Cosmetic Dentistry Directory Blog

If you have ever felt self-conscious about your gums covering too much of your teeth when you smile – making them look smaller than they really are – you’re probably the victim of what dentists call a gummy smile. Gummy smiles can be caused by many things, including:

• A muscle causing your upper lip to rise higher than normal
• An uneven gum line
• The abnormal protrusion of teeth from the bone
• Improper growth of the upper jaw bone
• Improper oral hygiene

A gummy smile can simply look or feel unpleasing, or it can have underlying dental problems accompanying it, such periodontal disease or jaw and bite conditions. Luckily, cosmetic dentistry provides many procedures to correct your gummy smile, address your mouth’s health problems, and restore your self confidence.

If your gummy smile is mild, a simple laser treatment could fix the problem. If your gummy smile is more severe, you may need one of these procedures:

• Braces
• Porcelain veneers
• Surgical lip repositioning
• Surgical reshaping of bone and gum tissue
• Bone repositioning surgery

Though more involved, each of these procedures can ensure your teeth are properly placed and shaped, improving both the look and health of your smile.

If you have a gummy smile and are looking for ways to correct it, please contact an experienced cosmetic dentist in your area through the Cosmetic Dentistry Directory today.

If you routinely suffer from painful headaches with symptoms similar to migraines, you’ve probably already visited your doctor in an attempt to determine the source. While doctors can prescribe effective pain medication to help keep the symptoms at bay, they are often unable to diagnose the exact cause of these headaches, or else assume they are the same as any other type of migraine.

Many people don’t realize that headaches like these – along with a number of other painful symptoms – are often triggered by the displacement of a delicate joint in your jaw called the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). This joint is intimately connected with the muscles, nerves, and tendons in your neck, shoulders, and back. If the joint is even slightly out of place, so are the rest of these tissues, resulting in swelling and inflammation that interferes with your jaw’s natural movement. This is termed temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). The resulting pain manifests itself in various ways, with one of the most common symptoms being chronic, migraine-like headaches.

A neuromuscular dentist can diagnose you for TMD using a device called a TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) unit. This device stimulates your nerves through a series of brief electrical impulses, relaxing your jaw muscles and allowing your dentist to determine your correct jaw position. Many patients instantly feel relief when the TENS unit is used, since their jaws have finally been allowed to return to their ideal alignment. If it is determined that TMD is in fact the source of your headaches, your neuromuscular dentist can develop a TMD treatment plan to help you obtain permanent, long-term relief.

Many cosmetic dentists are also trained in neuromuscular dentistry. If you believe you may be experiencing symptoms of TMD, contact an experienced neuromuscular dentist in your area today using the Cosmetic Dentistry Directory.

If you have a missing tooth, you might find it uncomfortable and inconvenient when eating, but wrongly assume that’s the extent of the harm. Many people don’t realize that a single missing tooth can damage the health of your entire mouth, leaving you vulnerable to several dental problems, including:

• Bone loss, leading to future risk of tooth loss
• Gum disease and infection
• Facial muscle atrophy
• Teeth shifting
• Impacted food in the empty socket

These problems will become more severe as time passes, which is why it is imperative to have a dental implant placed as soon as possible after the tooth is lost. If you wait too long, you may suffer too much bone loss to support a dental implant, in which case your cosmetic dentist will need to resort to dental crowns and bridges.

Dental implants are by far the most reliable and durable method of tooth replacement. Properly-installed implants are fused to your bone, allowing them to function just like your natural teeth. Implants can last just as long as your natural teeth with careful maintenance and oral hygiene. Best of all, dental implants will prevent future bone loss and protect your oral health for years to come.

To find out if you are a candidate for dental implants, contact an experienced cosmetic dentist in your area today through the Cosmetic Dentistry Directory.