Why Visit a Neuromuscular Dentist?

For many people in today's world, headaches and neck pain are a daily occurrence. We often attribute the pain to the stress we are under or how busy we are. The pain is often overlooked and not diagnose. Are you one of the millions of people who suffer from symptoms of TMD, such as:

· Headaches and migraines

· Pain or soreness in the jaw

· Pain in the neck, shoulder and back

· Teeth that are overly sensitive

· Clicking or popping in the jaw

· Locking of the jaw and not being able to open or close your mouth

· Teeth that are cracked, chipped or worn

· Depression or irritability

· Ear pain or ringing in the ears

All of these are symptoms of TMD, or temporomandibular joint disorder. TMD is a term that refers to any disease or disorder of the TMJ (temporomandibular joint). The TMJ is the most complex joint system in our body and if it is out of alignment, it can cause pain in many other parts of the body. If you suffer from any or all of these symptoms, then you should seek the help of an experienced neuromuscular dentist.

What is Neuromuscular Dentistry?

Neuromuscular dentistry is a specialized dental practice that differs from traditional dentistry. It is quickly becoming a successful option of treatment for the many people who suffer from problems in the TMJ. Neuromuscular dentists are trained to understand the jaw and the relationship between the joint and the nerves and muscles surrounding it.

TMD usually occurs when there is a misalignment of the jaw or problems with the joint. These specially trained dentists will use a variety of exams and techniques in order to treat the disorder.

Treating TMD

TMD is treatable and reversible with the help of a neuromuscular dentist. The treatments can range from conservative treatments to surgical treatments.

Conservative TMD treatments are the most common treatments because the majority of people who suffer from this disorder do not have degenerative problems with the joint. These treatments can include:

· Physical therapy of the jaw

· Applying hot and cold packs to the jaw

· Eating soft foods and avoiding foods that require excessive chewing or tearing

· Splints or biteplates

Surgical TMD treatments include injections or surgery of the tissue surrounding the TMJ. These are typically only used when there has been severe deterioration of the jaw. These forms of treatment are not reversible, so they should only be used as a last resort.

The cost of receiving neuromuscular dentistry treatments are much higher than traditional dentistry treatments, but if you are living life with constant pain, then the cost is worth it. There is no reason to go through life suffering pain from TMD.

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If you are one of the many people in Chicago who suffer from migraines or any of these symptoms, please contact the experienced neuromuscular dentists at the Colonial Dental Group. They can assess your condition and work with you on a specialized treatment plan designed for your specific needs.

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Dental Needs

For good healthy long lasting teeth dental care is essential. It is advisable for every person to visit a dentist once in a while even if you do not suffer from any visible teeth problem. Routine checkups are a must for any person. Dentists are supposed to deal with all problems that are related to mouth bad breath, toothache, gums; they can help fix all your oral hygiene and health issues.

The time you have a toothache or even bleeding gums the first thing you decide is to approach your dentist, who will help you with his treatment, but there are people who fear the dentist. Many people view the person who is there to provide you all the medical help you require as maniacal. The instruments that a dentist uses are noisy and irritating, this is the reason that sets of the person. Also the use of injections that is used to numb your senses, further initiates fear regarding the dentist. The reason that a person gives as to the fear of dentist is the amount of pain that has to be borne during treatment even if there’s no real pain involved.

The amount of noise that the devices used by dentist makes scares people with the fear of dentists. The sounds like a drilling machine in your mouth could be enough to push you to your limits. Truth is these instruments are modernized and so are the dentists who are highly qualified and well trained.

From the time you visit a dentist’s clinic you are thinking of all the pain you will have to bear. You have painted a mental picture and no amount of fair reasoning will make you see the truth. You are wishing that you might get some time to relax before getting the treatment. Once you are in his zone of treatment you start sensing the environment of pain. The chair that you are supposed to be seated on facing the ceiling is all ready for you. The first thing you do is tell your dentist to go easy without giving you any pain and he laughs and assures you that he wont let you feel the pain. However as the process is initiated you may start cramping up, getting uneasy or may simply want out of the chair.

Truth is even if there’s pain involved, there’s millions who bear the pain and go about their daily agenda after a little discomfort. You know that the treatment was not as painful as you had imagined, but your inner conscious triggers you to fearing the dentist because you believe you are to fear such a person.

People with such fears will do all they can to avoid every subsequent dental appointment and make all the excuses possible. However this attitude is not going to help your cause, as you do require medical assistance from the dentist at some point, the regular you are the better it is for you. To avoid the fear of dentist you can approach a psychiatrist that will help you through a hypnosis session. Hypnosis is well renowned for its effective treatment for any kind of phobia. Hypnosis will surely help you deal with your dentist phobia.

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The Differences Between Neuromuscular Dentistry and General Dentistry

Misalignment of the jaw can often cause painful headaches and other bothersome symptoms. Neuromuscular dentistry focuses on correcting misaligned jaws to help alleviate the many symptoms associated with temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD/TJD).

Misaligned jaws can create severe headaches, jaw pain, clicking and popping of the jaw, as well as neck and shoulder pain. Many Americans suffer from these symptoms as a result of a poorly aligned jaw.

Neuromuscular dentists have studied and thoroughly understand the muscular mechanics of your face and jaw and how pain in one area may be related to pain in another area. They work to find the cause of the pain and alleviate it through restoring proper jaw joint alignment.

What Are the Symptoms of TMD/TJD?

Any of the following symptoms may be indicators that your jaw is poorly aligned:

• Headaches or teethaches.
• Facial, shoulder, or neck pain.
• Earaches or ringing in the ears.
• Pain behind the eyes and dizziness.

These could all be signs that something is not entirely correct with your jaw alignment.

How Does a Neuromuscular Dentist Diagnose TMD/TJD?

Your dentist will use the latest technological and medical advances to help determine whether or not your symptoms are a result of TMD/TJD. First your dentist will physically examine the muscles of your head, face, neck and shoulder area to determine if there are any trigger points or muscle spasms. Radiographs may be taken to observe the joint components and determine if anything is out of line.

Neuromuscular dentists will also use computer diagnostics to create measurements of and track your jaw’s movement. By three-dimensionally tracking your jaw’s movements your dentist can get a better idea on how to effectively correct the misalignment.

How is TMD/TJD treated?

The primary objective of treatment for TMD/TJD is to realign the jaw so that the patient’s bite is comfortable and the symptoms listed above are either reduced or eliminated entirely. One treatment option is known as ULF-TENS, or Ultra Low Frequency Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. ULF-TENS relaxes the face muscles by using a series of low frequency electric pulses.

The dentist may also design an orthotic that can be worn over the lower teeth. The orthotic is small and fits naturally in the mouth to help move the jaw to its natural, aligned position. More permanent solutions to TMD/TJD may include:

• Reshaping the enamel of the teeth.
• Bonding an orthotic to the teeth.
• Reconstruction of the teeth with porcelain layering.
• Orthodontic correction, such as braces or Invisalign®.

Neuromuscular dentistry is an important field of dentistry that can help alleviate and cure pain that countless Americans suffer from. Symptoms of TMD/TJD are generally very treatable- the first step in curing discomfort is finding a neuromuscular dentist who is highly trained and cares about you, the patient.

Tag : dental,dental care,dental plan,dental clinic,teeth

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Visiting The Dentist Doesn't Have to Be a Pain!

When you think of your dentist, what comes to mind? Does it bring a sense of anxiousness or impending doom? If it does then it might be time to consider changing dentists. Dental methods and procedures have made a lot of advances in the last few years. Visiting the dentist does not have to be a frightful or even a painful experience anymore.

The days of being forced to sit in an uncomfortable dentist chair with blood curdling sounds coming from the patient's room next to yours are long gone. Gone also are the days when you had to endure serious pain while your dentist drills and fills a cavity or extracts a tooth. With the advent of new, more effective, and cheaper pain numbing substances, pain is virtually not a concern. In addition, with the coming of age of computers, portable digital x-ray imaging devices, and new ergonomic dental office designs, a visit to the dentist can be, if not enjoyable, at least not such a big deal anymore.

Digital x-ray and other state-of-the-art equipment has made the visit to the office much less of a pain. The dentist can now quickly take x-rays of your mouth from many different angles, get the results in literally seconds, as opposed to hours, accurately diagnose the problem, and get right to work solving it. This technological wonder has shaved a huge amount of time off of the visit and saves the doctor the work of film processing and having to deal with the nasty developer chemicals. More important to you is that you don't have to sit there and wait while the shots they took of your mouth are being developed.

Another great improvement in many dentist offices is the incorporation of equipment that has made many of the procedures that used to take several visits to complete into "same day" procedures. One such procedure is receiving a crown. With these advances, you can now go in and have your mouth measured for a crown, have it fabricated while the dentist prepares you for the fitting, have the crown fitted, and cemented all in the same visit. The visit is also relatively short, considering the amount of work that takes place. This kind of capability sends the convenience factor for the patient soaring on the convenience scale.

Ergonomic features are also being implemented in more and more dentist's offices. The patient's comfort is becoming more and more a central consideration in the design of patient rooms. The kind of dentist Ogden friends prefer has patient rooms that are not only comfortable but are equipped with headphones and televisions in the ceilings to promote the patient's comfort and relieve stress.

If your dentist does not have the latest equipment and use the most current techniques, then you should consider looking around for a new dentist. Dentistry has come a long way over the years. There is no need to stay in the stone age of dentistry.

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Sensitive Teeth And How To Take Care Of Them

Many people have sensitive teeth. In fact, millions of people suffer discomfort or even pain from eating their favourite foods and drinking their favourite drinks. However, in the majority of cases, there is a lot that can be done to desensitize sensitive teeth.

Sensitive teeth most often trigger pain when people eat or drink something very cold like ice cream, iced lemonade or a cold beer. However, some people face the problem when they eat hot foods too. Some even get trouble when they breathe cold air. These examples of pain from sensitive teeth usually come from a partly exposed tooth nerve.

If this is due to cavities, then the pain is to a large extent, self-inflicted, because everybody should go to see a dentist twice a year for a check up and pre-emptive or corrective work.

Sometimes, however the trouble lies with the fact that the gums are retreating which occurs naturally as we get older. The receding gums expose the lower parts of the teeth and thus the roots too.

In this case, the pain essentially occurs because the exposed root has tubules which run to your nerves. Any pressure on these will be fed to the nerves resulting in pain.

Remedial action is difficult, pre-emptive action is not. Unfortunately, many people were instructed how to brush their teeth quite badly. For decades, children were taught to scrub at their teeth to get them clean, but a side effect of that harsh brush work, is to steadily push the gums back off your teeth. It may take decades, but it is almost certain to happen and this will result in sensitive teeth.

Current guidance is to brush gently and never towards your gums, always away from them. Modern tooth pastes are so much better than they were decades ago, so they do not need so much assistance to get your teeth clean.

If, however, you are in the sad position of already having sensitive teeth, there may still be something you can do about it. Potassium nitrite will help 'desensitivize' your teeth, so you should look for a tooth paste that contains this chemical. It can be found in several preparations for sensitive teeth including Sensodyne tooth paste, which is recommended by dentists for this task all over the world.

Another method you can try is using mouth wash containing fluoride. There are dozens of them in any pharmacy, so you will have to try a few until you find one that works for you. A couple of tips are to first try the brands of mouth wash that contain high levels of fluoride and brands that do not contain alcohol. Some seem to burn your mouth, but others do not.

If these suggestions have no effect, then you are incredibly unlucky, and there is nothing for it but to go to the dentist. A dentist deals with sensitive teeth every working day, and there are new products coming onto the market all the time, so go along to your dental surgery and let them sort out your sensitive teeth.

Stop Tooth Pain - How to Stop Tooth Pain - Effective Strategies

To stop tooth pain, you need to understand how to stop tooth pains. Everyone needs to maintain a healthy diet and that includes daily routine of oral hygiene pertaining to flossing and brushing. These factors along with natural remedies provided below will attribute to relief of toothaches and can be a preventative measure for future tooth aches.

One temporary yet effective strategy to stop teeth ache is to chew on wheat grass. Wheat grass helps take out toxins from the affected tooth and gum. It also helps bacterial growth and as an added bonus, it freshens up your breath.

Another method is with asafetida and lemon juice. Apply to the cavity of the problematic tooth and gum -it will quickly relieve the teeth ahce. For people with prior history of teeth pain, you should refrain from using sour foods that include lemon juice, oranges and lime because it will create more irritation to the achy tooth.

Usage of cloves is an additional home remdy for toothaches. The oil derived from the cloves has antiseptic properties which is perfect for stopping painful teeth. You can also apply clove oil directly to the affected teeth and gump areas to sooth the aches.

Using salt and paper, making sure it is mixed together and adding clove oil is another reliever to tooth pains naturally. But those who have a history of toothaches before, this can irritate and worsen pain in your teeth and gum. That being said, these temporary strategies are not recommended as they will stop working. It is best to cure and permanently remove any form of gum aches and tooth aches.

To learn more information on finding permanent solutions to tooth aches you should read this here

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Louisville Kentucky Dental Implants: Perfect Dental Treatment

There are many people suffering from dental issues with the passage of time. Most of the people are actually reluctant to go to the hospitals in order to get the right kind of treatment with the passage of time. This is mainly due to the pain suffered by them during the treatments they have undergone in the past days. There are many dental clinics in the city and you can definitely try your level best to approach the most reputed ones in the city. The medical science is highly advanced wherein you will be able to make use of the latest pain free technology without any issues. The pain free technology will definitely help you in moving through the right path in getting the exact treatment without any issues. In fact most of the clinics are making use of all kinds of modern facilities and you could definitely take advantage of these facilities in order to get rid of the issues with the passage of time.

Most of the people are actually not aware about the improving facilities that are actually present in the world with respect to the dental issues. You should definitely make use of the resource in order to determine the best dental clinic that could give the most efficient solution to the health problem with the passage of time. Also you can be confident that most of the dentist and other medical staffs are taking the pain to make you realize the effect behind the issue you will have to face if left unattended and also on the relief you will be getting in future if you move on with the right treatments. You are also given the sedation depending on the depth of treatment in one single sitting so that you can definitely move on with great comfort in the easiest manner. You will be able to remain in the best health condition with the passage of time and considering this fact there are many treatments for same issue and the kind of treatment is decided only after checking with the health condition of the patient with the passage of time. You can search widely on internet to determine the best Louisville all on six as you might not know the time wherein you require the help especially while moving on with the same kind of lifestyle.

Dental Clinic in Dubai

For many years now, many are already relying on medical tourism for cost-effective cosmetic surgery. After that, medical tourism has further expanded its wings and now cover non-cosmetic areas like orthopedic, hernias, cataracts, heart surgery, dentistry and a lot more. Medical tourism hubs offer high quality medical treatment at a very reasonable price. Its offered practicality makes this medical buzz a growing trend all over the world. Its very unique nature is actually attributed to the merging of the health care industry and also the tourism industry. So what really makes medical tourism really popular? The main reason for its popularity is that offers topnotch medical services at affordable budget. If you are itching to know the countries that known for medical tourism, then be glad that Dubai is included as the fast emerging sought after medical tourism destination.

So if you are currently enjoying the sights and buildings in Dubai, then you can also visit the other clinics in this city including the dental clinics. Dubai is rich in professional and good dentists that will sure lighten your worries regarding many dental problems. It is common that people especially the children are afraid of visiting a dentist. Rest assured that while in Dubai you can find the best dentists in town. You can even ask locals for feedback regarding the best dental clinic in Dubai. Ask for dentists that would take care of all your dental needs and if you have found the right dentist for you, then you can't go wrong. You can now smile all your dental problems away.

When looking for a dental clinic in Dubai, there are several factors you need to consider first. For a start, you need to know the educational qualifications of the dentist. Most clinics display where a particular doctor graduated. If you think that this doctor is reliable enough, then you have accomplished your first task in finding the ideal dentist for you.

The main reason why dentists are feared by many because of the pain associated with every dental procedure. Every person has different levels of pain tolerance. Because of this, sedation dentistry has helped you lessen the pain for every procedure. Sedation dentistry is really important especially if these factors are present: long procedures, involuntary movements of patients, young patients and those that easily suffer from panic attacks. The sedatives used to have a painless dental procedure can be oral, topical, or intravenous. So, if you have low tolerance to pain and to any dental procedure, then you need to find a dental clinic in Dubai that offers sedation dentistry. A capable dentist will know first if the sedative would fit the procedure and also you. Right away tell the dentists if you have any allergy so the dentist will know the solution.

If you are bothered with your dental problems while on a visit in the magnificent city of Dubai, also take time to visit the dental clinics in this city so you can mix your pleasure and at the same time address your dental needs.

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Dental Surgery For Better Oral Health

We brush our teeth properly, floss regularly and always have a handy mouthwash, just in case. But sometimes dental problems still find its way to bother us and our way of life. Fortunately, there are dental surgery procedures to remedy these problems.

Perhaps the most common disease is tooth decay, but unfortunately, it is also often neglected. Unless we already feel pain from the toothache, the visit to the dentist is frequently shrugged off. It is only when the pain is almost unbearable that we consider tooth extraction seriously. Tooth extraction is a dental procedure which removes a tooth from the bone socket. Teeth that need to be extracted are not only those which have cavities and are engulfed by caries. There are those who have their teeth removed for aesthetic reasons, such as unsightly extra tooth or for making extra space, especially for those who are getting braces. Sometimes, the growth of wisdom teeth proves to be worrying, especially if it is crowding the teeth, is impacted, or is causing pain to the gums.

Root canal is another dental surgery procedure done by dentists. Root canal eliminates the infection from the diseased tooth, and shields the decontaminated tooth from future microbial incursion. It is usually recommended early on to prevent a cracked or decayed tooth from getting infection. The process involves the tooth being drilled, cleaned, filled (with endofile and rubber), and capped with a crown. The tooth is basically 'dead' because it has no more organic tissue inside, but the bone remains intact.

Both tooth extraction and root canal are done with the help of anesthesia to numb the area of the tooth to be processed. This can either be through local anesthesia (makes a particular part of the body unable to feel sensation for a period of time) or through IV sedation (induces the patient to a state of deep relaxation, feeling nothing while the procedure is going on, and causes partial or total memory loss of the procedure). The healing process depends on the difficulty of the process (for example, a tooth that has been more difficult to extract often takes more time to heal). The dentists should prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and other painkiller to aid in suppressing the swelling and the pain post-procedure.

These procedures will leave patients with missing or incomplete tooth that are rather unpleasant to the eyes. It's a good thing there is another dental surgery procedure we can avail to have our perfect smile back: by having crowns or bridges. Both are types of dental restoration. Crowns cover a dental implant completely while bridges are employed to substitute a missing tooth by bonding to adjacent teeth or dental implants permanently. Both can be created from a variety of materials including gold and porcelain. These can be proven advantageous and beneficial to the dental health and overall aesthetic appearance. However, they are relatively expensive because of the materials and the procedure itself.

How a Cosmetic Dental Crown Was Used to Treat Cracked Tooth Syndrome

A patient by the name of Sandra, age 45, called us six months ago. She reported that one of her teeth occasionally hurt when she was eating. This pain was intermittent, and only occurred when she bit down on a certain molar located toward the bottom front of her mouth. The pain was very sharp, but lacked the aching that is normally associated with a cavity, fracture, or abscess.

Sandra had even looked closely at the tooth in the mirror and did not find any visible fracture or recession of the gum line. The dentist suspected that she might have cracked tooth syndrome. This is a condition that results when one or more fine cracks form in the tooth When a person bites down a certain way, the pressure spreads that small crack and exposes the nerve to pressure, which in turn results in a sharp, jolting pain that immediately disappears again when the pressure is taken off the tooth and the crack closes.

Cracked tooth syndrome is not the same as what people typically refer to as a fractured tooth. In cracked tooth syndrome, the cracks are almost always too small for a person to see. Even dentists have to use special instruments in most cases to detect them. Although these cracks are very small, they are deep enough to affect the enamel, the dentin, and in some cases, even the nerve.

Cracked tooth syndrome can be generated by a number of causes. Some develop slowly, and some are the result of severe trauma to the mouth. Repetitive chewing over a period of time can cause very fine cracks, called stress fractures, that lead to cracked tooth syndrome. Bruxism (or teeth grinding at night) can also crack the teeth. Any type of trauma resulting from a fall or blow to the mouth can cause one or more cracks to form in a tooth that absorbs all or most of the force. Chewing on ice and hard candy is another notorious culprit of this condition.

If cracked tooth syndrome remains untreated and continues to work its way down to the nerve cavity, then either a root canal or even tooth extraction becomes imminent. We hoped this would not be necessary in Sandra's case, and got her into our office as soon as possible for treatment.

Our computer allowed us to quickly pull up Sandra's medical history, revealing she had suffered anxiety for several years that in turn caused Bruxism. Further exploration of the tooth with our intraoral camera confirmed that she indeed was suffering from cracked tooth syndrome. There was a small, but severely deep, crack inside of the tooth that had was dangerously close to breaking into the nerve chamber. Had the syndrome remained undetected for as little as another 3 to 6 weeks, the split would have worked its way to the nerve, and we would have had to perform a root canal.

Instead, and much to Sandra's relief, we were able to replace the cusp of the tooth and replace it with a crown. Last week, Sandra sent an email thanking us and reporting that the pain has completely left her tooth.

Cosmetic Dentistry Center. For more information about Cracked Tooth Syndrome, General Dentistry, and Cosmetic Dentistry visit us online now.

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Dental Cleaning Using Prophy Paste

Prophy paste is one of the best dental supplies online that you can use for cleaning your teeth. By using this you will be able to avoid going to the dentist for the purpose of getting your teeth cleaned. You might not have the time or the financial resources to meet the dentist on a regular basis. You should also clean your teeth regularly in order to prevent the onset of dental decay and mouth infection. The paste is an excellent alternative to a visit to the dentist as it will help to remove the surface stains as well as excess plaque from your teeth.

Steps For Cleaning Teeth Using Prophy Paste

If you wish to clean your teeth with prophy paste then you will first have to make sure that all the various dental equipment that you are using are clean. You could sterilize your dental equipment by placing the dental instruments in boiling water. You could also clean them by putting them inside the dishwasher. You must take care to ensure that the instruments that you use for cleaning you teeth are not used by other members of your family. You should also examine your mouth very thoroughly with the dental instruments in order to determine whether you experience any kind of pain. If you do feel even a slight amount of pain then you should not hesitate to call the dentist. This is because even the slightest pain could lead to a severe dental infection later on.

Scrape Your Teeth And Floss Them

You must make it a point to scrape out the insides of your teeth before you start brushing them using prophy paste. You could purchase supplies such as a dental mirror or bathroom mirror for this purpose. By using such mirrors you will be able to ensure whether or not there are any food particles that are still stuck in your teeth. After you have scraped out your teeth very well you can start using the paste for brushing them. When using this substance however, you must take care that you do not use it for longer than six months. This is because it is quite a powerful abrasive and prolonged use could damage your teeth. Once you have finished brushing your teeth using the paste you can start flossing your teeth. You need to be very careful while you do so as too much flossing could result in your gums bleeding excessively. You must therefore take care to insert the floss gently in between your teeth areas and then rinse your mouth thoroughly.

Thus, if you wish to clean out your teeth using professional dental substances like prophy paste you need to keep these important steps in mind. The paste is one of the dental supplies that is inexpensive to purchase and is also highly effective for cleaning your teeth.

Dental Implants - Are They Replacing Root Canals?

When your tooth has been compromised due to severe decay, injury or lack of bone support you may be presented with different treatment options: saving or extracting the tooth. Saving the tooth often involves the need for a root canal. If the tooth is extracted, then replacement can be done with a newer treatment option, dental implants. The two procedures may have similar final aesthetic results, but involve very different procedures with different requirements.

A root canal preserves your natural tooth, but removes the decay within its structure and any infection within the root. Dental implants are a more complex dental surgery procedure that involves the extraction of your diseased tooth and its replacement with a prosthesis or "artificial tooth". Our goal as dental professionals is always to preserve as many of your natural teeth as possible. Root canal treatments preserve 17 million teeth a year. However, due to the increasing predictability and reliability of dental implants, this alternative can be a very good option when the prognosis of a tooth restored with root canal is still questionable.

Despite the "fear factor" the term root canal often creates, root canals are actually a simple and relatively pain free procedure. In a root canal the source of your tooth pain, infected or inflammed nerve tissue, is removed. The tooth is cleaned and filled with a biocompatible material, then sealed with a crown. The procedure is relatively painless with modern dental anesthetics. Implants require surgically extracting the tooth and a separate surgery later to insert an artificial tooth root into the jaw bone. After sufficient time to properly attach to the bone, the replacement crown is affixed to the implant.

There are many factors to evaluate before deciding the course of treatment. The integrity and amount of remaining tooth structure as well as the amount and quality of surrounding bone will profoundly affect the long term prognosis of a tooth restored by root canal treatment. The bone also affects the possibility of anchoring an implant. Also, some people with certain medical conditions should avoid dental surgery whenever possible and for them root canal therapy may be the best option.

If you have lost several teeth, dental implants can present a very attractive alternative to dentures, or even be used in conjunction with full or partial dentures to provide a much more secure anchor to hold the dentures in place.

The most common type of dental implant used today is called a root form implant. These are post-like devices usually made of titanium alloy that are placed in the bone to serve as artificial tooth roots to which the dentist can then securely attach a crown or bridgework or an anchor for a denture.

Every situation is different and if you are experiencing tooth pain or have recently broken, cracked or otherwise damaged teeth seek the advice of a dental professional to discuss the right restoration option for you.

Dr. Steven Brazis has practiced family and cosmetic dentistry for 35 years. His practice is in Sacramento, CA. He has written extensively on dentistry for the lay person. His web site is: http://www.toothhaven.com

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5 Simple Steps to Overcome Your Fear of Dentists

What steps can you take in overcoming fear of a dentist? This is a question I asked myself before walking in to my first ever dentist appointment. I had neglected to go my entire life, and finally the pain in my tooth was so bad that I couldn't even eat ice cream. My wisdom teeth had grown in completely crooked. It was a nasty sight, not to mention woefully painful. I needed to overcome my fear of a dentist before I ventured into the office, however. I was content to live with the pain before I let some alien-looking guy in a white coat shove his drill in my mouth.

The Five Best Steps to Overcoming Fear of a Dentist

Step 1: Find yourself a good recommendation. Part of the fear associated with a person's trip to the dentist has to do with your dentist being a complete stranger. There's no trust here. And there's also no way that some Johnny-come-lately is going to put things in your mouth. Overcoming fear of a dentist is difficult, but this is the first step in the right direction.

Step 2: Have a sit-down with the dentist. After you've found a highly recommended or family dentist, schedule an appointment to ask questions. Really, this is a chance for you to feel the dentist out and see if you trust him/her. Even still, don't neglect to ask questions associated with pain and recovery. Overcoming fear of a dentist depends on a step like this.

Step 3: Feel and own the fear! Tell him/her about how you're currently overcoming fear of a dentist, and hoping to completely own it before your visit. A good dentist will reassure you and help you along the way.

Step 4: Employ the buddy system. This might not be everyone's cup of tea, but in your overcoming fear of a dentist visit, you may want to bring someone in with you. Most likely, they won't be allowed in the office at the time of the procedure, but by having them there with you, it's another level of comfort that may very well help you fight the fear.

Step 5: Man up! This step is strictly for the guys out there - unless ladies can dig deep for the testosterone as well. Look, guys, all the little kids are going in and out of the dentist's office with their suckers and Styrofoam filled mouths; what's your problem? Overcoming fear of the dentist is something you should have done at 5-years-old, and the quicker you admit this to yourself, the better off you'll be.

No matter which method you choose, overcoming fear of the dentist is important. Taking care of bad teeth and gums right away is imperative - especially when you're an adult. Whether you need to sit down with the dentist or smack some sense into yourself, overcoming the fear needs to be done!

Get more tips to overcome your fear of dentists here. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trevor_Johnson

Costa Mesa Dentist Selected as Top Dentist

Dr. Michael Ayzin Selected for Consumers' Research Council List of America's Top Dentists

COSTA MESA: Michael Ayzin, DDS and his practice, Dentistry @ Its Finest, (http://www.dentalaffairs.com and http://www.finestdentistry.com), has been selected as one of America's Top Dentists for 2009 by the Consumer's Research Council of America (http://www.consumersresearchcncl.org/).

Consumers' Research Council of America, a Washington, D.C. based research organization, publishes consumers' information guides for professional services throughout America. Their purpose is to help educate and assist consumers in obtaining the finest professional services. The guides published by the CRC include top dentists, surgeons, chiropractors, veterinarians, lawyers, real estate professionals and financial planners, and contain a wealth of information and tips for the consumer. The CRC does not accept fees, donations, sponsorships or advertising from any individuals, professionals, corporations or associations, in order to ensure an unbiased selection for their America's Best lists.

Dr. Michael Ayzin stated "I am truly honored to be included in this list of top dentists in America. I consider it my job to make the visit to our offices as pleasant and easy as possible for our dental patients. We feel strongly that dental health and regular dental visits are important, so you can enjoy a great smile for your entire lifetime. So our entire staff is geared to this goal, to make the visit as easy as possible. This is why we use advanced patient education technology such as an intraoral camera, which lets you see the condition of your teeth and gums, and lets us show you the areas we'll be working on."

Dr. Ayzin is the Clinic Director of Dentistry @ Its Finest in Costa Mesa of Orange County, and has been in private practice for over 15 years. He studied Psychobiology at the University of Southern California, and then, due to an acceleration of his studies, earned his DDS degree at USC Dental School in 1988. He is affiliated with the Academy of General Dentistry, the American Dental Association, the California Dental Association, and the Orange County Dental Society. Dr. Ayzin is also on the staff of Hoag Hospital, one of the most respected facilities in Orange County. Dr. Ayzin specializes in state-of-the-art cosmetic treatments, including porcelain veneers and full mouth reconstruction, fast and effective pain relief, dental fillings, root canals, wisdom tooth and other difficult tooth extractions, periodontal care for bleeding gums and more. He provides geriatric dentistry for his older patients, and he particularly enjoys working with kids, helping them build good dental health that will last a lifetime.

Dr. Ayzin specializes in state-of-the-art cosmetic treatments, including porcelain veneers, and full mouth reconstruction, as well as fast and effective relief of pain, repairing broken and chipped teeth, tooth colored dental fillings, root canals, wisdom and other difficult tooth extractions, periodontal care for bleeding gums, geriatric dentistry. You can see his website at http://www.finestdentistry.com/

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Dental Care - Is Your Gum Disease Placing You at Risk For Heart Disease?

Gingivitis (gum disease), and the advanced stage, periodontitis, is one of the most common infections of the mouth and more prevalent than the common cold. The symptoms include bleeding gums or pus between the teeth. If left untreated it destroys the bone that supports the teeth which leads to tooth loss. Accumulating research has identified gum disease as a risk factor in cardiovascular disease. The early warning signs of heart disease are less obvious than those that indicate there is a problem with your gum's. Now, doctors have to manage one disease in hopes of reducing the risk that could occur in the other.

Any time there is bleeding in the mouth; bacteria can enter the bloodstream and travel to the heart. The bacteria that causes gum disease is the same associated with heart disease. The common risk factor in both cardiovascular and periodontal disease is inflammation. While the formation of blood clots is an important defense against cuts and bruises, it can also be a serious problem in the cardiovascular system.

How Exactly Does Bacteria Affect The Heart?

The theory is that bacteria present in the gums can travel throughout the body. Once the bacterium enters the bloodstream, it sticks to the inside of the arteries in the heart. It may lead to some irritation, the body as a defense will try to protect the area by using cholesterol (like a scab or plaque). The result is the artery becomes narrowed as a 'scab' forms. Sometimes the scab closes off the blood flow to the heart which creates chest pain as the heart struggles to receive enough oxygen to keep beating.

In some cases, the scab or plaque may flake off and instantly shut down the blood flow to the heart. If this happens inside the muscle of the heart, a heart attack will occur. In fact, the degree of gum disease is a better predictor of a heart attack than the levels of cholesterol.

What Can You Do?

The threat of periodontal and cardiovascular disease is serious. If in doubt,

• Visit a periodontist and obtain a full mouth periodontal evaluation, including X-rays, to screen for periodontal disease. If you have a family history of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes you should consider selecting a periodontist as your primary care dentist. To increase your chances of an early diagnosis, this visit is crucial because patients are routinely asked about heart conditions and family history
• Periodontal disease may be prevented easily by brushing, and by cleaning between the teeth with floss or thin toothpicks. However, brushing and flossing alone cannot cure periodontitis which is very difficult to stop once it starts and is usually painless. The first sign of periodontal disease is bleeding gum's. The last sign of periodontal disease is no teeth.
• Make regular visits to your dental professional to help lower your risk of periodontitis. Proper dental care includes many heart-healthy recommendations, such as smoking cessation and a healthy diet. Good dental hygiene is vital to achieving and maintaining optimal health.
• Due to an FDA approved procedure using the LANAP (Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure) which is an alternative to traditional gum surgery. It removes harmful bacteria and diseased tissue from the gum pocket by passing a laser light between the gum and tooth. Patients don't hear or feel it - except for a little warmth. The LANAP greatly reduces the pain and recovery time associated with traditional gum surgery.

Brushing your teeth is a good reason to help decrease the risk of heart attacks and strokes. With heart disease being identified as the number one killer worldwide, claiming upward of 17 million people every year. The usual culprits, smoking, obesity and high levels of cholesterol are no longer the only risks, now gum disease has been added to the list. It appears now that it doesn't matter if you are fit, trim or appear to be healthy, but if you have gum disease, it may affect your overall health more than you know.

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Dental Fear - How to Make Dental Visits a Breeze

Dental fear is the name given to a range of uncomfortable feelings associated with a visit to the dentist, or even an imagined visit to the dentist. It may be a mild feeling of anxiety accompanied by muscle tension, anxiety to the point of panic attacks or fainting, or terror so great that the person chooses to live in extreme pain rather than make that dreaded visit.

As a result, people avoid the dentist, or visit less often than they should, and suffer degraded tooth and gum health, pain, loss of teeth and bone loss from the jaw, periodontal disease, abscesses that eat away the bones of the face, and even heart disease as a result of germs entering the blood stream via the gums and then directly targeting the heart.

Other outcomes involve embarrassment or shame about the appearance of the mouth, or about mouth odour. The person often attempts to hide their teeth, avoids smiling, and tends to avoid other people, withdrawing socially and stalling in their career.

This fear is not only severe and of enormous consequence, but it is also widespread around the world.

With a mere 21 percent of the population claiming they feel no anxiety about going to the dentist, dental fear is clearly something experienced by the overwhelming majority of people, ranging from mild anxiety, right through to full-blown distress so severe that the sufferer simply cannot attend a dental clinic.

What causes this dental fear? Most experts believe that it is related to scary dental experiences earlier in life, or to scary stories about dentistry being told to children, or related to abuse or trauma that is re-triggered by the dental experience.

Lots of people can recall particularly awful dental experiences from their youth. In my own case my father, who was a carpenter/builder but I think imagined himself as a dentist, used to pull our loose teeth with nail pliers. These days that seems hilarious to the entire family and now we have great fun teasing him about it at every opportunity. But of course at the time it was traumatic, and the effects were lasting.

Given the "skills" and "technology" and attitude of dentists of years gone by (and unfortunately by some dentists even these days) it is only surprising that more people aren't terrified!

Let's face it, when we're laying back in that chair surrounded by equipment, the dentist, and the dental nurse, our mouth full of stuff and unable to communicate, if we don't trust the professionals who are caring for our teeth and gums, who wouldn't be uncomfortable, to say the least!

We need to know that these people are skilled enough to be entrusted to the task, and that they're aware of and care about our comfort at all times. Dental professionals who don't have those attributes don't deserve to practice.

This article has been written with two aims:

1 To help sufferers understand that they can have total control over the entire dental experience. That they can select skilled dentists worthy of their trust, and that they can manage themselves and their dentist for a great outcome.

2 To tell sufferers how to become ex-sufferers, explaining new techniques which actually switch off those old scared responses so that when they think about dentistry, they actually feel quite relaxed. In some cases, the person will now visit the dentist feeling quite excited instead of nervous, because they know they are safe at their dentist's, they feel deeply OK about it, and they're looking forward to a new, brighter smile!

I probably should re-assure you immediately on that last point, simply because it probably seems such an outrageous statement, to claim that even extreme anxiety (even to the point of full blown panic attacks) can be utterly eliminated.

You need to know that psychology has made huge advances over the last 12 years, and particularly over the last 5 years. However the majority of psychologists today still do not make use of these advances, either because they haven't encountered them and are thus ignorant of them, or because they have briefly reviewed them and discounted them. Many psychologists are very reluctant to give up their current "gold standard" of treatment, which is CBT, even though so many studies show that CBT is no more effective than placebo (a "dummy" or "fake" treatment).

Also, many psychologists are convinced that early trauma needs to be understood in a broader context, that the person needs to develop greater understanding of themselves, needs help to feel empowered, and that talking and understanding are the most important part of therapy. This can certainly be the case (and very often is in my own practice) but NOT for most people when it comes to dental fear.

For most people this stuff can simply be wiped out, in very few visits, with no fuss. Unfortunately the psychologist often thinks they have the right to decide what the client will get, so the client comes along for dental fear, and gets subjected to something they didn't want and didn't need. I consider that to be not only unnecessary, but an invasion of the client's privacy and in some cases an arrogant expression of power over the client.

In my view if the client wants a relatively inexpensive and fast treatment that will simply eliminate the presenting problem, they are entitled to get it. If they have a good experience, and decide they would like to work more in depth for even more benefit, then that will happen at a time of their choosing, not of mine.

The method that I use to help my clients is called BMSA (Brief, Multi-Sensory Activation) but you may not have heard of it. It always takes time before new methods are accepted, and when it comes to BMSA things are no different.

BMSA works by "confusing" the old signals that used to lead to feelings of distress. For example you might have had a thought "I need to get my teeth seen to", immediately followed by a brief imagined "movie" of being in the dental chair, causing you to promptly break out in a cold sweat. BMSA has several different ways of taking the thought, and the movie, and "switching off" the emotional or physical response to it, so that you can think the same thoughts and imagine the same scenario, but feel effortlessly calm and in control.

The beauty of BMSA is that you can actually learn to do it for yourself, and that the effects are usually permanent.

In addition to using methods like BMSA, it's important to realize that your choice of dentist is crucial. No-one can expect to feel calm and in control if they don't know what's going on, or don't know what's going to be happening next, or if they have a deep distrust that their dentist even cares about their level of comfort.

How do you choose a dentist? Certainly not through an advertisement for a dentist, or through Yellow Pages! The best way to choose a dentist is by asking friends and family members whom you trust, and then by calling the dental surgery to ask specific questions about the practice, such as their attitude to anxious clients, how they manage anesthesia, and to get an idea of their level of care and respect for their clients.

With your dental fear behind you, and with a dentist you know you can trust, dental visits will become a breeze, and you can smile with a lot more confidence!

As a free member of ChirpyChoppers.com you'll find lots of great information and resources to help you make dental visits a breeze.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christine_Sutherland

How Dental Implants Work

It can happen for a lot of different reason; you loose a tooth, and now you have a gap in your smile where the tooth used to be. This can create a lot of different problems from making it more difficult to chew food to making you self-conscious when you smile. Fortunately, there are ways to fix the problem.

In the past, many people chose to get a temporary bridge or denture to fill the gap, but that meant messy adhesives and the pain of getting bits of food and seeds stuck between the denture and your gums.

A much better solution is to consider getting a dental implant. Dental implants provide a more permanent solution to replacing a missing tooth, and do not have the mess and discomfort that is typically associated with dentures and bridges. In fact, after the procedure is completed it is easy to forget that one of your teeth is not one of your original teeth.

The procedure is relatively painless, and you will be back eating after only one visit. Although it is a surgical procedure, it is usually done with only a local anesthetic, like Novocain, and doesn’t require being put to sleep. However, if fear of pain is the only thing standing between you and better oral health, you should make an appointment to talk it over with your dentist or oral surgeon. Chances are excellent that they have other options that will make the procedure as painless as possible.

The oral surgeon begins by placing a titanium implant into the bone in your jaw. Once the implant is in place it will begin integrating with the bone. Within four months the implant will essentially be fused with the bone. Once the implant is in place an abutment is screwed into the implant. This abutment will provide a surface for the crown to be attached to. The crown is the portion of the implant that is visible. It is the part that looks like a tooth. It is made of a substance that is hard, and has an appearance that is similar to a real tooth.

In your first visit you will receive a temporary crown which will function just like a real tooth. You will be able to eat with it, and it will be matched to the color of your other teeth, so it will blend in with your natural teeth. Within a couple of months you will receive your permanent crown. The temporary crown will be removed and the permanent crown will be cemented onto the abutment. At this point you essentially have a new tooth. It will look and function just like all of your other teeth.

While it is possible that the crown will come loose from the abutment, it is not a common occurrence. A quick trip to your dentist will get it reattached.

Don’t put up with all the mess, adhesives, and special cleaning solutions associated with dentures. Dental implants are a quick and permanent solution to a missing tooth problem.

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Teeth Grinding in Kids – Causes, Effects and Treatment

When kids grind their teeth it is called bruxism. Bruxism usually happens during the night, when kids clench the lower and the upper teeth, while rubbing them. Usually kids do this when they're sleeping so they don't know they're doing it.

Why do some kids have bruxism?

The causes of bruxism aren't well known for now. Some kids will do the teeth grinding, others will not. A lot of people think that bruxism happens because in some cases the teeth of the kids don't fit well together. That happens sometimes because the jaws and teeth don't grow at the same time, but in phases. This provokes sensations that are unpleasant, so kids will do the teeth grinding, which makes them feel better. Sooner or later this will become a habit for the kid. Teeth grinding also appears when both adults and kids have some kind of pain at their teeth or ear, or when they are anxious. A lot of children that are hyperactive also get bruxism.

Recently, studies suggest that another reason why kids get bruxism is sleep disturbances. These sleep disturbances can also provoke drooling, bet wetting or sleep talking. Because REM patterns (rapid eye movement) are interrupted while you sleep if you're dehydrated, this can signal a number of other issues, but your dentist can give you more advice about that.

What effects does bruxism have?

Usually, there are no problems for kids if they grind their teeth. It's going to be fine even if their milk teeth appear, because there isn't any damage or pain. If it happens a lot though, or if the kid loses their milk teeth, you should ask a doctor if everything is alright. In some cases, it's possible for teeth infections to show up, so check with a doctor. Usually, kids will get over this problem in time, so don't worry about it too much.

How can we help?

In most cases, bruxism will disappear on its own, but you probably should try to get him to stop grinding teeth anyway. You should ask a dentist for some tips, and he can check and see if there are any issues with his teeth, like a bad alignment.

Usually, the dentist will recommend a mouth guard for your kid. If the kid wears it while he sleeps, the teeth grinding wil be avoided. It is used often as a treatment and it usually works. You shouldn't avoid other treatments just because this one is good. In plenty of cases kids don't feel good wearing the mouth guard. Another good treatment was hypnosis, which works well on people, no matter how old they are.

If the cause of the teeth grinding is caused by anxiety or stress, you need to find out what causes these feelings. You can try relaxing the kid before sleeping, either with jaw massages or warm baths. These methods will help the kid sleep better, uninterrupted and relaxed.

What you need to take from this is that you shouldn't be worried about teeth grinding in kids. It happens a lot, and it's more of a problem if the kid already has his adult teeth. In that case, you should take him to a dentist, to see what's causing it.

About The Author:
Visit TeethGrindingCure.Com and find more articles and information on tooth grinding, tooth grinding night guard.

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General Dental Care

Dental care can be separated in a few different categories. These categories are preventative maintenance and cleaning of your teeth, fixing small problems that might arise in your mouth like cavities, and this includes major surgeries that people get done on their teeth. It is important to take care of your mouth and visit the dentist at least twice a year so no serious problems arise with your teeth.

Preventative care and cleaning of your teeth is something dentists recommend you do twice a year. A main benefit of seeing the dentist this often is that they will inspect your mouth each time, so they will be able to discover something small like a cavity before it turns into a root canal. Having your teeth professionally cleaned is also a great way to prevent cavities and other complications in your mouth.

Outside of maintaining your teeth, having relatively small procedures is common at the dentist. Many people go to the dentist to get their teeth professionally whitened, or they need to replace a crown that they once had in their mouth. Other people often need veneers and cosmetic work done on their teeth which typically isn’t that big of a deal when it comes to cost, insurance, and the procedure itself.

Some more complicated procedures do arise at the dentist after they inspect your mouth. By taking an x-ray of your teeth, they can see what exactly is wrong with your teeth if you are feeling any pain or discomfort. A root canal can at times be a long procedure, and it is something that can be avoided by getting cavities discovered and filled as soon as possible. Some people need to have teeth pulled for various reasons, which is also a more complicated procedure than simply getting your teeth cleaned. Cosmetically, getting a fake tooth installed in your mouth is a procedure that isn’t too complicated but still outside of the normal every day procedure like a check up.

Dentist can also examine your mouth and determine that you need to seek further help in fixing your teeth or other problems with your mouth. If you are feeling pain and go to the dentists office, it is quite possible they will advise you to get a certain procedure done like the removal of your wisdom teeth. Dentists can also make recommendations on braces and other procedures that are involved with straightening the teeth and jaw. It is smart to try to see your local dentist more often than not so no serious problems come up with your mouth.

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3 Easy Steps to Control Your Fear of the Dentist

According to recent studies conducted by Peter Milgrom, director of the Dental Fears Research Clinic at the University of Washington in Seattle, between 5 to 8% of Americans avoid going to the dentist because of their fear, and an even higher percentage (around 20%) experience enough anxiety that they will only go to the dentist when it is extremely necessary. These numbers may increase in different countries but the fact of the matter is that there are several causes that may trigger deep fear when someone is told to consult with a dentist. For the most part this type of phobia can be traced back to a patient's childhood when a dentist might have forgotten to apply anesthesia during a treatment and accidentally hit a nerve dead on, in other cases patients have learned to fear certain items such as a dental drill and needles which are used during certain procedures.

Regardless of the cause of your fears it is important to realize that you are not alone and that you can't overcome your fears, let's take a look at five easy steps you can take in order to control your phobia.

-- Getting Help from Friends and Family Members

If you have a moderate fear of the dentist, getting in touch with a friend or a family member who is not afraid of dental procedures can help you immensely to overcome your fears in fact, many dentist will recommend and encourage for you to bring a family member or friend during a dental consultation, this way you will feel more relaxed and at ease.

-- Getting Professional Help

If you simply can't bring yourself to think about going to the dentist regardless of the level of pain that you're enduring it would be a great help to get in touch with a psychologist before you consider going to the dentist, this way you can get a gradual and direct therapeutic exposure to certain times that make trigger your fears. Most people would not even think about consulting with a psychologist to help them overcome their fear to the dentist but if your phobia escalates to such a level this may prove to be an extremely useful measure.

-- Have an Open Conversation

Before you ever come into contact with the dentist chair it would be a great help for you to have an open and honest conversation with your dentist regarding your fears and pain threshold, you may also discuss about the different types of sedatives that are available to help you feel comfortable during a dental procedure. Most dentists have received special training which helps them deal with nervous patients and they will apply certain techniques to help you feel more in control during such situations.

Stokebishop-dentalcentre.co.uk provides tips for nervous patients Bristol and also offers useful references about Bristol dentists, visit our website to learn more!

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