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- TMJ
- Jaw Problems & Headaches
JAW PROBLEMS & HEADACHES with Seven Fields Dentistry Swindon
Q What is TMJ?
A Dental occlusion is another name for the way your teeth meet when your jaws bite together.
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Q What is TMJ?
A. When you eat food containing sugars and starches, the bacteria in plaque produce acids, which attack tooth enamel. The stickiness of the plaque keeps these acids in contact with teeth. After this happens many times, the tooth enamel can break down forming a hole or cavity. |
Q What kind of problems might I have?
| A. If your teeth don't fit together properly, you can have problems not only in your teeth themselves, but also the gums, the temporo-mandibular joint or the muscles that move your jaw. These problems are called 'occlusal' problems.
Teeth
Teeth that are out of line, heavily worn or constantly breaking, fillings that fracture or crowns that work loose may all be signs of occlusal problems. Your teeth may also be tender to bite on or may ache constantly.
Gums
Loose teeth or receding gums can be made worse by a faulty bite.
TMJ
Clicking, grinding or pain in your jaw joints, ringing or buzzing in your ears and difficulty in opening or closing your mouth could all be due to your teeth not meeting each other properly.
Muscles
If your jaw is in the wrong position, the muscles that move the jaw have to work a lot harder and can get tired. This leads to muscle spasm. The main symptoms are continual headaches or migraine, especially first thing in the morning; pain behind your eyes; sinus pain and pains in your neck and shoulders. Sometimes even back muscles are involved. |
Q How can I tell if I have a problem?
| A. You may find that you clench or grind your teeth, although most people who do aren't aware of it. Sometimes can be caused by anxiety, but generally most people clench their teeth when they are concentrating on a task - housework, gardening, car mechanics, typing and so on.
You may wake up in the morning with a stiff jaw or tenderness when you bite together. This could be due to clenching or grinding your teeth in your sleep. Most people who grind their teeth do it while they are asleep and may not know they are doing it.
If you suffer from severe headaches, or neck and shoulder pain, you may not have linked this with possible jaw problems. Or you may keep having pain or discomfort on the side of your face around your ears or jaw joints or difficulty in moving your jaw. These are all symptoms of TMJ problems.
If you are missing some teeth at the back of your mouth, this may lead to an unbalanced bite, which can cause uneven pressure on your teeth.
Together, all these symptoms are called 'TMJ syndrome'. |
Q How are occlusal problems treated?
A. See your dentist. He or she may be able to help you or may refer you to a specialist who deals with occlusal problems.
Depending on the problems you are having, it can be possible to spot the signs of an occlusal problem. Various muscles may be sore when tested, or the broken and worn areas of your teeth will show you are grinding your teeth - a common sign of an incorrect bite.
If your dentist suspects that your problems are due to an incorrect bite, he or she may help to diagnose the problem by supplying a temporary soft nightguard or hard plastic appliance that fits over your upper or lower teeth. This appliance needs to be measured and fitted very accurately so that when you bite on it, all your teeth meet at exactly the same time in a position where your muscles are relaxed. You may have to wear this all the time or, just at night. If the appliance relieves your symptoms then your bite may need to be corrected permanently.
Tooth Adjustment (equilibration)
Your teeth may need to be carefully adjusted to meet evenly. Changing the direction and position of the slopes that guide your teeth together can often help to reposition the jaw.
Replacement of teeth
The temporo-mandibular joint needs equal support from both sides of both jaws. The chewing action is designed to work properly only when all your teeth are present and in the correct position. Missing teeth may need to be replaced either with a partial denture or bridgework.
Replacement is not usually done until a diagnosis has been confirmed by using an appliance and this has fully relieved the symptoms. Relief in some patients is instant: in others it can take a long time.
Medication
Some drugs can help in certain cases, but this is usually only temporary. Hormone replacement therapy may also help some women.
Diet and Exercise
As with any joint pain, it can help to put less stress on the joint. So a soft diet can be helpful, as can Corrective exercises and external heat. Physiotherapy exercises can often help, and your dentist may be able to show some of these to you.
Relaxation
Counselling and relaxation therapy may help in some cases. These techniques help the patient to become more aware of stressful situations and to control tension.
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Q Will straightening my teeth help?
A. If your teeth are too far out of line or in a totally incorrect bite position, it may be necessary to fit an orthodontic appliance to move them into a better position. |
Q How many people suffer from these problems?
A. Up to 1 in 4 people may have some symptoms. Both men and women are affected equally, although women tend to seek
treatment more often than men. The symptoms can often start with the menopause or other hormonal changes.
Many people have imperfect occlusion and missing teeth, yet never have symptoms because they adjust to their problems. Occasionally, in times of increased stress and tension, the symptoms may appear and then go away immediately. Or, your teeth and gums may be affected straight away and instead of headaches, you may suffer:
* flattened, worn teeth
* broken teeth, fillings and crowns
* loose teeth
* continual sensitivity of your teeth to temperature change
* toothache with no apparent cause.
If you think you have any of these problems, ask your dentist.
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PIT AND FISSURE SEALANTS with Seven Fields Dentistry Swindon
Q What are sealants?
A. Sealants are a safe and painless way or protecting your children's teeth from decay. A sealant is a protective plastic coating, which is applied to the biting surfaces of the back teeth. The sealant forms a hard shield that keeps food and bacteria from getting into the tiny grooves in the teeth and causing decay.
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Q Which teeth should be sealed?
A. Sealants are only applied to the back teeth - the molars and premolars. These are the teeth that have pits and fissures on their biting surfaces. Your dentist will tell you which teeth should be sealed after they have examined them, and checked whether the fissures are deep enough for sealing to help. Some teeth naturally form with deep grooves, which will need to be sealed, others with shallow ones which will not need sealing |
Q What is involved?
| A. The process is usually quick and straightforward taking only a few minutes per tooth. The tooth is thoroughly cleaned, prepared with a special solution, and dried. The liquid sealant is then applied and allowed to set hard - usually by shining an ultraviolet light onto it. |
Q Will my child feel it?
| A. No, it is totally pain free, and the teeth do not feel any different afterwards. |
Q How long do they last?
A. Sealants usually last for many years, but your dentist will want to check them regularly to make sure that the seal is still intact. They can wear over time, and sometimes the dentist needs to add or replace some sealant to be sure that no decay can start underneath them.
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Q How do they work?
A. The sealant forms a smooth, protective barrier, by covering all the little grooves and dips in the surface of the tooth. Dental decay easily starts in these grooves.
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Q When should this be done?
A. ealants are often applied as soon as the permanent teeth start to come through. This is usually between 6 and 7 years of age. The rest are usually sealed as soon as they appear which can be any time between 11 and 14 years of age.
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Q How much does it cost?
A. Most dentists offer fissure sealing. It may be available on the NHS and is not expensive. But in many cases it is available only privately. The cost varies from dentist to dentist, but it is usually good value.
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Q Do my children still have to clean their teeth?
A. Yes. It is still vital that they do this. The smooth, sealed surface is now much easier to keep clean
and healthy with normal toothbrushing. Using a fluoride
toothpaste will also help to protect your children's teeth. Pit and fissure sealing reduces tooth decay and the number of fillings your child might need.
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Q Whom do I ask about the treatment?
A If you would like to know more about the treatment, ask your dentist or hygienist. They will tell you if fissure sealing will help your children's teeth, and if it is the right time to do it
Courtesy of the BDHF
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