But before you let your doctor, school nurse or the sketchy pharmacist at Walgreens take a stab at your arm, we decided to do some research to figure out just how necessary a flu shot is. So without further adieu, we present you with answers to your burning flu shot questions.

What exactly is the flu shot?

In simple terms, the flu shot is a vaccine containing killed strains of the influenza virus and is administered through a needle, usually in the arm. The vaccine reduces the likelihood of catching the seasonal flu by 70 to 90 percent.

For a bit of history on the vaccine (in case you’re ever a contestant on Jeopardy; obviously), in 1931, viral growth of influenza in un-hatched hens’ eggs was discovered and during World War II the US military developed the first approved vaccines for influenza. The egg-based method for producing the influenza vaccine was created in the 1950s and is still used today.

Why do I have to get a shot every year?

If you remember last years star of the flu season show, H1N1 or swine flu, no two strains of influenza are the same. This means that the flu vaccine is modified each season to protect against three influenza viruses that research by scientists indicates will be most likely to circulate during the upcoming season. This year, the vaccine will protect against the infamous 2009 H1N1 virus and two other influenza viruses.

When should I get the flu shot?

Flu season technically begins in October when the weather starts to get cold. Though this season, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has already seen reports of flu patients, which means the flu is off to an early start and if you’re thinking of getting vaccinated, you should probably do it soon. Flu season usually peaks in January, February, and March and by the time April showers are bringing in May flowers, the flu has run its course.

Who should/shouldn’t get the shot?

While the CDC recommends that everyone get a flu vaccine each flu season, it’s stressed that pregnant women, children younger than 5, people 50 years of age and older, people of any age with chronic medical conditions and those who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities or live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, such as health care or childcare workers should get vaccinated.

Thanks to the whole un-hatched egg potion behind the vaccine, if you’re allergic to chicken eggs you should talk with your doctor before getting vaccinated. Oh and if you’re under 6 months old…don’t even think about it, kid.

Is the flu shot really effective or is it just a way for pharma companies to make money?

While the issue of morality in pharmaceutical companies could be a driving force behind revenue gained by increased vaccination rates (that’s a separate blog post people), according to the CDC, if you’re in good health, meaning you’ve got a strong immune system, the flu shot will more than likely protect you from the seasonal strain of the virus.  If you’ve got a less-than-stellar immune system though, or if the flu strains circulating around the break room water cooler and the strain in the vaccine aren’t a perfect match, your protection can’t be guaranteed.

What’s the point of getting the vaccine if it causes “flu-like symptoms”?

Viruses in the flu shot have been killed or inactivated, meaning they’re just as checked out as the tens of thousands that die annually from influenza, so you can’t get the flu from a flu shot. Said “flu-like symptoms” are minor possible side effects that can last up to 2 days, think soreness, redness or swelling where the shot was given, a low-grade fever and aches. All minimal side effects and in our not-so-professional opinion, much easier to deal with than the full-blown flu.

I pass out at the sight of a needle, are there any alternatives?

A nasal-spray flu vaccine called FluMist has been around since 2007 and is just as effective as the flu shot. Sometimes called LAIV (live attenuated influenza vaccine), the nasal spray is made with live, weakened flu viruses that don’t cause the flu but can result in the risk of causing more of those daunting flu-like symptoms. Including a runny nose, headache, vomiting, sore throat and cough.

So if I think this whole flu shot thing is for me, where do I go to get one?

Once flu season is in full-swing, flu shot clinics can be found at pharmacies, grocery stores, community centers, churches and shopping malls, to name a few. If you haven’t noticed a clinic around your neighborhood, you can visit the American Lung Association’s web site, www.lungusa.org, and use their online flu shot locator to find a clinic location nearest you.

So whether or not you decide to take a stab at getting vaccinated (we couldn’t resist the pun), be sure to take good care of yourself. It’s almost a guarantee that you’ll be able to avoid getting sick during cold and flu season.

The Waterlase system, invented by Biolase, acts like a drill and scalpel but has no sharp edges and doesn’t even touch your tooth. That’s right, I said it, it doesn’t even touch your tooth! What does touch your tooth? Water. Waterlase is a comfy combination of a laser beam and water.  A variety of dental procedures are now being performed with a laser instead of the traditional and often painful drill and scalpel. That means no more novacaine injections, and just as importantly, no sippy cup for that post-dentist drink.

How is it possible that our dentists can now fill our filings and root our root canals with a simple stream of H2O? Easy. The system uses a very accurate stream of water that is energized by the laser to cut through tissue or tooth. It sounds sci-fi but I promise you it’s the real deal. Biolase has even come out with a “Turbo” version of this technology.  If turbo means I get in and out of my appointment quicker, I’ll take two!

Can Waterlase be used for all dental procedures? Not quite. For example, Waterlase can’t be used to remove silver fillings. But Waterlase can be used to perform a variety of dental procedures, such as:

Treating mild to moderate periodontal disease
Remove decay
Fillings
Root canals

All of this with little or no pain. No more needles, no more vibration or heat or loud drilling noises. Believe me when I say, the face of dentistry is changing.

In 1998, Waterlase was the first device of it’s kind to receive FDA approval for use on soft and hard tissue. You might be doing the calculations in your head. 1998… 2010…hmm… Don’t ask me why you haven’t heard of this before, ask your dentist.  Or better yet, use DoctorBase to find a dentist schooled in this technology and be on your way to a fast, easy and painless dental procedure.

For more information on pain-free dental visits, you might enjoy How to Achieve a Pain-Free Dental Visit.

Check out this great video about Waterlase technology:

If you’re a dentist who has used Waterlase to treat patients, please enlighten us all by leaving a comment regarding your experience with this technology.

So how does this too-good-to-be-true braces thing actually work? First, have a consultation with your orthodontist to decide if Invisalign is right for you. If you decide to move forward with it, your orthodontist will take a mold of your teeth, work up a treatment plan and send the molds and the plan off to Invisalign. The company then makes a series of clear “alignment” trays that you wear continuously except when you’re eating and brushing. Typically, you wear a new tray every two weeks until you’ve completed your treatment plan; at which time your teeth should be perfectly straight!

Now let’s talk advantages and disadvantages. The most obvious advantage is that it isn’t obvious. Because it’s clear. You also won’t get a sore mouth from metal wires sticking into your cheeks and gums. And they’re removable so you can brush and floss like you normally would, whereas with metal braces you need some sort of 007 special gadget to get the floss under the wire and between the brackets.

A disadvantage is that Invisalign’s effectiveness is limited. It can only correct your teeth so much, so if you have a serious over-bite or massive structural problems, Invisalign probably won’t do the trick. And then there’s cost. I can’t tell you what your orthodontist is going to charge you, but I can tell you that his office has to pay up front for all of the trays, which means it’s likely you’ll be required to pay a much larger down payment than you would with metal braces.

In a dentistry.com  forum, you can read about patients’ experiences with Invisalign. One popular complaint is that when the trays are removed to eat, patients just forget to put them back in. If you’re eating at home it’s not such a big deal, but if you’re stuffing your face at Mc Donald’s and you wrap the trays in a napkin for safe keeping, you can kiss them goodbye. Of course you could always try your luck at dumpster diving, but chances are you won’t find them. After all, they’re invisible.

If you’ve been thinking about trying Invisalign, visit a Doctorbase orthodontist and discuss it. Decide whether you’re going to try this new, stealthy method or kick it old school with metal.

Keep in mind there are many variables that will help determine the right teeth-whitening method for you. What color are your teeth? What is the cause of the discoloration? How much money and time are you willing to spend on whitening? Is this something you want to accomplish while watching an episode of Heroes? Or are you willing to spend a few hours in the dental chair? And last but not least, how do you know which ones really work and which ones will leave you yellow-toothed and broke.

Your best bet is to find a dentist who is knowledgeable about the latest and greatest teeth-whitening techniques. Spend some time together, give a great big smile and let the evaluation begin. Once evaluated, your dentist will make some recommendiations as well as review the pros and cons of each option. They will also be able to steer you away from the companies who promise you whiter teeth and then don’t deliver. Don’t get me wrong, your teeth will look whiter, in comparison to your beat red face at the realization you’ve just been duped. One company very popular among the complaint boards is Dazzle White. So do your research! And then get to your dentist so your pearly whites can live up to their name.