Symptoms of TMJ Disorder

The dysfunction of the jaw joint and its related complications can have far-reaching effects on both your health and the quality of your life. Patients who suffer from certain disorders of the jaw joint are often pleased to know that many of the symptoms can be relieved with help from an oral surgeon.

In order to accurately treat your TMJ disorder, it is important to properly identify the symptoms. By taking note of your symptoms, you may be able to gain a greater appreciation for the extent of your condition and begin taking the appropriate steps toward relief.

Frequent headaches may be one of the most common and most misdiagnosed symptoms of TMJ disorder. Patients who experience regular headaches tend to try living with the discomfort, often accepting it as a normal part of life. In reality, the headaches may stem from overworked muscles that control the movements of the head, neck, and jaw. It is possible to find relief by reducing the workload associated with the tense muscles.

Chronic clenching and grinding, a condition known as bruxism, can occur both day and night for millions of patients. Nighttime bruxism is of particular concern, since it is difficult to control this habit during sleep. The excessive forces of clenching and grinding can damage the teeth, gums, and bone, as well as contribute to stress on both the jaw joint and the muscles.

Popping and clicking (with or without pain) can occur on one or both of the jaw joints. These symptoms are often associated with difficulty opening the mouth and lockjaw. Like many other TMJ symptoms, popping and clicking is often overlooked or dismissed as “normal”. Typically, a formal examination of the joint can reveal cartilage damage, muscle damage, or arthritis.

The treatment recommendations for TMJ disorders can include non-surgical, surgical, or orthodontic intervention depending on the extent of the disorder. Early detection and proper treatment are often effective at preventing future damage and relieving discomfort. If you would like to discuss your TMJ symptoms with a professional in the Dallas area, contact the office of Drs. Steven D. Sherry and John D. Wallace to schedule a professional consultation today.

Dental Implants: Never Use Denture Adhesive Again

When you have lost all of your natural teeth, your decision to replace them deserves careful consideration. Not all tooth replacement solutions are created the same, and taking the time to select the most ideal solution can save you from years of disappointment, discomfort, and inconvenience.

If you have found your experience with dentures to be challenging and unsatisfying, then you may be able to appreciate the advantages of dental implants. With implants, you will find that you are able to overcome one of the greatest challenges posed by traditional dentures: instability.

Traditional dentures are designed to rest on top of the gum tissue for support. With adequate bone structure to provide a firm foundation, a new and well-made denture tends to fit relatively comfortably. Beneath the surface, the jaw bone is subject to continuous resorption and begins to shrink significantly. In time, the denture no longer fits, and patients are typically forced to depend on denture glue or adhesives to keep the teeth in place.

Dental implants, on the other hand, fuse to the underlying jaw bone to stabilize your denture and hold the bone in place. In a healthy patient, the relationship between the bone and the implant can remain unchanged indefinitely, preventing bone loss and eliminating the need for denture adhesives. Implants can also prevent your denture from rubbing against the gum tissue and causing the troublesome sore spots that can make eating and speaking uncomfortable.

For a moment, try to imagine how it must feel to glue your teeth to your gums. Try to imagine the challenges of chewing and smiling. Think about how it must feel to live with a lingering sense of insecurity throughout the day. If you are one of the millions of patients who wear traditional dentures, you may be living with these harsh realities on a daily basis.

Free yourself from the limitations of denture glue. Speak with our experienced oral surgeons servingDallasTexasabout the advantages of dental implants today.

Receding Gums: Will I need a gum graft?

Gingival recession, also known as receding gums, is a common dental condition in which the gum tissue pulls away from the teeth. In a healthy mouth, the gum tissue fits snuggly around the neck of the teeth, covering and protecting the root structure. The gum tissue also covers the bone that supports the teeth.

When the gums recede, the underlying bone is also lost and the root structure is left unprotected. The root surface, softer and more porous than the enamel, becomes vulnerable to a number of troublesome issues. Tooth sensitivity, decay, and stain are commonly reported symptoms. In fact, the root structure is so delicate it can be literally worn away by the bristles of the toothbrush. This condition is known as toothbrush abrasion.

The decision to treat receding gums with a gum graft should be determined only after consulting an experienced oral surgeon. Depending upon the extent of the recession and each patient’s periodontal health, the gingival graft procedure is an effective method of restoring the gum tissue.

A gum graft procedure involves the placement of additional gum tissue as a means of protection for the root surface. Either artificial or natural gum tissue can be used, and the process is generally completed under local anesthesia.

The advantages of the gum graft procedure are significant. By strengthening and reinforcing the gumline, patients notice an immediate improvement in terms of tooth sensitivity. Also, support for the teeth is restored and bone loss is reduced. The risk for root caries (cavities on the root structure of the teeth) is dramatically reduced.

There are cosmetic and hygienic benefits to the gum graft procedure as well. Teeth affected by gingival recession tend to look longer than the neighboring teeth. The irregularly shaped gumline may attract plaque and tarter buildup, but may be difficult to keep clean.

Receding gums should never be ignored. Recession should be prevented at its earliest stages, since the lost gum tissue is unable to grow back on its own once it has been lost.

To discuss treatment options for your receding gums, consult our experienced oral surgeons, serving Dallas and the surrounding areas, today.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Dental Implants

Missing teeth have a number of negative effects on aspects from appearance to nutrition to speech.

Patients who have lost teeth due to decay, disease or injury have a number of alternatives for replacement. Dental implants, dentures, partial dentures or dental bridges may all be possibilities, depending on the number of teeth that have been lost.

Anyone who is contemplating a tooth replacement should weigh a number of characteristics in the process of deciding which route to take. Cost, convenience, performance and longevity should all be factors for consideration.

When considered over time, the cost of dental implants will be similar to that of the other methods. Dental implants last much longer than bridges, partials or dentures, so when doing a cost comparison, patients should factor in the need to replace the other tooth replacement appliances every 5-10 years.

Dental implants hold an edge over the other choices in terms of convenience. Caring for dental implants is identical to maintaining biological teeth, and dental implants require no adjustments to a patient’s diet either.

In terms of performance, dental implants outshine their peers, as well. Only dental implants replace the entire structure of the missing tooth, including the root.

Although many patients are primarily concerned with filling in for the tooth’s visible crown, the root is just as important to the smile’s appearance. When a root is missing, the jawbone begins to erode. As this occurs, the skin around the mouth becomes pinched, making the patient appear older than the true chronological age.

That jawbone resorption also limits the longevity of dentures and dental bridges. The shape of the jawbone is constantly changing, and as a result, denture wearers must be re-fitted for new appliances every several years. Dental bridges are not permanent either, and they need to be replaced after around a decade.

When deciding on which tooth replacement method is best for your particular case, consult with our team at Dallas Oral Surgery Associates, serving the DFW area, to learn about the benefits of each option, along with any disadvantages. Be certain to make a well-informed choice that best fits your needs.