Difference Between General Dentistry & Neuromuscular Dentistry

Latest Dental News: All about Cosmetic Dentistry

General dentistry and Professional dental practitioners are referred to as dentists. General dentistry involves the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of a wide variety of conditions, disorders and diseases that affect your teeth, gums and jaw. General dentists also provide services related to the general maintenance of your tooth health and overall oral hygiene.

Dentistry is ideally thought to be a means of preventative care. You should visit the dentist regularly, at least once every six months, according to the American Dental Association (ADA). With routine checkups, you can help ensure your oral health and functionality of your teeth, gums and joints. By staying on top of your oral hygiene, you can also prevent the development of significant dental problems that require extensive and expensive treatment.

Neuromuscular dentistry
While general dentistry focuses on the teeth and joints, while neuromuscular dentistry also takes into consideration your nerves, muscles and the proper position of your jaw.

Neuromuscular dentistry recognizes that your teeth, mouth and jaw joints, muscles, and nerves all work together to properly align you jaw. If any of these elements fail to uphold their role, the result will be a misaligned or “bad bite” called a malocclusion.

A malocclusion can result in a series of problems such as:

• Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ/TMD)
• Tooth grinding, resulting in loose and damaged teeth
• Significant pain
• Damaged and failed dental restorations
• Pain in your face, neck, back, shoulders and/or arms
• Migraines
• Ringing in your ears
• Vertigo

An emerging field of dentistry, neuromuscular dentistry uses your ideal bite position to restore your body’s structural and postural balance. Together, these methods can help allevaite the above problems. This field of dentistry can also significantly improve posture throughout your entire skeletal structure, thereby solving lifelong, chronic pain for some patients.

Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic dentistry goes a step beyond general dentistry. Besides focusing on your optimum oral health, cosmetic dentistry adds an element of art to enhance the appearance of your smile.

Because cosmetic dentistry involves the same functional requirements as general dentistry, the cosmetic dentist must ensure these are accomplished before aesthetic treatments can begin.

Therefore, dentists who practice cosmetic dentistry have the knowledge of general dentistry and a passion for the appearance of a durable, functional and beautiful smile.

With a vast number of technological advancements in the field of cosmetic dentistry, these dentists must be able to use breakthrough restorative techniques and materials with ease. Because of this, cosmetic dentists must undergo a significant amount of extra training.

Which dentist to see?
Many people assume that they can visit their family dentist for a new smile, or to alleviate the pain caused by TMD. But, unfortunately, cosmetic and neuromuscular dentistry are not generally taught in dental schools as part of the normal curriculum.

A dentist can graduate from most dental schools and pass the board exams without any knowledge of aesthetics or the ins and outs of your jaw-to-skull relationship.

If you are looking to enhance the appearance of your smile, or relieve pain from a TMD-caused migraine, you should research the appropriate specialist in your area.

Source: How Does Neuromuscular Dentistry Differ From General and Cosmetic Dentistry?

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Effects of Diabetes on Teeth And Gums

Latest Dental News: Bad dental diet also harmful for the entire body: An expert

Diabetes can lead to many complications, some of them very severe. This means that the effect that diabetes has on your teeth can often be completely overlooked. Diabetics are at a higher risk for periodontal disease (diseases of the mouth) than most people.

Having high blood sugar means that your teeth and gums are at a higher risk, because germs multiply in high-sugar environments. This means that the first step to protecting your teeth is to lower your blood sugar and to maintain a constant blood sugar level. The difficulty is that if you already have some gum disease, it can be another stress that leads to high blood sugar levels. This can be an overwhelming cycle, but luckily you can stop it.

Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease. It is present when your gums are puffy and red, and your gums can bleed when you brush your teeth or use other dental care. Gum disease, although little more than a painful inconvenience, can progress until you lose your teeth. This makes it even more difficult to maintain a healthy diet needed by diabetics.

The first step to taking care of your oral health is to monitor and control your blood sugar. You will also want to tell your dentist that you have diabetes. Your dentist will be able to help you notice the initial signs of gingivitis, which can be hard to distinguish. Visiting the dentist two times a year is a good idea.

Oral hygiene, like we all know, begins with brushing your teeth regularly, particularly after sweet snacks and desserts. You can also take care of your mouth by watching what you put in your mouth: chewing sugar-free gum can also help reduce your risk of gum disease. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking lots of water, to maintain a healthy saliva flow in your mouth. Smoking is a bad habit that, among other diseases, will promote gum disease. Quit smoking immediately, because it has terrible effects on most diabetic complications.

Of course, brushing our teeth is not quite enough. Flossing daily should become part of your routine. Some dentists recommend using a water-pik to clean your teeth as well. Ask your dentist about what would be best for you. Certain mouthwashes are clinically proven to help prevent gingivitis: the simple 10 second act of gargling could save your teeth for the future!

Preventing gum disease is about taking care of yourself now to avoid pain in the future. Gum disease can lead to hyperglycemia, or even acidosis in severe cases. You want to avoid these symptoms, because they will make it even harder for you to control your blood sugar later. Remember: if you maintain a healthy diet, good oral hygiene, and helpful habits, you will save yourself time, money, and pain. You can have and keep the perfect smile!

Source: Diabetes, your Teeth, and Gums

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All About Dental Crowns: When & for Whom

Latest Dental News: Dental crowns not everyone’s cup of tea: a dentist

While a cavity is never something anyone wants, this can be fixed with a filling. But what can you do when your teeth are cracked, broken, or worn down? In cases like this, a dental crown may be what is required. A dental crown is a cap placed over a tooth to restore it in size, shape, and strength, or to improve its appearance. They are needed to:

• Restore a tooth that is already broken or worn down
• Protect a weakened tooth from decay and breakage, or to hold the parts of a broken tooth together
• Cover severely discolored or misshapen teeth
• Cover a dental implant
• Cover and support teeth that have large fillings when there isn’t much of a tooth left
• Hold a dental bridge in place

What Does Crown Placement Involve?
Obtaining a crown usually means you’ll need two dental visits. During the first visit, your dentist will examine your tooth and ready it for the crown. The second visit centers on crown placement.

Visit one will involve x-rays of the affected tooth and gum to determine the extent of decay. Sometimes a crown may not be sufficient. In this case you will typically receive another procedure, the root canal. If a crown is indeed your solution, your dentist will begin by filing away the tooth’s decayed portion.

Next, your dentist will create an impression of the tooth using paste or putty. They will provide a protective temporary crown for use while your permanent crown is fashioned, which typically takes two to three weeks. The type of material used for the permanent crown depends on the decay’s extent. Less severe cases require all-porcelain. Severe decay may require filling material to provide additional support. The most frequently used materials for dental crowns are:

• Porcelain-fused-to-metal
• All-porcelain
• Gold

During your second visit, your dentist will place your permanent crown.
Waiting for Your Permanent Crown

Go easy on your temporary crown while waiting for the permanent crown by:

• Avoiding flossing your teeth in an upward motion; move side-to-side instead
• Avoiding “sticky” foods, such as gum and caramel.
• Avoiding hard foods, such as raw carrots.
• Chewing mainly on the side of your mouth without the crown.

Once your permanent crown is placed, difficulties may occur, but this is not very common, and most are easily remedied:

• Sensitivity to hot and cold – Your dentist may recommend a toothpaste for sensitive teeth
• Pain from a too-high bite – This can be rapidly corrected at your dentist’s office
• Chipped crown – A composite resin can sometimes easily repair a chipped crown depending on the extent of the chip
• Crown falls off – Take good care of the crown; your dentist may be able to reseat it
• Allergic reaction to crown – Very rarely, patients allergic to the porcelain or metal used to make the crown

Source: Dental Crowns an Easy Placement

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Secret Way For Teeth Straightening & Teeth Alignment

Latest Dental News: 10 ways to improve your smile!

Imagine having a straighter smile without enduring years of obtrusive metal braces. Imagine being able to eat any type of food you want without worrying about getting food stuck in braces while you are working toward a straighter smile. Imagine actually being comfortable while your teeth shift into proper alignment.

There is no need to imagine this near-perfect teeth straightening scenario. This revolutionary orthodontic treatment is called Invisalign®, a treatment that uses a series of clear plastic aligners to move your teeth into a perfect smile. Most Invisalign patients report that their “clear braces” are virtually invisible to other people.

What types of orthodontic issues can Invisalign repair?
Teeth that are not straight can make it difficult to chew food properly and even create speech difficulties. In addition, un-straight teeth can lead to other oral health issues, so Invisalign is beneficial for more than just aesthetic reasons, including:

• Crowded teeth, which can lead to tooth decay, cavities and gum disease because it is difficult to properly floss and brush between the teeth
• Large spaces between teeth, resulting in teeth that tend to shift over time and possible periodontal disease
• Overbite, leading to issues with gum health and the integrity of the lower teeth, and in severe cases causing jaw or joint pain
• Underbite, which can compromise the integrity of the upper teeth or molars, and in severe cases causing jaw or joint pain
• Crossbite, leading to bone loss, gum disease or wear on the inside of the teeth

How does Invisalign work?
A dentist experienced with the Invisalign treatment will map out your unique treatment plan using 3-D computer imaging technology, starting with the current state of your teeth and ending with the final outcome. An initial impression of your existing teeth structure will be used to custom make your first clear aligner and a series of aligners will follow to produce the desired result. Each aligner is worn for two weeks for at least 22 hours per day for the best results. The aligners are not worn while eating.

Each series of trays provides the right amount of force to move only specified teeth in the mouth, according to your treatment plan. The amount of aligners required for each patient, and therefore the amount of time each patient will utilize the Invisalign process, depends on the severity of the orthodontic problems. Most patients average 18-30 trays.

What are some of the benefits of Invisalign?
• Virtually invisible
• Removable
• Comfortable
• Brushing and flossing is not hindered

Can teenagers use Invisalign?
Yes. As long as the patients have mature teeth/molars and the teeth are not severely problematic, Invisalign is an excellent alternative to metal braces. Teenage years are difficult enough without having to worry about having a metal mouth.

Source: Secretly straighten your teeth with Invisalign

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All About CEREC Restorations & Dental Crowns

Latest Dental News: Dental Implants Vs. Dental Bridges and Crowns

Getting a traditional dental crown requires two visits to the dentist. On the first visit, an impression of your teeth is made and the tooth is prepared by shaving it down. The impression is then sent to a laboratory while you wear a temporary crown, typically made of some type of plastic. On your second visit, the temporary crown is replaced by the durable crown.

CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. This new technology - available in the offices of some cosmetic dentists - enables the CEREC-equipped dentist to mill and fit a crown during the same visit. CEREC's “Computer-assisted design—Computer-assisted manufacture" or “CAD-CAM” technology produces a pure ceramic crown while you wait. The laboratory step in the process is eliminated, as is the temporary crown, and the inconvenience and cost of a second visit.

How does it Work?

The damaged tooth is prepared by applying a thin layer of reflective powder directly on the tooth’s surface. A 360-degree image of the tooth is then generated by a special camera and transferred to a computer where the dentist can edit the image to fit the individual needs of the patient.

A ceramic block is placed in the milling chamber once the image is prepared, and within minutes the crown is milled and ready to place.

CEREC’s Advantages:

• CEREC are made in one visit, saving time and eliminating inconvenience
• The potential discomfort of a temporary crown is eliminated
• CEREC crowns have no metal in them
• The technology can also be used for fillings. Porcelain is more durable than typical white composite fillings
• The initial investment in the technology is expensive. However, it can save money over the long run because there is no extra lab technician fee for the dentist, and only one appointment is required, not two

Are there Disadvantages?

CEREC crowns are milled out of a single block of ceramic. This can become problematic when matching them with the subtle color gradients of natural teeth. Although some companies are now making ceramic blocks with a color gradient, the cosmetic dentist needs a good deal of training, skill, and talent in order to create a natural-looking crown with this technology.

Source: CEREC - Dental Crowns in One Visit

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