Answers to some frequently-asked questions: Q: Why do we have two sets of teeth? A: A child needs teeth long before his or her jaw is big enough to accommodate the full set of adult teeth. Baby, or deciduous, teeth are “starters” in every sense of the word. Q: Why worry about cavities if baby […]
Causes and Treatments for TMJ Disorders
What is the Temporomandibular Joint? The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a joint that slides and rotates just in front of your ear, consisting of the side and base of the skull (temporal bone) and the lower jaw (mandible). Chewing muscles connect the lower jaw to the skull, allowing you to move your jaw forward, sideways, […]
The New and Improved Tooth Fairy
For the right patient missing the right tooth, the Tooth Fairy has bailed us out again. A lot of people are missing a single tooth. Until recently, the only options for replacement took the form of a bridge. Dentistry calls this gizmo a fixed or removable partial denture and, for it to fit properly, a […]
Custom Made Prevention
Above average? Me? You may be five-foot-four, a C student, never starred at sports. And yet you may be ABOVE average—in your need for dental check-ups. While two visits a year is average, more appointments should be scheduled when either the mouth builds up tartar fast, cavities multiply like bunnies, or teeth or gums experience growing […]
Women’s Dental Health
Do women need to be more careful with their oral health? Women’s oral health depends on their different stages of life. For many women, these changes are directly related to surges in sex hormone levels, such as in puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, lactation and menopause. Women are also more likely to be diagnosed with TMJ, Myofascial […]