How to Know if You Have TMJ

Over the years, our practice helped scores of patients dealing with Temporo Mandibular Joint Disorder, commonly called TMJD or TMJ. It is a common disorder, yet many people are not aware they have TMJ.

Our dentists can offer treatments to help patients who struggle with TMJ. However, patients need to be aware of the issue before they decide to seek treatment.

There are numerous symptoms that point to a TMJ diagnosis. These symptoms may ease for a time and then return, or you may experience different TMJ symptoms during different flareups.

Here are several common TMJ symptoms

• Pain in one or both of your jaws that often radiates out from the jaw area and spreads toward other parts of your face
• Swelling on one side of your face
• Clicking or popping sounds when you open and close your mouth
• Difficulty opening your mouth wide
• Jaws that get stuck while partially open
• Facial fatigue
• Grating sounds when you chew or speak
• Headaches that radiate from the jaw area these are generally worse when you wake and then ease as the day passes
• Ringing in the ears
• Neck and shoulder pain
• Difficulty chewing or pain while chewing
• Earaches
• Dizziness
• Difficulty hearing
• Toothaches
• Bruxism- also called teeth grinding
• The feeling that your upper and lower jaws do not fit together properly

Patients often try several remedies at home to try and ease their discomfort. These include:
• Hot or cold compresses
• Bite guards
• Massage therapy
• Biofeedback
• Stress reduction
• Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications

In severe cases, our dentists may prescribe antianxiety medicine or antidepressants to help patients relax. Muscle relaxants are also a common medical treatment, and in some cases, Corticosteroid injections can also alleviate pain and reduce inflammation.

If you believe that you could have Temporo Mandibular Joint Disorder or if you would like to know more about TMJ, please feel free to contact our office. Our staff can provide you with helpful information about the disorder. Additionally, our staff can set up an appointment for you to see one of our dentists and find out if you have a TMJ disorder.

What Dental Implants Can Do for You

For many years, dentists at our office had few options to offer our patients who were missing teeth. Generally, bridges or false teeth were the choices for patients.

Our dental implants dentist in San Francisco wants our patients to know that implants are not only a way to improve a smile’s appearance. Dental implants are an important way to improve your dental health as well.

When you lose a tooth, the root will no longer send messages to the brain. Without this stimulus, the brain will stop sending nutrients to the area of the jaw that has a tooth missing. Over time, the area that receives no nutrition will begin to reabsorb into the body, and bone loss occurs. After enough bone loss, the face begins to look shriveled and sunken.

These unpleasant physical changes still occur with patients who get bridges or false teeth because the area impacted is below the gum line.

When you receive a dental implant, the problem of bone loss and changes in your facial structure return to normal. This happens because of the way the dentist places the implant in your jaw.

To place your dental implant, our dentist first inserts titanium rods into the empty tooth socket. These rods fuse to the jaw through a process called osseointegration. Normally, this process takes between six weeks and two months.

After the rods fuse to the jaw, the brain begins to get stimuli from the previously empty root socket. The brain will send nutrients to the area, and the bone loss stops. In most cases, there is a reversing of the bone loss and an improvement in facial structure.

For the final step, our dentist attaches the top of your implant to the rod. We match the color of the implant to your teeth for a natural look. At this point, your teeth will look and feel comfortable and natural.

If you are missing one or more teeth, consider reaching out to our office. Our staff can give you helpful information and set up a no-obligation consultation with one of our dentists. You can have an evaluation and get your questions answered at this time.