TMJ
Treatment
Symptoms of TMJ can range from head
and neck aches to popping or clicking when you open your jaw.
Treatments can range from bite guards to muscle relaxers. A
thorough dental exam may reveal the problem.
You or someone you know have probably
experienced TMJ (temporomandibular disorders) symptoms,
including:
-pain in the face or head region
-toothache with no evidence of decay, infection or trauma
-neck or shoulder aches
-soreness in front of the ear
-grinding of your teeth
-a burning sensation in the mouth/ tongue
-clicking, popping noises as your jaw opens and closes
-restricted range of jaw movement or locking of your jaw
Today TMJ related problems
could often be successfully treated without surgery. The
treatment plan generally focuses on calming the surrounding
muscles and ligaments, relieving the pain and reducing the
pressure on the Joint. This is achieved first by creating a
custom-fitted oral orthotic appliance, which is worn by the
patient on either the upper or lower teeth. Carefully crafted
by an experienced dentist, the orthotic appliance relieves the
pressure and allows ligaments that have stretched to heal.
Today's appliances are made of clear acrylic and can usually
be worn without anyone noticing.
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Endodontics
When
your dentist says you need a root canal, that's actually good
news. It means they can save your tooth, instead of extracting
it.
The procedure is not painful, as you
may have heard. They numb the tooth so you won't feel any
pain, and there is little discomfort afterwards. Extracting
the tooth would be less healthy and more expensive.
Repairing the root canal is the way
to save the entire tooth. The other alternative is to pull the
tooth entirely. However, leaving that space empty may create
other problems, like making chewing and biting more difficult.
Teeth may also shift their position if missing teeth are not
there to hold the space. If you decide to have the dentist
pull the tooth and replace it with a denture or bridge, the
cost will be significantly more than the cost of a root canal.
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The Root Canal Procedure
A root canal procedure limits the infection and keeps it from
destroying the tooth. During the root canal treatment
procedure, the dentist removes the inflamed or infected pulpal
tissue, carefully cleans, disinfects, and shapes the root
canal space inside the tooth, and then fills and seals this
space. It may take one or more appointments to complete the
procedure. A protective restoration should be placed after
root canal treatment has been completed in order to restore
the tooth to function and help prevent tooth fracture. Think
of a root canal as washing the invasive bacteria out of the
root, filling it with a biocompatible material that soothes
the area, then sealing it back up again. Top it off with a
solid filling or a crown, and you're as good as new. And that
means you get to keep your tooth. And that's a good thing.
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What
are the reasons for a Root Canal?
A root canal is a treatment used to repair and save a
tooth that is badly decayed or becomes infected.
Root canal procedures are
performed when the nerve of the tooth becomes infected or the
pulp becomes damaged. During a root canal procedure, the nerve
and pulp is removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and
sealed.
Signs to look for include:
- Severe toothache pain
upon chewing or application of pressure
- Prolonged
sensitivity/pain to heat or cold temperatures (after the
hot or cold has been removed)
- Discoloration (a
darkening) of the tooth
- Swelling and tenderness
in the nearby gums
- A persistent or
recurring pimple on the gums
- Sometimes no symptoms
are present
Root canal procedures have
the ill-deserved reputation of being painful. Actually, most
people report that the procedure itself is no more painful
than having a filling placed. The discomfort experienced in
the period leading up to a seeking of dental care is truly the
painful period of time, not the root canal procedure itself.
The root canal procedure
should relieve the pain you feel. Until your root canal
procedure is completely finished – that is to say, the
permanent filling is in place and/or the crown is place,
it’s wise to minimize chewing on the tooth under repair.
This step will help avoid recontamination of the interior of
the tooth and also may prevent a fragile tooth from breaking
before the tooth can be fully restored. For the first few days
following the completion of treatment, the tooth may feel
sensitive due to natural tissue inflammation, especially if
there was pain or infection before the procedure. Most
patients can return to their normal activities the next day.
As far as oral health care
is concerned, brush and floss as you regularly would and see
your dentist at normally scheduled intervals. Because the
final step of the root canal procedure is application of a
restoration such as a crown or a filling, it will not be
obvious to onlookers that a root canal was performed.
Root canal treatment is
highly successful (more than a 95% success rate) and many root
canal-treated teeth can last a lifetime.
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What Are
Endodontic Disease Common Symptons?
Nothing is as good as a natural tooth! And sometimes your
natural tooth may need Endodontic (root canal) treatment for
it to remain a healthy part of your mouth.
Signs of Endodontic Disease to look for include
- pain when biting down,
- prolonged sensitivity
to heat or cold,
- discoloration of the
tooth,
- throbbing or severe
pain,
- pain attributable to
changes in atmospheric pressure, such as flying in a plane
- pain attributable to
eating sweet foods
- and swelling or
tenderness in the nearby gums.
But understand that
sometimes there are no symptoms. If you are
experiencing any of these symptoms, contact our office right
away as you may very well be in the stages of root canal
disease or some other dental problem as symptoms of Endodontic
disease may be signs of such matters as defective
fillings, periodontal disease, tooth decay and other tooth
related malaise.
Most patients report that having Endodontic (root canal)
treatment today is as unremarkable as having a cavity filled.
Why May Endodontic Disease Cause Swelling?
When the pulpal tissue becomes severely diseased and necrotic, the resultant infection can spread from inside the tooth into the adjacent bone and soft tissues. As a result, swelling can occur in the tissues immediately surrounding the tooth.
If this situation is not treated and the endodontic disease process is not kept under control by the body's defenses, the infection can begin to spread into other tissue spaces, such as those around the eye or in the neck. In some situations, this can become a serious medical emergency.
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Mercury-Free
Fillings
Why is it so important to throw the remains of a silver
filling in the office biohazard receptacle, but it's okay to
put it in a patient's mouth?
Why do so many silver fillings themselves break, or cause
teeth to break?
Is a silver filling the type of treatment I would want in
my mouth or my family's mouth?
If these are questions that concern you, be assured
Englewood Dental provides mercury-free fillings. Email us with
your questions.
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Orthodontics
Diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental and facial irregularities
is crucial. Professional skill in the design, application and control of corrective appliances (braces) to bring teeth, lips and
jaws into proper alignment and achieve facial balance is
crucial.
Braces correct overbite, underbite, wide spaces between teeth,
and more.
It's never too late to have your child evaluated or improve your own smile.
It's a fact that many children between
the ages of five and ten need braces to correct problems like
wide spaces between teeth, badly aligned teeth, overlaps, and
clicking jaws. At this age, improvements can be made that are
impossible later on. When you think of braces, you may think
first of children.
Adults are also enjoying new
self-esteem and improved dental health that orthodontics
offers. It's becoming more common, even respectable to see adults
wearing braces. An attractive smile is an asset in all peer
groups, in the business and social world.
It's never too late to enjoy the benefits
of orthodontics. Call us, and we'll set up an orthodontic
evaluation for you and your family.
With so many advances in modern
dentistry, fewer people need to wear full dentures. If you
have older dentures or think you may need dentures, you're in
luck. Denture technology has never been better.
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Periodontal
Gum Disease
Periodontal (gum) diseases, including gingivitis and periodontitis, are serious infections that, left untreated, can lead to tooth loss. The word periodontal literally means "around the tooth." Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bone supporting the teeth.
Periodontal disease can affect one tooth or many teeth. It begins when the bacteria in plaque (the sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on your teeth) causes the gums to become inflamed.
If you have swollen, bleeding gums, you may have periodontal
disease. And the sooner we eliminate this menace in your
mouth, the better. Left untreated, perio can cause serious
loss of teeth and bone, and it has recently been linked to
heart disease and stroke as well as premature and low weight
babies.
Treating perio is one of the most
important things you can do for yourself and your family. We
take it seriously, and so should you.
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Come
In For A Whole New Smile
You know the smile you want. From the moment you walk into the office, you’ll know you’ve come to the right place for gentle, friendly, personalized orthodontic care. You and your children will be greeted by name and welcomed – making you feel right at home.
Englewood Dental's dentists knows as much about kids as they
do about orthodontics. Their warm and friendly personality will ease fears about orthodontic care and make visits a fun, positive experience.
And Englewood Dental and his staff pride themselves on pampering their patients. They will always take the time to answer all of your questions and explain every aspect of your care.
Today, thanks to enhanced computer
design, we can provide a cosmetic look that's you, and you
alone. Even the most subtle difference in tooth size, shape,
texture, and color can be part of your overall look. We
consider your gender, lifestyle, ethnicity, so your smile
reflects who you are.
Seeing is believing. You can preview the changes, then feel
the excitement of watching your new smile take shape right
before your eyes.
Children
and Infant Care
Englewood Dental has trained with the most reknown prominent
infant and child dental teachers.
We are quickly being known as Northern New Jersey & Bergen County's leading dentists for families
wanting
comfortable, safe and friendly care for their young children.
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Fixed
Bridges A bridge is a single appliance that is generally attached
to two teeth on each side of the space where a tooth is
missing. An artificial tooth attached in the middle of the
bridge fills in the gap where the  missing tooth was. The teeth
on either side of the gap are prepared for crowns (see crowns)
and a highly accurate impression or mold is made of the
prepared area. This mold is used to create a gold or porcelain
(tooth colored) bridge in in-house lab. The bridge is
then cemented onto the prepared surface of the teeth,
effectively creating the appearance of a "new"
tooth.
Often it is advantageous to whiten teeth before treatment
so that the new restoration color matches the desired whiter,
brighter smile.
Advantages:
Unlike dentures, a fixed bridge is never removed. It is
stable in the mouth and works very similar to natural teeth.
By filling the gap and stopping the movement of other teeth, a
fixed bridge is an excellent investment, providing better
chewing ability, heading off jaw joint problems and saving
money that would otherwise might be spent on future dental
treatment.
Disadvantages:
Fixed bridges are excellent restorations and have few
disadvantages. They are highly durable, but they will
eventually need to be re-cemented or replaced due to normal
wear.
Alternatives:
In the event that the use of a fixed bridge is not
feasible, the best alternative is a dental implant.
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Over-Dentures
An implant overdenture may be defined as a removable dental
prosthesis that covers the occlusal surface of a remaining
root or implant. Such prostheses have become quite popular in
general populations which shows that trends are changing.
Patients are more educated and are demanding better treatment.
41% of senior citizens in the US are edentulous. Among these
people, many wear complete dentures and rely on the soft and
hard tissue of the residual alveolar ridge for support,
retention, and stability of their prosthesis.
With the advent of dental implants, the benefits and
advantages of using overdentures have become a reality for
edentulous patients. Implants have a reported success rate of
over 97% and preserve the mandibular alveolar ridge while
increasing retention and stability of removable prostheses.
The overall success rate is 94% on these patients with
functional and aesthetically compromised prosthesis making
this mode of treatment a viable option.
There are two types of implant overdentures. One type is
classified as implant retained and tissue borne, the other is
implant retained and implant borne. The implant retained,
tissue borne overdenture relies on the hard and soft tissue of
the residual alveolar ridge for support. The implants only
offer support in that area of the arch where they are placed.
An implant retained, implant borne overdenture does not rely
on the tissues for support. The pressures of occlusal loading
is on the implants completely. The denture itself will touch
the tissues at its border only to prevent accumulation of food
underneath.
Advantages of using an implant supported overdenture are
that you have high patient acceptance; less trauma to tissue
by the prosthesis; improved retention and stability of the
dentures; improved support of facial soft tissue and therefore
improved esthetics; preservation of remaining alveolar bone;
and improved function.
There are several disadvantages of using an implant
supported overdenture. Compliance on the part of the patient
to have improved oral hygiene is of the utmost importance.
With overdentures, attachments are used to secure the
prosthesis to the denture and there are sometimes problems
that arise from these attachments. There is also an increase
of cost and time associated with implant overdentures.
There are many factors to consider in the treatment
planning of implant overdentures. The size of the implant to
be used, the location of placement, the number of implants to
be used, and the types of attachments to be utilized. Other
considerations include quality of the bone, space available,
and patient’s oral health and systemic medical condition.
Retention can be considered as the force that resists
withdrawal along the path of insertion. There are many
different types of retention systems used to secure
overdentures to the implant. These attachments must be
selected carefully with their design clearly in mind. Small
screws have been used for years and have their place, but not
without difficulties. Retaining devises can also act to
provide occlusal support and stability, whether or not they
were initially designed to withstand these forces. If the
attachment apparatus is strong enough, these loads will be
transmitted further down the chain.
Stud shaped attachments have been used for decades. Few are
entirely rigid, since their size makes it difficult to prevent
a small amount of movement. Stud devises are among the
simplest of all attachments. They provide stability, retention
and support, while positive lock of certain units can maintain
the border seal of the denture. These do require adequate
space for vertical and buccolingual dimensions so diagnostic
casts are very important. The precise space requirements must
be checked after the trial insertion stage and occasional
change of attachment may be required. Stud attachments are
available in a variety of sizes and configurations.
An impressive number of prospective and retrospective
studies confirm the high success rate that can be achieved
with a variety of implant systems. One study reported the
higher failure rate of maxillary implants and overdentures
compared to their mandibular counterparts. It reported the
ratio of 9:1. It was reported that the highest risk of failure
are those requiring maxillary restorations with limited bone
of poor density. Short implants (7mm) to support maxillary
overdentures appear to have high failure rates.
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