Hope Restorative & Cosmetic Dentistry

Archives for November 2018

Botox and TMJ

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My wife said her dentist suggested she get Botox for her TMJ. Is that legit or is she just trying to find a way for me to pay for her to get Botox treatments?

Cliff

Dear Cliff,

Illustration of the TMJ joint

Hopefully, your wife won’t see this post and think you don’t trust her. But, we’ll certainly answer your question. There are times when the muscles are causing TMJ problems. When that happens, Botox can be of assistance. It relaxes the muscles around the temporomandibular joint, easing the pain. It can even assist when a patient is suffering from lockjaw. It’s not a permanent solution but can bring some relief while the dentist works toward pinpointing the cause and developing a more permanent solution.

There are quite a few causes for TMJ disorder, so it can take some time to figure out what’s the actual trigger. For some patients, it’s a misaligned bite. A wise dentist will start with the least invasive treatments. It may be a simple mandibular device can gently move your jaw into proper alignment.

Don’t trust a dentist who wants to immediately jump to a full-mouth reconstruction.

What Type of Dentist Can Treat TMJ?

There isn’t a recognized specialty in TMJ. Because of that, you want a dentist who has applied themselves to post-doctoral training and who has experience treating TMJ disorder.

If you have a dentist tell you a full-mouth reconstruction is necessary, it’s important you get a second opinion from a dentist with some expertise. This is a very advanced procedure and requires both training in occlusion as well as cosmetic work.

You don’t only want a dentist who understands how your bite should come together, but who can create a gorgeous smile for you at the same time. Ideally, you’d want a dentist who’s reached accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. AACD accredited dentists are among the top in the world. You’ll be pleased to share any smile they create. In fact, most of them have a beautiful smile guarantee.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Dentist Dr. Jerome Cha.

Bleaching a Gray Tooth

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I have a tooth which is turning gray at the moment. I’ve tried teeth whitening strips. They’re whitening my other teeth but not the gray one. I tried just cutting the strip to fit that tooth but it’s not making a difference. Would getting it bleached by a dentist help?

Melody

Dear Melody,

Teeth Whitening Trays

A gray tooth means that the tooth is either dead or dying. Is it possible you’ve had some trauma to that tooth recently? That would explain the tooth turning gray. Bleaching your teeth isn’t going to fix the color. Not even professional teeth whitening.

What you’ll need to do instead is get a root canal treatment and dental crown. The dental crown is to protect your tooth. They often become brittle after a root canal.

I’m guessing the tooth is visible or you wouldn’t be worried about whitening it. Because of that, make sure your dentist gives you an all-porcelain crown. These are much more natural and beautiful looking when done by a skilled cosmetic dentist.

Why Whiten Your Teeth Before Getting a Crown?

When your dental crown is created, the color it’s made with is permanent. If you decide to whiten your teeth later, your teeth will still whiten, but the crown will not. It stays the same color. To get them to match you’ll have to change the color.

If you’re happy with the whitening you received from your whitening strips, you can stick with that and match your crown to them. Otherwise, I’d recommend going ahead and seeing your dentist to whiten your teeth thoroughly before getting the crown.

Types of Professional Teeth Whitening

You can get two types of whitening through your dentist.

In-office

Although Dr. Cha previously used Zoom® to whiten teeth, he switched to KöR™.  Unlike Zoom, KöR doesn’t use an activation light for the bleaching gel. The light dries out teeth and makes them sensitive. KöR conditions and hydrates teeth. Read more about the switch on his Zoom whitening page.

At-home

If you’re looking for whitening where you get more control over the level of whitening, then at-home whitening is a better option for you. This is different from the white strips you were using. Your dentist makes custom fitted trays, like in the picture above. They’ll provide professional strength gel for you to wear in the trays.

Once you reach the level of whitening you want, you’re done.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Dentist Dr. Jerome Cha.

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