Saving Faces in the Heart of Liverpool » TMJ

Looking after your jaws in Bootle

admin — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 06:49:57 +0000

We can all get a little ‘devil may care’ in Bootle, especially when we are young and we expect our body’s to take the full flack that we exert on them. Over time however, the body suffers from wear and tear- this is never more apparent when you look at the way we use our mouths on a day to day basis- we talk, we chew and this puts pressure on our temporomandibular joint or TMJ; this is the tiny joint that connects the lower jaw to the upper jaw. Throughout your life, your dentist will try to ensure that the mouth’s occlusion or ‘bite’ remains true through the use of braces, crowns, bridges and dental implants- this will at some level take the strain off the TMJ. But of course, this only helps to back up the everyday uses that we put our jaws through. Stresses in life can make us angry, grind our teeth and put extra strain on the TMJ so it’s important to recognise any signs of a problem arising in the jaw- difficultly in chewing, the jaw popping in normal use, headaches, tinnitus, neck ache- all of these are connected to the jaw. If any of these problems, like any problem, are not caught, nay addressed at source, the rectification of said issues may require long term physical surgery.

Bootle dentists deal with TMJ and help patients on the road to good health

admin — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 05:50:50 +0000

Dentistry, like all medicine, is full of terminology that the man on the street might not understand. It’s no wonder that dentists have to train so long in order to get grips with it all! TMJ is just one term that might leave many a lay person baffled, especially when its full name is used: temporomandibular joint disorder. But it is a condition that is worth learning a little about so that, should it start to affect you, you can recognise the signs and act quickly to get it treated.

The temporomandibular joint is that which joins the jaw bone to the skull. It is important in dentistry because it can suffer stresses and strains from the motion of moving the mouth; in chewing food, as an example. The sensitive nerves in the joint can become inflamed if it is put under too much pressure and this is what is known as temporomandibular joint disorder or TMJ.

If you start to feel that your jaw is aching more than normal or it is hurting when you chew food or bite down on things then you might be suffering from TMJ. The pain can spread to your neck, shoulders or the rest of your face and can be very debilitating. Permanent nerve damage can result so it is best that these complaints are addressed.

A common cause of TMJ is bruxism, the act of grinding teeth during sleep. Over time, this nocturnal clenching of the jaw can lead to TMJ thanks to the sustained pressure. If this is the case then your Bootle dentist will deal with the cause before addressing the TMJ itself.

Well fitting dentures from Everton dentist replace teeth

admin — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 04:42:42 +0000

Loosing some or all of your teeth can be a very traumatic experience. Whether it happens due to tooth decay, gum disease or even some kind of head trauma it can be painful and very embarrassing. Missing teeth can also have further consequences for your health. Some missing teeth can cause remaining teeth to lean, altering the bite of the patient. This can cause complications with the jaw joint and lead to a painful condition called TMJ. Gaps left by missing teeth are also breeding grounds for bacteria and infection leading to further dental problems. Teeth act as rigid supports for facial muscles, which will be inclined to sag and hollow if they are missing. This can cause patients to appear older and unwell and can be irreversible if not corrected in time.

If several or all the teeth are missing, the best option is to have a denture fitted. Dentures, or partial dentures, act as a genuine alternative for real teeth. They are specially designed to fit your mouth and appear like your teeth. The days of ill-fitting and unrealistic dentures are in the past and with recent advancement in dentistry no one need ever know that they are not your real teeth.

Most modern dentures are made form acrylic resins and can be constructed to a stunning degree of accuracy. A well fitting set of dentures should require no further support than suction alone but many patients opt to use denture adhesive or strips for extra security. A loose denture can be a cause of great anxiety for patients who are worried they might become dislodged, but there is no reason this should be the case. Dentures that are prone to falling out are dentures that do not fit properly and need to be refitted. Many patients recently have opted to have mini-implants attached to their jaw to which they can solidly fix their dentures. This provides an extra degree of security and can put their mind at ease. It also means that some foods which are a problem for normal dentures, can be eaten without anxiety or mess.

Patients who wear dentures should make regular visits to their dentist as they can suffer from gum erosion. After years of denture wearing the gums tend to disappear, which can often be the cause of a loose denture and gum irritation.

Dentures can last a long time if properly maintained and kept clean. They should be removed at night and cleaned twice a day with a regular toothbrush. Visit an Everton dentist if you have any questions about having dentures fitted or if you think you might need your existing set adjusted.