Most dental procedures are performed with the patient under anesthesia to be certain that pain is reduced or eliminated. Local anesthetics are used to numb the area that is to be treated. Dentists use this type prior to drilling a tooth or doing a root canal. First a numbing agent is rubbed on the gum and then the anesthetic is injected to deaden the entire area where the dentist will work. However, if infection, inflammation or pain is present, it may not be possible to use a local anesthetic. In this case the dentists injects the anesthetic into a nearby nerve. This procedure numbs a larger area.

When general anethesia is used the patient loses consciousness. Very few dental procedures are performed in this manner due to the risks that are involved. It is possible for complicated oral surgery to be performed in an operating room using a general anesthetic. Sedation and premedication are prescribed for patients that are extremely anxious about undergoing treatment. Teeth cleaning is not normally done with an anesthetic unless the patient is particularly sensitive. Antibiotics may also be prescribed prior to dental procedures.

Perhaps the most common dental procedure involves fillings. Teeth decay or become chipped. The area where the decay occurs is called a cavity. After administering an anesthetic, the dentist will clean the tooth and then removed the decayed portion with a drill. The filling material is then placed into the opening and allowed to harden. Front teeth are always filled with a plastic material that is the same color as the tooth. The same type of material may be used for teeth that do not show. However, these teeth may also be filled with an amalgam material or gold, depending upon the patient’s desire.

When a tooth is badly chipped or broken, the dentist may apply a crown. In this case the dentist needs to make an impression of the original tooth. Then the damaged tooth is drilled down to a stub and another impression is made. The dentist will use both impressions to create an artificial tooth that will fit over the stub. Then this tooth is fitted and cemented to the stub. When finished, it resembles the original tooth. Fitting a crown requires two dental appointments. During the first the impressions are made and the stub is prepared. The stub is fitted with a temporary crown while the permanent one is being prepared. The permanent crown is then fitted during the second visit.

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Drug-induced lupus is caused by certain prescription drugs. It may have symptoms similar to systemic lupus erythematosus but it does not attack major organs and it is not chronic. This illness goes away within six months of stopping the medication. Neonatal lupus affects babies born to mothers who have lupus. It is a rare condition and can be treated before or at birth. Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus is restricted to the skin. Rashes develop on the face, neck, scalp, in the mouth and nose. This form of lupus may also be accompanied by hair loss and changes in skin pigmentation.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus can attack any part of the body and may be mild or severe. Severe lupus affects major organs of the body such as the heart, lungs, brain, nervous system and kidneys. However, most cases of lupus are mild. Lupus affects women more often than men. Nearly ninety percent of the patients are women. The disease is most common in women between the ages of 15 and 44. It is also more likely to strike people of color. African Americans, Pacific Islanders, Native Americans, Native Hawaiians, Asian Americans and Hispanics are more likely to contract lupus than Caucasians. These ethnic groups will also experience symptoms at an earlier age and be more severely affected.

Lupus is a disease in which patients have good days and bad days. Some days your symptoms are worse and you feel ill; other days the symptoms are not as bad and you feel better. It is not a contagious disease in that it can be transmitted by contact however there is some evidence to indicate heredity may play a role. Lupus is extremely difficult to diagnose. The medical profession refers to lupus as “the great imitator” because its symptoms are the same as is present in many other illnesses. The symptoms are also vague and intermittent. And they vary according to the part of the body that is under attack.

There is no one diagnostic test that is conclusive. For instance there is a blood test called antinuclear antibodies or ANAs. It tests for the presence of abnormal antibodies. If one has a negative result, it indicates that one does not have lupus but a positive result does not mean that one does have. It will sometimes require years before a doctor can make a definite diagnosis of lupus. Treatment is dependent upon the part of the body that is affected by the disease, as is the type of doctor who will administer the treatment.

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Sinusitis can be chronic or temporary. Infections or allergies may cause the thin membranes in the sinuses to swell. Then the openings are blocked causing discomfort and a feeling of congestion. Bacteria also infect the sinuses when the mucus builds up and offers a breeding ground. Sinus blockage can also be caused by a viral infection. If the inflammation is caused by bacteria, it is usually accompanied by fever, congestion, a green nasal discharge, pain, a red flush over the sinus and a toothache just below the sinus. In very serious cases, high fevers and shaking chills may occur.

How sinusitis is treated depends on the cause. Bacterial infections are treated with antibiotics. Other infections may be treated with decongestant pills, nasal sprays, antihistamine pills, or nasal corticosteroid sprays. There are also some home remedies that are effective to prevent and treat sinusitis. It is recommended that the person drink lots of fluids, at least sixty-four ounces a day. This will keep the mucus thin and flowing. Apply warm packs over the infected sinuses or inhaling steam is also effective. If you believe that your sinusitis is due to seasonal allergies, try to determine the cause of the allergy and then avoid the allergen.

There are also some lifestyle changes that may be required. Scuba divers are advised to avoid diving until their sinusitis is completely cured. Anyone planning to travel by air needs to avoid flying if congestion is still present. The changes in air pressure that occur during flights can force more mucus into the sinuses. If people persist in flying, they are advise to use a decongestant an hour before taking off and use a decongestant nasal spray about a half hour before the plane embarks upon its descent. They should also consume lots of fluids during the flight, preferably water and juices.

When all the various treatments are not effective and sinusitis still recurs, your doctor may consider surgery as an option. The surgery is designed to enlarge the narrow sinus openings. During the surgery tiny endoscopes are inserted through the nose and into the sinus passages. Endoscopes are thin flexible tubes with a camera mounted on the tips. Most of them have a light, a viewer to reflect the image to the scope and a lens to enlarge the image. The surgery will widen the openings and thus improve drainage. No incisions are ever made on the facial skin.

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One prerequisite for a winning smile is white teeth. Over time teeth become stained for various reasons such as tobacco use, consumption of certain foods and beverages and the aging process. So tooth whitening is a sought after dental treatment. When people feel they cannot afford the dental chair, they try home remedies and sometimes with disastrous results. A pretty smile is crucial to some careers notably runway models. While established professional models can afford professional care newbies in the field who are not yet established have been known to try such agents as Clorox and Whiteout to improve their smile.

Professional bleaching is done in one of two ways. The dentist applies the whitening solution to your teeth and then uses a small gun to direct heat or light to the teeth, which activates the bleaching process. The dentist might also mix the solution with toothpaste and brush it one. Professional whitening procedures usually last for six to twelve months but this time can often be extended by proper home care as directed by the dentist.

There are many tooth whitening agents sold over the counter for home use. These are less expensive than professional treatments but they have disadvantages. They may initially whiten the teeth because they use an abrasive agent. But they eventually become ineffective and even harmful because this agent wears off the enamel of the teeth and exposes the yellow dentin underneath. There are also a variety of bleaching kits for use at home. These can be safe and effective if used under a dentist’s supervision however they do have side effects. Some people’s gum’s are irritated by the ingredients. Teeth may become more sensitive to cold and heat. Occasionally people accidentally swallow the solution, which can result in nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Over the counter kits vary as to how long the results last.

Sometimes whitening is not enough. Teeth may be unattractive due to the presence of gaps or cracks. In this situation bonding can be done. Bonding involves first painting a resin substance over the tooth and then using a special curing light to harden it. Bonding lasts from three to five years. Another process used to repair a chipped tooth or correct uneven teeth is the application of veneers. Veneers are thin shells made of a plastic substance and used to cover the teeth. First, the dentist drills off the enamel. Then the plastic coating is applied using a powdery substance. Once applied, the dentist shapes and polishes the tooth. Veneers last anywhere from three to twelve years.

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Most people’s feet are arched between the heel and the toes. But some people have feet that are flat with no arch. This condition is called fallen arches. Most of us are born with flat feet and don’t develop arches until we are between five and six years old. But some people never develop arches. Other people’s feet flatten as they age due to stretched ligaments. While many people with fallen arches have no foot problems others have pain and a stiff feeling in their feet. They may also experience these symptoms in their legs and lower back. For those who do have pain, arch supports can be custom designed for shoes and wearing these often alleviates the pain. Exercising the ligaments and muscles of the foot can also help.

Another condition that causes foot pain is Morton Neuroma. The bones that comprise the central arch of your foot are called the metatarsal bones. If two of these happen to rub together, they irritate a nerve. A tumor develops on the compressed nerve. The result is intense pain, numbness, burning and cramping sensations in the foot. These symptoms all appear between the toes and in the ball of the foot. Conservative treatments include pads to relieve the pressure, wearing larger shoes, and corticosteroid injections. When these are ineffective, surgery is usually required. While the surgery is generally successful, the nerve tissue sometimes grows back and another neuroma is formed.

A foot ulcer is an open sore that appears on the foot. Common causes of foot ulcers are nerve damage, constant pressure on the area of the foot where the ulcer occurs, improperly fitted shoes, and poor circulation. Diabetics are more susceptible to foot ulcers because of their poor circulation. A person who develops a foot ulcer needs to see their doctor. Foot ulcer treatment generally does not involve surgery. But a neglected foot ulcer can become infected and that condition may result in gangrene.

When the fibrous tissue at the base of the heel and under the foot becomes inflamed the condition is known as plantar fasciltis. This frequently results in intense pain in the heel and the sole of the foot just in front of the heel. Flexing the sole upwards will worsen the pain.

The pain is most intense after periods of sleep and other inactivity. Conservative treatments include wearing a foam pad in the shoes, wearing a heel cup, or wearing a shoe cushion. When these treatments are ineffective, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may be prescribed to relieve pain and swelling. Stretching exercises are also recommended. If none of these treatments are effective, a doctor may recommend corticosteroid injections.

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Otitis media with effusion occurs when the infectious symptoms of acute otitis media are absent but there is fluid present in the middle ear. Most often this happens after the infection has healed but the fluid remains. However, it can also be caused by colds, barotrauma or poor functioning of the eustachian tube Eustachian tube malfunction occurs in children with cleft palates. Patients who have had acute otitis media often retain fluid in their middle ear for one to three months after treatment. When this happens doctors may continue antibiotics or use corticosteroid medications.

When chronic suppurative otitis media is present, the ear will drain for six or more weeks. A cholesteatoma may also occur. A cholesteatoma is an overgrowth of the eardrum skin into the middle ear. The first treatment administered is the use of antibiotics and eardrops. If this is ineffective, doctors may resort to administering the antibiotics intravenously. When symptoms persist, they usually begin diagnostic testing that may involve audiometry and computed tomography (CT scan). Surgery may also be necessary.

All middle ear infections can produce complications. Acute otitis media may cause the eardrum to rupture. It can also cause mastoiditis. Mastoiditis is an infection of the bone behind the year. Meningitis is another complication of acute otitis media. However, both mastoiditis and meningitis are rare. Middle ear infections commonly occur in children and acute otitis media can recur. If it recurs more than three times in six months, parents should look for other causes. These could be allergies, immune deficiencies, sinusitis, or enlarged adenoids. Two bacteria that cause acute otitis media are Streptococus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae. There are immunizations available for these and your doctor may recommend them. Low daily doses of antibiotics may also be prescribed for weeks or in some cases even months. Another treatment is to insert tubes in the ears through the eardrum to drain the accumulated fluid from the middle ear.

The major problem connected with otitis media with effusion is hearing loss. When hearing loss occurs in a very young child the result can be a delay in speech and language development. If a child who is taking antibiotics has fluid in both ears for three months, it is recommended that ventilation tubes be inserted. This should also be done for a child who has fluid in one ear for six months. Not only are ear infections common in children but they are also the most common cause of hearing loss, therefore they need prompt treatment.

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The symptoms of labyrinthitis are vertigo, loss of balance, nausea, vomiting, involuntary eye movements, and loss of hearing. If it due to a bacterial infection, your doctor will probably prescribe antibiotics. However, antibiotics are not effective if it is a viral infection. Your doctor can prescribe drugs for the nausea. The dizziness may last several days to several weeks. Balance problems can endure for several weeks to months but they usually occur only after a quick movement. Fortunately, this is a rare disease.

Otitis externa is an inflammation and infection of the outer ear. It is also referred to as outer ear infection and swimmer’s ear. It is caused by either bacteria or fungi. If the infection is caused by bacteria a boil or abscess often appears. Otitis externa is usually the result of water getting into the ear canal. The symptoms are itching, swelling, pain and a yellowish discharge from the ear. If not treated promptly the infection may spread and the ear may be very painful when you touch it. It is important to see your doctor when these symptoms occur.

Treatment depends on the cause of the infection. The doctor will inspect your ear with an otoscope and then decide upon the appropriate medication. When the infection is caused by bacteria, the doctor will prescribe antibiotics. But for those infections that are caused by a fungus, antifungal drugs are given. Both medicines are usually administered in the form of eardrops. For both types of infections, anti-inflammatory medications will be prescribed to reduce the swelling. A person must be very careful not to get water in the ear while the infection is healing. Most infections will heal within a week. To keep water out of the ear during that time, when you are bathing, place a cotton ball soaked in petroleum jelly in each ear and remove after exposure to water.

The best way to prevent outer ear infection is to keep your ears dry. If you do get water in them while swimming, bathing or shampooing your hair be sure to dry your ears thoroughly. Wearing a shower cap pulled down over your ears when showering and wearing a bathing cap while swimming will also prevent water from getting into your ears. Diabetics are in particular danger if they develop otitis externa, as they are susceptible to developing other serious infections as a result of the ear infection. Anyone who is diabetic should go to their doctor immediately after they experience any of the symptoms as prompt treatment can prevent the spread of the infection.

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People with conductive hearing loss need only amplification and have more choices in instruments. Acquiring a hearing aid for a person with sensorineural hearing loss is more complicated. These patients have difficulty discriminating between speech sounds and intensifying the volume is not sufficient help for their problem. Then there are those who have a mixed hearing loss, both conductive and sensorineural.

Another factor to consider is the severity of the loss. One of the least severe is a mild flat loss. A person with this type loss feels that all sounds are softer than they once were. They just need enough volume increase so they don’t need to strain to hear. Other people have a mild loss but the loss is on high frequency sounds. While it is easy for them to hear speech, they have difficulty understanding, as they may not be able to hear the high frequency sounds that make up the word.

When an individual has a moderate hearing loss it will definitely interfere with day-to-day activities unless they wear a hearing aid. The hearing aid also needs to be strong and well fitted. High frequency loss is very common. It is usually the result of aging or noise damage. People with a high frequency loss have difficulty hearing the TV or attending movies. The also find it difficult to engage in conversations in noisy environments such as restaurants and social gatherings. Those individuals having a severe hearing loss need a good physical fit and have fewer choices when purchasing hearing aids.

There are several different types of hearing aids available. On the body aids look like a transistor radio. The case connects to a speaker that snaps onto an ear mold. Due to having a large speaker and battery it is quite powerful and could be a good choice for people with a severe loss. It is also inexpensive. A behind the ear or BTE aid consists of a plastic case containing all the electronic components and rests behind the ear with a tube that goes over the ear to connect to a mold within the ear. It is easy to repair and easy to adjust the volume. In the ear aids have the components contained in small plastic cases that fit inside the air. Although they are less visible, the controls are more difficult to adjust. An in the canal aid fits mostly inside the canal. It is less visible but the controls are difficult to adjust.

The most recent type of hearing aid to come on the market is the digital hearing aid. This hearing aid contains a very small digital computer. By using a remote control, it is possible to program the aid to adjust to different environments such as a crowded shopping mall or noisy coffee shop. Another advantage of the digital aid is the dispenser can program the aid to adjust to the patient’s type of hearing loss such as a low-frequency loss or a high-frequency loss.

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A sensorineural hearing loss is permanent. Conductive hearing loss is the result of improper sound transmission through the ear canal to the eardrum and tiny bones in the middle ear. A person with conductive hearing loss has a problem with hearing sounds whereas someone with sensorineural hearing loss has difficulty distinguishing the sounds so that ‘pin’ may sound like ‘fin’ or ‘peach’ may be heard as ‘teach.’

Sometimes a patient will have both a conductive loss and a sensorineural loss. When this occurs it is referred to as a mixed hearing loss. Another type of hearing loss is presbycusis or age-related hearing loss. Presbycusis can begin as early as age 40. It is progressive and affects the person’s ability to hear high-frequency sounds. Sensorineural hearing loss results from damage to the tiny hair cells in the cochlea or to the eighth cranial nerve. This usually occurs because of prolonged exposure to loud noise. It is also hereditary. However it can be caused by an infection, disease, injury or toxic drugs.

Conductive hearing loss usually results from damage to the ossicles (tiny bones of the middle ear), the eardrum or the ear canal. It can also be caused by infection, a cholesteatoma, otosclerosis, or a build-up of earwax. Physicians used various tests to determine what type of hearing loss one has and the extent of the loss. The treatment will depend upon the cause of the loss. Infections are normally treated by antibiotics although sometimes a myringotomy will be required. This is a procedure that involves making a tiny opening in the eardrum to relieve the pressure caused by an infection.

Certain hearing losses such as presbycusis are permanent. In this case the patient will need to be fitted with a hearing aid in one and sometimes both ears. Hearing aids amplify the sounds and transmit it to the ear canal. People with conductive hearing loss and with presbycusis respond well to the use of hearing aids, as all they require is an increase in volume. However, people with sensorineual hearing loss have a more serious problem. Their difficulty is not just in volume but also in distinguishing the different speech sounds. So even though a hearing aid amplifies the word ‘peach’ it may still be interpreted as ‘teach’ by a person with a sensorineural loss.

They will need more sophisticated hearing aids to help them distinguish sounds. They also have more difficulty using the telephone and listening to TV.

When a hearing loss becomes severe it is possible to have a cochlear implant. A cochlear implant is particularly helpful for the person with severe sensorineural hearing loss. It will not restore normal hearing but it is effective enough to enable the person to better discriminate sounds. When supplemented with lip reading it can improve communication skills. However, the person who has undergone a cochlear implant will need to work with a therapist to learn to interpret the sounds they hear.

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To diagnose whether or not this tumor is present, an audiometry will probably be required. In an audiometry you will be seated in a soundproof room. Headphones will be placed over your ears. You will then listen to sounds that will increase in both frequency and volume. A list of words will also be dictated to you to test whether you are able to distinguish between words that sound alike such as ‘teach’ and ‘peach.’ In addition you may be given a magnetic resonance imaging test commonly called a MRI. During this test you lie on a table that is transported through a machine containing a radio-wave transmitter and a large magnet. The machine produces pictures of the body part being scanned.

Another test that may also be used is a CT or computed tomography scan of your head. Again you lie on a table that slides into a machine however inside narrow x-ray beams are sent through your body. A rotating camera collects the beams and transmits them to a computer. The computer then produces cross-sectional pictures of the body part being scanned. Once the tumor has been identified it must be surgically removed. One radiation treatment is given following the surgery.

Another growth that causes ear problems is a cholesteatoma. This is formed by an overgrowth of the skin of the eardrum into the middle ear. If left untreated the cyst like structure can continue to grow and eventually damage the tiny bones the middle ear. It can also become infected. There is some genetic connection as some people are born with the tendency to have cholesteatomas. However, they can also be caused by recurring ear infections or eustachian tube blockages. Symptoms of a cholesteatoma are similar to those of an acoustic neuroma. They include ear pain, loss of hearing, dizziness, a feeling of pressure in the ear and the drainage of pus from the ear.

An untreated cholesteatoma can also cause weakness and paralysis of the facial muscles. Cholesteatomas are typically treated by otolaryngologists. If an infection is present it will be treated by various medications. Minor or major surgery will be performed to remove the cholesteatoma completely. If any of the tiny ear bones or the eardrum is damaged, surgical procedures to reconstruct them will also be required. These surgeries require a hospital stay and are usually performed under general anesthesia. Unfortunately, cholesteatomas have a tendency to recur. So if a person has had one, they need to have their ears examined annually for any sign of recurrence.

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