TMJ Syndrome

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Temporo mandibular joint syndrome or tmj syndrome is a complex problem affecting not only the tmj but the head in general.Although the combination of symptoms affect mostly the mandibular joint.Due to the complex possible causes of the syndrome,a joint patient management of the dentist,physical therapist and physician is needed.This is to insure a thorough investigation and therefor better management and relief of the symptoms.

The common tmj syndrome symptoms  are  usually the following:
1.Pain felt in the temporo mandibular joint.
2.Patient complains of trismus or difficulty of opening one's mouth.
3.Lock jaw.Sometimes the patient just yawned and he can't close his mouth anymore.
4.Clicking sound is heard when the patient closes or opens his mouth.
5.There is pain on palpation of the muscles near the ears and temporal areas.

These are some possible causes of tmj syndrome resulting  in the pain and discomfort of the patient.
1.Stress.
2.Abnormality in the dental occlusion. 
3.Hypermobile temporo mandibular joint.
4.Unusual oral habits like repeated teeth clenching,bruxism etc.
5.Trauma to the tmj.

These are possible tmj syndrome pain relief.Application of any combination of these maybe needed to alleviate the symptoms.
1.Analgesics to relieve pain.
2.Warm compress to be applied to the area.
3.Exercises for the tmj which needs to be done at home by the patient.
4.Avoiding stress that could trigger unwanted oral habits.
5.The correction of malocclusions with the use of oral splints if appropriate.
6.Antidepressant drugs.
7.Physiotherapy like the use of short wave diathermy.
8.Adjustments of occlusion where needed.
9.Surgery on the tmj.

As was mentioned earlier,tmj syndrome  is  a result of different factors.It is therefor a challenge for the doctor to find the right combination of treatment. Also patient cooperation in doing the necessary tmj exercises at home is important.These will usually lead to relief if not diminished tmj syndrome symptoms.

Tips About Denture Care and Denture Care Products

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Denture care is needed to maintain your dental prosthesis so that it will last long.Dentures are costly so you would want to make the most of what you have paid for.Just like your natural teeth,dentures needs cleaning after every meal.Whether your denture is all acrylic,metal or a combination of both,these are not immune to stains and calculus.Nicotine can also stain dentures just like how it  does to natural teeth.If dental plaque stays too long on the denture surfaces,it will later harden.It will be difficult to remove with just brushing.So you will have to bring your denture to your dentist for cleaning.With few simple steps you could easily prevent the build up of dirt in your denture to save you that visit to the dentist.
There are denture care products advertised to help you in your denture care.But depending  on the type of denture you are using,you can not use just any denture cleaner product.You have to read the label carefully.Here are some guidelines for you to follow in choosing denture care products.
1.If your denture has some metal components,don't use products containing sodium hypochlorite.It will corrode the metal in your denture.
2.Denture cleaners which contain peroxides could discolor the acrylic in dentures.
3.Powder cleaners should be used gently as this can abrade your denture resulting to rough surfaces Stains and plaques are easily retained by rough surfaces.
4.Denture care products with some percentage of acids like hydrochloric acids will corrode metals.
So what is the best denture care ? Brushing your denture every after meal is the most basic denture maintenance you can do.You can use tooth paste.Be sure to brush you denture thoroughly to remove food particles on all surfaces.Do this over a basin of water.Just in case the denture will slip from your hand,it will not break because of the water in the basin.Regular thorough denture cleaning will prevent plaque to harden into calculus.Food stains from collecting on dentures and regular cleaning will prevent bad odor on your denture.People usually resort to denture cleaners when they notice discolorations and calculus.Problems that could have been easily prevented.Sometimes the calculus and stains can not be removed by denture cleaner products alone so the denture needs to be cleaned in the dental lab.
Using dentures to replaced natural teeth does not mean we could relax in our oral hygiene.Both needs proper care to serve us well.Every time we open our mouth to talk or simply to smile,we want to do it with confidence.If we practice proper denture care,we will always have that confidence.

How to Use Teeth Whitening Strips?

Image via WikipediaThere are many over the counter tooth whitening materials and people ask how to use teeth whitening strips properly.This type of teeth whitening product comes in strips rather than gel.Some may find this more convenient because the gel could be more messy.
Dental stains are the reasons people wants to use whitening products.But not all kinds of dental stain could be remove by  these products.It is more effective in extrinsinc stains.Stains found on tooth surfaces only.These stains are caused by  certain foods like tea,coffee,red wine, tomato sauce and other highly colored fruits and vegetables.Stains could also be due to plaque accumulation and stained by the eaten food.Nicotine  stains tooth surface too.

So how to use teeth whitening strips?
1.One box contains enough strips for upper and lower teeth.Begin on the upper teeth.Find the strips marked upper teeth
2.Peel the clear plastic backing.
3.Adapt the gel side to the tooth surface well and tuck the remaining end to the back of the teeth.
4.Wait for 30 minutes for the gel to take effect.
5.After 30 minutes,rinse to remove excess whitening agent from your mouth.
6.Repeat this on all your teeth.Do your upper teeth first before the lower for convenience.
7.You may repeat this after 6 months.

After using teeth whitening strips,you may need to avoid eating those food that could discolor your teeth again.Avoid smoking.Maintain good oral hygiene by regular tooth brushing to prevent plaque accumulation.In the presence of calculus,you need to visit your dentist for oral prophylaxis.Since dental calculus can only be removed using special dental instruments  and  machine.Eat balanced,nutritious diet for  good  health.After all, knowing how to use teeth whitening strips is just a part of sustaining esthetics and good oral health.



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What is Immediate Denture?

Image via WikipediaImmediate dentures are prosthesis which are used to replace any number of teeth and is inserted on the day of tooth extraction.The impression or measurement is usually done before the teeth are extracted.
Reasons for immediate dentures
1.Esthetics.The patient usually can not afford to wait for the healing process of the extraction wound before construction of new denture.
2.Patients need their teeth to chew  food.Eating could be difficult with out one's teeth.
3.Psychological reasons.
4.The immediate dentures are used to help stabilize the wound after tooth extraction.
Immediate dentures could have its problems too.And patients should be informed by their dentist.Therefor the patient will know what to expect should they decide on immediate denture rather than the normal denture.
1.The patient may experience post extraction pains and  more discomfort from the new denture.
2.The immediate denture needs frequent adjustment as the wound heals.
3.The denture will eventually become loose once the wounds have healed so denture repair  or reline is needed.
4.The denture may need to be replaced later on for better esthetics and function so it will be an added cost for the patient.
5.Retention is a problem in immediate dentures.

The extraction of one's teeth  could be daunting.The transition period between losing one's teeth and denture insertion is the most difficult for the patient especially in terms of esthetics and function.So inspite of the problems to be encountered later on ,immediate denture is still seen as a solution.

Things to know about Porcelain Veneer

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                                 before porcelain veneers                                                      after porcelain veneers                       

     Porcelain Veneer News

Remedent and Objet Geometries Team Up to Enhance Digital Cosmetic Dentistry Solution

"Using the Objet Eden 3D printing solution, Remedent is now able to rapidly manufacture high quality customized veneer models and delivery trays directly from their proprietary design software," said Avi Cohen, Head of Medical Solutions at Objet Geometries. "Objet's 3D printing solutions provide dentists with a high level of precision that is otherwise difficult to achieve using traditional freehand dental techniques. The ability to perfectly reproduce smooth, finely detailed dental parts in real life; straight from the CAD design imagery represents a significant leap towards the age of full digital dentistry." 

GlamSmile involves a proprietary veneer fabrication technique and a patented single-motion veneer placement tray which are both guided by a proprietary computer imaging, design and digital preview system. The unique tray delivery system lets dentists expertly seat 10 ultra-thin, custom veneers in less than an hour while preserving tooth structure. All the features of GlamSmile together -CAD/CAM technology, digital preview for dentists to evaluate the design and a unique full arch tray delivery system used in conjunction with minimally or no preparation ultra thin veneers- have revolutionized the art of veneering and transformed already many smiles and lives across the world.....

          via PRNewswire http://www.prnewswire.com

  Porcelain Veneers are dental restorations done by preparing the labial or buccal tooth surfaces.An Impression is taken after the tooth preparation.This is sent to the dental laboratory together with the tooth shade to be processed.Once processed, the prepared tooth surfaces are acid etched ready for the cementation of the porcelain veneer using composite luting cement. Porcelain veneers greatly improves the cosmetic appearance of teeth.Porcelain veneers  cost starts from $1,000 up.Porcelain veneer cost could go higher with the use of the new technology mentioned above.But if it makes the procedure as precise as promised then it is worth the price for a perfect smile.

     Indication for Porcelain veneer
1. Mild tooth surface discoloration that can not be removed by bleaching.
2. Hypoplasia
3.Small Tooth fracture as seen during trauma to anterior teeth.
4. Tooth wear lesions
5. Minimal space closure like in diastema
6. Veneers are sometimes used to modify tooth shape but with in a certain limit
7. aesthetic masking of minor tooth position problems
 
    Kinds of Veneers
1.Acrylic laminate veneers- not used anymore
2. Resin Composite- used for adolescent patients where excessive tooth preparation is not advisable
3. Porcelain Veneers- commonly used now due to its advantages

    Advantages Of Porcelain Veneers
1. Aesthetically better compared to composite resin
2. It is more durable
3. Less plaque retention
4. Longer life span provided proper care and good oral hygiene are observed
5. Minimal tooth preparation compared to Porcelain Jacket Crown tooth preparations

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How Does Sedation Dentistry Works ?

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 News for sedation Dentistry

       Sleep Dentistry An Option For Those With   Dental Phobias

A trip to the dentist has become more soothing for the anxious patient with the advent of a process known as sleep dentistry.The term “sleep dentistry” (also known as “sedation dentistry”) is a bit of a misnomer in that the patient isn’t technically asleep. Instead, the patient is placed into a relaxed state with the use of strong sedatives, allowing the patient to experience the dental procedure as if in a dream. Local anesthetics also are in the mix to make the session pain-free, although the patient will experience the usual discomfort once the anesthetic wears off. This treatment came about as a way to entice those with a fear of a visit to the dentist to put those fears aside to receive dental treatment that is sometimes a necessity. Some dental procedures can be invasive and painful, too much so for some patients, so the prospect of being able to “sleep” through the procedure helps some patients to overcome their fears.

           via The Daily Planet Dispatch

     Sedation Dentistry is a technique used in dentistry in which the use of drugs produces a state of depression of the central nervous system enabling treatment to be carried out, but during which communication can be maintained and the modification of the patient's state of mind is such that the patient will respond to command through out the period of sedation. This is according to General Dental council.
     In the dental clinic,there are children and adults who are very apprehensive about dental treatment.Some could be managed by discussing their fears and reassurance in the part of the dentist which sometimes works.But there are cases where no amount of reassurance works.A child patient whom you can not entice to seat on the dental chair. A child  who seats on the chair but when the dentist tries to start the treatment, he starts kicking and thrashing.A man or woman who starts to sweat , hyperventilate,tremble and cower at the sight of the needle.It can sometimes be funny,sometimes irritating if you see it in adults but  their fears are to them true.The anxiety felt is so strong that the tooth ache they are feeling is disregarded.This fear prevents them from seeking dental treatment to the detriment of their oral health.Then it is time to consider sedation dentistry.


     Routes of sedation dentistry
1. Oral Premedication- normally using benzodiazipines
2. Inhalation sedation - using nitrous oxide and oxygen.There should be correct mixture of both gasses using  a  specific equipment.The   most common equipment used is the Quantiflex system.
3. Intravenous Sedation- uses one of the following drugs
   a. Earlier drugs used were pentobarbitone,pethidine, hyoscine, methohexitone and benzodiazipine drugs
   b. Midazolam which have superseded the use of diazepam.
4. Hypnotherapy- uses hypnosis
5. Transmucosal sedation - usually intranasal or through the nose

 Sedation Dentistry is not for patients who have:
1. Sever respiratory diseases
2. Neurological disease like multiple sclerosis
3. Deafness
4. Sever mental or physical impairment
5. Nasal obstruction like nasal polyps,common colds
6. Patients intolerant to mask if contemplating  the used of inhalation sedation

 Intravenous sedation is contraindicated for:
1. Patients taking oral benzodiazepines because they will be more difficult to sedate.
2. It is not suitable for young children under 10 years old.

What to expect with conscious sedation dentistry,take note that these are temporary only
1. Tingling sensation in the fingers,toes,lips and tongue
2. Tinnitus or ringing noise in the ear.
3. Lethargy - delayed or slowed reaction to requests
4. Mild intoxication
5. Some patients may hallucinate under sedation.
6. Normally controlled emotions may be released with the use of intravenous sedation.
7. Patients are not discharged until they have fully recovered which is from 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes.

 Sedation Dentistry in conjunction with the use of local anesthesia is a means to help very anxious patients have much needed dental treatments, therefor improving their quality of life.
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What Everybody Ought To Know About Mercury and Amalgam

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Amalgam is the oldest dental filling in dentistry.It is composed of mercury and metals like silver,tin,copper and zinc.It is still the filling of choice today for big cavities specially in the molar areas.Amalgam fillings in these teeth are needed to withstand the  forces during mastication.The Food and Drug Administration  and American Dental Association still approves the use of amalgam as dental filling. Only  precaution is regarding pregnant women and children below 6 years of age.That is to defer removing amalgam fillings when a woman is pregnant to avoid the inhalation of aerosol generated when burring out old amalgam fillings.But people should know that when the dentist uses high vacuum  dental suction while working,there is little aerosol spray only because the dental suction does sucks most of  the aerosol produced.
   Amalgam can be replaced by using composite fillings.Today, there are composite fillings manufactured specially for posterior teeth like the molars.The only problem with composite is, it is technique sensitive.The dentist should follow certain guidelines or techniques in using composite filling for it to have a higher chance of success.Unlike amalgam,it is not so sensitive to techniques but still has also its own guidelines to be followed.In the presence of tooth sensitivity some dentist prefer to use composite to avoid exacerbating the problem if metal filling is used.Since amalgam,a metal could conduct temperature changes to the tooth.But with the use of dental cement as base under the amalgam ,amalgam can still be used.
    If you are so concern about mercury in amalgam,discuss with your dentist the alternative filling or other possible dental remedies for your problem.There are inlays,onlays and dental crowns as choices aside from composite depending on the depth,size and location of your dental cavity.

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