TMJ Treatment with Your Financial District Dentist

TMJ (temporomandibular joint syndrome), also referred to as TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder) or MPD (myofascial pain dysfunction), refers to a chronic, degenerative condition of the temporomandibular joint, which connects the skull to the mandible, or jaw.  This painful condition can easily be treated by Dr. Lloyd Becker at Maiden Lane Dental.

Common Symptoms of TMJ:

Clicking is common, but pain in the jaw joint or chewing muscle is the most common indicator.  Earaches, headaches, migraines, hearing loss and neck pain are also common symptoms.

Causes of TMJ:

Repetitive, unconscious clenching or grinding teeth, trauma, malalignment of teeth due to crowns, jaw thrusting, excessive gum chewing or nail biting, lack of an overbite and degenerative joint disease such as osteoarthritis can cause TMJ.  Disorders of the teeth can also contribute to TMJ.  The most common cause is the way the teeth meet together, which may be altered after the wisdom teeth are extracted.

Treatment:

It is best to treat TMJ when it is in early stages.  See Dr. Becker if you are in severe pain or if the pain does not go away.  First, he will determine the optimal position of the jaw by measuring the relaxed position of the head and neck muscles, and then reposition the jaw to achieve exact measurements.  Treatment options include adjusting the bite, orthotics, orthodontics, or restoring the teeth to their correct positions.  The point is to correct the bite and realign the jaw, which relieves the pain associated with TMJ.

Financial District Invisalign

Invisalign is a great choice for adults that would like to straighten their teeth without the “metal-mouth” look of traditional braces.  Invisalign aligners are completely transparent and removable, so they offer the results of orthodontics while offering freedom from treatment when you need it.  Besides this cosmetic advantage, your teeth will be easier to clean. Traditional braces cannot be removed, so food particles can remain lodged between the metal brackets and your tooth enamel, which can be impossible for a toothbrush to reach.  This is the cause of demineralization, which leaves a permanent discoloration on the tooth. Invisalign eliminates this orthodontic risk.  Another advantage of Invisalign not being a fixed appliance is that it permits a diet that is not limited to certain types of food.  Simply remove the aligners at meal time and enjoy. 

The Invisalign process involves computerized treatment planning, which allows you to learn your estimated treatment time.  After receiving you first set of aligners you will return to Dr. Lloyd Becker’s Financial District Dental Office every two weeks for the next aligner in your series.  Traditional braces are adjusted every six to eight weeks with greater force, which causes more pain than Invisalign.  The average treatment time is one year depending on the cases complexity.  Simple treatments such as relapse from childhood braces, minor crowding or spacing may be as short as five months.  Call Dr. Becker today to schedule your Invisalign consultation at Maiden Lane Dental in the Financial District.

Financial District Endodontist

The dental specialty of Endodontics deals with the tissue surrounding the root of the tooth as well as the tooth pulp and requires two to three additional years of training beyond dental school.  The most common Endodontic procedure is a root canal.  The purpose of a root canal is to save a tooth that is badly decayed, broken or infected.  During the procedure, the Endodontist will clean the center chamber, or the root canal of the tooth that contains the infected roots and pulp.  In order for the tooth not to form a painful abscess, all of the decaying tissue must be removed, which will not affect the primary function of the tooth. However, the ability to sense hot and cold with the tooth after a root canal procedure will not be possible.  The tooth is then cleaned and sealed to prevent further infection. 

In recent years the occurrence of tooth decay has significantly diminished due to the availability of fluoride as well as patient awareness.  Even with the better oral hygiene of the last thirty years, teeth are still susceptible to infection and breakage.  Dr. Lloyd Becker at Maiden Lane Dental provides excellent Endodontic services in the Financial District.   

Sugar and Your Teeth

We all eat sugar.  Whether it is from cookies, grapes or pasta, carbohydrates affect our oral health.  Each time you eat a snack containing simple or complex sugars, your teeth are attacked for up to 20 minutes.  These attacks are intensified by the amount of sugar you eat and actually when you eat.  Foods that are eaten during a meal pose less of a threat to your teeth because of the additional saliva produced.  Saliva helps to clean food particles away from your teeth, which reduces the damage from the sugar acids.  

Of course there are foods that help protect your teeth as well.  All food that is made from milk, like yogurt and cheese, are rich in calcium.  You can feel good when eating any of these because calcium is an essential nutrient for the development of bones and teeth.  Cheese has even been proven to help protect your teeth from demineralization, or the loss of calcium in your teeth.

The best way to protect your teeth is good oral hygiene and regular visits to Dr. Becker at Maiden Lane Dental.  Toothbrushing is important to maintaining a healthy smile and should be done at least twice a day.  By not flossing, you miss cleaning up to 35% of your teeth.  Good oral hygiene in conjunction with your bi-annual cleanings can keep your teeth in optimum condition your whole life.