Advances in TMJ & Neuromuscular Dentistry

Advances in TMJ & Neuromuscular Dentistry

As a leading Fairfax TMJ dental office, many of our patients ask to learn more about advances in TMJ & Neuromuscular Dentistry. Many dental procedures with Dr. Dan Kelliher have the potential to alter the alignment and structure of the jaw and teeth. The proper alignment of the lower jaw’s joint is essential to providing an optimal range of motion. When the joint, called the temporomandibular joint, is misaligned due to injury, disease, degeneration or poor dental work, the result can be a debilitating and painful disorder known as TMD dysfunction. Symptoms of the disorder include facial soreness, pain, clicking and locking of the jaw, tooth grinding, neck aches, headaches and excessive and uneven tooth wear. Patients may also experience ringing in the...

When is the right time to consider wisdom teeth removal?

When is the right time to consider wisdom teeth removal?

As an Alexandria VA dental office, we often have patients asking our dentists, ‘When is the right time to consider wisdom teeth removal?’ The third molars, or wisdom teeth, do not serve a functional purpose, but they often cause oral health problems. Removal is often recommended by our Alexandria dentists to prevent future dental problems from occurring, and the timing of the procedure can be critical. It is far better to remove the wisdom teeth at a young age instead of waiting until problems like periodontal disease arise, but dentists determine the optimal timing for removal based on a patient’s age, oral hygiene level and history of periodontal defects. Impacted Wisdom Teeth One of the most common reasons for wisdom teeth removal is that the...

Potential dental health problems from oral piercings

Potential dental health problems from oral piercings

Potential dental health problems from oral piercings As a Lansdowne dental office serving Ashburn and Leesburg Virginia, our patients often ask, ‘What are the potential dental health problems from oral piercings?’ Piercing may be a hot fashion trend, but your smile may not look so hot if you get a piercing on your tongue or lip. Over time, oral piercings can lead to serious dental problems affecting both the teeth and gums. Including jewelry, the average tongue piercing costs about $40, but it can lead to thousands of dollars of dental work later in life. Fractured teeth is one of the most common problems associated with oral piercings. Nearly half of all people with tongue piercings have chipped teeth that can only be repaired through dental...

Need a Solution for loose and ill-fitting dentures?

Need a Solution for loose and ill-fitting dentures?

As Chicago dental implant specialists, we often have patients ask us, ‘Do you provide a Solution for loose and ill-fitting dentures?’ Dentures have certainly come a long way since ivory prosthetics, but dental implants are the modern day treatment solution for multiple missing teeth. Durable, natural-looking and secure, dental implants are a superior treatment option to dentures. Increased Comfort and Confidence One of the most common and annoying problems with dentures is that they often slip or shift. This may not sound too bad until you try eating or speaking with wobbly dentures! Dental implants let you live with confidence because they will never slip or shift thanks to their secure placement. While dentures are held in place using messy pastes...

What are my dental options for repairing a chipped tooth?

What are my dental options for repairing a chipped tooth?

As a dental office in Springfield, VA, our patients often ask our dentists, What are my dental options for repairing a chipped tooth? Teeth are tough, but they are not immune to chips, cracks and breaks. There is no reason to panic if you chip a tooth due to biting down on something hard, falling or catching a blow to the face. Many treatment options are available from our dentists based on the severity of the damage. Dental Filling or Bonding If just a small piece of enamel has chipped off, a dentist may repair your tooth with a filling. If the damage was done to a front tooth, he or she may use a simple procedure called dental bonding to repair it. When a tooth is bonded, it is etched with a special liquid then covered with a tooth-covered bonding material made...