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Botox for TMJ

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My dentist has tried various TMJ treatment with absolutely no success. I’m feeling desperate and have done some on my own research. I know you doctors hat that, but I really am desperate. I’ve heard botox can be useful in some TMJ cases. Is this accurate?

Amanda D. – Wisconsin

I’m sorry for your experience with your TMJ treatment. Let me ask you to check on your dentist’s qualifications for treating TMJ.  Not all dentists have the necessary training and that might be why you’re not experiencing any success iwth your treatment. You may click here to read about some of Dr. Hadgis’ post-graduate training in neuromuscular dentistry to get an idea of what your looking for.

Regarding your Botox question, Botox can be used to relax the masseter and temporalis muscles. The Botox needs to be placed in several spots in the belly of the muscles and the results can be evident very shortly thereafter.

You’ll want to make sure the person administering the Botox understands neuromuscular dentistry.

This blog is brought to you by Grosse Pointe Woods Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Theodore Hadgis.

Veneers to cover a black line at the gumline

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I have this black line at the gumline. I wondered if porcelain veneers could cover it?

Laura H. – Colorado

Laura,

I suspect you have porcelain fused to metal crowns on your teeth. That is generally the cause of a black line at the gumline.  If you don’t have crowns, you might need to see your dentist to investigate the cause.

If it is your dental crowns, porcelain veneers will not be a good solution. You can’t cover crowns with veneers. Though they do make gorgeous smiles, they only work on your natural teeth.

There is a solution.  You can replace your current crowns with all-porcelain crowns.  They don’t have the problems of porcelain fused to metal crowns and therefore, there will be no dark line at your gumline, no matter how long you have the crowns.

This blog is brought to you by Grosse Pointe Woods Dentist Dr. Theodore Hadgis.

I’m tired of teeth

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I am convinced there is a special level of hell for dentists. They must enjoy hurting people. I have never had a pleasant dental visit.  I suspect my dentist enjoys his job a little too much.  The last few years it has taken weeks to work up the courage the schedule another dental appointment. I’m thinking it might be easier to have one last dental appointment and have him remove all my teeth, then I could get dentures and not have to deal with it anymore. Would a dentist remove all my teeth if they’re not infected?

Ibrahim M. – Texas

Ibrahim,

I know it probably sounds like a dream come true to have no teeth to worry about, but I promise you that it will be many times worse with dentures.

Even the best fitting dentures will lower your chewing efficiency by 50%. Most of them lower it even further. Then, the dentures will move around on you. They slip and at times even fall out.

The worse part is what will eventually be facial collapse.  When your teeth are removed, your body begins reabsorbing the minerals used in your tooth roots for use throughout your body. Eventually you won’t have any jawbone left which will leave you as a denture cripple.

Let me give you an alternate solution. If going to the dentist is traumatic to you, a great solution is to use sedation dentistry.  Your dentist can give you a pill to take before your appointment. You’ll be completely conscious, but absolutely relaxed and unconcerned about your appointment.  If you want an even deeper level of level of sedation, you can find a dentist who does IV sedation.  These will allow you to have a pain free dental appointment.

This blog is brought to you by Grosse Pointe Woods Dentist Dr. Theodore Hadgis.

Is TMJ treatment for real?

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I was having some jawpain and headaches. My dentist diagnosed me with TMJ. He’s given me some kind of mouthguard. I feel like I should be in a boxing ring. Is this type of treatment even real?

Alison J. – Little Rock, AR

Alison,

Though you may feel a little bit like Rocky Balboa, but your dentist is giving you a legitimate TMJ treatment. This is actually one of the simplest procedures for treating TMJ. The orthotic appliance is designed to  be worn temporarily. It is moving your bite into a correct alignment.

Is there some other reason you were questioning your treatment? Has your dentist given you some reason to question his ethics?  I’m not saying that you need to blindly follow your dentist. In fact, I think patients should ask a lot of questions and make sure they understand their diagnosis and treatment options. Those questions should generally be asked before treatment starts. Trust is important between doctor and patient. If your dentist doesn’t give you confidence or if he’s unwilling to explain things and answer your questions, then you need a different dentist.

This blog is brought to you by Grosse Pointe Woods Dentist Dr. Theodore Hadgis.

I’m finally not afraid of the dentist

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I just had to write and tell you my experience. I have been afraid of the dentist my entire life. It started when I was a child and my dentist looked just like the vampire I saw on a movie. After that, I was never the same going for a teeth cleaning.

When I got older, we moved to another state. Now I had a non-vampirey looking dentist, but he was absolutely horrible and every appointment hurt like mad.

When I went away to college, I got to switch to a different dentist. He was OK, but by then I was so afraid of the dentist I had psyched myself out.  All of my appointments were torture both for me and my new dentist.

Finally a friend recommended sedation dentistry.  I found a dentist who did it and it has changed my life. He gave me a pill to take before my appointment.  It made me feel VERY relaxed. I’ll be honest with you, I don’t even remember the appointment. I just remember I felt great. My appointment is done. My procedure is done. I could do this every single time.

This blog is brought to you by Grosse Pointe Woods Dentist Dr. Theodore Hadgis.

Making a baby tooth adult sized

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I have a baby tooth that doesn’t have an adult tooth under it. Can I use dental bonding to make it adult sized?

Gina K. – Nebraska

Gina,

While it is possible to use dental bonding to make your tooth larger, I wouldn’t consider it the ideal solution. Dental bonding is made of a softer material than your tooth enamel. You want something that is at least as hard as your tooth enamel. You also will want to find something that isn’t very susceptable to staining.

If I were choosing the best way to make a tooth larger, I would get porcelain veneers. It resists staining and is actually stronger than your natural tooth enamel.  Hoever, there is someting to consider. This is a baby tooth and you don’t have an adult tooth underneath. There is a real chance you can lose this tooth. So, you’ll have to make a decision if you want to spend the money on a porcelain veneer if you are likely to lose the teeth. You can, of course, if you think the tooth is good for a long time.  If you’re worried it won’t last much longer then you might want to get a dental implant to replace the tooth. The implant crown will be made to look like an adult tooth.

This blog is brought to you Grosse Pointe Woods Dentist Dr. Theodore Hadgis.

Am I safe with sedation dentistry?

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I’m scared of the dentist and have heard that sedation dentistry can really be useful for that. However, I’m worried I may have a reaction to it. How can you know if you’ll be safe taking sedation?

Amelia L. – Idaho

Amelia,

There is always some risk with any type of medical procedure or taking a medication. There are ways to reduce that risk. The most important thing to do is to make sure you are completely honest with your doctor about your medical history. Make sure you also tell him about any medications you are taking. That does include any over-the-counter medications, drugs, or alcohol you take. All of these will impact the way the sedation works in your body. Make sure you go to a qualified, experienced sedation dentist.

All that being said, it will put your mind at ease to know that sedation dentistry is a very safe procedure. Most dentists go their entire career without having a patient have a major side effect.

This blog is brought to you by Grosse Pointe Woods dentist Dr. Theodore Hadgis.

Hospital for dentures

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I need to get full dentures, but I am terrified of the dentist. Is it possible to go to a hospital and have them removed under anesthesia?

Robin L. – Staten Island, NY

Robin,

The quick answer is yes. However, I want to make sure you understand all your options, so you don’t go through unnecessary expense. There are two other sedation options that are significantly less costly and carry less risk.

  • Oral Sedation Dentistry

This puts you in a sleepy state. You are not unconscious, but you will be unaware of the procedure. In fact, you may not remember the appointment at all. This is not only pain free, but safer than anesthesia. It can also be done at your dentist’s office instead of paying a hospital fee. It is a significantly more affordable treatment.

  • IV Sedation

This is a deeper level of sedation. This is more expensive than oral sedation, but will still save you thousands of dollars. This sedation works very quickly. It is also useful for suppressing a strong gag reflex.

For either of these procedures you will need a sedation dentist. I would schedule a consultation with one or two of them and then make a decision that makes you completely comfortable.

This blog is brought to you by Grosse Pointe Woods Dentist Dr. Theodore Hadgis.

Scared of Sedation, but in pain

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I’m in a lot of pain. I’m terrified of the dentist. Everyone tells me sedation is the way to go, but I’m equally afraid of sedation. I don’t like the idea of being loopy alone in a room with someone I don’t know and no real way to take care of myself.

Is there a way to get sedation and feel safe?

Name Withheld

Well, I have some suggestions. First, I would talk to your friends about what dentist they love.  Then, I would go and talk to those dentists about your concerns.

With oral conscious sedation dentistry, you are “loopy” and it is likely that you will not remember the appointment, but your defense mechanisms are still in tact. However, I think you are saying that you’re uncomfortable not being in complete control of your faculties with someone you’re not familiar with.

In talking to the dentists, you may find one who will understand your fears. It is possible that they will let you bring a friend with you to the operatory. Though, please understand each dentist has their own policy regarding that.

This blog is brought to you by Grosse Pointe Woods Dentist Dr. Theodore Hadgis.

Sibling rivalry led to disaster porcelain veneers

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This is a little embarrassing, but I need some help.  My sister and I are pretty competitive. I lost weight, so she got liposuction. She bought a new car, I got a better one. Well, she mentioned she was getting a smile makeover, so I decide to beat her to it.  I think that was a mistake.  I didn’t do a lot of research because I wanted to do it before she did.  My veneers look fake. I’ve only had them for a few weeks and already two of them have fallen off. What  did I do wrong and can I fix it?

Thanks, Samantha

Samantha,

The only thing you did wrong, in the case of your veneers, is to put your teeth in the hands of an bad cosmetic dentist. You’re right that you should have done more research.  Most people do not realize that cosmetic dentistry is not a recognized specialty. What that means is any general dentist can call himself a cosmetic dentist regardless of the training (or lack of training) that he or she has.

It is obvious in your case the dentist was not very well trained in cosmetic procedures.  Once porcelain veneers are bonded on, the stay on. They would not just fall off. Secondly, you said they look fake.  My guess is the dentist made them too opaque, because he didn’t have the training to create veneers with that natural translucency you get in your teeth. Well-made veneers will absorb and reflect light just like your natural teeth do.

What can you do about it?  Unfortunately, the only thing you can do is have them re-done and NOT by this same dentist. You’ll need to do some research.  The first order of businees  is to find a dentist in your area who is accredited (not just a member, but has reached accreditation status) with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). These are the top dentists in the world and they will give you a smile that will make not just your sister, but everyone around you jealous. Even if you have to drive a ways, it will be worth it.

This blog is brought to you by Grosse Pointe Woods, MI Dentist Dr. Theodore Hadgis.