To have chronic or frequent pain in the jaw, face, head, and neck can be extremely frustrating. Because medical and dental science still has a ways to go in understanding chronic pain, the frustration of this condition may be exacerbated by a lack of accuracy in treatment. Here, we want to discuss how jaw structure and behavioral habits may play a role in the face and head pain, and what may be done to improve comfort.
Two Sides Of The Same Coin
Both bruxism and TMJ affect the jaw. TMJ is the term used to describe a group of disorders that occur in the temporomandibular joints. In addition to occurring in the same general area of the face, bruxism and TMJ also sometimes share symptoms. Their unique nuances are:
- Bruxism is a habit. This habit includes grinding and clenching motions made either during waking hours or while you sleep. Sleep bruxism is quite common, and can also be somewhat tricky because it can be difficult to recognize the habit as it occurs. Dentists have to observe signs of bruxism such as tooth wear or fractures. This habit is often related to stress and anxiety, which is “worked out” while we sleep.
- TMJ disorder is a condition. The underlying cause of TMJ disorder, or the dysfunctional structure or motion of the joints that operate the lower jaw, or mandible, could be related to bruxism. However, other potential causes have also been explored.
Accuracy In Diagnosis And Treatment Is Important To Long-Term Gains
The discrepancies between bruxism and TMJ are so minor that it may be difficult to immediately understand what is happening in the mouth and why. As dental professionals, we do our best to recognize the subtle signs of each condition so we may administer the most appropriate treatment.
The protocol for treating each of these oral problems may be similar if TMJ is not severe. Oral appliances, or mouthguards, are the standard approach. However, the type of mouthguard that is used in each situation may vary. Because bruxism is a habit that inflicts stress on teeth and the jaw, the purpose of a mouthguard is to buffer the force of clenching and biting. A TMJ mouthguard, on the other hand, may also need to address the actual position of the jaw during sleep. This mouthguard may need to be more rigid than the one used to manage bruxism.
Dr. David Frey has extensive experience in the treatment of bruxism and TMJ. He has developed The Zone Mouthguard for athletes, and he uses a multi-phase, multi-dimensional approach to successfully treat TMJ and its unpleasant symptoms.
Learn more about TMJ and bruxism in consultation with Dr. Frey. Call our Beverly Hills office at 310-276-4537. UK patients may reach our Marylebone office at +44 (0) 207 0960794.
Aging is a process that may give us the illusion of a natural “wearing out” of various body parts. Our joints become creaky and stiff. Our teeth become dull and yellow and may seem to damage more easily. This idea, in particular, is false. Our teeth can last us our lifetime. We don’t have to suffer multiple dental concerns every time we see the dentist. Here, we want to point out why dental health is important to seniors and what can be done to support healthy teeth and gums.
Oral Health Important At Every Age
Dental health isn’t just on your breath. It doesn’t revolve around a smile that looks good. It even extends beyond avoiding painful cavities and other infection. In the big picture, the mouth is a vital aspect of the body and an area that can affect others. Here’s what research shows:
- Oral bacteria can make its way from the mouth to the heart through the bloodstream. When this happens, the resulting, chronic inflammation increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Ultimately, conditions like gum disease are perceived as biomarkers for cardiac events such as heart attack.
- The bacteria that proliferate in the mouth can also travel to the lungs, where their presence increases the risk of lung infection and pneumonia.
- Diabetic seniors are in greater need of ongoing dental care to manage the issue of gum disease. The dual-effect of being diabetic is that it is difficult to manage blood sugar, which increases the risk of gum disease. Likewise, gum disease poses a challenge to the management of blood sugar.
Oral Care Tips For Seniors
There are several strategies that are particularly good for seniors, including:
- Frequent brushing and flossing. Research indicates that dental plaque and tartar accumulate more quickly, and is more difficult to remove, after the age of 50. During mid-life and the senior years, daily brushing and flossing become even more important.
- Maximize oral care with an electric toothbrush. The older we get, the more dexterity we may lose. Seniors can benefit from using an electric or sonic toothbrush with a small head that can more easily reach the back of the mouth.
- Be mindful of the gums. Brushing too hard is a problem all on its own. The use of an electric or sonic toothbrush can aid in this area, too, minimizing the pressure that is placed on the toothbrush during oral care. What we want to prevent here are gum recession and abrasions.
- Take care of dentures. Dentures, even though they are resistant to corrosion, can harbor bacteria. Daily cleaning is necessary to prevent buildup that can cause bad breath and gum disease.
These are just a few of the ways that seniors can protect the health of their mouth. For more tips and personal dental care, call our Beverly Hills office today.
During the holidays, you may have seen your fair share of those cute little cut-out cookies; ones made to look like ugly sweaters or reindeer or good old Santa himself. As children, many of us enjoyed the process of using cookie-cutters to create our very own delectables to be intricately decorated. Today, we can drive through neighborhoods in which the homes people live in seem to have come off of a “cookie-cutter” factory line; every other one had matching shapes and colors. Sadly, this practice of creation can even reside in dentistry. But not in our Beverly Hills cosmetic dentistry office. Here, we know that your smile is one-of-a-kind.
The term “smile makeover” is relatively overused at this point in time. We use it because it’s what people know. However, the actual process that is involved in bringing out the best in a person’s face can’t be adequately described in those two little words. Ultimately, a smile makeover is more of a redesign; a custom-designed protocol that is anything but cookie-cutter. Before we ever commence with treatment planning, we have to answer one important question:
What Do You Want Your Face To Look Like?
You see, your smile is a central aspect of your face. Even something as simple as teeth-whitening is going to change the way your face looks – for the better, of course.
Your Smile, Your Way
What is involved in a smile makeover, or redesign, is different for everyone and determined by the conversations we have about what you ultimately want. Some answers may be obvious: “I want straighter teeth.” Some may be more conceptual: “I want my smile to reflect my personality” (the shape of your teeth comes into play here, believe it or not). With the objective in mind, we are then able to create the contours, color, and shapes that are proportionate to the other features of the face to obtain the desired outcome.
Everything from the way your teeth fit together to how the muscles around your mouth sit can beautifully refine your smile, and thus your face. Dr. Frey has the extensive background in neuromuscular dentistry and cosmetic dentistry to create something beautiful, something that reflects who you are.
Learn more about full-smile revitalization. Call our Los Angeles office today.
Millions of people have looked for aesthetic solutions to the concerns they have with their smile. Over the years, these solutions have only gotten better. In our Beverly Hills cosmetic dentistry practice, the full-smile makeover is one of our most popular procedures. It’s more of a process, really; one in which we get a full understanding of the look that is desired, and create a step-by-step plan to achieve that. When we do this, the smile is refined to be a very personal facial feature. At the same time, several additional benefits can be attained.
Resolution Of Dental Problems
The primary reason for wanting a smile makeover may be to correct cosmetic concerns. Function may also be improved along the way. For instance, crowns may be placed on certain teeth either to repair damage or correct shape, if necessary. In so doing, the coverage can strengthen the overall durability of the tooth. Smile revitalization may also need to involve tooth replacement. Bridges and dental implants are positive treatment options that lend to both the beauty and stamina of the smile.
Problems that are discovered during the pre-treatment dental exam require restorative care in order to achieve the intended goal of a gorgeous smile that lasts. In the event that a cavity is found, a tooth-colored filling is capable of hiding all evidence. In some instances, teeth can be sealed, as well, to prevent bacteria from causing damage in deep crevices. Damage or other concerns on the surface of front teeth are usually hidden with porcelain veneers. Veneers are actually one of the most impactful parts of a smile makeover, capable of restructuring the entire smile by perfecting the proportions between teeth, gums, and the lips.
When a patient consults with us about a smile makeover, we don’t just seek to make teeth brighter or straighter. The ultimate outcome that should come from correcting concerns is feeling at home in the smile that has been created.
Your smile is a reflection of your character. There is no secret to this. Let’s bring out who you really are together. Call our Beverly Hills office today to schedule your smile makeover consultation.