Posts Tagged “restorations”
TMJ pain disorders usually occur because of unbalanced activity, spasm, or overuse of the jaw muscles. Symptoms tend to be chronic, and treatment is aimed at eliminating the precipitating factors. Many symptoms may not appear related to the TMJ itself.
For some people, the disc within the jaw joint slips out of position during sleep, he says. “All of a sudden, they’ll wake up in the morning and they can’t open their mouth more than 10 millimeters and a normal opening is 50 millimeters or so. So imagine you’re trying to eat breakfast and you can’t open your mouth wide enough to get the toast in there. That can be very panicking.”
Causes damage to the TMJ:
• Major and minor trauma to the jaw
• Teeth grinding
• Excessive gum chewing
• Stress and other psychological factors
• Improper bite or malpositioned jaws
• Arthritis
Following symptoms:
• Ear pain
• Sore jaw muscles
• Temple/cheek pain
• Jaw popping/clicking
• Locking of the jaw
• Difficulty in opening the mouth fully
• Frequent head/neck aches
How is TMJ pain treated?
Because TMJ symptoms often develop in the head and neck, otolaryngologists are appropriately qualified to diagnose TMJ problems. Proper diagnosis of TMJ begins with a detailed history and physical, including careful assessment of the teeth occlusion and function of the jaw joints and muscles. An early diagnosis will likely respond to simple, self-remedies:
• Rest the muscles and joints by eating soft foods.
• Do not chew gum.
• Avoid clenching or tensing.
• Relax muscles with moist heat (1/2 hour at least twice daily).
Other treatments for advanced cases may include fabrication of an occlusal splint to prevent wear and tear on the joint, improving the alignment of the upper and lower teeth, and surgery. After diagnosis, your otolaryngologist may suggest further consultation with your dentist and oral surgeon to facilitate effective management of TMJ pain.
Premier Orthodontics
Oxnard
2100 Solar Dr, Suite 200
Oxnard, CA 93036
Tel: 805-205-9276
Fax: 805-981-7050
* * * *
Carpinteria
5565 Carpinteria Avenue, Suite 26
Carpinteria, CA 93013
Tel: 805-758-6756
Fax: 805-566-0303
* * * *
Carpinteria
5565 Carpinteria Avenue, Suite 26
Carpinteria, CA 93013
Tel: 805-758-6756
Fax: 805-566-0303
Tooth extraction is the removal of a tooth from its socket in the bone.
If a tooth has been broken or damaged by decay, your dentist will try to fix it with a filling, crown or other treatment. Sometimes, though, there’s too much damage for the tooth to be repaired. In this case, the tooth needs to be extracted. A very loose tooth also will require extraction if it can’t be saved, even with bone replacement surgery (bone graft).
Here are other reasons:
- Some people have extra teeth that block other teeth from coming in.
- Sometimes baby teeth don’t fall out in time to allow the permanent teeth to come in.
- People getting braces may need teeth extracted to create room for the teeth that are being moved into place.
- People receiving radiation to the head and neck may need to have teeth in the field of radiation extracted.
- People receiving cancer drugs may develop infected teeth because these drugs weaken the immune system. Infected teeth may need to be extracted.
- Some teeth may need to be extracted if they could become a source of infection after an organ transplant. People with organ transplants have a high risk of infection because they must take drugs that decrease or suppress the immune system.
- Wisdom teeth, also called third molars, are often extracted either before or after they come in. They commonly come in during the late teens or early 20s. They need to be removed if they are decayed, cause pain or have a cyst or infection. These teeth often get stuck in the jaw (impacted) and do not come in. This can irritate the gum, causing pain and swelling. In this case, the tooth must be removed. If you need all four wisdom teeth removed, they are usually taken out at the same time.
Not all extractions are SIMPLE.
Types of Tooth Extractions:
Simple extractions
The vast majority of tooth extractions are completed using the simple mechanics described on this page. In fact, there’s a name (a classification) for these types of extractions. They’re literally called “simple” extractions.
Surgical tooth extractions
There can be situations where some aspect of a tooth, such as its positioning, shape, brittleness or compromised state complicates its removal. In these cases, a “surgical” extraction will be required.
A tooth extraction should be done as soon as possible to avoid the spread of infection and more serious problems. In cases in which a root canal treatment might not save the tooth, your dentist may recommend that the tooth be removed and a bridge or implant installed.
It usually takes gum tissue about 3-4 weeks to heal. The bone can take up to 6 months to heal completely. However, pain should be lessening by the second day. But it varies from person to person, and also depends on how easy or difficult the tooth removal was.
Ivy Rose Dentistry
Contact or Visit us at:
Mansfield
2170 Matlock Rd, #100
Mansfield, TX 76063
Phone: 817.259.1365
Email: Patientsupport@ivyrosedds.com
or
Arlington
1024 West Mitchell St.
Arlington, TX 76013
Phone: 817.259.1364
Email: Patientsupport@ivyrosedds.com
Have you ever wondered why the American Dental Association and your dentist recommend you come back every six months? It’s because regular dental visits are essential for the maintenance of healthy teeth and gums. And in between those examinations, it’s important that you work to keep your teeth and gums clean and healthy. If you need additional help, your dentist may even suggest more frequent visits.
What Goes On During A Regular Visit
- Checking your teeth for tooth decay is just one part of a thorough dental examination. During your checkup appointment, your dentist (or dental hygienist) will likely evaluate the health of your gums, perform a head and neck examination (to look for anything out of the ordinary) and examine your mouth for any indications of oral cancer, diabetes or vitamin deficiencies. Don’t be surprised if your dentist also examines your face, bite, saliva and movement of your lower jaw joints (TMJs). Your dentist or dental hygienist will then clean your teeth and stress the importance of you maintaining good oral hygiene at home between visits.
- Many dentists will pay special attention to plaque and tartar. This is because plaque and tartar can build up in a very short time if good oral hygiene is not practiced between visits. Food, beverages and tobacco can stain teeth as well. If not removed, soft plaque can harden on the teeth and irritate the gum tissue. If not treated, plaque can lead to gum disease.
During your regularly scheduled dental appointments, your dentist will likely look at your gums, mouth, tongue and throat. There are several routine parts to a dental examination.
The Head And Neck Examination
- Your dentist will start off by:
- Examining your face
- Examining your neck
- Checking your lymph nodes
- Checking your lower jaw joints (TMJs)
- The Clinical Dental Examination
- Next, your dentist assesses the state of your teeth and gums by:
- Examining the gums
- Looking for signs of gum disease
- Checking for loose teeth
- Looking at the tissues inside of your mouth
- Examining your tongue
- Checking your bite
- Looking for visual evidence of tooth decay
- Checking for broken teeth
- Checking for damaged fillings
- Looking for changes in the gums covering teeth
- Evaluating any dental appliance you have
- Checking the contact between your teeth
- Taking X-rays
The Dental Cleaning
- During the final part of the dental visit, your dental professional cleans your mouth using these methods:
- Checking the cleanliness of your teeth and gums
- Removing any plaque and tartar
- Polishing your teeth
- Flossing between your teeth
- Reviewing recommended brushing and flossing techniques
Once your examination and cleaning have been performed, they’ll tell you about the health of your teeth and gums and then make any additional recommendations. It’s important that you see your dentist every six months and that they give you routine examination and cleaning. Remember, by seeing your dentist on a regular basis and following daily good oral hygiene practices at home, you are more likely to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
If it’s been more than 6 months since your last check up and cleaning, call your dentist to schedule an appointment today!
CONTACT US:
Jeff C. Jenkins, D.D.S.
&
Richard Martin, D.D.S.
5601 Bridge St, Ste 480
Fort Worth, TX 76112
(817) 259-1371
(817) 937-4369 Fax
Eating with Braces
What can you eat? Let’s talk about what you shouldn’t eat! For the first day or so, stick to soft foods. Avoid tough meats, hard breads, and raw vegetables. Before long, you’ll be able to bite an apple again. But you’ll need to protect your orthodontic appliances when you eat for as long as you’re wearing braces.
Foods to Avoid
Chewy foods: bagels, hard rolls, licorice
Crunchy foods: popcorn, ice, chips
Sticky foods: caramels, gum
Hard foods: nuts, candy
Foods you have to bite into: corn on the cob, apples, carrots
Chewing on hard things (for example, pens, pencils or fingernails) can damage the braces. Damaged braces will cause treatment to take longer.
Foods you CAN eat with braces:
Dairy — soft cheese, pudding, milk-based drinks
Breads — soft tortillas, pancakes, muffins without nuts
Grains — pasta, soft cooked rice
Meats/poultry — soft cooked chicken, meatballs, lunch meats
Seafood — tuna, salmon, crab cakes
Vegetables — mashed potatoes, steamed spinach, beans
Fruits — applesauce, bananas, fruit juice
Treats — ice cream without nuts, milkshakes, Jell-O, soft cake
General Soreness
When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. This can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm salt water mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in 8 ounces of warm water and rinse your mouth vigorously. If the tenderness is severe, take aspirin or whatever you normally take for headache or similar pain. The lips, cheeks, and tongue may also become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen this. We’ll show you how!
Loosening of Teeth
This is to be expected throughout treatment. Don’t worry! It’s normal. Teeth must loosen first so they can be moved. The teeth will again become rigidly fixed in their new – corrected – positions.
Loose Wire or Band
Don’t be alarmed if a wire or band comes loose. This happens occasionally. If a wire protrudes and is irritating, use a blunt instrument (the back of a spoon or the eraser end of a pencil) and carefully, gently push the irritating wire under the archwire. Simply get it out of the way. If irritation to the lips or mouth continues, place wax or wet cotton on the wire to reduce the annoyance. Call our office as soon as possible for an appointment to check and repair the appliances. If any piece comes off, save it and bring it with you to the office.
Care of Appliances
To successfully complete the treatment plan, the patient must work together with the orthodontist. The teeth and jaws can only move toward their corrected positions if the patient consistently wears the rubber bands, headgear, or other appliances as prescribed. Damaged appliances lengthen the treatment time.
Brushing
It’s more important than ever to brush and floss regularly when you have braces so the teeth and gums are healthy after orthodontic treatment. Patients who do not keep their teeth clean may require more frequent visits to their oral care specialist for a professional cleaning. Adults who have a history of gum disease should also see a periodontist during orthodontic treatment.
A successful orthodontic treatment with good care of dental braces and proper dental hygiene offers an improved facial appearance by removing dental irregularities.
More and more people are getting braces today than ever before. The concept of beauty and hygiene has put more emphasis on healthy and straight teeth. If you have braces, you most likely know by now how important it is to take care of not only your braces but your teeth and your gums as well. You need to have enough discipline and be responsible for keeping your braces clean and in very good condition.
Ivy Rose Dentistry
Mansfield
2170 Matlock Rd, #100
Mansfield, TX 76063
Phone: 817.259.1365
Email: Patientsupport@ivyrosedds.com
Arlington
1024 West Mitchell St.
Arlington, TX 76013
Phone: 817.259.1364
Email: Patientsupport@ivyrosedds.com
Unless our bed partner is disrupting our sleep, most of us don’t think of snoring as something to be overly concerned about. But frequent, loud snoring may be a sign of sleep apnea, a common and potentially serious disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts as you sleep. Although sleep apnea is treatable, it often goes unrecognized. Learn how to recognize the warning signs of sleep apnea, how to distinguish it from normal snoring, and what you can do about it
What Is Sleep Apnea?
- Sleep apnea (AP-ne-ah) is a common disorder in which you have one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep.
- Breathing pauses can last from a few seconds to minutes. They may occur 30 times or more an hour. Typically, normal breathing then starts again, sometimes with a loud snort or choking sound.
- Sleep apnea usually is a chronic (ongoing) condition that disrupts your sleep. When your breathing pauses or becomes shallow, you’ll often move out of deep sleep and into light sleep.
As a result, the quality of your sleep is poor, which makes you tired during the day. Sleep apnea is a leading cause of excessive daytime sleepiness.
Types of sleep apnea:
- Obstructive sleep apnea is the most common type of sleep apnea. It occurs when the soft tissue in the back of your throat relaxes during sleep and blocks the airway, often causing you to snore loudly.
- Central sleep apnea is a much less common type of sleep apnea that involves the central nervous system, occurring when the brain fails to signal the muscles that control breathing. People with central sleep apnea seldom snore.
- Complex sleep apnea is a combination of obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.
It can be tough to identify sleep apnea on your own, since the most prominent symptoms only occur when you’re asleep. But you can get around this difficulty by asking a bed partner to observe your sleep habits, or by recording yourself during sleep.
Major signs and symptoms of sleep apnea
- Loud and chronic snoring
- Choking, snorting, or gasping during sleep
- Long pauses in breathing
- Daytime sleepiness, no matter how much time you spend in bed
Other common signs and symptoms of sleep apnea
- Waking up with a dry mouth or sore throat
- Morning headaches
- Restless or fitful sleep
- Insomnia or nighttime awakenings
- Going to the bathroom frequently during the night
- Waking up feeling out of breath
- Forgetfulness and difficulty concentrating
- Moodiness, irritability, or depression
Signs and symptoms of sleep apnea in children
While obstructive sleep apnea can be common in children, it’s not always easy to recognize. In addition to continuous loud snoring, children with sleep apnea may adopt strange sleeping positions and suffer from bedwetting, excessive perspiration at night, or night terrors. Children with sleep apnea may also exhibit changes in their daytime behavior, such as:
- Hyperactivity or inattention
- Developmental and growth problems
- Decrease in school performance
- Irritable, angry, or hostile behavior
- Breathing through mouth instead of nose
- If you suspect your child may have sleep apnea, consult a pediatrician who specializes in sleep disorders. Once obstructive sleep apnea is diagnosed, surgery to remove the child’s tonsils or adenoids usually corrects the problem.
There are several natural and medical ways to cure sleep apnea. It can be reversed if the right action is taken. Find out what solution is most comfortable and works for you. Remember, consult with a doctor or sleep specialist to see if you have sleep apnea.
Oral, Maxillofacial, and Implant Surgery
Dr. Fred A. Loe, DDS, PA oms@northtarrant.com
820 Towne Court
Saginaw, TX 76179
Office: (817) 259-1372
Fax: (817) 237-7585
Ceramic braces? Invisalign? Traditional metal? Golden metal? Self-ligating brackets? Viazis Brackets? What about Lingual braces? These days, there are many choices available to adults, and it gets confusing! Which type of braces should you choose? Can you choose, or is it strictly up to your dentist?
The type of braces you get depends on a number of factors:
The extent of your treatment, such as:
- The severity of your bite or tooth crookedness problems
- If extractions are necessary
- If jaw surgery is necessary
- If headgear or other special appliances are necessary
- The amount of time you will need to wear braces
- The preferences of your dentist or orthodontist
Metal braces are the most common type of braces for orthodontic patients. Today’s metal braces are much smaller, flatter, and more comfortable than in the past. Patients of all ages choose metal braces to help them achieve straight, beautiful smiles.
What Braces are Made Of:
Traditional metal braces are made of high quality stainless steel or titanium. The three main parts of your braces are:
- Brackets — Brackets are attached to the teeth using special glue that bonds them to the tooth surface and holds them in place.
- Archwire — The archwire is the thin metal wire that connects each bracket and puts pressure on the teeth to help guide them into place.
- Ligature Elastic (also known as the “rubber bands”) — Elastics, or rubber bands, are the colored ties that hold the archwires to the brackets. Your orthodontist will change the elastics at each appointment. Elastics may come in a variety of colors.
How Braces Work
Once placed on your teeth, braces place constant pressure on your teeth, and the force of the pressure helps move teeth into proper position. At each appointment, your orthodontist may tighten the archwires. In addition to braces, some patients may need to wear rubber bands or headgear. Patients wearing braces may notice their teeth feeling a little loose. This is normal and temporary, once the teeth are done moving this feeling will go away.
Metal Braces for All Ages
Traditional metal braces are still the most popular, quickest, and most cost effective, orthodontic treatment available. Your orthodontist can help you determine what treatment is best for your individual case. Please contact our practice to schedule an appointment and learn more about how braces can enhance your smile.
Reading Orthodontic Group
1268 Penn Avenue
Wyomissing, PA 19610
Phone: 610.374.4097
Fax: 610.372.8119
E-mail: braces@fantasticsmiles.com
Porcelain Veneers, also referred to as dental veneers or porcelain laminates, are wafer thin shells of porcelain that are bonded to the front of teeth to create a cosmetic improvement and sometimes a bite improvement. Porcelain veneers have successfully improved smiles by making dark teeth look lighter and healthier looking. They can make yellow teeth permanently whiter and gray tetracycline stained teeth look much more natural. Porcelain veneers can make crooked teeth look straight in just a few days. Patient’s can look and feel more confident, more professional and have a wonderfully natural looking smile.
Porcelain veneers are the quick-fix route to a perfect Hollywood smile, we’re told they’ll fit over your own teeth like false fingernails, hiding all manner of imperfections and giving your mouth the equivalent of a face-lift.
And with the advent of swish walk-in dental clinics offering ‘lunchtime smile lifts’ it’s not surprising so many people are having it done.
Porcelain veneers, sometimes called tooth veneers, can be used to correct both color and shape problems and make for a great smile makeover.
Advantages associated
There are distinct advantages associated with this treatment:
- The first and the most impressive advantage associated with the veneers is that they have a much longer life in comparison to every other similar technique available in the market.
- It becomes very difficult for a person to really distinguish them from natural teeth. This is because they give an absolutely natural look in comparison to other techniques available, such as crowning etc.
- Another very impressive feature associated with them is that the veneers are very difficult to stain. This means you don’t have to avoid things like coffee, tea, and hard food items after the treatment.
- Number of people including various well known celebrities have undergone this treatment and have witnessed great results and that too without giving up on their drinking or smoking habits!
Teeth enamel discoloration can be caused by staining, aging, or chemical damage to teeth. Some of the more common causes of teeth discoloration are medications, coffee, tea or cigarettes. People who drink significant amounts of cola soft drinks can experience similar staining.
Aside from staining, there are other factors that can affect the color of an individual’s teeth. Genetics can play a role. Some people have naturally brighter enamel than others. Disease can also be a factor and certain medications can cause a discoloration of the teeth. If you suspect that there is an underlying medical cause for your teeth discoloration, be sure to inform your cosmetic dentist.
How to Select the Color of Your Veneers
When considering veneers a common question is how white the veneers should be. Usually, the answer is to whiten your natural teeth to either the level of whiteness you want or to the brightest they can be. Your cosmetic dentist will then have the veneers made to that color. Teeth are of course not monochromatic, so typically more than one color is used to create a very natural look. This color variation is critical in avoiding fake or artificial looking teeth. It is the internal contrast of colors that help create vitality. The internal play of light on the porcelain in the restoration helps to create this vitality. Surface texture is also very important, and helps to break up light reflections and make the crown or veneer look more natural.
There is no one standard system in the dental field to measure and determine tooth color. The most often heard about, however, is the Vita shade guide. This guide divides tooth color into four basic shade ranges:
- A (reddish brown)
- B (reddish yellow)
- C (gray)
- D (reddish gray).
In the A range there are five levels of darkness. Ranges B, C and D, each have four levels.
Not all of your teeth are the same natural color. Usually your eye teeth tend to be darker than the others, your front teeth are typically the whitest, and molars tend to be a shade between the two. The goal for everyone is to achieve their individual optimum whiteness while still looking natural.
Most dentists will show you a shade chart for you to pick from. Keep in mind, with a good cosmetic dentist this is merely a starting point. Other considerations when determining the color of veneers for each patient are your complexion, hair color, the color of your natural teeth and even your eye color.
Woodhaven Dentistry
Jeff C. Jenkins, D.D.S.
Richard Martin, D.D.S.
5601 Bridge St, Ste 480
Fort Worth, TX 76112
(817) 259-1371
(817) 937-4369 Fax
Dental sealant is a thin, plastic coating painted on the chewing surfaces of teeth usually the back teeth (the premolars and molars) to prevent tooth decay. The sealant quickly bonds into the depressions and grooves of the teeth forming a protective shield over the enamel of each tooth.
Sealants are a painless, effective, safe, easy to apply, long-lasting and cost effective treatment.
Reasons for adult sealants:
Teeth that exhibit deep grooves and fissures will have a higher risk for cavities. These are ideal teeth to place sealants to prevent this from occurring.
To prevent loss of tooth structure. Tooth structure is lost every time a tooth is filled or a filling is replaced, which occurs every 6-8 years.
Who Should Get Sealants?
Because of the likelihood of developing decay in the depressions and grooves of the premolars and molars, children and teenagers are obvious candidates for sealants. However, adults without decay or fillings in their molars can also benefit from sealants.
Typically, children should get sealants on their permanent molars and premolars as soon as these teeth come in. In this way, the sealants can protect the teeth through the cavity-prone years of ages 6 to 14.
In some cases, dental sealants may also be appropriate for baby teeth, such as when a child’s baby teeth have deep depressions and grooves. Because baby teeth play such an important role in holding the correct spacing for permanent teeth, it is important to keep these teeth healthy so they are not lost too early.
How Are Sealants Applied?
Applying sealant is a simple and painless process. It takes only a few minutes for your dentist or hygienist to apply the sealant to seal each tooth. The application steps are as follows:
- First the teeth that are to be sealed are thoroughly cleaned.
- Each tooth is then dried and cotton or another absorbent material is put around the tooth to keep it dry.
- An acid solution is put on the chewing surfaces of the teeth to roughen them up, which helps the sealant bond to the teeth.
- The teeth are then rinsed and dried.
- Sealant is then painted onto the tooth enamel, where it bonds directly to the tooth and hardens. Sometimes a special curing light is used to help the sealant harden.
Which teeth are suitable for sealants?
Permanent molars are the most likely to benefit from sealants. The first molars usually come into the mouth when a child is about 6 years old. Second molars appear at about age 12. It is best if the sealant is applied soon after the teeth have erupted, before they have a chance to decay.
Dental sealants are usually placed on the chewing surfaces of these teeth because these are the areas and teeth that typically have deep fissures. Dental sealants are sometimes also used on other permanent teeth if they have grooves or pits, to help protect these surfaces. In some children, the molars in the primary dentition (baby teeth) also have grooves that could benefit from dental sealants and in this situation your dentist or hygienist may recommend dental sealants on the chewing surfaces of these primary teeth.
Many insurance companies cover the cost of sealants. Check with your dental insurance carrier to determine if sealants are covered under your plan.
Grand Prairie Dentist
223 Main.
Suite #30
Grand Prairie, Tx 75052
Telephone: (817) 259-XXXX
A Simple Technique to Create an Interim Provisional Restoration
Over the past decade, direct-to-consumer marketing regarding advances in esthetic dentistry has created a greater demand for smile transformations than ever before. The emphasis has changed from patients seeking one or two restorations to patients desiring a whole-mouth reconstruction, which may involve eight to 12 restorations, all in an effort to dramatically change their smiles. It is usually a challenge for a patient to feel immediately comfortable with his or her new smile. One of the best ways to gain patient acceptance of the new smile is to place provisional restorations that mimic the final ceramic restoration in both tooth form and color.
Progression of Laser Dentistry Technology
Fortunately, new technology has all but eliminated reasons to be alarmed. The latest Laser dentistry technology uses laser beams to detect and remove cavities. This means no more drills or shots when going to the dental office. The procedure is taking dentistry into the 21 century.
For a lot of patients, the most important benefit in using laser dentistry technology is that there is little to no discomfort, which makes anaesthesia unnecessary. In addition, the recovery time after a major procedure is significantly less than traditional dentistry. This is because laser dentistry provides methods that reduce the amount of bleeding to the gums and damage to the teeth.
Best Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures for Crooked Teeth
Crooked teeth can be aligned with braces and several types of cosmetic dentistry procedures on an outpatient basis. Whether you have one or several crooked teeth, you can undergo a cosmetic dentistry procedure that will correct the imperfections and help you achieve that picture-perfect smile.
If you’re self-conscious about your smile because of crooked teeth, you do have several options beyond traditional braces. Here’s a close look at some of the best cosmetic dentistry procedures for crooked teeth:
- Invisalign for Crooked Teeth
- Porcelain Veneers for Crooked Teeth
- Tooth Contouring for Crooked Teeth
Richardson, TX 75080
Tell no: (214) 446-1946 website: www.richardson-dentist.com
