic Braces service, SML can provide expertly made, custom indirect bonding trays. Many doctors love these trays -- the perfect way to streamline initial bracketing appointments and a quick, easy way to get those tooth-colored brackets placed in the ideal positions.

Each bracket is placed in the correct position on the patient’s model according to your instructions and a dual plastic matrix material is vacuum-formed over the…