Category: Healthy Living

Cerebral palsy — commonly known as CP — is a group of disorders that affect a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It occurs in two to three out of every 1,000 patients. According to the organization, it is caused by abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain that affects a person’s ability to control his or her muscles.

There are several types of CP, including: 

• Spastic Cerebral Palsy
  This is the most common type of CP and affects about 80% of people with CP. These CP patients have increased muscle tone and their muscles are often stiff, which causes their movements to be awkward and can make walking difficult and cause developmental and intellectual difficulties.
• Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy 
  People with dyskinetic CP cannot control the movement of their hands, arms, feet, and legs, making it difficult to sit and walk. The movements are often slow and writhing or rapid and jerky. Sometimes the face and tongue are affected and the person has a hard time sucking, swallowing, and talking, according to the CDC.
• Ataxic Cerebral Palsy
  People with ataxic CP have problems with balance and coordination. They might be unsteady when they walk or may have difficulty with quick movements or movements, like writing, that require a lot of control. 
• Mixed Cerebral Palsy
  Some people have symptoms of more than one type of CP. The most common type of mixed CP is spastic-dyskinetic CP, according to the CDC.

Causes of CP

The signs of CP can become visible as early as birth, especially when the condition is caused by medical injury a birth. A birth injury is a type of brain or nerve damage that occurs before, during, or shortly after your child is born. Children that are injured at birth have a high risk of developing conditions related to neurological damage, such as CP.

If Your Child Had a Birth Injury

If your child had a birth injury that resulted in CP, you may meet the requirements to pursue compensation via a lawsuit. This lawsuit will help pay for the medical care your child could need throughout their life and pay to update your house to make it more livable for your child. 

If you think you have a case, an experienced attorney can walk you through the process of filing a lawsuit. These attorneys will also help you determine what compensation is available to you.

As a child, you may have seen your peers with smiles that glinted in the sun, some sporting colorful bands across their wires, others plain metal brackets. You may have worn them yourself. Braces are often associated with an awkward, youthful stage of life as corrective measures for such things as overbite and crooked teeth are generally taken in earlier years of development upon discovery of their necessity. However, many individuals reach adulthood before seeing an orthodontist Queen Creek about dental treatments for improving their grins. In fact, there is a growing trend of adults with braces, eliminating any stigma about it. Clear aligners like Invisalign have also become popular as an alternative to traditional braces. If you are considering getting them, there are some facts you should keep in mind. 

1. They Are Clear Plastic

A large advantage of clear aligners is that they are, as their name states, made of a clear thermoplastic material that is considerably less visible than regular metal braces, though not completely undetectable to the naked eye. They are replicas made specifically for each person’s teeth. There are no brackets or wires to deal with. This means those uncomfortable with the appearance of braces have a choice that may put them more at ease. 

2. They Cost More Than Braces

While aligner cost varies from person to person since it depends on the complexity and time involved, they do generally cost a little bit more. This is because the required laboratory work comes at a higher price. However, many insurance plans do cover them. 

3. They Offer Much Control 

Orthodontists can control your treatment on a tooth by tooth basis by altering the amount of force applied and when it is exerted. There are different mapped out stages, and in each one only the targeted teeth are shifted. You yourself are afforded the ability to remove the aligners when flossing and eating, unlike braces which cannot be similarly taken out. It is important to remember that for maximum beneficial effect, they need to be worn the majority of the time.  

4. They Are More Comfortable

There is some discomfort with this treatment. However, due to their smoothness, there is no gouging and wearing away of the inner cheeks and gums like that which often afflicts wearers of regular braces. They also use a gentler, subtler pressure to get the job done. 

Clear aligners are a viable option for teeth straightening. Like ceramic braces, they have their upsides and their downsides. An expert dental professional can help you figure out the best plan for your specific mouth.