Porcelain Veneers – A Simple Solution For a Bright and Beautiful Smile

By Dr. James E Johnson

A young woman came to my practice enquiring about using a whitening system to remove the tetracycline stains across the tops of her front teeth. Even though some people can experience a slight improvement through a whitening approach, a better option to treating tetracycline stains is to use Porcelain Veneers. By the use of porcelain veneers, we were able to restore her very beautiful smile.

In this article I will share my experience with several of my patients in using Porcelain Veneers to remove stains as well as correct various other defects, to get the perfect smile everyone deserves.

What are porcelain veneers?

Porcelain veneers are fine shells of ceramic material that are bonded on to the front of a tooth. They are used to mask discolorations, brighten teeth, and to improve the smile. They are a great restorative choice for improving the appearance of your teeth.

When is a porcelain veneer restoration recommended?

* As an alternative to crowns, to change tooth color, size, or shape.
* For treating severe teeth discolorations. For example, teeth stained by tetracycline, by injury, and for masking discolored fillings in front teeth.
* Alternative for certain Orthodontics. For example, when the front teeth are slightly misaligned, crooked, or rotated.
* For the repair of old crowns and bridgework under certain specific situations.
* For the elimination of gaps between teeth.

Can porcelain veneers get stained due to extended use – especially with the use of tea, coffee, red wine, or tobacco products?

A major advantage of using porcelain veneers as opposed to cosmetic dental bonding materials is that the porcelain veneer’s surface is made of porcelain. Since porcelain is a type of ceramic, it is nonporous with non-fading permanent color. Hence, a porcelain veneer’s surface is extremely stain resistant.

What can I expect from my porcelain veneer procedure and what are the risks?

This procedure can greatly enhance your smile and self esteem. You can expect an aesthetically pleasing naturalness for your teeth. But you should understand that they are not perfect replacements for your natural teeth. Porcelain veneers are shaded from the top to the bottom just as with natural teeth. If they were all one color they would look false, like chiclets. Porcelain veneers are shade stable, and their color will not change. Some people experience minor sensitivity after the teeth have been prepared for veneers and while wearing the temporary veneers. If you feel any changes in the way you speak, please call your dentist. Your dentist can make minor adjustments to your veneers to correct this.

How is it done?

The procedure is fairly simple but for the comfort of the patient we almost always use a local anesthetic. The procedure usually requires three to four appointments from diagnosis to treatment planning, teeth preparation and completion.

In the diagnostic step we will conduct a comprehensive examination of your mouth, including all the necessary X-rays, analysis of your bite, analysis of the proportions of your teeth forming the eshethic zone, incisal guidance and canine rise. A diagnostic wax-up will be made of the finished smile so you can have input and tell us how you want your smile to look. The wax-up makes this part of the process easier for the patient as well as for the dentist and the lab technician. The more you can tell us what you want the finished product to be the easier it is for us to deliver exactly what you want.

In the next step we prepare your teeth for veneering. The teeth are shaped in accordance with the diagnostic wax-up. About 0.5mm-0.7mm of tooth structure is removed and then replaced by the added thickness of the veneer. A very precise impression is made of your teeth and is sent to the laboratory for the fabrication of your veneers. This can take about two to three weeks. We place temporary veneers for you, during this period.

Impact Of Technology In Banking

By Jeevi Tha

In the world of banking and finance nothing stands still. The biggest change of all is in the, scope of the business of banking. Banking in its traditional from is concerned with the acceptance of deposits from the customers, the lending of surplus of deposited money to suitable customers who wish to borrow and transmission of funds. Apart from traditional business, banks now a days provide a wide range of services to satisfy the financial and non financial needs of all types of customers from the smallest account holder to the largest company and in some cases of non customers. The range of services offered differs from bank to bank depending mainly on the type and size of the bank.

RESERVE BANK’S EARLY INITIATIVES
As a central bank in a developing country, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has adopted development of the banking and financial market as one of its prime objectives. “Institutional development” was the hallmark of this approach from 1950s to 1970s. In the 1980s, the Reserve Bank focused on “improvements in the productivity” of the banking sector. Being convinced that technology is the key for improving in productivity, the Reserve Bank took several initiatives to popularize usage of technology by banks in India.

Periodically, almost once in five years since the early 1980s, the Reserve Bank appointed committees and working Groups to deliberate on and recommend the appropriate use of technology by banks give the circumstances and the need. These committees are as follows:
-Rangarajan committee -1 in early 1980s.
-Rangarajan committee -11 in late 1980s.
-Saraf working group in early 1990s.
-Vasudevan working group in late 1990s.
-Barman working group in early 2000s.

Based on the recommendations of these committees and working groups, the Reserve Bank issued suitable guidelines for the banks. In the 1980s, usage of technology for the back office operations of the banks predominated the scene. It was in the form of accounting of transactions and collection of MIS. In the inter-bank payment systems, it was in the form of clearing and settlement using the MICR technology.

Two momentous decisions of the Reserve Bank in the 1990s changed the scenario for ever there are:
a) The prescription of compulsory usage of technology in full measure by the new private sector banks as a precondition of the license and
b) The establishment of an exclusive research institute for banking technology institute for development and Research in Banking Technology.

As the new private sector banks came on the scene as technology-savvy banks and offered several innovative products at the front office for the customers based on technology, the demonstration effect caught on the reset of the banks. Multi channel offerings like machine based (ATMs and pc-Banking), card based (credit/Debit/Smart cards), Communication based (Tele-Banking and Internet Banking) ushered in Anytime and Anywhere Banking by the banks in India. The IDRBT has been instrumental in establishing a safe and secure, state of the art communication backbone in the from of the Indian Financial NETwork (INFINET) as a closed user group exclusively for the banking and financial sector in India.

CHANGING FACE OF BANKING SERVICES
Liberalization brought several changes to Indian service industry. Probably Indian banking industry learnt a tremendous lesson. Pre-liberalization, all we did at a bank was deposit and withdraw money. Service standards were pathetic, but all we could do was grin and bear it. Post-liberalization, the tables have turned. It’s a consumer oriented market there.

Technology is revolutionizing every field of human endeavor and activity. One of them is introduction of information technology into capital market. The internet banking is changing the banking industry and is having the major effects on banking relationship. Web is more important for retail financial services than for many other industries.

Retail banking in India is maturing with time, several products, which further could be customized. Most happening sector is housing loan, which is witnessing a cut-throat competition. The home loans are very popular as they help you to realize your most cherished dream. Interest rates are coming down and market has seen some innovative products as well. Other retail banking products are personal loan, education loan and vehicles loan. Almost every bank and financial institution is offering these products, but it is essential to understand the different aspects of these loan products, which are not mentioned in their colored advertisements.

PLASTIC MONEY
Plastic money was a delicious gift to Indian market. Giving respite from carrying too much cash. Now several new features added to plastic money to make it more attractive. It works on formula purchase now repay later. There are different facts of plastic money credit card is synonyms of all.

Credit card is a financial instrument, which can be used more than once to borrow money or buy products and services on credit. Banks, retail stores and other businesses generally issue these. On the basis of their credit limit, they are of different kinds like classic, gold or silver.

Charged cards-these too carry almost same features as credit cards. The fundamental difference is you can not defer payments charged generally have higher credit limits or some times no credit limits.
Debit cards-this card is may be characterized as accountholder’s mobile ATM, for this you have to have account with any bank offering credit card.

Over the years, the banking sector in India has seen a no. of changes. Most of the banks have begun to take an innovative approach towards banking with the objective of creating more value for customers and consequently, the banks. Some of the significant changes in the banking sector are discussed below.

MOBILE BANKING
Taking advantages of the booming market for mobile phones and cellular services, several banks have introduced mobile banking which allows customers to perform banking transactions using their mobile phones. For instances HDFC has introduced SMS services. Mobile banking has been especially targeted at people who travel frequently and to keep track of their banking transaction.

RURAL BANKING
One of the innovative scheme to be launched in rural banking was the KISAN CREDIT CARD (KCC) SCHMME started in fiscal 1998-1999 by NABARD. KCC mode it easier for framers to purchase important agricultural inputs. In addition to regular agricultural loans, banks to offer several other products geared to the needs of the rural people.

Private sector Banks also realized the potential in rural market. In the early 2000’s ICICI bank began setting up internet kiosks in rural Tamilnadu along with ATM machines.

NRI SERVICES
With a substantial number of Indians having relatives abroad, banks have begun to offer service that allows expatriate Indians to send money more conveniently to relatives India which is one of the major improvements in money transfer.

E-BANKING
E-Banking is becoming increasingly popular among retail banking customers. E-Banking helps in cutting costs by providing cheaper and faster ways of delivering products to customers. It also helps the customer to choose the time, place and method by which he wants to use the services and gives effect to multichannel delivery of service by the bank. This E-Banking is driven by twin engine of “customer-pull and Bank-push”.

The Myth of the Earnings Yield

By Sam Vaknin, Ph.D.

A very slim minority of firms distribute dividends. This truism has revolutionary implications. In the absence of dividends, the foundation of most – if not all – of the financial theories we employ in order to determine the value of shares, is falsified. These theories rely on a few implicit and explicit assumptions:

* That the (fundamental) “value” of a share is closely correlated (or even equal to) its market (stock exchange or transaction) price;
* That price movements (and volatility) are mostly random, though correlated to the (fundamental) “value” of the share (will always converge to that “value” in the long term);
* That this fundamental “value” responds to and reflects new information efficiently (old information is fully incorporated in it).

Investors are supposed to discount the stream of all future income from the share (using one of a myriad of possible rates – all hotly disputed). Only dividends constitute meaningful income and since few companies engage in the distribution of dividends, theoreticians were forced to deal with “expected” dividends rather than “paid out” ones. The best gauge of expected dividends is earnings. The higher the earnings – the more likely and the higher the dividends. Even retained earnings can be regarded as deferred dividends. Retained earnings are re-invested, the investments generate earnings and, again, the likelihood and expected size of the dividends increase. Thus, earnings – though not yet distributed – were misleadingly translated to a rate of return, a yield – using the earnings yield and other measures. It is as though these earnings WERE distributed and created a RETURN – in other words, an income – to the investor.

The reason for the perpetuation of this misnomer is that, according to all current theories of finance, in the absence of dividends – shares are worthless. If an investor is never likely to receive income from his holdings – then his holdings are worthless. Capital gains – the other form of income from shareholding – is also driven by earnings but it does not feature in financial equations.

Yet, these theories and equations stand in stark contrast to market realities.

People do not buy shares because they expect to receive a stream of future income in the form of dividends. Everyone knows that dividends are fast becoming a thing of the past. Rather, investors buy shares because they hope to sell them to other investors later at a higher price. In other words, investors do expect to realize income from their shareholdings but in the form of capital gains. The price of a share reflects its discounted expected capital gains (the discount rate being its volatility) – NOT its discounted future stream of income. The volatility of a share (and the distribution of its prices), in turn, are a measure of expectations regarding the availability of willing and able buyers (investors). Thus, the expected capital gains are comprised of a fundamental element (the expected discounted earnings) adjusted for volatility (the latter being a measure of expectations regarding the distribution of availability of willing and able buyers per given price range). Earnings come into the picture merely as a yardstick, a calibrator, a benchmark figure. Capital gains are created when the value of the firm whose shares are traded increases. Such an increase is more often than not correlated with the future stream of income to the FIRM (NOT to the shareholder!!!). This strong correlation is what binds earnings and capital gains together. It is a correlation – which might indicate causation and yet might not. But, in any case, that earnings are a good proxy to capital gains is not disputable.

And this is why investors are obsessed by earnings figures. Not because higher earnings mean higher dividends now or at any point in the future. But because earnings are an excellent predictor of the future value of the firm and, thus, of expected capital gains. Put more plainly: the higher the earnings, the higher the market valuation of the firm, the bigger the willingness of investors to purchase the shares at a higher price, the higher the capital gains. Again, this may not be a causal chain but the correlation is strong.

This is a philosophical shift from “rational” measures (such as fundamental analysis of future income) to “irrational” ones (the future value of share-ownership to various types of investors). It is a transition from an efficient market (all new information is immediately available to all rational investors and is incorporated in the price of the share instantaneously) to an inefficient one (the most important information is forever lacking or missing altogether: how many investors wish to buy the share at a given price at a given moment).

An income driven market is “open” in the sense that it depends on newly acquired information and reacts to it efficiently (it is highly liquid). But it is also “closed” because it is a zero sum game, even in the absence of mechanisms for selling it short. One investor’s gain is another’s loss and all investors are always hunting for bargains (because what is a bargain can be evaluated “objectively” and independent of the state of mind of the players). The distribution of gains and losses is pretty even. The general price level amplitudes around an anchor.

Best Printers – Your Guide to Finding Your Best Printer

By Beverly Maniago

Best printers are everywhere. There is no one printer that can be named “best printer.” You have to find the best printer in terms of certain factors. And to find the printer that best meets your expectations, you have to figure out which factors are important for you. Although several products try to outdo each other based on their specifications and features, those are not the only important things. Printers are very meticulous products; they can be excellent in so many ways, and can also fail in more ways. So your “best printer” award should not go to just any printer with the highest specifications and features among all the printers compared, but the printer that directly meets your individual needs. You don’t have to go for the printer with the greatest range of features; you have to find the one with the best combination of the features that are most useful for you.

Choosing the Best Printers

When choosing a printer, you should definitely have enough time for it. Finding the best printer for you can be tricky. Nonetheless, you have to be prepared to make an effort since you are, after all, the ultimate benefactor and also the one who will suffer from a wrong decision. The wrong printer can cost you a prospective job, a client, or guests for a party. The wrong printer can make your prints come out plain and unimpressive. Most of all, the wrong printer can cost you a lot. So when it comes to standards, don’t just look at what the market looks at. Consider what you are looking for: your printing purposes, and the level of printing you will be doing. It is also important to think forward. Think of all the possible things you might need to print in the future; you never know what need may arise, so you better be ready than miss out. If you think you need to print a lot of photos, graphics, and images, but mostly for personal use, you should buy a personal printer that is optimized for photo printing. Important features would probably include convenient connectivity features such as Bluetooth, Infrared, PictBridge connection, and memory card slots. But if you need photo printing for professional purposes, you should go for the highest specifications. Consider the picoliter size of ink droplets, the ink system used, and the ink itself.

Most importantly, you have to consider the print resolution. When you require multiple-page document printing, you’ll probably benefit from laser printers that print in high speed without any sacrifice in quality. If you need an office printer and still don’t have a fax machine, a copier, and a scanner, you’ll definitely like the All-in-One printers. You should also consider how much you’re willing to spend on your printer. But don’t just think about the price. Remember that going for the most affordable printer might cause you to miss out on some features that would be of great use to you. Find the printer that offers you the best value. If you need some guide towards the best printers around, here are some highly recommended products.

Some of the Best Printers Worth Checking Out

If you are on the lookout for a photo printer with professional output, you should definitely go straight to the top two brands when it comes to inkjet printers: Canon and Epson. Epson’s inkjet Stylus and Picturemate series boast of the highest specifications in photo printing, surpassed only by one brand, Canon. Epson can produce 2-picoliter ink droplets, while Canon has recently achieved the finest 1-picoliter droplet size printing. You should check out Epson Stylus Photo 1400 and Epson Stylus Pro 3800 from Epson, and Canon’s Pixma iP90, Pixma Pro9500, and MP800, which supports almost all possible printing needs, from glossy paper printing, sticker paper printing, to Direct-on-CD printing. If you need this product for the office, you can go for the multi-function models. For office printers, you should shop among Brother’s MFCs or Multi-Function Centers. If you want durability that will make your printers stay with you for a long time, helping you save money, you should go for Lexmark and HP printers. HP printers are also great in terms of features.