Cosmetic Dentistry Directory Blog

Many general dentistry patients and cosmetic dentistry patients complain of persistent dry mouth, the medical term for which is xerostemia. While this is not typically a severe symptom or a significant detriment to your health or quality of life, xerostemia is important for dentists and dental hygienists to recognize for two reasons. First, lack of saliva in the mouth can lead to more cavities and can increase the rate of failure for dental restorations such as dental crowns and porcelain veneers. Second, xerostemia can be a symptom of an underlying condition that has yet to be diagnosed.

Causes of Xerostemia (Dry Mouth)

About ninety percent of the saliva your mouth produces comes from two salivary glands: the parotid (in the far back of your mouth on both sides) and the submandibular (under the jawbone). The rest comes from the sublingual salivary gland (under the tongue) and about 600 other small accessory salivary glands.

While the saliva itself comes from these glands, the production and flow of saliva is actually controlled by your brain. As your brain perceives or anticipates the taste and feel of food in your mouth, it increases the flow of saliva. The brain also reduces salivary flow due to anxiety and other stressful emotions. Because saliva is crucial to speech, maintaining the pH balance of your mouth, and fighting bacteria, persistent lack of saliva can be problematic.

Xerostemia can reflect various underlying conditions, such as Sjögren's Syndrome, diabetes, and salivary gland dysfunction. In addition, dry mouth is a common side effect of many medications. If your xerostemia is severe enough to be affecting your teeth or your ability to taste and speak, your general dentist or cosmetic dentist may recommend addressing the issue. For example, you may decide to try a different medication if your xerostemia is a prescription drug side effect. If your dry mouth is the result of an underlying medical condition, your dentist can refer you to a physician who can help.

If you are worried that xerostemia might be affecting your dental health, please contact us to find a general dentist or cosmetic dentist in your area.

One of Glee's newest cast members, Filipina singing sensation Charice has addressed reports that she underwent BOTOX® treatment for cosmetic reasons before her debut on the hit Fox TV show. Charice is just 18 years old, which has drawn criticism saying she is too young for anti-aging cosmetic treatment. The singer seemed to mention getting BOTOX® to "look fresh" for her Glee debut in interview footage posted on the web.

Since then, however, Charice's representative has disputed the claim that the singer's BOTOX® treatment was for cosmetic purposes. Instead, says the spokeswoman, Charice actually got BOTOX® to treat a "jaw problem similar to TMJ."

TMJ or TMD is a dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint, which connects the jaw (mandible) to the skull (cranium). Misaligned teeth and strained muscles can cause TMJ symptoms, including migraine headaches. In addition, cosmetic dentists often recommend TMJ treatment because it can lead to an aesthetic improvement in the face, making its shape seem longer and less round.

Whether her BOTOX® treatment was for cosmetic reasons or not, Charice has brought extra attention to the innovative use of BOTOX® in TMJ treatment. Neuromuscular dentists use a variety of strategies to treat TMJ symptoms and have recently added BOTOX® injections to their arsenal. While BOTOX® may not be appropriate for all cases of TMJ or TMD, patients who cannot tolerate or whose symptoms do not respond to traditional neuromuscular therapies for TMJ treatment may find that BOTOX® can provide the relief they need.

To find out more about BOTOX® for TMJ treatment, please contact us to find a neuromuscular dentist in your area or access our dentist directory by clicking on the map below.

While sleep apnea is a potentially serious condition that afflicts millions of Americans, a study published earlier this year in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine reports that people who suffer from sleep apnea have fewer nightmares.

Not only did people with sleep apnea have fewer nightmares, according to the study, but the subjects with more severe sleep apnea had even fewer nightmares than the subjects with mild sleep apnea. Around two-thirds of the participants who do not have sleep apnea reported having nightmares more than once a week. Only 43% of participants with mild sleep apnea, 30% with moderate sleep apnea, and 20% with severe sleep apnea reported having nightmares.

The authors of the study believe that the REM sleep, when nightmares are most likely, of the participants with sleep apnea was interrupted more frequently. However, they admit that it is possible that nightmares occurred but were not remembered due to the disruption of REM sleep.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition where breathing is interrupted during sleep because of an obstructed or narrow airway. Sleep apnea can cause loud snoring, poor quality or frequently interrupted sleep, and is linked to chronic disease. The same problems with craniofacial anatomy that lead to sleep apnea are also linked to temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). Therefore, while they do not diagnose sleep apnea, neuromuscular dentists can also help mitigate some of the symptoms of sleep apnea, including nighttime bruxism (grinding/clenching of teeth).

Neuromuscular dentists treat TMD by attempting to address the anatomical issues at the heart of the problem. A misaligned bite, also called malocclusion, can cause misalignment and strain of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), where the jaw meets the cranium. This strain can lead to TMJ migraine headaches as well as neck and back pain and other symptoms. Neuromuscular dentists often prescribe specially designed orthotics or a cosmetic dental procedure to bring the bite back into alignment.

To find a neuromuscular dentist in your area, please contact us or click on the map at the bottom of this page.

For decades, the debate over the cause of malocclusion (misaligned bite) has generated many studies and even more arguments among researchers. Finding the root causes of bite misalignment is very important because malocclusion can cause discomfort, cosmetic dental problems, and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). TMD can have a wide range of symptoms, including TMJ migraine headaches, neck and back pain, and others.

The most common consensus on the causes of malocclusion is that tooth position is generally more determined by environmental factors while the skeletal architecture of the face is determined by heredity. This consensus assumes, however, that the root cause of malocclusion must be skeletal anatomy and tooth position.

Dr. Rohan Wijey argues in September's Dental Tribune that muscles, rather than bones, are the most likely cause of malocclusion. Citing several research studies, Wijey deftly debunks the arguments for a genetic origin of malocclusion and makes the case that muscle dysfunction caused by environmental factors like diet and oral respiration.

Wijey's argument is important to general dentists as well as cosmetic dentists and orthodontists, but it really highlights the need for research in the field of neuromuscular dentistry. Neuromuscular dentists treat TMD symptoms caused by malocclusion through the use of several TMD treatment strategies to relax facial muscles and bring the TMJ joint into better alignment.

If Wijey is correct, traditional treatments for malocclusion that address only tooth position and skeletal anatomy should perhaps be reconsidered in favor of a more neuromuscular approach.

To find out more about malocclusion and TMJ treatment, please contact us or click on the map at the bottom of the page to find a neuromuscular dentist in your state.