Bruxism- and its relation to a lagging economy.
The ADA has reported that at least 50% of adults are suffering from a condition called Bruxism. Bruxism in dental terms is really clenching and grinding. The condition of clenching and grinding can lead to problems with the TMJ (tempromandibular joint). Extra stress on the TMJ joint can lead to chronic migraines, frequent morning tension headaches and joint pain. Bruxism also causes added stress on the teeth and over time can lead to broken teeth and bone loss. Symptoms of clenching and grinding are: morning tension headaches, popping of the jaw, migraines, flattening of the teeth. When the teeth are worn flat from bruxism, the enamel has been worn off and the inside of the tooth begins to be exposed. As a quick side note; antidepressants can lead to clenching and grinding as a side effect.
At our office we routinely check your chewing system for excessive wear. Your chewing system is of utmost importance to us. To treat bruxism, our office will help guide you in determining ways to relax your jaw and teeth on a daily basis. Often, we recommend an appliance to be worn protect your teeth and chewing system over night. If you are in Riverside, Inland Empire or greater Southern California area and are experiencing these symptoms, please give our Riverside cosmetic dentistry office a call at (951)686-3666.
How to get Whiter teeth…….Laser Teeth Whitening or Power Bleaching?
There has been so much hype in regards to laser teeth whitening in the past 7 years, so I thought that it would be a good idea to give my perspective on the whole laser whitening phenomenon. The “laser” is actually a blue light that activates the bleaching gel which is strategically placed on the tooth surface. Power bleaching is the procedure that I believe produces better results. Power bleaching is an in-office procedure and like the laser teeth whitening is approximately a two hour experience. The gums and tissue surrounding the teeth are protected during your bleaching procedure. The power bleaching procedure in our office is chemically activated which to many patients is more comfortable because the light is bright. The power bleaching procedure also comes with complementary take home trays to boost whitening your teeth after your tooth whitening procedure. If you are interested in having a brighter and whiter smile, please give our Riverside cosmetic dentistry office a call at (951)686-3666.
I was reading an issue of Dental Economics and saw an extremely interesting article stating that by whitening your teeth with take home whitening trays can help reduce the incidence of decay. That’s one of the few times where a nice side effect occurs from a procedure. Read the article and feel extra good about your decision to whiten your teeth!
I just came across an article that showed a link between pregnancy gingivitis and a stillborn child. It’s pretty scary and makes me realize how important taking care of gum disease is. Wow, I really need to make sure this doesn’t happen to any of my clients, it’s really frightening and sobering information. Here’s a link to the article from Dr. Biscuspid.
I’ve been studying how social media is changing the way business is done. Instead of being force fed information from an advertiser, the consumer is now turning more frequently to social media sites to see what others are saying about a service, company or product somebody is interested in. I’ve created a Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook Fan Page all under Chad DDS. Although I’m just a cosmetic and implant dentist in Riverside who’s trying to gain more exposure in the Inland Empire, these sites may allow me to reach and help other people beyond my practice’s reach. I’m planning to post more blogs on tips that people can implement at home to improve home care and some articles which may be relevant to others. It’s difficult to find enough time in the day to stay active in my social media sites between a busy practice, two young kids and a bunch of dental education outside the office but I’m going to try to stay active! If you have a chance, please stop by my homepage at www.iedental.com. I’m also trying to keep that page relevant with links to other sites with important information regarding a variety of topics.