Savannah Cosmetic Dentist Blog - Dr. Brad Durham

Can Lotus Flower's Secrets Make Us Look Younger? (Durham)

For years, scientists have been looking all over for ways to stop or reverse the aging process. Recently, a team of researchers took a big step in that direction by unscrambling the genetic codes associated with a very special plant.

The Sacred Lotus

Ancient and mysterious, Nelumbo nucifera or "the sacred lotus" has an incredible ability to preserve itself for long periods of time. In fact, the plant's seeds have the power to survive for up to 1,300 years. Recently, a large team of scientists from Japan, China, Australia and the U.S. successfully sequenced the genome for this incredible survivor. By doing so, they have given molecular biologists the ability to study the approximately 27,000 plant genes and determine how they work to promote long life.

Big Implications

While they don't know for sure, researchers think they may be able to eventually transfer the lotus flower's anti-aging mechanisms to human beings. Whatever its ultimate value, the plant's genome sequence is almost certain to provide new insight into how and why we age.

A Fascinating Future

Every day it seems like scientists stumble upon some new discovery that points toward anti-aging remedies which could change the world as we know it. Sadly, most of us won't live long enough to take advantage of these remedies.

On the other hand, there are things we can do to make ourselves look and feel younger. Many people are surprised to learn that dental changes can impact their physical appearances in  negative ways. As our teeth wear, they offer less support to overlying facial tissue. This can promote the development of jowls, chin creases, wrinkles and more.

Fortunately, Dr. Durham and Dr. Strickland offer their patients nonsurgical facelifts, which correct this common problem. If you'd like to regain that youthful look you once enjoyed, contact their office today.

At the end of the day, most parents feel their age; and with so many responsibilities and stressful conflicts, it's no secret why. More than a few people have complained that their children are aging them prematurely. Now, a new study appears to bolster these humorous claims.

Are We Like Bees?

After studying bee colonies for quite some time, researchers have determined that parental responsibilities accelerate aging for the winged insects. Forced to nurture the hive's progeny during the summer months, caregiving bees demonstrate a significant decline in brain function when compared to similar bees which only collect pollen. Published in the Journal of Experimental Biology, the study also found that "parental" bees enjoyed much shorter lifespans when compared to worker bees, which weren't required to feed and care for the queen's new larvae.

What's Aging You?

Much like bees, humans experience significant physical and mental stress associated with caregiving. While there's no doubting that parental responsibilities have the power to make us feel tired and rundown; it's not clear whether they actually make us age faster.

With that being said, certain things have been proven to age us prematurely, including sun exposure, poor diets and a lack of exercise. Additionally, many people are surprised to learn that they're dentures can actually play a huge role in making them appear much older than they really are.

Because they tend to provide weak support to facial tissues, traditional dentures can promote the appearance of jowls, lips lines and chin wrinkles. They can also create a sunk-in look by making the chin appear too close to the nose.

Rejuvenation is Possible

By offering facelift dentures which are custom-made to support facial tissues for a much fuller look, Dr. Strickland and Dr. Durham help their patients turn back the proverbial clock. It doesn't matter if you're still raising young ones or your children have already left the nest; now is an ideal time to recapture that youthful look by switching to facelift dentures. Contact our office today to learn more.

When people are forced to live with chronic pain, they experience a serious reduction in life quality. In fact, the reduction can be so significant, it may force some to take drastic measures.

Disturbing Study

A new study suggests that chronic pain may cause some people to take their own lives, especially when they aren't able to clearly identify the source cause. Appearing in the journal of JAMA Psychiatry, the research involved data related to just over 4,800,000 patients who had received care in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System from 2004 to 2005. After reviewing the medical records associated with each patient, the researchers found that subjects were more prone to committing suicide when they suffered from lingering pain.

Is All Pain the Same?

Interestingly, while the study did link unrelenting pain with an increased risk of suicide; it also found that certain types of pain were more problematic than others. Based on their results, researchers determined that having treatable pain did not appear to raise a person's risk of suicide. On the other hand, when patients suffered from pain which appeared to have no source cause, they were more prone to committing suicide, thanks in part to limited treatment options.

How it Applies to TMD

When people suffer from temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), they may experience a host of seemingly unrelated symptoms that can appear to have no singular cause. This may lead people to believe they are suffering from other problems, when they are actually experiencing TMD.

Getting Relief

If you are suffering from intense headaches, jaw pain, facial tenderness, tinnitus, jaw popping and/or chewing difficulties, you may have temporomandibular joint disorder. Fortunately, Dr. Strickland and Dr. Durham can give you a thorough, professional evaluation that will determine whether you are suffering from TMD. If you receive a positive diagnosis, they can also offer an effective treatment plan that will provide permanent relief. To learn more, contact their office today.

All of us want to maintain a youthful appearance for as long as we can. Sadly, some seemingly innocuous things can cause us to look older prematurely. If you're hoping to ward off Father Time for as long as possible, learn four things that give him an advantage.

Sugar

We all know that sugar can harm our teeth and increase our risk of developing diabetes. Surprisingly, it can also harm the elastin and collagen in our skin. According to experts, we can slow the aging process by replacing sugary foods with ones that have lower glycemic indexes.

Straws and Water Bottles

It may sound bizarre, but drinking through straws and bottles can actually cause us to develop premature signs of aging. The constant puckering promotes the development of wrinkles and fine lines around the lips.

Being a Woman

Unfortunately for members of the fairer sex, women tend to get more wrinkles around their mouths. According to the Mayo Clinic, it's unclear why this is; however, experts suspect it may have something to do with the fact that women tend to have fewer sebaceous glands, which are responsible for producing natural lubricating oils.

Dentures

Because they tend to fit relatively poorly, traditional dentures can cause our chins to appear too close to our noses. Usually, this creates a sunk-in appearance, marked by jowls, lips lines and chin wrinkles.

Fortunately, if dentures are causing you to look older, you can turn back the clock by replacing them with facelift dentures. Custom-made to fit well, facelift dentures provide much more support to facial tissues, creating a fuller, more attractive appearance, akin to the one you flaunted in your youth.

To learn more about this simple effective solution for premature aging, contact Dr. Durham and Dr. Strickland today.

Americans spend countless dollars on lotions, creams, injections and surgeries in an attempt to maintain a youthful look. According to a new study, however, they may be far better served spending a little more wisely at the grocery store.

Anti-Aging Food

Research out of France's national department of health (INSERM) suggests that western diets make people age quicker and less gracefully when compared to a specific diet, which also appears to promote better health. The study, which appeared in The American Journal of Medicine examined over 24 years of data related to 4350 men and women. Ultimately, the researchers found that subjects who ate according to the Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) enjoyed longer, healthier lives, when compared to subjects who ate western diets, consisting of large amounts of sugar, fried foods, red meat, refined grains and high-fat dairy products.

The AHEI Diet

According to the researchers who conducted this study, an AHEI diet consists mainly of fresh fruits, vegetables and fish. By eating these types of foods on a consistent basis, they say people can slow the aging process and prevent numerous deadly medical conditions.

When the Damage Is Already Done

If we could relive our lives, most of us would make all sorts of different decisions that might make us look younger today. Unfortunately, few of us ate perfectly in our youth. By committing to better eating habits, you may be able to slow the aging process; however, if you're already frustrated with existing premature signs of aging, a new diet isn't likely to help.

Practical Ways to Look Younger

Age-related facial flaws can occur for a number of reasons, including sun exposure, genetic characteristics and poor diets. That said, many times, unattractive age-related flaws are rooted in our mouths. As we age, our teeth wear, causing our faces to take on a sunk-in appearance in which our noses and chins appear to be closer together. Not only does this make us look unhappy and less approachable; it can promote the development of jowls, chin wrinkles, lip compression and more.

Fortunately, Dr. Durham and Dr. Strickland can dramatically reduce these flaws by providing non-surgical facelifts, which restore teeth to help support facial tissue. Patients enjoy fuller, younger-looking faces that make them feel more confident and outgoing. To learn more, contact their office today.

For decades, scientists have been hard at work exploring the mysteries surrounding how we age. Recently, a group of researchers stumbled onto a big revelation that could lead to new, powerful anti-aging treatments.

A Veritable Fountain of Youth?

Scientists out of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York recently made a huge discovery when they located the exact part of the brain which appears to control aging. What's more, they were able to drastically slow the aging process by manipulating a specific protein complex that influences this brain region.

The Hypothalamus

Responsible for all sorts of important bodily functions, the hypothalamus is an almond-sized structure, which controls reproduction, growth, metabolism, development and aging. To see if they could manipulate the aging process in mice, researchers targeted special nudlear protein complex which influences B cells (NF-B) to help promote and prevent inflammation. By artificially activating the NF-B pathway in the hypothalamus, the researchers were able to speed aging in mice, causing a reduction in learning ability, skin thickness, size and strength. Likewise, they were able to drastically slow the aging process by blocking the NF-B pathway; in fact, they were so successful, the mice lived 20 percent longer, while also enjoying more robust health, energy and other physical traits associated with youth.

A Promising Future

This recent study has caused a big stir in the scientific community, with numerous aging experts calling it brilliant and groundbreaking. As scientists gain a better understanding of how we age, they appear to be closer to potential remedies which may help people look younger and live longer. Unfortunately, most of us aren't likely to benefit from these anti-aging treatments, which will probably take decades to develop.

A Modern-day Anti-aging Treatment

Sadly, aging involves more than common aches and pains. For many of us, it also involves age-related facial flaws that negatively impact the way others perceive us. While age-related flaws can occur for numerous reasons; many times, they're the product of traditional dentures which offer poor support to facial tissues. Fortunately, Dr. Strickland and Dr. Durham offer their patients facelift dentures, which have the power to eliminate that unattractive "sunk-in" look, along with jowls, lip lines, chin wrinkles and other facial flaws. To learn more about this simple, modern way to look younger and more vibrant, contact their office today.

Four-time Grammy-nominated singer Jewel isn't known for caring much about public perception. Famous for numerous chart-topping songs, such as "You Were Meant for Me" and "Who Will Save Your Soul," the country/pop star is well known for having a noticeably flawed smile which makes her different from other celebrities, who have sought out cosmetic dental procedures aimed at correcting their crooked teeth. Recently, however, Jewel raised some eyebrows, when she showed up on a video with attractive, straight teeth.

Quick Change

A recent video clip had celebrity gossip magazines and websites buzzing, thanks to some footage of Jewel sporting a straight smile. Just 14 days prior, the songstress was spotted with her trademark misaligned teeth, causing people to wonder how she got straight teeth in such a short amount of time. In actuality, according to the famous singer, she owed her new smile to temporary, removable dentures, which she wore to make her look more like June Carter Cash for the Lifetime Original Movie, Ring Of Fire.

Lot of Attention

Although she may have valued the attention paid to her upcoming movie, Jewel didn't seem too excited about the publicity surrounding her teeth. In a recent sit-down with Health magazine, she paid tribute to her infamous smile, saying it has benefited her by making her stand out from other singers. Unfortunately, this typically isn't the case for people who live in the real world.

Accepting Reality

While Jewel may be able to get away with having an imperfect smile; the average person is forced to accept some blunt realities. Research has demonstrated that crooked teeth have a serious impact on how other people perceive individuals, not to mention oral health. In fact, studies have shown that people who have misaligned smiles tend to be perceived as being less intelligent and less likely to succeed. While cruel and unfair, this reality can have a big effect on lives, causing people to suffer both socially and professionally.

If you don't like being judged unfairly based on your crooked teeth, Dr. Durham and Dr. Strickland can help by providing porcelain veneers in a smile makeover or full mouth rejuvenation, which corrects flawed smiles in a powerful, yet natural way. To learn more, contact our office today.

Countless Americans endure some form of chronic pain, which significantly impacts their work and social lives. While many rely on pain medications that mask discomfort, others are exploring alternative remedies which employ non-medicinal strategies.

Recently, a team of researchers tested reflexology to see if it might hold painkilling powers. While their study did yield promising results; it's not likely to offer much benefit to people who suffer from temporomandibular joint disorder (also called TMD).

A Complimentary Treatment

Researchers out of the University of Portsmouth recently tested reflexology to see if it might prove beneficial to people who suffer from unrelenting pain. Appearing in the Journal of Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, the study included several participants who suffered from a variety of different types of chronic pain.

After using reflexology techniques on these subjects, the researchers noted that each one reported about 40 percent less pain. According to one of the lead researchers, these findings suggest that reflexology may serve as a useful complement to pain medications for patients who suffer from pain associated with backaches, osteoarthritis, cancer and more.

What if You Have TMJ Disorder?

Temporomandibular joint disorder can cause all sorts of difficult symptoms, such as jaw clicking, chewing problems, headaches, tinnitus and, of course, chronic pain. Unfortunately, because they don't address the root cause of the problem, alternative therapies typically offer little - if any - relief. In the end, while things such as acupuncture, massage, acupressure and reflexology might offer a temporary distraction from TMJ-related pain; they won't provide any sort of lasting help.

What Works?

Dr. Durham and Sr. Strickland offer their patients lasting relief from TMJ disorder by providing a treatment strategy that focuses on the root cause of the disorder: a bad or misaligned bite. Treatment plans will vary from patient, but could includ Full Mouth Reconstruction. If you suffer from TMJ disorder, forget remedies that only address the symptoms of a greater problem. Instead, contact Beyond Exceptional Dentistry to learn about a smarter treatment plan that provides permanent TMJ pain relief.

Like it or not, we are frequently judged on our physical appearances. Unfortunately, as we age, our looks can deteriorate, causing us to feel less confident and more introverted. Recently, Allure magazine conducted an aging survey to get the lowdown on how most of us feel about aging, and the results weren't particularly uplifting.

The Ideal Age

When Allure asked respondents what age they would most like to be, an overwhelming majority said 31. This coincided with attitudes surrounding attractiveness, with men believing that a woman's beauty tends to peak at 29, and women believing they are most attractive at 31. Likewise, when asked what age a woman is likely to reach her peak of seductiveness, both male and female respondents answered 30.

Going Under the Knife

When it comes to choosing surgery to reduce the appearance of age-related facial flaws, men and women have vastly different feelings. In fact, an astounding 42 percent of women said they would definitely consider plastic surgery or injections to look younger; while only 18 percent of men felt the same.

Women Have it Worse

Unfortunately for members of the fairer sex, age doesn't appear to have as significant an impact on men. When asked what words they were most likely to associate with a woman who had gray hair, respondents chose "old." On the other hand, when asked what words they were most likely to associate with a man who had gray hair, respondents chose "distinguished."

Additionally, when asked who was under the most pressure to look young, 91 percent of women and 84 percent of men said females. Likewise, while only 36 percent of men said they were worried about physical signs of aging, 56 percent of women voiced concern.

Simple Solutions

While we can't turn back the clock; we can take some simple steps to regain a more youthful look. Over time, our teeth change in ways that make us look older. As we lose our natural bites, our lips thin, creases and jowls begin to appear around our mouths, and our chins may appear to move closer to our noses. This sunk-in look can have a drastic impact on our physical appearance. Fortunately, Dr. Durham and Dr. Strickland provide nonsurgical facelifts which promote a more youthful appearance by correcting this problem. To learn more, contact our office today.

Millions of Americans suffer from intense migraines, which make it difficult for them to fulfill their daily responsibilities. While some experience these debilitating headaches infrequently; others endure them on a daily basis. Recently, a group of researchers tested a popular over-the-counter supplement to see if it might help prevent or minimize migraine occurrence; and their results were promising.

Melatonin

To minimize migraine occurrence, many people take an antidepressant called amitriptyline. Unfortunately, this drug comes with some unpleasant side-effects, such as weight gain and daytime sleepiness. To test melatonin as a potential alternative to amitriptyline, a group of researchers recruited 178 migraine sufferers and split them into three groups.

The first group took melatonin over an 8-week period; while the second group took amitriptyline and the third, a placebo. Ultimately, melatonin didn't just outperform placebos as a migraine preventative; it outperformed amitriptyline as well. Melatonin was also far better tolerated by subjects, who experienced fewer side-effects when compared to participants who took amitriptyline over the 8-week period.

What it Means to TMD Sufferers

A debilitating condition that causes a variety of confusing symptoms, temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) often leaves sufferers with extremely painful headaches. Many times, people believe they're suffering from migraines, when they are actually enduring a common symptom of TMD. If your chronic headaches are caused by TMD, melatonin isn't likely to have much of an effect, since it won't impact the root cause of the problem: your misaligned bite.

How Do You Know?

Most migraine sufferers experience visual disturbances at the onset of a headache. If you don't notice bright lights, blurriness or any sort of aura; you may not be experiencing a traditional migraine headache. Additionally, if your headaches are accompanied by jaw popping, jaw pain, facial tenderness and chewing difficulties; you may have temporomandibular joint disorder.

By evaluating your symptoms, Dr. Durham and Dr. Strickland can help determine whether your headaches are migraines or a symptom of TMD. If you are suffering from TMD, our TMJ dentists can provide an effective treatment plan that will permanently eliminate your chronic headaches. To learn more, contact our office today.