The Clinical Education Network https://www.tcen.com.au Health, Fitness & Lifestyle Thu, 28 Jan 2021 13:10:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.6.2 https://www.tcen.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/cropped-1-32x32.jpg The Clinical Education Network https://www.tcen.com.au 32 32 7 Fun Indoor Activities For Adults https://www.tcen.com.au/7-fun-indoor-activities-for-adults Thu, 28 Jan 2021 01:11:31 +0000 https://www.tcen.com.au/?p=183 Whilst being outdoors is normally where you want to be in good weather, there will occasions that you are indoors with a group of friends, family, or work colleagues. If fun is the order of the day, then having some knowledge of group activities for adults indoors is going to be important if you do not want the occasion to become a boring event that no one enjoys.

If you are struggling to come up with unique ideas for group activities for adults, then we are here to help. Listed below are 7 activities which we are sure you and your group will look back on with pleasure.

 

#1 Whodunnit Evening

Everyone loves a mystery, and if it is a murder mystery, all the better. Thankfully, there is no real murder victim, but nevertheless, you and your group have to sift through clues, red herrings, and other evidence to try to identify who the murderer is. You can now play these on game consoles or download them from the internet, with a new victim and set of clues each time.

 

#2 Never Have I Ever

This is a game where you get to find out some pretty astonishing facts about your friends, family, and colleagues, although bear in mind they do likewise when it is your turn to answer, and there are also forfeits to be paid. The main preparations are with regards to the questions and the more you have the better. Again, these can be found online and downloaded to your device.

 

#3 Press Conference

With this game, one person leaves the room, and the others decide upon which famous person that they are going to be. The person returns and the group ask them questions in the form of a press conference. Without making it blatantly obvious, the questions should give subtle clues to who the famous person is, and the person answering the questions has to guess who they are.

 

#4 Indoor Olympics

Select at least 10 different indoor games and sports and then over a 12 or even 24 hour period the team play each of the games in succession, with the winner of each awarded a ‘gold medal’ and points towards their overall total. Games can include table tennis, chess, board games (Operation is ideal) but in truth, you can pick any games you like.

 

#5 Axe Throwing

This beats the bowling alley any day where, instead of rolling a ball at some pins, you are throwing a real axe at a target, where the closer to the centre you hit, the more points you score. At axe throwing centres you can make this an evening out, or an all-day experience which can include axe throwing lessons, team building, contests, and refreshments.

 

#6 Food Tasting Blindfolded

An ideal evening if your group A) Loves cooking and/or B) Love eating. Everyone needs to cook, and you could split the group into teams. Each person or team produces a number of dishes and everyone else tastes them blindfolded and tries to guess what they are. The roles are then reversed. This can be done in one evening or over more than one.

 

#7 Create a Cocktail

Following on from eating, we now move to the cocktails. Each person, or team, has the task of creating a unique cocktail, and rather than guessing what they are, the others must drink them and select which cocktail they like best. This is better if you do not reveal who made which cocktail.

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How To Make Moving Home As Stress-Free For Your Pets As Possible https://www.tcen.com.au/how-to-make-moving-home-as-stress-free-for-your-pets-as-possible Tue, 20 Oct 2020 03:15:28 +0000 https://www.tcen.com.au/?p=176 Moving home can be a stressful event for all the family, especially on the day, although you can mitigate some of that stress by planning everything well in advance and employing a professional removalists company.

Despite taking these steps, there is one (or possibly more than one) member of the family who is often overlooked when it comes to stress reduction during a house move, and that is the family pet. This is especially so when that pet is a dog or cat, who are both creatures of habit.

The upheaval of them moving to completely new surroundings, inside and outside, can be incredibly stressful for pets. While family members might be able to communicate how they are feeling, our pets often cannot, and thus we are unaware that they are in any way upset or even in distress.

So, assuming you love your pet and want to make your house move as stress-free as possible for them, here are some simple tips to help you, and your beloved animal.

The first step should be on any occasion you are visiting your new home prior to the move. When there, try to do a bit of a recce, but with your pet in mind and so look for anything that might be a problem for them such as loose writing or splintered wood panels indoors, and check the garden too for any dangers.

You should prepare a ‘first-night’ bag for your pet, that includes their food, bowls, some toys, and treats so that if the rest of their stuff is packed away in boxes, you at least have the basics for them that evening. Obviously, the specific items will vary depending on the type of pet.

On the day of the move, especially when your removalists arrive and start loading the removal van, it is best that you keep your pet well out of the way. This also applies at the other end when they are unloading.

Apart from the safety aspect of avoiding an item being dropped on them, seeing strangers remove items that they are used to from the home, could cause them additional stress. If they are available, you should ask a relative, friend or neighbour to look after your pet for a few hours.

As for transporting your pet to their new home, it is best if they do not travel in the removal van, even if your removalists allow it. Removal vans can be loud, plus the strange faces and surroundings can be upsetting for pets. Instead, they should travel in your car or that of any person who is driving you to your new home.

Ideally, you want your pet to arrive after the removalists have completed the unload. If possible, try to have the area of the home where your pet’s bed, tank or cage is going to be located, as clear as possible. If they are a dog or cat, let them move around the new home of their own accord, in order for them to get used it.

At this point try to give them as many items that they are familiar with such as their blanket or a toy. Also, as quickly as possible try to get into what would be their normal routines such as feeding time, walk time, or playtime.

It may take a day or two for your pet to get used to their new home, and if you have made the move to it as stress-free as possible, they will adapt even quicker.

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Dealing With the Mental Health Effects of Sexual Harassment https://www.tcen.com.au/dealing-with-the-mental-health-effects-of-sexual-harassment Wed, 10 Jun 2020 01:30:59 +0000 https://www.tcen.com.au/?p=161 Among the numerous workplace challenges impacting men and women across the world is sexual harassment. When not dealt with correctly, harassment can have significant impacts on the victims’ mental health and wellbeing. On top of this, it can lead to long-term self-confidence and other problems, stunting your career.

Because of this, it’s important to understand how to deal with the mental health effects of sexual harassment in the workplace. In the rest of this article, we’ve looked at the exact things you need to do if you’ve been a victim of any form of harassment.

  1. Tell People

Despite what you may think or what others may tell you, sexual harassment in the workplace (or anywhere else) is not okay. If you’ve been a victim, it’s extremely important to let people know. Where possible, speak with your manager or an HR officer, especially if the perpetrator is one of your workmates.

In some cases, you may also wish to pursue criminal action. There’s nothing wrong with this, and the only thing we’d recommend is to employ a good lawyer to ensure your case is a success.

Telling people that you’ve been a victim and accepting it yourself is one of the best ways to deal with mental health issues stemming from sexual harassment. After all, everything is easier when you have support around you.

  1. See a Psychologist

There’s nothing weak or lesser about seeing a psychologist. In fact, many people would argue that it takes a lot of courage to admit you have a problem and ask for help.

If you’re suffering from mental health challenges due to past or ongoing sexual harassment in the workplace, you should absolutely speak with a psychologist. Just the simple act of sharing your problems with someone is a very good way to start overcoming them.

  1. Understand the Effects

It’s amazing how many people suffer following sexual harassment without even realizing that anything’s wrong. Mental health problems can be subtle, but they can also have huge impacts on your day to day life.

With this in mind, make sure you speak with your psychologist or another medical professional about the potential effects of sexual harassment to ensure you’re equipped to deal with them.

  1. Don’t Give Up

Even when it seems like everything’s against you, it’s important not to give up when face with regular sexual harassment and other workplace problems. Seek support from those around you, let your boss or manager know that there’s a problem, and make sure that the perpetrator of the harassment knows that their attention is unwanted.

Final Word

Unfortunately, sexual harassment is becoming all too common in the modern workplace. Despite this, a lot of people don’t understand the negative mental health impacts that harassment and other discrimination can cause, and they suffer as a result.

If you are or have been a victim of harassment or any other form of workplace bullying, ensure you’re aware of your mental health. Don’t hesitate to speak with a medical professional if necessary, and never let it get you down.

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What You Need to Know About Apraxia https://www.tcen.com.au/what-you-need-to-know-about-apraxia Tue, 04 Feb 2020 07:30:38 +0000 https://www.tcen.com.au/?p=149 An expert in speech pathology can help children with speech impediments, stuttering, and sounds, but their skillset expands far beyond oral communication. A speech therapist is also someone who can help your child to communicate on other levels, with idea expression, thought organization, and attention spans.

Speech and language disorders don’t fit in a box, which means that even children with disabilities and conditions like apraxia, for example, can see great benefit from working with a speech pathologist.

For any parent with a child with apraxia, or waiting for an apraxia diagnosis, there is much unknown information. How do you know what to expect? How do you know what to look out for? How can a speech pathologist help? Read on to find out more about apraxia and your child.

What is Apraxia?

Apraxia is a motor disorder that causes children and adults to have difficulty speaking. Children may know what they want to say, but forming the words and getting them out can prove tricky. The condition is not caused by an underlying disease, but rather damage to the posterior parietal cortex part of the brain.

How Can I Tell if My Child Has Apraxia?

No parent can ever be sure without taking their child to a GP who then refers them to someone in the speech pathology field. Self-diagnosis is discouraged, and even a neurologist or another medical practitioner can not provide a diagnosis.

Early signs of childhood apraxia include inconsistent and increased errors with word shapes and complex syllables, vowel errors, emphasis on single-syllable use, limited babbling in the early years of a child’s life, and a lack of phonetic diversity.

Every child is different, but awkwardness and clumsiness, motor skill delays, and even problems with smiling can all end up being signs of the condition. Once again, a referral from a GP to a speech pathologist is essential to receiving a diagnosis or ruling out the condition.

How Can Speech Pathology Help with Apraxia?

A diagnosis of apraxia made by a speech pathologist can kickstart a myriad of different treatment options to help. Childhood treatment is paramount for improvements to be made in later life. Sometimes, as many as five speech pathology sessions per week can be essential, depending on the severity of the condition.

During these sessions, children can learn how to make proper speech movements. Sensory, visual, and physical cues are also worked on so children can learn how to make appropriate sounds and movements.

How to Diagnose Apraxia

There is no single sure-fire way to diagnose apraxia, and each speech therapist may approach the situation differently. Opinions can also differ in the speech therapy field about which symptoms indicate apraxia, as well.

Most therapists will look for multiple symptoms to indicate the condition, such as the inability to recite or repeat a word accurately. An example of this would be play, playful, and playfully.

Interaction with the child is key to forming a diagnosis, which can involve using syllables, sounds, and words to find out how they communicate. Speech pathologists may also examine the child’s tongue, mouth, and face to look for any structural problems.

Any parent who has concern for their child should see a GP first and foremost. While a GP can not offer a diagnosis of apraxia, they can refer you to a speech pathologist who can diagnose or rule out a condition that may require treatment.

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When Should I Consider Laser Eye Surgery? https://www.tcen.com.au/when-should-i-consider-laser-eye-surgery Fri, 03 Jan 2020 06:05:27 +0000 https://www.tcen.com.au/?p=141 If you have problems with your vision – such as astigmatism, long-sightedness or short-sightedness – you might have thought about getting LASIK eye surgery. It’s an extremely attractive option with the potential to improve your vision dramatically.

To put it simply, laser surgery generally involves reshaping the surface of the eye to correct vision problems. Although a lot of people end up with 20/20 vision following the procedure, this is by no means guaranteed. And, laser surgery is expensive.

Because of this, we decided to put together this short guide to help you decide when to think about getting laser eye surgery. Consider surgery if:

You Can’t Wear Contact Lenses and Don’t Like Glasses

Although they are quite convenient and generally effective, some people are unable to wear contact lenses due to underlying medical conditions or eye problems. Because of this, they have to wear glasses – and as most of us know, not everyone likes this.

Fortunately, laser eye surgery presents a viable alternative to both contacts and glasses. If successful, you shouldn’t need to use any corrective eye wear.

You Want to Do Things that Can’t Be Done With Glasses or Contacts

There are plenty of different activities that can’t be done with glasses or contact lenses. A range of contact sports are simply too dangerous to use eye wear with, and this means that those with poor vision can be prevented from playing them.

Ultimately, laser eye surgery can open up a world of opportunities for you. If you love sport or need to be able to engage in risky work activities, it can certainly help.

You Find Contact Lenses too Inconvenient

Although they work extremely well, contact lenses are a pain in the neck. They require a lot of care and attention, and problems can arise if you’re not careful. If you’re sick of having to put contacts in every morning and take them out again every night, you could consider laser surgery.

You’re Sick of Having Poor Vision

Ultimately, the case might be that you’re just sick of not being able to see anything. Glasses and contact lenses can cost money, and if you’re someone who regularly loses or breaks things, this can be a problem in itself.

Although laser eye surgery is expensive, you might decide that the long-term cost is actually cheaper than constantly paying for new prescription eye wear. Speak to your local optometrist for more information on this front.

Summary

Laser eye surgery has become quite a common procedure in the modern world, especially among those who can afford it. A lot of people hate wearing glasses and contact lenses, while still others can’t wear them during particular work or leisure activities.

If you’re interested in finding out more about laser surgery and how it can help you, the best thing to do is speak with your local optometrist. They will be able to advise you on a range of things, including the cost, chance of success, and best options for your situation.

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How Yoga Can Help You to Lose Those Extra Kilos https://www.tcen.com.au/how-yoga-can-help-you-to-lose-those-extra-kilos Thu, 26 Sep 2019 03:42:51 +0000 https://www.tcen.com.au/?p=83 It can be strange to think that yoga, which is not exactly a high-intensity exercise, can help with your fitness and weight loss. While it’s not the most conventional method for weight loss, that doesn’t mean it can’t have some surprising benefits. But possibly not in the way you might think.

If you love yoga, or you have been thinking about giving it a try, then you may be surprised to find out about the following.

It Can Help You Burn Calories

Everyone knows that a calorie deficit is essential for weight loss, which is why burning calories and eating less is usually a recipe for success when it comes to weight loss. In the traditional sense, yoga doesn’t often make you burn a lot of calories. However, it can help you burn some.

Active yoga classes, such as power yoga, for example, make you move far more than traditional yoga. Restorative yoga, too, has seen some promising results for overweight women who may struggle with different exercises.

It Helps You Sleep Better

The practice of yoga promotes better and deeper sleep, which is promising if you often run on empty throughout the day. So, how does that relate to weight loss?

If you participate in yoga sessions and achieve better sleep, then you can potentially enjoy weight loss at the same time. There are plenty of studies out there that show those with regular sleep patterns were able to lose more weight than those with less or restricted sleep.

It Makes You More Mindful

Your frame of mind counts for a lot when you are trying to improve your fitness and lose weight. Mindfulness and awareness are significant components of yoga, enhancing your level of consciousness.

Some studies show that those who develop mindfulness can resist unhealthy foods that contribute to weight gain. While it’s not a golden ticket for weight loss, it is providing the correct foundations for it.

Stretching Techniques

Jumping right into exercise and fitness can be an excellent way to put yourself on the path to weight loss, but it can also be risky. Without stretching your muscles, you put yourself at risk of damage that could see you unable to exercise for days. Yoga can teach you the correct stretching techniques to be able to exercise safely.

Yoga may not be able to help you lose weight directly, but indirectly is still beneficial as well. If you have thought about joining a yoga class in the past, then why not now? Enjoy the social environment as well as helpful techniques for self-care in the future. You’ll be on the path to weight loss in the right mindset before long.

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Falling Down a Rabbit Hole: The Most Addictive Drugs https://www.tcen.com.au/falling-down-a-rabbit-hole-the-most-addictive-drugs Mon, 12 Aug 2019 08:31:23 +0000 https://www.tcen.com.au/?p=5 Millions of people suffer from a drug addiction every year – with thousands making the brave step to check themselves into a drug rehab facility. While drug abuse and addiction might not be something you see every day, the sheer number of addictive drugs on the market will surprise you. Here are some of the more common and addictive.

  1. Heroin

Not only is heroin one of the most addictive drugs, but it’s one of the more harmful ones too. Every year, heroin causes thousands of people to die from overdoses, with thousands more in dire need of a drug rehab facility to take them in.

Heroin is a recreational opiate that creates a euphoria-like state in the user. However, the more heroin you use, the more you need to reach those same heights as your body builds up its tolerance. Then, that’s when the addiction sets in.

  1. Cocaine

Cocaine is the third-most damaging drug in the world, and only around ten percent of Australians haven’t tried it. Cocaine offers the user a lot of energy and feelings of euphoria. However, it also makes your heart beat faster, create feelings of agitation, and raise your blood pressure.

Over 20 percent of people who try cocaine will end up relying on it, which is why a substantial number of people in drug rehab are there to try to get clean from it.

  1. Alcohol

It’s hard to believe that you can put alcohol next to drugs like heroin or cocaine on a list of the most addictive drugs, but it deserves to be there. Alcohol addiction kills millions of people every year with how it can damage your body. However, billions of people consume it every year without considering its impact.

  1. Nicotine

Nicotine isn’t all that harmful on its own, but when corporations put it into cigarettes to make them addictive, then it becomes the epitome of harm. At least one in seven Australians smoke cigarettes, a cancer-causing product that can rob years off your life and health. Nicotine is also the 12th most addictive substance, making it something you should avoid at all costs.

  1. Methamphetamine

Over 250,000 people are dependent on methamphetamine in Australia, aged between 15 and 54 years old. Meth is as addictive and damaging as heroin and cocaine but doesn’t tend to be as readily available.

The world is full of dangerous and addictive substances that can cause harm to you and your family. If these drugs above, or any others, are causing problems in your family, then consider whether it might be time to research drug rehab facility options. There’s no time like the present to take control of your health and stamp out the addiction before it ruins your life.

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Major Advancements in Dental Implant Technology https://www.tcen.com.au/major-advancements-in-dental-implant-technology Sat, 17 Feb 2018 04:20:54 +0000 https://www.tcen.com.au/?p=50 Every year, around eight million people across the globe receive a dental implant. A dental implant is a metal post or pole that a dentist, such as Dentist Joondalup, installs into the jawbone below the gum line to add support for a false tooth. Once the root is in place and the tooth secure, it takes on the form of a natural tooth with full function. You can brush it, eat with it, and chew with it as if it were your own.

Dental implants are growing in popularity by the day, with more people opting for a tooth replacement rather than leaving a gap where a tooth once sat. Not taking care of tooth loss can result in speech changes, jaw changes, and even a loss of self-esteem.

In the United Kingdom in 2018, dentists performed more than 260,000 dental implant procedures – double the figure from 2013. If that’s anything to go by, then it’s a procedure that’s bound to get more popular as the years go by.

With that in mind, there’s always room for improvement and advancement in the dental world – especially with procedures such as dental implants. That’s why Image Navigation announced the world’s first advanced image-guided implant system at the 2019 International Dentist Show in Messe Cologne, Germany.

The system, which is known as IGI for short, makes use of a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scanner but with some clever advancements. It’s equipped with intra-surgical navigation which can react and track in real-time while boasting sub-millimetre accuracy. In essence, this piece of equipment can perform dental implant procedures as accurately – if not more so – than a human dentist.

The dental plan is superimposed onto a 3D CT scan that shows the patient’s bone, teeth, roots, sinuses, and nerve canals. All of this information is in real-time with no lag and a full picture of what the IGI is up against. If the machine ever strays from the digital plan, it will stop and turn off as a safety measure.

Many dentists praise the system for what it brings to the dental industry. It takes all the benefits of freehand surgery but then applies far more accuracy than ever before. As it’s working, the surgeon monitors where the robot is moving as it happens and can make adjustments as he or she sees fit.

The benefits of this new dental implant technology are unparalleled. Dentists can be more precise, and healing times may even be shorter in the future. This IGI builds on the success of dental CT scanners which have been growing in popularity for nearly a decade. The US market has increased by over 300 percent, and there are thought to be at least 40,000 dental CT scanners in the US by 2022.

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How 3D Planning Could Change the World of Dentistry for Good https://www.tcen.com.au/how-3d-planning-could-change-the-world-of-dentistry-for-good Tue, 21 Nov 2017 04:23:15 +0000 https://www.tcen.com.au/?p=52 There’s no denying that dental care has come a long way in recent years. After all, it wasn’t all that long ago that a blacksmith would perform dental procedures in any old darkened alley. However, it has come further than you may think, especially when regarding dental implants.

Dental implants have long been a preferred way in which to replace a missing tooth without resorting to dentures. Any accident, injury, or illness can require tooth removal, but it’s always helpful to know that dental implants are a way to solve the problem.

Dental implants are frames or posts constructed of metal that a dentist positions in your jawbone underneath your gum. Once in place, your dentist can then fit replacement teeth onto those posts. Unlike dentures, dental implants are firmly in place and take on the role of a natural tooth with full function.

However, dental implants require enough bone for a solid tooth foundation, and those who have suffered from an accident or injury resulting in tooth loss may not have enough.

Dentists solve that problem with a surgical procedure known as bone grafting. Titanium mesh supports the shape of the graft as new bone grows. However, that material can irritate soft tissue and can be particularly tricky to mold in place and get right.

That’s why 3D planning may be of future assistance in the dental implants field. A recent letter in the Journal of Oral Implantology discusses a possible technique to improve bone regeneration for dental implants.

Authors and doctors of the study from King Khalid University, King Saud University, and Loma Linda University created a virtual 3D model of a patient’s mouth with a bony defect resulting from an injury.

They identified where the graft should go with a computer program, printed a model, and fabricated it with titanium mesh so that it would fit the bone volume and position. The mesh was then filled with harvested bone and secured in the patient’s mouth with fixation screws.

3D planning allows dentists to form the most accurate shape for any bone loss. As a result, the patient is less likely to experience irritation from the titanium mesh and a more desirable healing outcome.

According to one of the authors, Aladdin J. Al-Ardah, the best part about 3D planning is precision. Accuracy is everything for the best outcome, and being able to know correct measurements and positioning before the procedure can save a significant amount of time in the dentist’s chair, and during healing and alterations.

There is still work to do, especially on improving the fabrication, but this dental procedure could become mainstream for the effective installation of dental implants in the future. Time will tell what this could mean for those with missing teeth as a result of an accident or injury.

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Everything You Need to Know About Invisalign https://www.tcen.com.au/everything-you-need-to-know-about-invisalign Thu, 19 Jan 2017 06:15:24 +0000 https://www.tcen.com.au/?p=78 On your hunt for cosmetic dental procedures to make you feel better about your teeth, you are likely to come across Invisalign. While, at first glance, Invisalign might seem like yet another brand name in the dental product world, it’s far from it.

Instead, it’s a revolutionary form of technology that has made many people smile with more confidence around the world — intrigued yet? Read on to learn everything you need to know about Invisalign.

What is Invisalign?

Invisalign is an orthodontic treatment that uses SmartForce Technology for nearly invisible teeth straightening. Instead of metal braces which stand out and come with a range of inconveniences, Invisalign are custom-made aligners that move your teeth to their best position and are entirely removable.

While they are not suitable for everyone in need of cosmetic dental treatment, they suit a significant number of people who would prefer not to wear braces. Ask your Invisalign-trained dentist if they are right for you.

What is the Process for Invisalign?

If you believe that Invisalign may be an excellent cosmetic dental procedure to help straighten your teeth, then it’s a good idea to visit your dentist. They can confirm that it’s right for you or suggest alternative options, such as braces, instead.

If Invisalign is a suitable method, your dentist will take photos, scans, or x-rays of your teeth so that they can create a three-dimensional treatment plan. This plan will also come in handy for the creation of your custom aligners.

You will receive three or four sets of Invisalign aligners at a time, which you will need to replace every two weeks. Within 12 to 18 months, you will see the final position of your teeth.

What Are the Benefits of Invisalign?

When braces work so effectively, you may be wondering why dentists chose to offer another cosmetic dental service to complement them. Invisalign are game-changers in the dental world. The first standout point is that they are nearly invisible. Very few people will ever know you are wearing an aligner unless they look closely.

They are also more comfortable than braces, which can have irritating metal brackets, and they are hygienic. You can remove them to eat food and clean your teeth. Invisalign aligners sometimes require fewer visits to a dentist and allow you to visualise each treatment stage.

Who Can Use Invisalign?

Invisalign aligners won’t be for everyone. They are suitable for most mild and moderate cases of correction. Check with your dentist and see if they recommend Invisalign or an alternative method of straightening.

Invisalign is a near-invisible, hygienic, and comfortable cosmetic dental service for those who are not happy with their teeth. Get in touch with your dentist to see if Invisalign or traditional braces are right for you.

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