Underbite Correction without Going Under the Knife

Leave a reply

The news that Los Angeles cosmetic dentist Dr. Sam Muslin delivered to this female transfer patient was better than she imagined. Other doctors had told her that oral surgery and braces were the only way to correct her underbite. Dr. Muslin told her that there was more than one way to sing a song!

While orthognathic jaw surgery and orthodontic appliances have been used for years to achieve underbite correction, this patient had another option: Face Lift Dentistry®  Although she was very resistant to undergo invasive surgery, the patient was eager to fix her unorthodox smile. She had suffered the consequences of her malocclusion for years and wanted to have a drop-dead smile, not a smile that was more grimace than grin.

This young woman had striking eyes, pretty hair and a good complexion, but these features were overshadowed by a prominent chin and protruding lower lip caused by conspicuously tall teeth in her lower dental arch. Not only were they too prominent, but they stood in front of her top teeth and not behind as is the norm.

Appearance was not her only concern. The patient had difficulty chewing her food because her back teeth did not meet unless she slid her jaw out of its normal hinging position to make contact. This, in turn, opened up a horizontal gap between the front teeth. By compensating for her mismatched jaws, this patient’s underbite condition looked worse than it was in reality.

Before underbite correction, this patient’s teeth gapped  in front when she bit her back teeth together.

High-tech Dental Bonding

Dr. Muslin’s proposed remedy included elements of physics, artistry and scientific calculation – a mix that Dr. Muslin has perfected during his 30-plus years in reconstructive and cosmetic dentistry. Teaming with a master ceramist, Dr. Muslin planned to use thin hand-crafted veneers to reshape and reposition the patient’s front top teeth. In addition, dental composite would be applied to rebuild the back teeth, creating a stable chewing surface that would allow the patient to use her temporomandibular jaw joint in a more normal way. The TMJ slide would be nullified, allowing her joint to function properly.

As one might imagine, the patient was thrilled. For the first time, she was given a treatment option that she could live with. She would not have to have any tooth extractions or go into the hospital for surgery. The idea of two years in cumbersome braces was taken off the table, replaced by the anticipation of a restored bite and smile in just a handful of days!

The Face Lift Dentistry® Plan

Dr. Muslin had a list of goals for this patient’s restoration. He wanted to:

  • Optimize her oral health
  • Improve the patient’s ability to chew efficiently
  • Balance her profile
  • Optimize the interaction between her upper and lower jaws
  • Reduce the lower lip’s protruding position
  • Minimize the appearance of a larger chin and jaw
  • Reshape and proportion the top teeth  for a prettier smile
  • Bring the top arch in front of the teeth in the lower arch
  • Give her enhanced teeth the exact same color and translucency of her natural teeth
  • Close the frontal gap when the patient bit down
  • Whiten her smile, so it’s one she loves to show off

Dr. Muslin was able to meet these goals and even more. His patient was so happy with the results that she couldn’t stop smiling. She wasn’t embarrassed by her underbite anymore and for the first time her smile did not undermine her self-confidence.

After underbite correction, this patient’s face was a beautiful oval shape with eyes, nose, mouth and chin in complete harmony with each other. A gorgeous outcome. A gorgeous young woman!

In this before-and-after photo, the patient is biting her teeth together. At right, her new radiant smile is obvious. Her bite reconstruction not only improved her appearance, but also maximized the comfort, functionality and health of her jaw.

 

New Laser Hair Removal Service

Leave a reply

Hair Removal and Skin Care Center
There are currently over 11 million cosmetic procedures performed in the United States each year. Many of those procedures are skin related. For example, there are more than 1.4 million laser hair removal procedures performed each year in the United States.

Premier Plastic Surgery of Kansas City offers the following skin care procedures:

  • Laser Skin Resurfacing (Sciton Laser System)
  • Profractional Laser Skin Rejuvenation
  • BBL Phototherapy Skin Rejuvenation
  • Injectable Fillers
  • Botox ™
  • BBL Hair Removal
  • Hair Removal for Men
  • Blue Light Acne Treatments
  • Chemical Peels
  • Microdermabrasions
  • Facials
  • Waxing
  • And the highest quality skin care — Obagi, SkinMedica ™ and GloMineral make-up lines

On the site, you can find a significant amount of information on how to treat many skin care concerns including:

  • Sun Damage
  • Melasma
  • Rosacea
  • Acne
  • Unwanted Hair and Ingrown Hair
  • Fine Lines and Wrinkles
  • Aging Skin Protection

Educating the Consumer
The treatment options in the Skin Care Center and all the other areas of the site speak to one of the missions of Premier Plastic Surgery of Kansas City—make sure the consumer gets educated on their cosmetic surgical and non-surgical options.

The education is completed with the consultation. There, the doctors will present the full spectrum of cosmetic procedural options to their patients. They understand that cosmetic procedures are not a one size fits all treatment situation.

How to Register a Trademark

You don’t have to register a trademark to have a legal claim on one. This is called common law rights.

Advantages of Registering a Trademark

However, you may want to consider the following benefits to formally registering a trademark:

  • It’s additional evidence of trademark ownership
  • It’s a formal nationwide notice for the trademark owner
  • You can use a trademark obtained in the United States to obtain registration in other countries
  • The Customs Service will accept the filing. This will prevent the importation of foreign goods that infringe the trademark.
  • It excludes others from using the mark

If you decide to register a mark you need to use TEAS.

TEAS

To apply for an application, you need to go to the United States Patent and Trademark Office website (http://www.uspto.gov).

While you can file a paper application, the patent office prefers that you complete the application online via the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS).

TEAS will ask you for the following information:

  • The mark’s owner, entity type, address and email information
  • Information about the mark. This includes whether it’s standard characters or a design. You’ll have to provide the mark.
  • Goods and services information. This will become the class code your mark is ultimately filed under.
  • Why are you filing for a trademark?  The options are that you’re using the mark now, you intend to use the mark and that foreign application or registration exists for the same goods and services.
  •  If you’re using the mark now, you’ll have to supply a specimen of the use of the mark in commerce.
  • Correspondence Information. This tells the office where to send and inquiries or questions (if you’re using an attorney, for example)
  • Fees. Fees vary depending upon the number of classes you want your mark listed under, but right now it’s $325 for one class—nonrefundable.
  • Signature information.

 It’s a good idea to prepare the answers to all of these questions and prepare the specimens before you being to interact with the TEAS system. Currently, information is not saved. If you don’t get through the system in one sitting you’ll have to start all over again.

Educate yourself about trademarks prior to applying for one. Make sure you understand how and why it may work for you. Attorneys and on line services are available to complete the form for you. But you can also do it yourself and save those fees.

How to Patent an Invention or Idea

If you have an idea or invention that you feel may be patentable you’ll want to first ask yourself three questions. Is it:

  • Original- this means your invention has to be 100% original
  • Non-Obvious- this means the invention must be different than what exists
  • Useful- the invention must serve a useful purpose

Note that an idea can’t be patented. The person who has the foresight to turn an idea into an invention and then patent it, will be the recognized owner of the invention.

Steps to Patent an Invention

Do a patent search- You want to be sure the idea hasn’t already been patented. So, a thorough search to determine whether or not a patent already exists needs to be done.

You can use the search tools on the website of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website (http://www.uspto.gov) to see what patents have been granted.

Determine the patent type- According to the patent office, there are five types of patents:

  • A Utility Patent can be granted to anyone who invents or discovers any new and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, compositions of matter or any new useful improvement thereof.
  • A Design Patent may be granted to anyone who invents a new, original and ornamental design for an article of manufacture
  • A Plant Patent can be granted to anyone who invents or discovers an asexually reproduces any distinct and new variety of plant.
  • A Provisional Patent is a less expensive alternative to filing a non-provisional patent but it’s only good for 12 months. Then you have to file a non-provisional patent.
  • A International Patent may also be filed

Once you determine the type of patent your invention falls under, then you file the patent. Patent forms are available at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website.

Patent Form Information

When you complete a patent application, you’ll have to provide the following information:

  • A written document which comprises a specification (meaning description and claims) and an oath or declaration
  • A drawing in those situations where a drawing is necessary
  • Filing, search and documentation fees

Filing a patent can be complicated. Getting it done right and in a timely fashion may be worth a consultation with a patent attorney.

Fees can run into the hundreds of dollars. For example, for a utility patent, the current filing fee is $330 or $165 for a small entity.