TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, the hinge that connects your jaw to your skull and plays a key role in chewing and speaking. TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder) is a condition affecting this join which causes pain, stiffness, and discomfort. There are varying levels of conditions, and minor forms seldom require care. However, during flare-ups it can substantially hinder even the most basic activities. A dentist can offer treatment for this condition, reduce your discomfort, and help you regain your ability to speak or eat normally.
TMD symptoms include, but aren't limited to:
Diagnosis requires jaw measurements, computer rendering of your bite pattern, and X-rays of your jaw structure. Primarily, restorative dentists and orthodontists are the professionals performing TMD treatments.
Custom-made traditional braces, clear aligners, oral surgery, or other total oral restoration techniques are some routes we offer. In the end, it depends on your unique set of symptoms and the severity of your specific condition.
Neuromuscular dentistry focuses on improving the condition and mobility of your jaw. A neuromuscular dentist will ensure that your TMJ is correctly aligned for optimal functionality.
Veneers are cosmetic shells placed over teeth with small imperfections. This minimally intrusive cosmetic treatment is perfect for covering chips, cracks, and stains to leave your teeth looking naturally beautiful.
Porcelain veneers are a very common treatment for most people unhappy with the appearance of one or more teeth. If you would like to improve your smile, you can get the smile of your dreams in three easy steps.
Veneers can last for years with proper care. Follow good oral hygiene practices and keep your teeth healthy alongside your veneers. Occasionally, veneers can crack but worry not as they're easily repairable.
Just like regular braces, invisible braces straighten your teeth and correct your bite. Unlike traditional braces, invisible aligners are made of clear composite resin and are virtually unnoticeable.
You'll receive a set of custom-made aligners, tailor-made just for you. You'll wear each aligner for about two weeks before you change them on your own. As you work through the series, your teeth will slowly straighten out.
Clear aligners achieve their success due to their construction. Based on the computer rendering of your teeth, we craft each aligner with narrow slots your teeth slip inside. Each slot is fractionally straighter than your teeth, which applies constant pressure. This pressure is what will cause your teeth to shift into proper location.
Not at all. Although there's no pain involved, you may feel soreness or discomfort. This stems from the force applied for straightening.
Unlike braces, these require very minimal dentist visits. The most you can expect is a periodical visit to ensure your progress is on par with expectations. No more are the days where you'll need an appointment to adjust them as you simply pop out the old and slip into the next.
Another improvement over braces, these can come out with ease. For best results, keep these in for about but 22 hours a day. However, you can remove them for cleaning and eating.
This procedure uses a hydrogen peroxide-based solution that we apply to the surface of your teeth. While other doctors may use different manufacturers, we find this more tolerable and have better results.
Opalescence™ use takes just an hour, making a perfect solution for those with busy schedules. For best results, we advise you to take additional time and have a cleaning beforehand.
The length of time your teeth will stay pearly white will depend primarily on you. By practicing adequate oral care, you'll significantly extend the longevity of your whitening treatment. Brushing twice a day and flossing after every meal can ensure the longest-lasting whitening effects possible.
Our cosmetic dentists will oversee all aspects of the procedure for outstanding results. We take time to ensure that your procedure is successful by:
Generally, it's a very safe, effective procedure. Our cosmetic dentists will inform you of any possible risks. Sensitivity tends to be the most prevalent roadblock, along with fillers. By visiting a dentist for whitening, you can minimize your risk of injury or ill effects.
These days, take-home whitening kits are available at just about any grocery store. We don't recommend using them, no matter how convenient they are. Grocery store options apply a one-size-fits-all solution, which leads to lackluster results in most cases.
Because they are not customized, these kits often do not evenly whiten all the surfaces of your teeth. Whitening not provided by a cosmetic dentist may also produce unsatisfactory results and could increase the risk of tooth sensitivity.
This is an acronym for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Crowns, a cutting-edge dental technology used to make cosmetic dental devices in recrod time. With CEREC® machines at our disposal, we can provide you with crowns in just one visit.
By implementing CEREC® into our practice, we now can cut crowns from porcelain blocks, stain them to match your teeth, shape them to resemble the former, and install them perfectly. Nothing makes appointments as efficient and quick as these.
First, we'll take a 3D scan of your mouth. Traditionally, x-rays would be taken, but these are quicker and clearer. We will use this information to make your new crown, which is just as expedient a process as the first step.
Secondly, we'll input this data into our milling machine. This device is what will craft your new crown from raw a porcelain cube. This will take up to fifteen minutes per crown, so you may have a lengthy wait if you're replacing several crowns.
Step three is all about helping the crown blend with your teeth. Often referred to as polishing, this is the final step before we can insert them. Thanks to the CEREC® machine, all of this is doable in just one visit, saving you time and frustration.
Yes, the only difference is the waiting time. The porcelain building block is the same, and we utilize identical staining agents. Both sources create crowns that are just as durable as enamel, allowing these to last a lifetime with proper care.
Dental crowns, like most restorations, will last longer the better you care for them. Caring for CEREC® crowns is like caring for teeth; brush twice a day and floss after every meal for the best results. By practicing the commonly established hygiene norms, you have an excellent chance to ensure your new set last a long while.
These days, dentures come in many shapes and sizes and can be utilized to address several dental health conditions, including:
Dentures are completely painless devices. There are always adjustment periods so you can get used to wearing them, but the only pain or discomfort tends to result from removing remaining teeth if necessary.
To best answer this question, a dentist will need to examine your teeth. Each pulled tooth adds additional recovery time. So, you'll have to recover before we start fitting you. The average patient recovers in 1-2 months.
Once healed, your assigned prosthetist will cast impressions of your teeth to tailor craft a perfectly fitting denture. Depending on the positioning and how many teeth are missing, we may recommend a full or partial denture.
After an hour or so later, the impression will harden sufficiently, leading to the next step. Here is when we'll gauge your bite pattern. We use wax blocks to capture the exact orientation of your teeth throughout the biting process. This gives us a better understanding of your bodily mechanics, letting us craft the optimal denture for you.
If you struggle with anxiety, stress, or fear of your next appointment, the use of sedatives can make your experience far easier. Additionally, for those resistant or tolerant to localized numbing, sedation can provide the needed pain relief.
Dentists keep a stockpile of nitrous oxide on hand at all times so they can account for all patients regardless of the circumstances. In other words, nitrous oxide is a means of offering needed oral care to all would-be patients.
Also known as N2O, this is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas. This unique sedative was discovered on accident in the 19th century and has been used in medical offices worldwide ever since. Furthermore, this is a very safe substance, and we will cover all of your concerns during your visit before we use it.
Since this is a gas, the best way of administering it is through the respiratory system. We will provide you with a mask that will cover your nose and mouth. Limiting your oxygen supply, you will take a deep breath of the gas, and then you will begin to feel the effects.
Depending on your weight, the amount taken, and overall health, the following effects may vary:
One thing you won't be is asleep. While most sedatives are sleep-inducing, laughing gas leaves you in a conscious "twilight" state in which you will still be able to respond to your dentist. This is useful as it allows us to check in on you to monitor how you're feeling and ask you to reposition if needed.
If you have any further questions, you can always reach out to us at any time. However, if you're reading about dental procedures, you likely need one. Set an appointment today to not only improve your smile but your overall health as well.
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