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Cosmetic Dentistry Directory Blog

Cosmetic Dentistry Directory

Friday, May 18, 2012

What is Neuromuscular Dentistry?

Your jaw is one of the most complex joints in your body, and one of the only joints that can move in three directions (up and down, forward and back, and side-to-side). It is responsible for important daily functions such as chewing, speaking, and yawning. When it is not aligned properly, it can result in serious pain and impaired functioning that impacts many areas of your life.

Neuromuscular dentistry is the field of dentistry focused on diagnosing and correcting issues associated with the function of your jaw. In particular, neuromuscular dentistry is used in the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD), a condition occurring when your jaw becomes misaligned.

TMD can result in the following symptoms:

Jaw pain
Facial pain
Neck, shoulder, or back pain
Clicking or popping sounds in the jaw
Limited jaw mobility
Locking of the jaw
Uncomfortable bite
Headaches
Ringing in the ears
Difficulty chewing or swallowing

If you are suffering from painful TMD symptoms, a neuromuscular dentist can help you correct the condition and find the relief you are seeking. TMD treatment consists of two phases. The first phase of treatment seeks to relieve the painful symptoms you are experiencing. This can generally be accomplished using NSAID medications, corticosteroids, or muscle relaxants.

Once your pain has been alleviated, your neuromuscular dentist can begin the second phase of your treatment, which seeks to restore your bite to its ideal resting position. This can be accomplished using one of the following methods:

Orthotic mouth piece
Dental restorations
Orthodontics

If you think you may be suffering from TMD, visit an experienced neuromuscular dentist today. There is no reason to live with the pain any longer.

Please contact us today to find an experienced neuromuscular dentist in your area.

posted by Andrew at 9:35 AM

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Dental Bonding Benefits and Drawbacks

Dental bonding is a cosmetic dentistry procedure that can improve the health and function of your smile. During the procedure, a tooth-colored resin material is applied in layers to your damaged tooth and then hardened using a special light to bond the material securely to your tooth.

Dental bonding can be used to address the following conditions:

To repair a chipped or cracked tooth
To repair a decayed tooth
To fill gaps between teeth
To alter the shape of a tooth
To improve the appearance of discolored teeth
To make a tooth look longer
To protect your tooth’s root after it has been exposed due to receding gums

There are several advantages to using dental bonding. It is one of the easiest cosmetic dentistry procedures to perform and unlike alternatives such as dental crowns or porcelain veneers which must be constructed in a lab over time, your dental bonding procedure can be completed in one office visit. Dental bonding also requires the least amount of natural tooth structure to be removed in preparation for your restoration.

However, there are also several drawbacks associated with dental crowns. The dental bonding material used in your restoration is less durable than the materials used in restorations such as crowns, fillings, or veneers. Bonding is also not as stain resistant as dental crowns or porcelain veneers. Due to these limitations in strength and aesthetics, dental bonding is generally only used to repair minor functional and cosmetic issues with a tooth.

Please contact us today to find an experienced cosmetic dentist in your area.

posted by Andrew at 8:50 AM

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Zirconia Abutments for Dental Implants

Many people are born without a lateral tooth, which is adjacent to your top front tooth. This common condition is easily corrected using dental implants. In most cases, missing lateral teeth are replaced during teenage years at the same time that orthodontic treatment is completed.

It is important to discuss your desire to replace a missing lateral tooth with your dentist before beginning orthodontic treatment. That way, he can work with your orthodontist to make sure a gap is left in your teeth that will accommodate your dental implant.

While titanium abutments are generally used with dental implants, this material will not deliver good aesthetics when replacing a lateral tooth. Your gums are very thin in this region, and the silver-colored titanium abutment can show through your gum tissue, causing it to look gray.

To achieve a more aesthetically pleasing result, your cosmetic dentist may recommend using a zirconia abutment. Zirconia abutments are tooth-colored and as a result, they won’t make your gums look gray.

Zirconia abutments are just as strong and durable as titanium abutments, and will achieve the same exceptional results you would expect from a traditional dental implant restoration. While zirconia abutments are primarily used when replacing lateral teeth, they can also be used on any tooth in your smile zone to ensure a more natural looking result.

Please contact us today to find an experienced cosmetic dentist in your area.

posted by Andrew at 11:02 AM

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Smile Design Options for Smile Makeovers

Many cosmetic dentists will create a smile design for you at your initial smile makeover consultation. This can be a very helpful tool which enables you to get a preview of what your new smile will look like. Often, this smile design will lead to a more detailed dialogue between you and your cosmetic dentist regarding the things you like and dislike about your proposed new smile. Ultimately, this will lead to a more refined smile design that more closely arrives at your desired results.

There are several ways in which this smile design can be created. Your cosmetic dentist can create a computer-generated image of your smile, or he can create a wax up of your new smile.

A computer-generated smile image starts with digital photos of your smile. Using highly advanced computer imaging software, your teeth can be adjusted in the picture to give you a better idea of what your new smile will look like. Your teeth can be digitally straightened, whitened, or repositioned to improve the appearance of your smile. This process has many benefits, and can significantly improve your ability to understand what can and can’t be accomplished by your smile makeover.

However, there are certain limitations to a computer-generated smile image. This process is not three dimensional and cannot account for the physical impact your new smile will have on your bite. To achieve this, your cosmetic dentist can create a wax up of your new smile.

A wax up is simply a wax model created to preview your new smile. Your cosmetic dentist will create an impression of your teeth to be used in the creation of your wax model. After discussing your desired changes with you, your impression will be sent to a lab for creation of your wax up. A bite simulator can be used in the creation of this model to replicate the way your teeth will move when you bite. This is valuable information when determining the strength necessary for your desired cosmetic dentistry restoration. By creating a 3D model, a wax-up gives you the most realistic representation of what your smile makeover results can accomplish.

Please contact us today to find an experienced cosmetic dentist in your area.

posted by Andrew at 4:24 PM

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