Causes, Symptoms and Diagnosis of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder

Temporomandibular joint is the joint where mandible meets the skull. This joint involves in the movement of jaw. Temporomandibular joint disorder is the condition in which pain or dysfunctioning of temporomandibular joint occur.

Causes of Temporomandibular joint disorder

• Injury to the temporomadibular joint
• Bruxism - Grinding and clenching teeth puts pressure on jaw
• Finger nail biting
• Arthritis in the temporomandibular joint causes damage to the joint
• Misalignment of teeth
• Previous history of jaw damage or facial bones causes TMJ disorders
• Holding the telephone between head and shoulder leads to TMJ disorder

Symptoms of Temporomandibular joint disorder
Cardinal Symptoms

• Difficulty in jaw movements - While opening and closing of mouth
• Pain and tenderness in jaw
• Changes in the upper and lower teeth fit together
• Clicking sound occur during opening and closing of mouth
• Swelling on the side of face

Common Symptoms

• Headache mainly in the back side of head, forehead
• Loss of hearing sense
• Fullness of ears
• Ear pain
• Dizziness

Diagnosis of Temporomandibular joint disorder
Dentist examine the symptoms of the disorder and use some tests to examine whether any misalignment of temporomandibular joint or not. Diagnosis tests include:

• Physical examination - Dentist physically examines the temporomandibular joint to diagnose the disorder by examining the joint for pain or tenderness, listen the clicking sound while opening and closing of mouth, by examining the biting ability and examining the facial jaw movements.

• X-rays - Panoramic x-rays are taken by dentist to diagnose the TMJ disorder. Panoramic x-ray gives the complete picture of temporomandibular joint, upper and lower jaw and teeth. This helps your dentist to diagnose whether any abnormalities in the temporomandibular joint.

• CT scan - Computer tomography scanning helps in diagnosis of TMJ disorder. Computer Tomography uses X-ray machine attached to the computer. A large ring like device is moved on to the oral cavity. This takes the three dimensional pictures of oral cavity. This gives a detailed picture of bony joint to diagnose TMJ disorder and helps dentist to choose right treatment for this.

• MRI scanning - Magnetic resonance imaging scanning is similar to CT scanning. MRI scanning uses radio waves and magnetic fields to take the picture of oral cavity. This helps you to  view the soft tissue to diagnose the misalignment of jaw.

Advantages of Dental Implants Over Dentures

Dentures, bridges or dental implants can replace missing teeth. It is your choice. However, dental implants will feel and function like your natural teeth. In this article, we will discuss about the benefits of dental implants over dentures.

Advantages of Dental Implants over Dentures
Following are the advantages of having dental implants:

• More natural look and feel: Unlike dentures, dental implants are permanently fixed. It gives more natural feel and look.

• Improved facial appearance: When you lose tooth or teeth, your jawbone starts shrinking that makes your face look older. Dentures and bridges result in loss of jawbone and facial muscles to sag. Dental implants can overcome this problem.

• A permanent solution: There is no question of cavities or dental decay with dental implants. No loose parts and no need to worry about its getting lost. Many patients feel that the dental implants are like natural teeth. Dental implants have 95% success rate with no adjustments required after placement.

• Gives better stability: Dental implants gives better stability as they are permanently fixed in place and do not move around like dentures do. You can solve the problem of struggling with dentures that are frequently moving out of place by replacing them with dental implants.

• Supports bone health: If you have missing tooth or teeth, over a time your jawbone will shrink even if you use dentures or bridges. As dental implants are integrated in jawbone, it prevents the jawbone from getting shrink and deteriorates, thus keeping your jaw healthy and strong.

• Last longer/Reliability: Dentures needs to be replaced after some period whereas, dental implants may last for 40 years or more than that. For cleaning dentures, you need to remove them and clean which can lead them to getting loose and can be broken. In case of dental implants, as they are fixed in place and are like natural teeth, it has longer lifespan when comparing with dentures. Dental implants are worth spending money in long run.

• Easy to clean: Dentures required to be removed from the mouth for cleaning whereas, dental implants can be cleaned in the same way as your natural teeth which means you can follow the same oral hygiene routine. 

This is the reason why dental implants are the first choice when comparing with other options of missing tooth/teeth.

Get to Know about Orthodontic Treatment

Orthodontic treatment involves correcting irregular positioning or shape of teeth and jaws. Teeth that are crooked or crowded cause uneven bite while eating, and can lead to gum problems. Orthodontic treatment involves wearing of braces for a particular period of time. We will discuss in this article orthodontic treatment procedure and how to take care of your dental health afterwards.

Need for orthodontic treatment
Many people have crowded and crooked teeth. During examination of the teeth, if the dentist feels that your teeth need to be straightened, they advise you about the treatment you need to undergo.

If there is any of the following problems, the dentist will recommend you for orthodontic treatment:

• If you have uneven bite that is causing a problem in eating and cleaning.
• When the centers of upper and lower jaw teeth do not match.
• If there are gaps and wide spaces in between the teeth.
• When there are too many teeth crowded either on upper or lower jaw.
• If you want a beautiful smile that is not possible with crowded teeth you have.

Treatment procedure

• Dentists recommend orthodontic treatment in the beginning of teenage after the gums and teeth completely develop. During the first visit, the dentist performs screening to ensure that whether this treatment is appropriate and when it should be started.

• The dentist examines the mouth to check whether there is any gum problem, or infected teeth. If any, the dentist asks the patient to get it treated first before going for orthodontic treatment. Oral health should be in good condition for this kind of treatment. If the dentist is satisfied, they proceed for the treatment.

• The next step is to complete diagnosis of the mouth. X-rays are taken and impression is made with molding material, and stone cast replicas are made from these impressions. Before proceeding with the treatment, the dentist collects information from screening and diagnosis.

• If the patient agrees to the advice of the dentist for putting braces, treatments begins. Elastic rubber bands (spacers) are placed in between the molar teeth of the patient. Next, the dentist will place arch wires and bracket (main hardware of orthodontics), which move the teeth slowly during the entire orthodontic treatment.

• The patient will be checked with a particular interval of time to adjust and position as the teeth start to move up in right direction.

• When teeth are lined up in the right direction, the braces are removed.

How to clean the mouth while wearing braces?
Cleaning the mouth with braces in is difficult. Cleaning becomes easier as you get used to it. Following points can help you when cleaning.

• If there is any removable part, take it out.
• Then brush gently, cleaning each tooth individually.
• Brush outer and inner surfaces of teeth.
• Make sure that you are brushing the teeth in the back.
• Special care must be taken to avoid breaking or bending any wires or brackets.

It is important to take care of your dental health, after you undergo orthodontic procedure. There is a risk of cavities and gum disease if you are wearing braces. So make sure that you clean your mouth after every meal.

Get to Know Scaling

Scaling is one of the important procedures dentists undertake to make your teeth better. If you have accumulated too much of plaque on your teeth, you need to undergo this procedure by dentists. In this article we will discuss scaling - it's procedure, need and after-care.

What is scaling?
Scaling is a non-surgical process of removing plaque and calculus that cause oral health problems. Scaling involves scrapping the plaque and calculus using dental scaling instruments. This is commonly done to treat gum disease. Going to dentist every six months for scaling is a good practice to prevent gum disease.

Need for Scaling
In the early stages of a gum disease, scaling is essential to avoid advancing of it and for making the treatment difficult. Dental plaque and calculus on the tooth increases chances of severe gum disease. This causes the necessity of scaling.

Increased formation of calculus and plaque create gaps between the teeth thus makes it difficult to clean. Scaling is one of the best procedures for treating periodontal disease (gum disease). If not treated early, it may lead to the need of surgical treatment.

Procedure
Scaling is usually done with the help of hand instrument known as dental scalers. It depends on the condition of the teeth as to what type of scalers are needed to clean the teeth.

Plaque and calculus that are present at the root of the teeth are removed by using ultrasonic scalers. These scalers have water irrigating system which cools the treated area while removing the debris.

Ultrasonic scalers vibrate during operation, and thus remove dental plaque and calculus. Then, the remaining calculus that is difficult to remove by ultrasonic scaler is scrapped away using hand scalers. Finally, polishing is done to smoothen the surface of the teeth.

Care after Scaling
As with other procedures, discomfort is felt during first few days. Following points can help you reduce pain.

• Brush and floss gently to avoid pain as gums are tender and might be bleeding for the first few days after scaling.
• Avoid eating too hot or too cold food as teeth are more sensitive for 2-3 days.
• Make sure to undergo regular checkups to maintain good oral health.
• Take soft diet such as curd rice, soups, etc. for first few days.
• Change your toothbrush after your teeth are cleaned. Select one with soft bristles as teeth are more sensitive for 2-3 days.
• Use warm salt water to rinse your mouth frequently.
• Take medications as prescribed by the doctor.

Scaling helps you keep your dental cosmetic look in good condition. It is simple and inexpensive. Make sure to consult your dentist and to discuss with them the pros and cons of scaling.

Brief Introduction About Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry deals with the enhancing of the aesthetics of the teeth and related structures. American Dental Association does not recognize cosmetic industry as a specialization, but had renamed it as Orthodontics and Prosthodontics. The cosmetic industry helps in enhancing of smile by correcting the minor flaws such as cracks, discoloration and the spaces between the teeth.

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The most common treatments used in the cosmetic industry are teeth whitening, enamel shaping, contouring, bonding, dental bridges, veneers, gum lift, bite reclamation, dental implants, dental crowns, tooth colored fillings, porcelain inlays, etc.

The commonly used materials in cosmetic industry for the sake of treatment are gold, amalgam and other materials which are veneered with porcelain. But, now-a-days, tooth fillings are done entirely with porcelain and composite materials so as to give natural look to the artificial teeth. Resin adhesives are used to bind thee materials with the already existing tooth structure.

American Academy of Cosmetic Industry and American Academy of Dental Aesthetics provides credentials for dental organizations and cosmetic dentists.

Foods to Avoid for Maintaining Dental Health

Along with dental care activities, nutritional diet ensures perfect oral health. Having healthy foods may not make any effect if you simultaneously consume foods that damage your teeth. So, be aware of the foods to be avoided to maintain dental health.

Foods with high sugar content damage your teeth causing dental caries or cavities. So, food products such as white sugar, brown sugar, evaporated cane juice, organic sugar, corn syrup, or commercial jams and candies that are sticky in consistency should be avoided. Certain microorganisms present on the teeth surface use these sugars and convert them to acid. Exposure of tooth surface to acid for a long time causes erosion of tooth enamel. Gradually, the calcium of tooth dissolves causing tooth decay. Junk foods that lack nutritional elements like vitamins and minerals should also be avoided to prevent formation of dental decay and cavities.