Temporomandibular Disorders or TMD has often been confused with TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint). Although everyone has  temporomandibular joints, not everyone has TMD, a disorder that occurs at the jaw joint and muscles surrounding it. . Symptoms for TMD can include a pain in the jaw joint area; getting locked in the open or closed mouth position, clicking or popping sounds in the jaw joint when opening the mouth and many other symptoms.  TMD is caused by a number of factors and vary from patient to patient. Dentists and researchers have begun to uncover them. One of the most common causes that researchers have found is stress. Stress often causes people to grind or clench their teeth together, especially at night. Over time, the pain that is associated with TMD begins to occur when one wakes up. Another reason why TMD occurs is from bite imbalances from crooked teeth, bad bites, or dental restorations that are too high. Missing teeth can be a major indicator for TMD due to a lack of vertical support. The remaining teeth can then cause overstimulation of the joints on both sides to make up for this lack of support.  When TMD occurs, one of the best solutions is to wear a night guard to protect the teeth from the clenching done while sleeping. However, if bite imbalance, like those occurring from missing teeth, is the problem then you must take immediate action and resolve those dental problems. Make an appointment today if you do feel that you might have TMD and would like to end the pain.

          Across America, millions of teeth are saved by root canal procedures completed under dental or endodontic care. The root canal procedure has been exaggerated to be extremely painful; however, this pain is often mistaken for the pain prior to the treatment. The soft tissue known as the pulp is surrounded by the white enamel and the softer layer called dentin. The pulp, which is vital during development, contains nerves, connective tissue, and blood vessels. Issues regarding the root canal often point to either an infection in the pulp or inflammation of the pulp which have various causes such as: deep decay, faulty crowns, or even repeated dental procedures on that tooth. If left untreated, the tooth undergoing infection or inflammation can lead to abscess under the tooth causing pain.

            The procedure that dentists use in order to treat an infected or inflamed pulp is simpler and less painful than most people believe. The dentist will first take an x-ray and apply local anesthesia to the tooth to numb the area. An access hole will be then drilled into the tooth where root canal files will be inserted to remove the pulp and decayed nerve from inside of the tooth. After full cleaning, a temporary is placed and on the next appointment the root canal will be sealed by inserting gutta percha (a rubber) into the root canal. Finally, the tooth needs full restoration so the dentist would typically apply a post and crown or would do further work depending on the nature of the patient.

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A new type of dentistry is emerging. Imagine a world where a patient has the dentist embed a chip in their tooth, which collects data on their daily habits. This may soon be a reality. Taiwan researchers have created a smart tooth that monitors the daily habits of the individual by understanding that every oral activity, from eating to smoking, introduces a different tooth motion. They placed a sensor with an accelerormeter on an artificial tooth and then covered it in dental resin in order to keep the device safe from saliva. This smart tooth had an accuracy of approximately 94% when it came to recognizing what oral motion the participants were making. The possibilities of this research are endless in dentistry. Although the smart tooth is only at the stage of using wires for data collection, scientists are now looking into the possibility of placing a miniature radio to transmit radiowaves to mobile devices to analyze data. A patient may monitor their oral activities better and reduce serious visits to the dental office.

After a tooth extraction, the jaw bone is left with an empty socket where the tooth originally was. Immediately after extraction the body starts to heal the socket. If a bone graft is not placed. Within 2 – 4 years the jaw bone surrounding this empty socket usually suffers 40% to 60% in bone loss, a monumental decrease. A host of problems occur from jawbone loss, such as a receding jawline, loose and shifting teeth, bite collapse, and appearances of aging. Loose and shifting teeth occur due to a lack of support between the teeth; the empty space where the extraction took place allows the teeth to shift. With bone grafting, the dentist takes a synthetic material and places it in the empty socket where the extraction took place. The material acts as a scaffold where the bone and graft fuse forming bone, filling up the empty socket and stabilizing the teeth on either side of it. This highly successful procedure aids in preservation of the bone from the receding jaw and stabilizes the adjacent teeth. If an implant is desired, the bone graft allows for enough bone to support the implant. When the patient desires a three unit bridge, the supporting teeth are now stabilized. When the dentist performs advanced extraction therapy, such as placing the synthetic bone material into the socket; the height and width of the ridge is preserved. This allows a three unit bridge to be placed by having a fake crown (pontic) placed where the newly formed bone is and then having a crown on each side. Bone grafting is by far one of the most successful procedures which allows the dentist to have better flexibility in creating a beautiful, full smile.

When dental treatment is needed for you or your teen due to overcrowding, overbite, underbite, or other problems; conventional braces are often the go to solution. However, many people don’t know that Invisalign is one of the most effective treatments on the market. Invisalign is a series of clear, removable aligners that treat most of the same problems that the bulky conventional braces treat. Comparing the two, they both offer similar cost, yet Invisalign offers clear advantages such as allowing the wearers to remove the aligners to eat whatever food they enjoy. Conventional braces cause food traps along the wires which can lead to plaque build up and tooth decay. Invisalign’s removable aligners give the wearer the ability to floss and brush, which prevent cavities and periodontal disease. In addition, while most people are self conscious about having the bulky metal and wires in their mouth; Invisalign’s custom, clear plastic will have people guessing how you achieved such straight teeth. It is clear that in many cases, Invisalign offers the best solution while allowing the wearer to have a significantly more comfortable treatment.

Porcelain Veneers (laminates) are an excellent and beautiful way to repair stained, chipped or misaligned teeth. By placing a personalized and customized porcelain covering on the front surface of your current teeth, we provide you with a beautiful and natural smile for years to come. Obtaining these veneers is simple and will only requires two appointments. The procedure is simple. Once the area is numbed, Stewart Brody, DDS will remove about .1 millimeters of enamel and will take an impression of your teeth. You will receive a temporary veneer and your final one will come in 1-2 weeks. Once Stewart Brody, DDS receives your permanent veneer, he will then bond it to your teeth permanently and you then have a bright and beautiful smile.