TMJ Treatment

TMJ What is it? And do I have it?

TMJ is an acronym for temporomandibular joint.  It is the actual physical joint of the jaw located right in front of the ears. Some of the problems, conditions or dysfunctions of these joints fall into a category I call temporomandibular disorders or TMD.

These disorders of the jaw joints may include:

• Soreness, stiffness or pain in the various chewing muscles
• An unstable bite because of how the top and bottom teeth come together
• Teeth that are sensitive, loose, broken, cracked or worn
• Headaches and/or neck aches
• Postural (position) issues of the head and neck
• Popping, cracking or “scratchy” sounds in the joints themselves
• Your jaw locking open or locking when closed
• Grinding or clenching of your teeth

Now what do you do?  A comprehensive evaluation may in indicated.  This will bring light to what conditions are present and, therefore, what treatment may be appropriate.

Treatment to reestablish harmony could include: 1) appliance therapy 2) physical therapy 3) pharmacological therapy 4) a change to a soft diet 5) changes to other contributing habits

Contact us today for an evaluation.

Missing Teeth

Are you missing teeth?             

There are several ways to replace missing teeth:

• Fixed Bridges (it stays in the mouth)
• Implants (a substitute root that will support a crown, a bridge or a denture)
• Full Dentures or Partial Dentures (either can be removed by you)

Which seems appropriate for your situation?

What are crowns and Bridges?

Crowns, also called caps, are a means of restoring a very damaged or broken tooth to a good/full function and natural appearance.

I use the analogy of barrel rings around a wooden barrel.  They fit over and around the whole tooth.

A fixed bridge is when we use two crowns to attach one or two missing teeth to.

This result in a solid and natural feeling tooth replacement.

Dental Implants

Dental implants can be thought of as a “substitute” root.  It is made titanium and has a coating on it that is “bone loving”.  This allows bone to grow around and into the implant to hold the implant very solidly where the root of the tooth used to be.

To this implant, a crown can be attached. If multiple implants are placed then a bridge or denture can be attached.

Dentures

If you have all of your teeth missing in the upper or lower jaw, you can replace those missing teeth by having a full denture made.

In addition you can have implants placed, which the full denture can snap onto for great retention and function.

Periodontics

Over 75% of Americans age 35 and over have some form of gum disease, a result of poor dental hygiene and the subsequent build-up of plaque. In its earliest stage, your gums might swell and bleed easily. At its worst, you might lose your teeth. So, if you want to keep your teeth, you must take care of your gums. The good news is that gum disease is preventable in most cases. Attention to everyday oral hygiene (brushing and flossing), coupled with professional cleanings twice a year, could be all that’s needed to prevent and actually reverse the early stage of gum disease. If you have gum disease, Dr. Colling will identify it during your exam and recommend the best treatment for the level of severity.

Endodontics

Endodontics deals with diseases of the tissue, blood vessels, and nerves inside the tooth. The most common endodontictreatment is called a “root canal,” a procedure used to removeinfected tissue and refill the nerve canal inside the tooth. A root canal allows you to retain your natural tooth while eliminating the infection.

Trauma Dentistry

Accidental damage to teeth creates the need for reconstruction and restorative procedures to repair the health and beauty of your mouth. A damaged tooth, if treated quickly can many times be “saved” with minimally invasive cosmetic dental procedures. If a tooth is lost and not replaced it can cause your other teeth to shift, throwing your bite off. This can lead to breakage of other teeth and restorations, headaches, jaw pain and TMJ Disorder. Our wide range of cosmetic dental procedures provides options for you that suit the scope of your dental problem and financial concerns.

Preventive Care Service and Periodontal Therapy

Early detection is the key to avoiding costly and painful dental treatment. Prevention begins with the control of plaque and calculus, the main cause of decay and periodontal disease. In fact, the major cause of tooth loss in adults is periodontal disease, which is known as the silent killer of teeth because most patients feel no symptoms until it’s too late. With regular dental visits, we can treat gum disease at an early stage, before it gets out of hand.

Cosmetic Dentistry

With cosmetic dentistry, we can make your smile light up a room when you enter. Through different procedures, we’ll create that beautiful smile you’ve been dreaming of. With cosmetic tooth whitening, composite bonding, porcelain veneers, crowns and bridges, we can change an average smile into a brilliant one that warms a room. For more information on cosmetic dentistry, or any other dental procedure, be sure to ask us at your next visit.

Mini-Smile Makeovers

Creating a beautiful smile doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll need a mouth full of porcelain veneers. Often, Dr. Colling can rejuvenate a smile by focusing on a few problem teeth using minimally invasive and less costly dental procedures such as composite bonding in combination with cosmetic whitening. Creating a major transformation while preserving more natural tooth structure for a less money than you ever thought.

Full-Mouth Makeovers

In some cases, a full-mouth rejuvenation is necessary to create the smile you desire. These full smile makeovers can involve a variety of these cosmetic techniques: porcelain veneers, crowns, composite bonding, cosmetic tooth whitening, dental implants or bridges. After a comprehensive examination of your mouth, Dr. Colling will talk to you about your options and help you make the best decision for your smile.

Porcelain Veneers

Veneers are plates of porcelain that are bonded on the front surface of the anterior teeth. Although they are very thin, veneers become very strong once bonded to the tooth. Porcelain veneers are an excellent choice for covering cracked, chipped, or discolored teeth. Because of their natural appearance, porcelain veneers can make a very pleasing looking improvement to your smile. Veneers have advantages over other treatments – often, little or no anesthesia is required for the procedure and little or no tooth structure needs to be removed.

Composite Bondings

A less expensive and less invasive remedy than crowns or veneers, composite bonding is an effective technique used to improve the appearance of your teeth. Bonding is ideal for masking teeth that are chipped, cracked, stained or injured teeth or reducing gaps between teeth. During the procedure, a delicate layer of plastic is painted onto the damaged teeth, adding strength and making them virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth.

Composite bonding is a quick process, typically lasting less than an hour. Compared to veneers or crowns, it is a popular choice because it does not reduce the tooth’s original structure. Composite bonding is also relatively inexpensive. And finally, composite resins are available in many different shades. The shade can be chosen to match the natural color of the original tooth.

In-Office Tray Whitening

Over time, teeth can lose their brightness and become discolored from drinking coffee, smoking cigarettes and from the inevitable process of aging. No matter what age you are, dazzling, bright white teeth will transform your appearance and makes you look more attractive and feel more confident. Riverfront Dental uses the convenient “In-Office Tray Whitening” technique. Developed from custom-fitted models of your teeth, the whitening trays are then placed in your mouth to give brighter, whiter teeth in one visit.

Dental Services for Children

We advise that you bring your child in between 24 and 36 months of age for their first dental visit. The examination will make sure that their teeth are healthy and that, as parents, you have the best information about oral hygiene and diet to prevent tooth decay. For older children, we provide a dental examination, tooth cleaning, fluoride treatment, and x-rays when needed.

Please be assured that our dental staff is very experienced with young patients, and we will always do our best to calm their fears, make them feel comfortable and give them a pleasant dental experience.

Dental Sealants

Thanks to fluoride, dental sealants and better dental habits, fifty percent of school-age children now have no cavities. Riverfront Dental provides quality, effective dental sealants for your children’s teeth that will protect them from the normal causes of cavities.

Fresh Breath Center

Bad breath (halitosis) is a common problem, which often comes from the activity of bacteria in the mouth. Although there is no way of knowing for sure, most adults probably suffer from bad breath occasionally, with perhaps a quarter suffering from it on a regular basis.

There are two types of bad breath. Transitory, or occasional, bad breath is caused by foods like garlic and onions and generally only lasts from 24 to 72 hours. It might be referred to as “morning breath,” which goes away after you brush your teeth.

The odor of chronic bad breath results when bacteria in the mouth and on the tongue cause the formation of volatile sulfur compounds (VSC’s) in the form of hydrogen sulfides. The back of the tongue is the prime breeding spot for anaerobic bacteria that creates odor-causing Volatile Sulfur Compounds. This may be an ongoing problem requiring professional breath management.

Talk to your dentist about bad breath. He or she may have a treatment that fights both the cause and effect of bad breath.

Conscious Sedation Dentistry

Sedation Dentistry — Soothing, Calming
We’re experts at calming even the most phobic dental patients. We realize that some patients are apprehensive about receiving dental care.

That’s why we have worked hard to garner a reputation for making patients as comfortable and relaxed as possible.

We have many relaxation techniques available to help ease your jitters. Our office offers Nitrous Oxide Gas that will relax you and calm your nerves. It is GREAT for children. The experience is soothing…calming…and sedating. This will prevent you from dealing with the apprehension and stress of the dental procedure.

While you are relaxed and comfortable, we will take care of all of your dental needs. In fact, we can perform years of dentistry in just one or two appointments. When the treatment is over you will leave the office with a healthy, beautiful smile.

Don’t put off your dentistry because of your fears. We can help you cope with them so you can get back to your life with a healthy smile.

What is Nitrous Oxide Gas?

Nitrous oxide gas is a sweet smelling, colorless, non-irritating gas which you can breathe in.  It is mixed with Oxygen.  It is sometimes called “laughing gas” or “happy gas.” After breathing it in for 2-3 minutes you should feel a pleasurable feeling through out your body.  We have found that several characteristics apply to patients who benefit from Nitrous Oxide Gas.

It is for people who have…

• High anxiety about dentistry
• Negative past dental experiences
• Difficulty getting numb
• A strong gag reflex
• Complex dental problems
• Very sensitive teeth
• Anxiety over needles, noises, or smells in dental office

Advantages of Nitrous Oxide Gas

• Nitrous works rapidly
• The depth of sedation can be altered from moment to moment
• The nitrous is flushed out of the body using only oxygen-you can drive home safely and do not need an escort.
• There are no needles, tubes or IVs, you breathe it in through your nose.

Patients appreciate the dental work that Dr. Colling performs while being conscious throughout the procedure, yet relaxed and able to respond.