More About Orthodontics and Oral Surgery for the Jaw

As a provider of orthodontics, we have the expertise to diagnose symptoms that may seem unconnected to the mouth, and connect them back to the jaw bone. A misaligned jaw may or may not manifest itself with traditional symptoms. The jawbone, being in the face, has been known to cause problems to the overall health of a person. For example, the jawbone being misaligned can be diagnosed from symptoms that may include migraine headaches, bouts of dizziness, and even severe pain in the neck and shoulders. There have even been cases of people with tinnitus, an extreme ringing in the ears, finding relief after getting their jaw realigned properly.

Even among orthodontists there are specialists who focus on different areas of the teeth and jaws. Most of the work an orthodontist does is concentrated on the teeth themselves and helping to move the jaw based on the alignment of the teeth, also known as the bite. There are, however, a school of orthodontics that is specifically focused on aligning the jaw and is known as Dentofacial orthodontics. Dentofacial orthodontics attempts to correct the misalignment of the jawbone itself. More often than not these practices are more effective in children, but there are also ways to correct misalignment in the jawbone of adults using these methods and oral surgical procedures.

Children are by far the best candidates for having their jaw alignment changed before it grows into a misaligned problem. Orthodontists can work with a child’s jaw, using a variety of tools, so that it never grows in the wrong position. If we suspect that a child’s jaw is growing into a bad alignment, usually as determined by misaligned teeth and adult teeth coming in badly positioned, we can immediately take Dentofacial corrective measures. A child’s jawbone is still soft and can be manipulated to affect both the development of the jaw and the incoming growth of the teeth.   In our orthodontics office, one of they ways that we accomplish this is by using an expander to create enough room for all of the teeth or using rubber bands to manipulate the position of the jaw itself.

For adults, whose jaw has already developed and hardened it is a little bit more complicated to realign the jaw. Typically braces and addressing the bite itself can be used to straighten teeth. However, if we determine that your jaw bone itself is the cause of the misalignment and if you have other problems arising from the misaligned jaw, then we may recommend using Dentofacial corrective measures as well. Often, adult oral surgery is the only way to correct a jaw misalignment.  In this case, an oral surgeon will make the corrective adjustments to the jaw and then we will put on braces for you to complete the alignment and correction of the teeth. As with children, aligning the jaw before beginning the alignment of the teeth makes it much easier to give you that brilliant smile.

Age is not the only determining factor for correcting a jaw that may be misaligned. While the initial orthodontics treatments may be influenced by the patients age, ultimately once the jaw bone has been properly aligned you will start feeling more comfortable and the appearance of your teeth and smile may improve as well.

How to Keep Your Dental Crowns in Good Condition and Make Them Last Longer

By visiting our dentist office, you can help to keep your dental crowns in good condition for a longer period of time.  Crowns are an excellent option in restorative dentistry because they surround your damaged tooth like a cap. They provide complete coverage and protection so that your tooth can remain in place even after becoming cracked or chipped.  We use this procedure on a regular basis and are experts at creating crowns that look natural.

It starts by taking an impression of your mouth.  When creating a crown in the dental lab, it must be a perfect fit for the shape and size of your tooth. Additionally, the ridges in the top of the crown need to be perfect so that it doesn’t interfere with your bite and how your teeth fit together.  This takes paying attention to every detail and by spending time doing so, we can make sure that your crown will fit perfectly and feel great.

Once your crown has been bonded to your tooth it should remain in place for years.  It will provide the protection that your tooth needs since nothing will touch the tooth directly but will instead, touch the crown.  By taking care of your dental crowns, they can last for a long time and continue to look amazing.  How long they last depends in part on the type of material that they are made of.  For example, all-metal crowns last the longest and are known to last for over fifteen years.  They are typically placed on back teeth since they stand out in appearance and don’t look natural.  All-porcelain crowns look the best because they look like natural teeth. The challenge is that they can break more easily and tend to only last for five to ten years.  Porcelain-on-metal is a good alternative because it combines the strength of metal with the appearance of porcelain.

It is important to pick the material that you feel will accomplish your goals.  For example, an all-porcelain crown is not a good option for back teeth since it won’t provide enough durability.  Simultaneously, all-metal crowns are not a good solution for front teeth since they completely stand out.

Once your dental crowns are in place, you can take specific steps in order to keep them in good condition. This includes brushing and flossing throughout the day and visiting the dentist twice a year to have your teeth cleaned. This way your gums and teeth will stay free from infection and your crown will stay healthy.  After all your crown is on top of your tooth so if your roots become infected, that will impact the crown.

Additionally, you can protect your crowns and your other teeth by wearing a mouth guard while playing sports.  Tooth injuries are extremely common, and this simple step can prevent many of them.  If you want to stay safe and prevent crown damage keep your teeth out of harms way, brush regularly, eat a healthy diet and don’t grind your teeth. These simple steps will keep them in good condition.