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Understanding the Symptoms of TMJ Disorder
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Have you recently developed pain in facial areas such as your jaw, neck and shoulders? If so, there’s a chance that you may have developed TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) disorder. TMJ disorder can occur and progress due to a number of different factors. TMJ is fairly common and most often can be a temporary condition. For more information about TMJ disorder in the greater New York City area, contact Park Dental Care of Astoria.
There are many different symptoms of TMJ disorder. Some of these include: blinking, difficulty biting or chewing, an unnatural “popping” sound when opening or closing the mouth, aching pain in the oral region, earaches, headaches, migraines, tenderness of the jaw, hearing loss, dizziness, and neck or shoulder pain. Sometimes patients will experience an uneven or uncomfortable bite and difficulty opening and closing their mouth. As you can see, the signs for TMJ are extremely varied and diverse. If you are experiencing difficulty moving your jaw, or have persistent pain and tenderness in the target TMJ areas, it is advisable that you seek dental assistance to determine if your discomfort is being caused by TMJ disorder.
The cause of TMJ disorder is obscure, to say the least. Often, doctors do not know why a patient develops TMJ. One common explanation is injury to the jaw or surrounding area. This, for obvious reasons, would cause many of the symptoms of TMJ and spark its development. Another source is grinding or clenching of the teeth. This would put unnecessary stress on the temporomandibular joints, creating pain and making contraction of the condition easier. Finally, arthritis is also often considered a source of TMJ.
Diagnosing TMJ disorder is a difficult and confusing process. There are so many possible causes and symptoms of TMJ that identifying a standard diagnosis for this disorder is hard to do. Generally, when determining whether a patient has TMJ, doctors will note the patient’s symptoms and take them into consideration, look over their medical history, and double check their “problem” areas: face, jaw, neck, shoulders and head. If needed, x-rays and imaging studies will be taken. Often, simply facial tenderness or aching symptoms may be a result of other conditions, such as sinus or ear infections and facial neuralgias. Therefore, ruling out these possibilities will help to identify whether or not a patient has TMJ.
Because TMJ is often temporary, treatment is sometimes simple and minimal. Doctors will usually tell TMJ patients to eat soft foods, apply ice packs, and avoid excessive jaw movements, such as yawning or singing. Sometimes patients will be taught gentle jaw exercises to ease the ache and relax the muscles. Additionally, over-the counter pain medication (such as ibuprofen) is recommended to ease pain. Finally, if the doctor sees fit, stabilization from a splint or bite guard may be suggested.
TMJ disorder is painful and gets in the way of many normal, everyday functions. If you are experiencing any of the TMJ symptoms mentioned above, seriously consider consulting a dentist. They can analyze your symptoms, diagnose your condition and rid you of those unnatural and uncomfortable bothers.
For more information about TMJ disorder in Queens, NY, contact Park Dental Care today at 718-Dentist.
General Dentistry: Tips to Finding a Qualified Dentist
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Looking for a dentist that’s perfect for you? The field of general dentistry offers countless qualified, dependable and trustworthy dentists. You just have to know where to find them! Luckily, for residents in the Queens and Metropolitan New York area, you only have to look as far as Park Dental Care in Astoria, where top-notch dentists are available for all of your general dentistry needs. But for the purposes of this article, we are going to provide a few tips for finding a qualified dentist, no matter where you choose to look.
To begin your search for the dentist that’s right for you, it is a great idea to talk to family, friends and co-workers and see who they recommend. These are the people that know you best, so chances are if they feel comfortable with a certain professional, you will too. If you want more certified advice, you can turn to your family doctor or local pharmacist or you can do some research online.
When searching for a dentist, you may come across two different titles: doctor of dental surgery (DDS) and doctor of dental medicine (DDM). Dentists that share either of these titles have both received dependable degrees in the field of general dentistry and can equally fulfill your dental needs. In addition, all qualified dentists should carry a license to practice. Other labels you may come across are related to the type of dental practice a dentist is in, where names such as “cosmetic dentistry” and “family dentistry” come into play. Again, either of these labels indicates a practice of general dentistry that sufficiently serves individual and family clients. These practices are typically not geared towards specialized dentistry.
General dentists should be able to provide quality services to keep your teeth and mouth in good condition. Some common services offered in the field of general dentistry include: teeth cleaning and extractions, root canals, dental bridges and dental crowns. They should provide treatment that covers all areas in and surrounding your oral cavity, such as your teeth, gums, and even face and neck if necessary. Prior to receiving treatment, a dentist should provide you with general information about the procedure you will undergo. It is best to talk with your dentist and establish a good relationship with them. That way, when you have questions or concerns about a treatment, you will feel comfortable addressing them. Finally, a good dentist should know their boundaries. If a dentist believes that a client needs specialized treatment outside their own capacity, they should be willing to recommend another professional that is able to meet the patient’s needs.
A good dentist should be available when you need them, whether it is an emergency or just a general checkup. Their office should be easily accessible by phone and e-mail, and this information should be easy to find as well. In addition to being reachable, quality dentists should be easy to talk to. You should feel comfortable with calling them at any time of day with questions or concerns (although you should also understand that sometimes you’ll have to wait for them to get back to you because they are busy with other patients).
It is crucial that you keep your teeth and mouth in excellent condition. Therefore, finding a quality dentist that can meet all of your general dentistry needs is essential. At Park Dental Care in Astoria, we offer New Yorkers general dentistry care provided by some of the best dentists around. Our professionals are fully qualified, easy to talk to and very experienced. Make sure your smile stays beautiful – contact Park Dental Care today!
For more information about our quality general dentists, contact Park Dental Care at 718-Dentist. At Park Dental Care of Astoria, we can ensure professional dental service that fits your every need. Residents of Queens, as well as those located throughout the metropolitan NYC, will find that we are conveniently located near the N & Q subway lines at the Astoria Ditmars Blvd. station. Let us help you keep your smile healthy and looking beautiful!
The Benefits of Tooth Colored Fillings
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A tooth filling may be a necessity if there is any type of decay or damage in one or more teeth. When this occurs, the decayed or damaged portion of the tooth must be removed and the resulting space, or cavity, must be filled with a material that will seal the remaining tooth and provide a solid surface that can be used for chewing, eating and talking, while also protecting the tooth from being exposed to culprits that can cause further decay.
When a tooth needs to be filled, a patient has a few options. The traditional treatment option used to be that the tooth was filled with a silver amalgam material. This provided a sturdy structure for the tooth but was somewhat unsightly, since the silver filling could be easily seen, detracting from the overall look of a person’s smile. In addition to the detrimental aesthetic effects of silver amalgam fillings, these types of dental fillings were also prone to developing minor cracks and fissures over time that could allow decay to get into the underlying tooth, causing additional decay and resulting in potentially more severe dental problems.
Today’s tooth-colored fillings are extremely popular options for anyone that is in need of a dental filling. This is because they are made from a composite material that is matched to the patient’s natural tooth color, making them nearly indistinguishable from the rest of the teeth in a patient’s mouth, as well as the rest of the tooth that the filling resides in. Not only do these tooth colored fillings look better, but due to the material that is used and the way the filling is bonded to the tooth, the material is stronger and longer-lasting than the old silver amalgam fillings.
In fact, not only are more and more patients that are in need of new dental fillings opting for the more natural looking, tooth colored composite fillings, but many people are choosing to have their older amalgam fillings replaced with this new material. Some older dental fillings are being replaced because the amalgam fillings are beginning to deteriorate, in order to prevent the possibility of additional tooth decay from occurring.
Other patients are simply opting to replace their amalgam fillings with the tooth colored composite material even if no issues have yet occurred with their older fillings. Most are doing so for cosmetic reasons, so they have a more natural-looking, beautiful smile. As an added bonus however, replacing the older fillings with the new strong, long-lasting material provides added benefits because it prevents any potential problems from arising due to unknown cracks that may occur in the old fillings.
The good news is that tooth colored fillings not only look great, but they are strong and extremely long lasting. That means that most patients can expect that once their teeth are filled using this type of composite material, they will not need to replace their fillings again. That is certainly something worth smiling about!
For more information about tooth filling options, and particularly tooth colored fillings, in Queens, NY, contact Park Dental Care at 718-274-1515.
5 Tips To Consider When Choosing An Orthodontist
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An orthodontist is a dentist that specializes in treating patients with improper positioning and irregularities of the teeth. This is commonly performed by placing braces on misaligned teeth in order to coax the teeth into proper alignment. In addition to traditional metal braces, however, there are a number of other methods that today’s orthodontists use to create straighter and more beautiful smiles. Due to the variety of treatment options available to those in need of orthodontia, there are a few tips that should be kept in mind when choosing an orthodontist.
The first thing you should consider is the quality of the orthodontist. Although you may not be able to gauge the quality of his or her expertise and care prior to utilizing the orthodontist’s services, you can do some research that can help you determine a bit about the orthodontist’s reputation for excellence. For example, the first thing you should do is ask people you know that have undergone orthodontic treatment to provide you with their own personal recommendations and advice. This is often one of the best ways to find a good orthodontist. If you trust the person’s judgment – and you like the look of their teeth – it will give you a pretty good indication of what you can expect from the orthodontist.
In addition to the orthodontist’s level of expertise, you also want to make sure that you feel well cared for and comfortable with not only the orthodontist, but his or her staff as well. Orthodontic treatment typically spans a few years, with a good deal of regularly scheduled visits required, so you should make sure you feel welcome and comfortable with the overall patient experience. Even if an orthodontist has extensive training, your experience may not be a positive one if you don’t find that he or she treats you well .
Another consideration is the type of orthodontic treatments that are offered. Different orthodontists offer different treatment options to their patients, so it is important to find a professional that will provide you with a number of treatment options – or at least the orthodontic option you are seeking, if you know what that is. For example, many orthodontists now offer options such as Invisalign or other clear aligner systems as an alternative to metal braces for re-aligning teeth. This is an increasingly popular option for adults seeking orthodontic treatment, and the Invisalign system is also available to teens, although not all orthodontists offer it as an option.
Of course, convenience is a consideration that many people will evaluate when choosing an orthodontist. This type of treatment generally requires regularly scheduled visits, typically as often as every 4 – 6 weeks over the course of 1 – 3 years, so convenience is a big factor in selecting the right professional. This factor can account for anything from where the practice is located to what the dentist’s office hours are.
Finally, a big consideration for most people involves the cost of treatment. Orthodontic treatment costs can vary considerably from dentist to dentist, and may also vary based on the proposed treatment that each orthodontist recommends for the patient’s specific needs. In some cases, the treatment is not covered by insurance or is only partially covered, so cost becomes a big factor in the decision making process.
For more information about the services we offer related to orthodontics in Queens, NY, contact Park Dental Care at 718-274-1515.
Causes of Tooth Extractions
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There are a number of reasons why a person might need to have one or more of their teeth extracted. Knowing what situations can result in a tooth extraction can better help you avoid facing the circumstances that result in this less-than-desired dental procedure.
To start with, a tooth extraction is basically any type of procedure that results in removal or one or more of your permanent teeth. Unlike children, who are expected to lose their first set of teeth naturally so that their second set of permanent teeth can come in, adults are not supposed to lose any of their teeth.
If a tooth needs to come out for some reason, it generally requires an additional procedure that is aimed at replacing the lost tooth. The options for replacing the tooth can vary, from a bridge to a dental implant, but an extracted tooth usually requires that something more be done in the mouth to fill the space that is left by the missing tooth. The exception to this is when a tooth extraction occurs because there is too little space in the mouth for all teeth to fit properly and the tooth is removed to provide additional space for the remaining teeth. Another exception is for wisdom teeth removal. When wisdom teeth are extracted, there is no need to provide a false tooth in their place.
So what are the reasons that you might need to have one or more of your teeth extracted?
- Trauma – one common reason for requiring a tooth extraction is due to trauma that affects one or more teeth. If trauma occurs to a tooth, either due to it being hit, badly broken, or the victim of some other type of accident, it may mean that the tooth has to come out. In some cases, the trauma might already knock out the tooth or partially knock it out and the remaining portion of the tooth must be removed. In other cases, a portion of the tooth may chip or break and it may be deemed better to remove the entire tooth than to repair it.
- Decay – if a tooth becomes badly decayed, it may need to be removed. Minor decay generally results in the need for a dental filling because a cavity results. But if minor decay is not addressed, it can cause more major problems and if the decay is severe, it may mean that the tooth needs to be extracted because it is beyond repair.
- Infection – if tooth decay gets to the point where it is so severe, it can affect the underlying pulp and nerves of the tooth and can cause infection. One way to treat this is with a root canal and the administration of antibiotics. But sometimes, this procedure and medication are not enough to stop the infection and the only way to prevent the infection from spreading is to remove the tooth.
- Gum Disease – individuals that experience severe forms of periodontal disease can be at risk for losing teeth and may require tooth extractions to save any existing gum tissue and underlying bone from experiencing further problems.
- Crowding – sometimes, teeth need to be extracted not because they are damaged, broken or decayed, but simply because there is not enough room in a person’s mouth for all of their teeth to fit in properly. When this occurs, it can cause overcrowding and result in misalignment of teeth. Both dentists and orthodontists may recommend tooth extractions to remove teeth if there is not enough room.
- Wisdom Teeth – many people require the removal of wisdom teeth because they don’t come in properly. Wisdom teeth can be impacted, can grow in sideways or tilted, or may not have room to come in at all. Since they are not needed for proper tooth functioning, these teeth are typically extracted if there is any problem with them.
For more information about tooth extractions in Queens, NY, contact Park Dental Care at 718-274-1515.
What Is TMJ Disorder?
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TMJ disorder is the more common term for the condition temporomandibular joint disorder. It is a relatively common condition due to the fact that the temporomandibular joint is one of the most frequently used joints throughout the entire body. In fact, it is estimated that over 10% of people in the U.S. suffer from the condition. Each person has two temporomandibular joints – one on each side of the jaw. When the joint becomes irritated or inflamed in some way, it causes a number of uncomfortable, annoying and painful symptoms.
So, what is the temporomandibular joint used for and why does it cause so many issues when the joint becomes irritated? This joint is the point where the upper and lower jawbone meet, and it helps the two portions of the jawbone to work together in unison. The joint is used for any movement that requires the opening or closing of the jaw or mouth. This means that every time you talk, bite, chew, eat, drink, yawn, or move your mouth in any other way, your temporomandibular joint is being used.
TMJ disorder occurs when there is irritation or inflammation in the temporomandibular joint. This can occur due to trauma of the face or jaw, arthritis, teeth grinding, teeth clenching, prolonged stress, misalignment of teeth, partial dislocation of the jaw, underlying health conditions, or habits that can irritate the jaw, such as habitual gum chewing or nail biting.
Often the inflammation is constant and the resulting irritation causes a number of very uncomfortable symptoms. The most common symptom is pain, and pain can be felt in the face, in the ear, or in the head (headaches are very common with TMJ disorder). Other symptoms can include stiffness of the jaw, a clicking or popping sound when the joint is moved, ringing in the ear (tinnitus), problems with biting or opening the mouth, or even a locked jaw.
In addition to the actual symptoms of TMJ disorder, other negative impacts can occur in those that suffer from the condition. It can be difficult to sleep, and the constant pain and discomfort can result in irritability, depression, diminished enjoyment of life and reduced productivity.
There are a number of different options available to treat TMJ disorder, and treatment primarily focuses on the cause of the condition. This means treatment can vary from person to person and will depend on factors such as what causes the problem, how severe the symptoms are, and how long it has been going on. One common treatment option is occlusal therapy, which is a customized mouth guard that is worn to reduce the incidence of teeth grinding and clenching, one of the more common causes of the disorder.
Another treatment option involves orthodontics, since the misalignment of teeth is a common reason that people experience symptoms of TMJ disorder. Other dental therapies used to realign teeth include adjustments to dental crowns, dental bridges and dental implants. Stress reduction techniques can also reduce symptoms of TMJ. In severe cases of the condition, surgery may be necessary, although this is not a typical occurrence.
For more information about the various treatments available for TMJ disorder in Queens, NY, contact Park Dental Care at 718-274-1515.
