TMJ is the common name for a collection of complaints called Temporomandibular Joint and Muscle Disorders. These are a collection of complaints that affect the jaw and the surrounding muscles, limiting jaw movement and causing pain. TMJ is often poorly understood which can often lead to misdiagnosis and continued pain and discomfort. TMJ is often attributed as symptom of a wider condition and ignored as a condition in its own right.

It is thought that as many as one in ten people suffer from some form of the condition but few ever receive the necessary treatment. The main symptoms of TMJ are characterised by pain but there can be a number of other tell tale signs. Limited movement of the jaw, ringing in the ears, dizziness and muscle stiffness can all also be signs of TMJ. Often TMJ is only mild and will heal on its own without treatment over a few weeks. However, if the pain does not go away it may be necessary to go to your Kingston-upon-Thames dentist to have the problem treated.

At present there is no standard test for the diagnosis of TMJ. Your dentist will need to conduct a series of tests and examine your medical history to see if you are likely to be a sufferer. There are several major causes of TMJ but the most likely include injuries to the jaw, genetic predisposition and clenching or grinding of the teeth. Treatment of the condition often involves avoiding food difficult to chew and anything that could involve a large jaw movement. Keeping the levels of discomfort to a minimum will help to reduce the impact of the condition and allow for a more speedy recovery.

When out teeth come under attack from tooth decay caused by plaque and bacteria, dental cavities begin to appear in our teeth. If these cavities are not addressed with treatment they will get bigger until the enamel is breached and plaque and bacteria can penetrate to the more sensitive central area of the tooth. This could be the cause of dental infection or abscess that will certainly be painful and often costly to treat.

One way of preventing this from happening is to use a dental filling to prevent the cavity from growing any larger. This involves using dental bonding to fill the cavity and solidify. However, in some circumstances, the cavity may already be too big and will require a greater degree of protection. This is when a Sunbury dentist may resort to using a dental crown. This is an artificial cap that is cemented over the whole part of the tooth above the gum line to protect it from further damage.

The process of fitting a crown first involves the removal of a certain amount of tooth enamel. This allows the crown to fit comfortably over the top of the existing tooth without appearing too large. The new crown, usually made from porcelain but they can also be made from metal including gold and silver, will have been specially designed and manufactured to fit into place. It will then be cemented in place using composite resin bonding.

Dental crowns are also used as the result of a number of other dental processes. For example, after a root canal procedure which is used to remove any traces of bacterial infection in the teeth. Because the tooth will have already been significantly damaged by the infection, a crown will be needed after surgery to protect the tooth from further infection. Dental crowns are also used to repair teeth that have been damaged by dental trauma such as cracks and chips.

When you have suffered the pain and misery of losing a tooth, either due to decay or infection or as the result of an accident, you may want to have the tooth replaced as soon as possible. This is often because as well as the physical trauma of losing a tooth, it can also cause emotional distress because it looks very unattractive. There are also a number of health reasons why it is important to replace missing teeth. For example, the other teeth in the dental arc can be encouraged to move and rotate if one of the teeth is missing.

One of the most common ways of replacing a missing tooth is to use a dental bridge. This involves attaching an artificial tooth, known as the pontic, to two dental crowns. These are then attached to the teeth on either side of the missing tooth creating the appearance that the pontic is your original tooth. Although a dental bridge does not replace the whole of the tooth including the root, it can still be very solid and will create the visual impression of a full set of teeth. It also means you don’t have to worry about the fuss and hassle of a plate of partial denture.

In some cases, where the teeth on either side of the gap are in very good condition, the Surbiton dentist may be slightly reluctant to remove any healthy enamel. In this case, they are able to attach the pontic only using resin-bonded strips. This is just as solid as using dental crowns but you get to keep all your original enamel.

A good dental bridge should last somewhere between ten and twenty years if well maintained. It will replace the functionality and more importantly for patients, the appearance of a full and healthy set of teeth and won’t set you back a small fortune.

Teeth can come under attack from a number of sources. Most obviously, they are at risk constantly from the dangers of plaque and bacteria eroding the enamel and causing dental problems. This can also lead to the enamel of the teeth being in very bad and worn condition. As well as causing a number of serious dental health problems this can also look very unseemly and spoil the appearance of the tooth. Other problems that affect the look of your teeth include discolouration caused by staining from food and other substances. The teeth can also be affected by conditions such as uneven spacing. In all these cases the teeth could considerably benefit from porcelain veneers.

Veneers are ceramic caps that fit over the top of the existing teeth to improve the appearance. They are designed for your individual teeth cemented in place using a tooth coloured bonding resin that also adds a protective element to the veneers.

Veneers are commonly made from porcelain because it offers a similar appearance to real tooth enamel, even having a slight translucent appearance reminiscent of tooth enamel. They will be designed to restore all the cosmetic elements of healthy teeth including alignment, spacing and colour.

Modern porcelain veneers are also incredibly thin which means your Weybridge dentist does not need to remove any healthy dental enamel to fit the new veneers over the top. This has often been the problem with veneers in the past. Modern veneer technology also uses the latest digital x-ray and three-dimensional imaging to reduce the manufacturing time needed and overall treatment time. To find out more about the potential benefits of porcelain veneers, ask your dentist at your next appointment.

A lifetime of eating and drinking can have a detrimental effect on your teeth. Food and drink contains colouring that over time penetrates the tooth enamel and makes the teeth lose their original colour. Certain substances are particularly bad for causing staining such as red wine and coffee. Tobacco is also very bad for causing discolouration of the teeth.

When the teeth are discoloured they can look very unattractive and it can also add years to your appearance. Yellow or discoloured teeth can therefore cause a great deal of emotional anxiety and self-esteem issues for many people. However, there are a number of ways you can improve the appearance of discoloured teeth. One of the most popular is a cosmetic procedure called teeth whitening.

This involves applying a gel containing hydrogen peroxide to the teeth in specially designed trays. The gel seeps into the tooth enamel and stains it white, returning the enamel to a more natural and healthy colour of white. Tooth whitening is more effective for some people than it is for others but in most cases it will produce noticeable results and in some cases can even whiten teeth by up to ten shades.

Molesey dentists offer teeth whitening as a standard procedure. This is in contrast to about ten years ago when tooth whitening was a relatively exclusive treatment that was very expensive. Greater demand and developments in technology over recent years have made tooth whitening more available and more affordable to the extent it is now considered a standard cosmetic treatment, such as a hair cut or nail appointment.

There is little or no risk involved with teeth whitening if carried out by a dentist. They can use the necessary safety equipment to protect the soft tissue areas of the mouth. The worst most patients experience is a slight feeling of sensitive teeth for a day or so after treatment.

Spitting out toothpaste and noticing blood in the sink can be a worrying experience. As can noticing the taste of blood in the mouth but it can be due to a number of reasons. In most cases this is easily treated and will eventually make your teeth and gums stronger and healthier.

The main cause of bleeding gums is gum disease. In its milder form this is known as gingivitis, but when it becomes more serious it is called periodontitis. It occurs when the gums are covered and attacked by plaque and bacteria. These release acids, which gradually erode the gum tissue and cause irritation and infection. This can often cause the gums to bleed as a result of being weakened by an infection. This kind of bleeding gum acts as an indicator that you need to start paying more attention to your dental hygiene.

The gums can also bleed if you have recently started to floss or pay more attention to your dental hygiene. Flossing for the first time will stimulate areas of the gums around the base of the teeth that may not have been cleaned for a long time. They will be very sensitive and may bleed as a result of coming into contact with the dental floss. This will usually stop after a few days of flossing as the gums become cleaner and firmer.

However, there is a more serious side to bleeding gums. In some extreme cases, bleeding gums may be the result of oral cancer. If the bleeding is otherwise unexplained this could be a sign that something is seriously wrong. If you are unsure why your gums are bleeding i.e you haven’t recently started to floss for the first time, then it is always important that you visit a Molesey dentist for a check up. The chances are it will be nothing serious but it is always better to be safe than sorry

Nervous patients can often present a problem for dentists because somebody who is extremely anxious in the dentist’s chair can be very difficult to treat, especially when trying to carry out sensitive and intricate dental repair work. But there are ways to help patients relax before appointments to enable them to receive the treatment they need without any problems.

Nervous patients and patients with dental phobia are surprisingly common in the UK. In fact as many as 90 per cent of people admit to having some fear or trepidation when it comes to visiting the dentist. In most cases this is easily overcome and patients are able to relax. However, in some instances, patients are unable to control their anxiety either in the chair or avoid treatment altogether. This can have very serious detrimental effects on their dental health and can even lead to the need for more treatment in the future.

Many anxious patients find that simply talking to the dentist is enough to help them calm down before treatment. Knowing what to expect during treatment removes the fear of the unknown that is one of the main causes of anxiety. There are other methods such as using aromatherapy and breathing techniques to help patients relax.

Ask your Sunbury dentist about relaxation methods prior to treatment if you suffer from an excess of anxiety about visiting the dentist. It is important that you try to conquer your fears and receive the necessary dental treatment. By working together with your dentist it is possible to find a way which helps you to overcome your fears.

Inman Aligners were designed to help adults achieve straighter teeth, and they are one of those great ideas that actually do what they say on the tin, says a Molesey dentist. The braces are unique in that they are designed like a sporting gum shield, and they come as a series of prefabricated braces. They are designed with tiny weights and pulleys built into the brace, these are made in sequence so that the teeth are pulled and pushed in a certain direction. The way it works also alters the blood flow in the gum line, this allows for new bone to grow behind the tooth and this ensures that the tooth doesn`t go back to its old position. The brace is clear in colour, but there is a bar that runs across the front, this holds it all together. They are only effective on the top and bottom front teeth, the way the pulleys are placed doesn`t allow any pressure points on the inside, so the back teeth cannot be manoeuvred like the front ones. Your dentist will take photos and make a mould of your present teeth, this information is scanned into a computer and that works out all the maths. The series of braces are then made in advance, and they are fitted every two weeks by the dentist. You will also get a DVD in 3D that will show you the whole procedure, and the end result. You will be able to see the results, which can take from 3 to 8 months to complete, right from the start. Your dentist and you will also be able to keep track all the way through the treatment, now that is technology on the move, right here and right now.

X-rays allow the doctor or dentist to see beyond what the eye can see, they have been used for decades to assist in seeing broken bones and growths within the body, says a Surbiton dentist. Dentists have only had them a short while compared to the general medical community, and this was mostly due to the size of the machines. These days we live in the space age, and everything is that much smaller; yet just as effective. Being digital the X-ray that is taken uses a fraction of the radiation the film X-ray does. The image is captured on a sensor and transferred to a computer, that way it becomes instantly visible and viewable. It can be turned around and even made into a 3D image that spins; this reveals a lot more information than the old method of using film. Most of the image is colour coded; this allows the dentist to see where and what the exact problem is. Digital X-rays are used in every aspect of dentistry today, from identifying infections to getting dimensions that will be used to make false teeth and veneers. The usage is limitless; it also helps to keep down the cost of cosmetic dentistry as well as having a positive impact on the environment. Most systems are so powerful that they will pick up and identify even the tiniest of infections within a filling or a deep cavity within a tooth. The image produced can be made into a computer generated image; this will allow you to see what a tooth or dental procedure will look like even before you start the treatment. So next time you`re at the dentist ask them if they use digital X-rays.

The invisalign brace is a brace that is almost invisible to the eye, and it does a brilliant job of straightening your adult teeth. It is also removable and so when you need to lose it, at a business lunch for instance, you can simply pop it out, then pop it back in afterwards. This doesn`t affect the procedure at all, in fact you will also want to take it out when you are cleaning your teeth, says a Surrey dentist. Your dentist will take digital photos and make a mould of your teeth; these are scanned into a computer program. The programmer then works out all the pressure points that will be incorporated into the series of braces that will form the main crux of the treatment, the braces are replaced with an advanced one every two weeks by your dentist. You will also be seeing a 3D film produced by the computer; this will show you and your dentist the whole procedure from start to finish. You will also get to see the end result as a CGI even before you start the treatment, you will also be able to keep a track on the progress on the way it is going as you go along. It is good for fixing front and back teeth as the pressure points are all installed on the inner part of the brace, with no visible parts to see this makes the brace almost invisible. The treatment takes around 8 months for most people, but there are reports of periods of just 3 months to fix minor misalignments. To find out if an Invisalign is right for you, you will need to consult with your dentist first. You should be able to start the treatment fairly quickly once the initial tests are done.