The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a small joint positioned in front of the ear where the skull and lower jaw meet. It allows the lower jaw to function and move properly. TMJ disorder defines a wide range of conditions that affect the jaw muscles, temporomandibular joints, and nerves connected with chronic facial pain. Patients experiencing TMJ often encounter extreme discomfort and pain in their jaw.  In addition, it can cause problems with their teeth such as excessive wear and breakage. Our goal is to reduce the damage and pain that has been caused by TMJ and provide our patients the best tools, treatment, and appliances to prevent any further pain or injury.

TMJ Disorders

Studies have indicated that over 10 million Americans are affected by a TMJ disorder. In addition, the condition appears to be more common in women than in men.  Although TMJ disorders start in the mouth, it can affect the entire body. When your jaw joints are out of balance, our body aims to counterbalance to maintain stability. If untreated, this imbalance can start affecting the spine, thereby creating imbalance and pain in your back. Once the imbalance is transferred down your spine, the pain can develop in your shoulders and upper back. The effect of imbalance can be spontaneous pain or increased pain from your daily activities. In addition to causing imbalance in your body, TMJ can cause pinched nerves close to your jaw joint. As your spine attempt to maintain balance, it can curve slightly causing nerves to be pinched that are between the vertebrae and run to various parts of your body.  The most commonly affected nerves are the brachial nerves that run out to your fingers. You may encounter pain, numbness, or tingling in your hands and fingers.

Causes of TMJ

Many TMJ symptoms are caused by effects of physical stress on the structures around the joint. The structures include:

•    Cartilage disk at the joint

•    Nearby ligaments, blood vessels, and nerves

•    Teeth

TMJ disorders can occur if the disk moves out of its proper alignment, the joint’s cartilage is weakened by arthritis, or if the joint is injured by a blow or other impact. In most cases, causes for TMJ disorders are unknown. Some causes for this condition may include a bad bite and tooth grinding due to stress. In addition, poor posture can also be an important factor in TMJ symptoms. Other factors that may make TMJ symptoms work include a lack of sleep and a poor diet.

TMJ Symptoms

Many symptoms are associated with TMJ disorders. You may experience difficulty or discomfort in chewing or biting. Clicking or popping may occur while opening and closing the mouth. In addition, you may suffer from earaches, headaches, and tenderness of the jaw.

TMJ Treatment

Our dentists offer many treatment options that will fully correct your TMJ issues. We will discuss the advantages of each treatment in order to suit your needs. Some patients will find comfort through a mouth guard they wear at night. Other patients will need further TMJ treatments to prevent lock-jaw and severe pain.

At Avenues Dentistry, we offer effective TMJ treatments that have been proven to work.  Our Salt Lake City dental staff will examine your jaw in order to find alignment problems, arthritis, injury, or other issues that are causing TMJ. To schedule your first appointment with Avenues Dentistry today, call us at (801)-328-4173!

Sleep apnea patients who have been dissatisfied with their CPAP treatment, or continuous positive airway pressure, are looking for different options to solve their sleep issues. Many turn to a dental solution hoping to find a less intrusive and more comfortable treatment. Although oral appliances may be the right choice for some patients, below are a few details you should know before receiving oral appliance therapy.

What is Oral Appliance Therapy?

Oral Appliance Therapy is used to treat patients who suffer from mild to moderate sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which an individual has one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while sleeping. An oral appliance is a small plastic tool that is placed in your mouth and resembles a sports guard or retainer. Its goal is to maintain an open and clear airway in the throat during sleep to allow for easier breathing. Our dentists will begin the process by selecting and fitting the custom-made oral appliance and determine which design is best suited for your specific needs.

Types of Oral Appliances

Oral appliances come in a diverse variety with a few major themes. They can be categorized by method of action or design variation. Almost all appliances fall into one of two categories, tongue retaining appliance and mandibular repositioning appliance. Tongue retaining appliances hold the tongue in a forward position using a suction tube. A mandibular repositioning appliance shifts the lower jaw in an extended position when sleeping. In addition, the appliance will hold the jaw in a stable position to avoid opening of the mouth.

The Use of an Oral Appliance

Once your oral appliance is properly fitted, it is ready to use. It’s normal to fee slightly uncomfortable, but they should never be painful. The progress of your jaw will steadily increase over a six month period. The oral appliance will pull your lower jaw forward gradually with little to no side effects. A sleep study with the oral appliance in place may be done in order to determine if the treatment is effective.

Advantages of Oral Appliance Therapy

Oral appliance therapy for sleep apnea has many benefits. They are comfortable, easy to use, and quick to adapt to. It typically takes patients numerous nights of wearing a new oral appliance before they feel comfortable with it. If you are someone who often travels , these devices are small and easy to carry. In addition, oral appliance therapy is a non-intrusive substitute for surgery and has higher compliance rates than CPAP.

Oral Appliance Therapy Results

Most patients accept the devices very well and observe substantial improvements in snoring and sleep apnea. Research shows that oral appliances are efficient in treating snoring in 85-90% of the patients. The mandibular repositioning appliance works in managing the apnea levels in 75% of the patients with mild sleep apnea, 60% effective for patients with moderate sleep apnea, and 40% effective for patients with severe sleep apnea.

Possible Side Effects of Oral Appliance Therapy

Using oral appliance therapy may cause temporary side effects. These side effects may be evident during the first few weeks of treatment and may require a slight adjustment of the device. Side effects may include:

Sore gums

Tension in the jaw

Dry mouth

Excessive salivation

Loosening of dental restorations

Change in bite

Slight movement of teeth

These complications can be diagnosed and managed by dentists trained in dental sleep medicine.

Going to the dentist can be a little bit frightening, especially for young children who don’t know what to expect. Though our dental care assistants and dentist work hard to inform all patients and make them comfortable, we do offer sedation dentistry services for our Salt Lake City clients. To schedule your first appointment with Avenues Dentistry today, call us at (801)-328-4173!

Having your mouth operated on can be a terrifying thought. Although it may be necessary in order to save your teeth. Undergoing a root canal surgery will not only improve your smile but your overall health as well. There are some signs of needing a root canal that you can watch out for.

What is Root Canal Surgery?

Root Canal Surgery is performed when the tooth is so badly deteriorated that is starts to affect the root. The center of a tooth, called the pulp, contains blood vessels, connective tissues, and nerves. Bacteria can enter the pulp if you have a deep cavity or crack in your tooth, causing a severe infection or a tooth abscess if left untreated. Symptoms may include a swollen face, toothache, a hole in your tooth, gum inflammation, and sensitivity.

Root Canal Pain

Fearing that root canal surgery is painful is a common misconception. With modern anesthetics and technology, root canal surgery can be relatively painless. In addition, the procedure will eliminate and relieve the current tooth pain you are experiencing.  According to a current survey done by American Association of Endodontics, patients who have undergone root canal treatment are six times more inclined to think the procedure is painless than patients who have not had root canal treatment.  Over the counter pain medication can help ease any discomfort or pain.

Root Canal Complication

Although root canals are mostly successful, complications may occur. In some cases, the dentist may inadvertently harm the tooth during the treatment or create an additional infection. Among the reasons include:

• An unnoticed crack in the tooth’s root
• Recontamination of the pulp of the tooth due to the breakdown of the sealing material
•  More than the normally expected number of root canals in a tooth

Root Canal Recovery

After a root canal surgery, expect to feel some tenderness. Your dentist will provide you with aftercare instructions to ensure properly and timely healing. If you are prescribed an antibiotic, be sure to complete the medication in order to heal completely. Take certain precautions when chewing your food during your root canal recovery. If possible, avoid chewing your food near the affected tooth until the permanent crown is set.

Alternative to Root Canal Surgery

An alternative to undergoing a root canal surgery is to extract the diseased tooth. After extraction, the main goals are to allow regular chewing and to maintain proper alignment and spacing between teeth. A fixed bridge, a detachable partial denture, or an implant will achieve these goals. However, these alternatives are typically more expensive than undergoing a root canal surgery.

Ways to Avoid Root Canal Surgery

1.    Maintain a proper dental routine

By paying close attention to your dental habits, you will protect the overall health of your teeth, gums, and mouth. Brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash morning and night.

2.    Stop harmful behaviors

Consider cutting on harmful foods that have a lot of sugar, such as candy. Sugar can cause the build-up of plaque that can lead to tooth decay. Chewing on ice or hard candy can also cause damage to the enamel.

3.    Maintain healthy gums

It’s important always consider the health of your gums. Gums are an essential part of your mouth and must be taken care of. Brushing and flossing regularly will help prevent gum disease. Ignoring signs of gum disease will make symptoms worse and can even cause loss of teeth.

4.    Visit our doctors

We recommend visiting us routinely for a check-up and professional cleaning in order to maintain a healthy smile. Taking time action will help to prevent the need for root canal surgery.

By practicing better dental hygiene, root canals can be avoided. With cleanings, root canals, and other general dental care services, we’re sure that we’ll be the perfect fit for your family. To schedule an appointment for you or a loved one, call us today at (801)-328-4173!