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| Acute Term applied to the condition of an infection or inflammation for the most part. It means a localized and temporary condition of usually short duration. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Acupuncture A practice, originating with the Chinese, of puncturing the body (as with needles) at specific points to cure disease or relieve pain (as in surgery). Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Adrenal Gland This gland is found above each kidney and it made up of an outer wall (cortex) that secretes important steroid hormones and an inner portion (medulla) that produces adrenaline (adrenaline) and noradrenaline (noradrenaline). Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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ADA The American Dental Association A small group of individuals who dictate policy to dental schools, dentists and manufacturers of dental products. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Aseptic Osteomyelitis Old term used for ischemic osteonecrosis. It means, literally, "infection without bacteria." Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Amalgam The most common filling in use worldwide. Composition: mercury (50%), copper (30%) and the remainder silver, tin and zinc. Cheap, ugly, and easy to place. May last from 5 to 10 years. Mercury comes out on a second-by-second basis, so there are biological hazards to having it in the mouth. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Analgesic Refers to any medication that relieves pain while allowing the patient to remain conscious. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Ancestral Diet The amount of carbohydrate, protein and fat that keeps body chemistry in balance. It is governed by genetics of the past 2000 years, thus the name ancestral. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Apex The tip of the tooth root. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Atypical Facial Neuralgia/Pain Chronic deep ache or sharp pain, occasionally like a "lightning burst," usually on one side of the midface or lower face. No obvious dental or sinus cause. May also include sensations of burning or pressure. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Autonomic Nervous System That part of the nervous system under "automatic" control; the one that allows you to breathe, digest your food, etc. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Avascular Necrosis Another name for ischemic osteonecrosis, now somewhat dated. Some authors use it to refer to the most severe form of osteonecrosis, i.e. with considerable bone death. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Bite The way the upper jaw bone (maxilla) articulates with the lower jaw bone (mandible) to form the chewing surface between the teeth. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Blood Chemistry (Profile) A series of 18 to 24 blood tests on blood serum that can be used to determine a person's basic health as well as to determine the amount of carbohydrate, protein and fat they need to eat. It also registers the amount of toxic reaction a person might be experiencing from toxic dental materials. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Bone Marrow Edema A mild form of ischemic marrow damage, usually from back-up pressures in marrow blood vessels and fluid release between the fat cells of the marrow. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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CCMD Cranial-cervical-mandibular dysfunction; a three-dimensional structural integration between the mandible, the cranial bones and the cervical spine. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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CBC This stands for the "Complete Blood Count", or the actual count of red and white blood cells in a person's blood. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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C-flush The procedure in which a patient takes Vitamin C powder to the point of diarrhea to remove mercury-induced abnormal bacteria from the intestinal tract. Next, the system has fresh "friendly" bacteria introduced. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Candida "albacans" A yeast that normally lives in the intestinal tract. When mercury upsets the bacteria in the intestinal tract, Candida can grow excessively. Candida also converts methyl mercury back into inorganic mercury, so it does have some advantage. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Caregiver A support person responsible for meeting the basic needs of a patient while undergoing treatment. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Causalgia A localized, often severe ache or pain, generally initiated after trauma or an infection in the area. No obvious cause can be found; the cause in "causalgia" is presumed. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Cavitation An area of incomplete healing in the jawbone following the removal of an adult tooth. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Central Nervous System That part of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Chelation Therapy This is an intravenous procedure in which certain chemicals that can remove toxic substances are dripped directly into the blood stream. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Chiropractor A practitioner of a system of therapy which holds that disease results from a lack of normal nerve function and which employs manipulation and specific adjustment of body structures (as the spinal column). Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Compatibility Testing A term to describe the blood serum immunologic test for sensitivity to various dental materials. If one has amalgam and nickel removed, he/she should be sure that there is no frying pan into the fire syndrome created by placing another toxic material. About 60% of the composites, generally thought by the public to be safe, will react with an individual person's immune system. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Composite A plastic material embedded with finely ground sand that serves as a replacement for mercury as a filling material for teeth. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Conscious Sedation An intravenous procedure that puts a patient into the twilight zone of knowing what is going on, but not really caring a whole lot. It offers the advantage of having appointments that last over 2 hours, and sequential removal, midline crossing, etc. is canceled out. At the end, the patient may not remember more than a few minutes of the procedure. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Crown A covering over a tooth that has usually been broken down by decay or accident. It is the same size and shape as the original tooth, and may be made of gold, nickel, or composite. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Dental-Structural Medicine The art of balancing the pelvic girdle with the cranial bones and the mandible in a proper three-dimensional relationship. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Detoxification The process of removing toxins/poisons from the body. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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DMPS Sodium1, 3-dimercaptopropane-1-sulfonate A complexing agent used to remove heavy metals (especially mercury) from the body. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Dominant Focus A primary interference field. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Electrogalvanism Measurable levels of electrical current within the oral cavity created by the interaction of metals in the mouth with ionic solution (saliva). Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Endorphins Any of several morphine-like peptides naturally produced in the brain which bind to certain neuron receptors and have the effect of diminishing pain. Released in response to neurotransmitters and rapidly inactived by peptidases. Physiological responses to endorphins include analgesia and sedation. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Enzyme A protein molecule produced by living organisms that catalyses chemical reactions of other substances without itself being destroyed or altered upon completion of the reactions. Enzymes are classified according to the recommendations of the Nomenclature Committee of the International Union of Biochemistry. Each enzyme is assigned a recommended name and an Enzyme Commission (EC) number. They are divided into six main groups, oxidoreductases, transferases, hydrolases, lyases, isomerases and ligases. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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EPA Environmental Protection Agency. In July of 1970, the White House and Congress worked together to establish the EPA in response to the growing public demand for cleaner water, air and land. Prior to the establishment of the EPA, the national government was not structured to make a coordinated attack on the pollutants which harm human health and degrade the environment. The EPA was assigned the daunting task of repairing the damage already done to the natural environment and to establish new criteria to guide Americans in making a cleaner environment a reality. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Epstein Barr A virus that is credited with causing many symptoms similar to those seen in the mercury toxic patient. The virus is present in everyone, but is in a higher titer, or level, in people with these symptoms. It seems to come under control after dental revision procedures are completed. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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FJO Functional jaw orthopedics; dental orthopedic therapy used to reposition cranial bones in relationship to each other and the cervical spine. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Flipper Term applied to a plastic removable partial denture that usually has no clasps. They are generally placed immediately after an extraction of a tooth in order to protect the socket and blood clot area from disruption. They have one to several teeth on them and are usually considered temporary, or to be used only for several months during the healing process. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Geopathic Stress Electromagnetic stressors in the environment. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Gingiva Another word for the gums surrounding the teeth. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Hemoglobin The molecule in the red blood cell that transports oxygen. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Herbs Herbs are a gift from nature. They include leaves, bark, berries, roots, gums, seeds, stems and flowers. They have been used for thousands of years to help maintain good health. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Herpes Any of several inflammatory diseases of the skin caused by herpesviruses and characterized by clusters of vesicles. Herpesviruses are several in a family (Herpesviridae) of DNA viruses that replicate in cell nuclei and produce herpes. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Homoeopathy Homoeopathy (also spelled homeopathy) is an alternative method of treatment, based on the nature's Law of Cure, namely 'Like Cures Like'. The truth of this law was discovered by a German scientist Dr.Samuel Hahnemann in 1796, and has been verified experimentally and clinically for 200 years. Homoeopathy is the revolutionary, natural medical science. Homoeopathy is gentle and effective system of medicine. The remedies are prepared from natural substances to precise standards and work by stimulating the body's own healing power. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Hormone Chemical substances having a specific regulatory effect on the activity of a certain organ or organs. The term was originally applied to substances secreted by various endocrine glands and transported in the bloodstream to the target organs. It is sometimes extended to include those substances that are not produced by the endocrine glands but that have similar effects. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Huggins' Protocol The entire program addressing heavy metal toxicity including total dental revision, classroom and lecture hours on nutrition, chemistries, supplementation, detoxification and lifestyle to support a toxin free mouth and recovery from heavy metal toxicity. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Hypercoagulation State The status in humans of having blood with an increased tendency to clot. Can be from excess clot formation (thrombophilia) or decreased clot destruction (hypofibrinolysis). Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Hypofibrinolysis An hypercoagulable state, i.e. excess tendency to clot within blood vessels. From decreased ability to dissolve clots as they form; usually inherited. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Iatrogenic A disease state produced by action of a health care professional, through surgery, medication or other therapy. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Idiopathic A disease state produced by unknown causes. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Immune Cycle This refers to cycles of death and regeneration of white blood cells of the immune system. The mention of 7-14-21 day immune cycles is a warning of when NOT to have dental procedures performed without compromising the patient. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Immune Stimulating Program This is a computer-generated recommendation for nutrition and supplementation based on blood and hair tests and questionnaire answers for the person who cannot meet with Dr. Huggins in person for a total dental revision. It is about a 70-page report that helps a person form his/her own program. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Immune Suppression A condition of lowered protective reactivity expressed by the immune system after being challenged by a toxin. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Immune System The bodily system that protects the body from foreign substances, cells, and tissues by producing the immune response and that includes especially the thymus, spleen, lymph nodes, special deposits of lymphoid tissue (as in the gastrointestinal tract and bone marrow), lymphocytes including the B cells and T cells, and antibodies. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Implant In dentistry this usually refers to the placement of a piece of metal into the jaw bone, onto which crowns, bridges, or other appliances may be attached. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Inflammation A specific tissue reaction to injury (infection, trauma, toxins, etc.) which typically leads to the clinical features of swelling, redness and pain. Microscopically, certain white blood cells are involved at different stages, blood vessels dilate and constrict and release fluids and white blood cells, and a wide variety of chemical "mediators" control the whole thing. Final stage: healing and repair. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Interference Field An electromagnetic disturbance in the body which can be caused by inflammation, infection, toxicity or depolarized tissue (see Neural Therapy article by Dietrich Klinghardt, M.D., Ph.D.). Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Intraosseous Neural Therapy An injection of medication directly into the interior of the jaw bone using a device for the delivery of single-tooth anesthesia (stabident); used as a conservative treatment for jaw bone infections (vs. cavitation surgery). Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Ischemia Diminished blood flow to a tissue, organ or whole body. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Ischemic Osteonecrosis Literally "bone death." Diseased or dead bone and marrow resulting from a diminished (abrupt or chronic) blood flow. Can affect any bone; usually from poor outflow from the bone. Usually causes increased marrow pressures and pain, but may be painless. Hips, knees and jaws are most often affected. Subsets of this disease: bone marrow edema (mild form), regional ischemic osteoporosis (mild form), avascular necrosis (severe form), etc. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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IVC This is a code-word standing for intravenous vitamin C. Vitamin C is generally administered during dental removal appointments. Removal as in teeth, old fillings and crowns. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Kinesiology A functional measurement of changes in muscle strength in response to autonomic nervous system stressors; also known as muscle response testing; examples include Applied, Clinical, Educational and Neural Kinesiology. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Laser Light Any of a class of devices that produces an intense beam of light of a very pure single colour. This light beam may be intense enough to vaporize the hardest and most heat-resistant materials. The word laser is an acronym derived from light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. In dentistry laser light may be used for several procedures. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Mandible Lower jaw. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Maxilla Upper jaw. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Maxillofacia The region of the body which included the jaws, mouth, mid-face and neck. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Mercury The most toxic, non-radioactive element known to man. This is the heavy metal that comprises 50% of amalgam dental fillings. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Meridians According to traditional Chinese medicine, a form of bodily energy called chi is generated in internal organs and circulates throughout the body, forming paths near the surface of the skin called meridians. This whole-body network is called the meridian system. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Methyl Mercury A compound of mercury that is in the organic form. It is extremely dangerous because it can go through any tissue in the body. There are no barriers to methyl mercury. It is roughly 100 times more toxic than the inorganic form of mercury found in fillings, but fillings provide the original inorganic form which can be converted into methyl mercury within our bodies. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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NAET Nambudripad's Allergy Elimination Technique A way of eliminating allergies using acupuncture and/or acupressure techniques requiring minimal exposure to an allergen, and followed by a brief period of avoidance. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Neural Kinesiology Muscle response testing which combines the best of Applied, Clinical and Educational Kinesiology techniques with autonomic nervous system research. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Neural Therapy The Basic Philosophy of Neural Therapy (1) In the early part of this century there were 2 basic theories of illness: 1. Virchow's Cell Theory (in this country this theory is incorrectly believed to come from Pasteur) Each cell can be looked at as a unicellular organism, that responds and reacts primarily as if it was alone. Toxins, bacteria and other invaders interact with these individuals, that become sick if their defenses break down. Illness is the breakdown of a larger number of these individual cells. 2. Ricker's "Relationspathologie" (Pathology of Related Structures) G. Ricker (his book: Relationspathologie, Springer Verlag, Berlin, 1924) demonstrated in arduous and lengthy microscopy sessions, that the pathogenic stimulus which is necessary for conversion of a healthy group of cells into a pathological tissue does not act on the cell or the cell wall but on the sympathetic nerve fiber (which in turn regulates a majority of the functions of the cell wall). All cells of the organism are in close proximity and regulated by the terminal fibers of the sympathetics. Ricker demonstrated, that virtually all types of known stimuli (mechanical, thermal, electromagnetic, chemical -including neurotransmitters, hormones, toxins, microorganisms)lead to a change in frequency and amplitude of action -potentials in the afferent sympathetic neuron. This research has only recently been made available since the opening of the iron curtain (University of Magdeburg, Germany), even though the American Academy of Neural Therapy has stated this for years based on clinical observation. The stimulus has no lasting effect, when the organism can detox the area or abolish the stimulus in some other way (or when a medical intervention accomplishes this). However, when the organism does not succeed the sympathetic nervous system will be chronically aroused and react chronically. Ricker was able to prove every aspect of this thesis in the experiment using live animals. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. (1) http://www.neuraltherapy.com |
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Neuralgia A regional pain presumed to arise from unknown damage to the affected nerve or nerves. Almost all are found in the head and neck region. Examples: trigeminal neuralgia, atypical facial neuralgia, glossopharyngeal neuralgia. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Neuritis Inflammation of a nerve, usually from infection but may be from trauma or immune injury. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Neuropathic Pain Usually severe type of pain which is assumed to arise from unknown damage to the affected nerve itself, i.e. infection, trauma and degeneration are not obviously injuring the nerve. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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NICO (Neuralgia-Inducing Cavitational Osteonecrosis) The painful version of ischemic osteonecrosis of the jaws; the pain is often like a facial neuralgia. Cavitation refers to the very unique aspect of bone marrow "dry rot," the production of hollow spaces, often quite large. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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NICO Lesion Neuralgia-inducing cavitational osteonecrosis, akin to osteomyelitis; a term often associated with jaw bone pathology. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Occlusion The way teeth occlude, or bite together. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Oral Galvanism Refers to the electrical charges generated by dissimilar metals in crowns and fillings conventionally used in the mouth. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration. U.S. Department of Labor. Federal agency responsible for implementing safety guidelines established by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, assisting state implementation of the act, and providing research, education, and training in worker safety. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. Read
more about what OSHA has to say about MERCURY |
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Osteocavitation Infection of the jaw bone secondary to diminished blood supply and other causes. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Osteomyelitis Inflammation of the bone marrow, may be acute (short term, produces pus) or chronic (long term, minimal pus produced). Usually refers to marrow infection, but could be due to trauma, etc. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Osteonecrosis (Bone Death) See ischemic osteonecrosis. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Osteopath A practitioner of a system of medical practice based on a theory that diseases are due chiefly to loss of structural integrity which can be restored by manipulation of the parts supplemented by therapeutic measures (as use of medicine or surgery). Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Periodontal Ligament Fibers come out of the bone surrounding a tooth, and fibers come out of the tooth. Where they interlace is called the periodontal ligament. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Phantom Pain/Phantom Toothache The sensation of a specific pain of a body part which is no longer present, e.g. a painful foot in an amputee or a toothache in a person with dentures. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Pituitary Gland An endocrine gland located at the base of the brain, in the small recess of a bone - certain sections of the pituitary each secretes important hormones including growth hormone (GH) and antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Proprioception The body's perception of its position and movement in space. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Psychokinesiology The diagnosis and treatment of unresolved emotional conflicts and unresolved emotional traumas using muscle response testing and other psychological treatment modalities. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Red Blood Cells The oxygen carrying cells in the blood stream. They give the blood its red color. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Regional Ischemic Osteoporosis A mild versions of ischemic marrow damage. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Root Canal The process of removing contents of the tooth's pulp chamber (nerve, arteries, veins), cleaning it, and placing wax or so other substance in the canal. Also used as a term to describe a tooth that has had this process done to it. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Rubber Dam A thin sheet of rubber that the dentist punches little holes in. The teeth slip through the holes and become somewhat isolated from the mouth. This permits a suction tube to collect the majority of mercury particles and slurry that are generated when a mercury filling is cut out. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Sanum Remedies (Probiotics) Homeopathic forms of nonpathogenic microorganisms which are given to neutralize pathogenic forms; and alternative to antibiotics in all but severely life-threatening conditions. |
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Sequential Removal This refers to the system of removing dental materials in accordance with their electrical current. The quadrant with the highest single current filling is removed first, then the next highest, etc., as the sequence. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Thrombophilia An hypercoagulable state, i.e. excess tendency to clot within blood vessels. From increased tendency to form blood clots; usually inherited. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Thyroid A butterfly-shaped endocrine gland in the neck that is found on both sides of the trachea (windpipe). It secretes the hormone thyroxine which controls the rate of metabolism. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Trigeminal Neuralgia Facial pain syndrome characterized by intense "lightning bursts" of pain occurring periodically and often triggered by a light touch to the facial skin or mouth membrane. Attacks last approximately 20 minutes and there may be, in early cases, months between attacks. Usually affects one side of the midface or lower face. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Total Dental Revision (TDR) A term that encompasses the entire program of dental, medical, body disciplines, nutrition and detoxification. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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Toxic Hazard A source of danger of, relating to, or caused by a poison or toxin (Toxin: a poisonous substance that is a specific product of the metabolic activities of a living organism and is usually very unstable, notably toxic when introduced into the tissues, and typically capable of inducing antibody formation). Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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White Blood Cells These are the blood cells of the immune system. They engulf bacteria and toxins in addition to killing other invaders into our bodies. Close the window to return to Optimal Health Dentistry article. |
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