The temporomandibular joint (or TMJ) connects your jaw to the temporal bone of your skull and is very important in coordinating the way in which your mouth is able to move. As well as this, it contains crucial nerves which go between the skull and the jaw. If a disorder develops in the TMJ then it can be very serious, not to mention rather painful too.
TMJ disorders will show themselves as pain when you yawn or even eating and talk. In very bad cases you might feel pain the area even when you are not moving your jaw at all. If things get worse then the pain and discomfort might spread to the neck and shoulders too. Needless to say, all of these symptoms can seriously hamper many day to day activities and it is worth sorting out if you want to avoid involuntary muscular spasms and even tinnitus.
Dentists are well placed to diagnose TMJ disorders because the TMJ is connected to the mouth. They might decide to give you an x-ray or a ‘clench’ test where you bite down to determine the site of the pain you feel. The problem might lie with the alignment of your teeth affecting your bite and TMJ has been linked with the process of bruxism or grinding your teeth in your sleep.
To solve this you might need to wear a brace to adjust the alignment of your teeth and, in rare cases, surgery is required. TMJ is worth taking seriously but usually it is easily resolved. You should always share any concerns you have with your City of Leeds dentist and they will be able to examine you and diagnose TMJ if it is occurring.
Having a crooked smile can lead to embarrassment in social situations as you try and hide your mouth, ashamed of the way your smile looks. Crooked or misaligned teeth are a common problem in the United Kingdom and you should be prepared to go to your dentist and ask for more information about how to rectify the problem. Aside from the aesthetics involved, misaligned teeth have also been implicated in cases of teeth grinding and even TMJ.
If you have a cracked, chipped or stained tooth there is no need to simply accept it and be ashamed of it. There are things you can do to improve the look of your smile, dental procedures that are efficient and effective. You should ask your Central Leeds dentists about porcelain veneers and they might improve your smile, allowing you to relax in social situations.
For many years the only option available for straightening teeth was metal braces. Although extremely effective they are also pretty unsightly and have caused more than a few people a fair degree of social embarrassment as they have tried to hide all of the metal brackets and wires in their mouths. But there are other ways now to straighten your teeth without this pressure.
Taking good care of your teeth begins at home with how you look after your teeth. You ought to be brushing and flossing at least twice a day for about three minutes. As well you should be vigilant for any problems which you think are occurring in your mouth. But all this must be done in conjunction with your dentist, as these experts play a crucial role in keeping your whole mouth as healthy as it can be.
Having a pain free set of teeth is something that many of us take for granted. But teeth are an incredibly sensitive part of the body and any pain that you have there will make normal, every day activities such as eating, drinking and talking, that much more difficult. There are a number of causes of dental pain and you should seek the advice of your dentist if it should occur.
If you have a broken down, chipped or cracked tooth you are probably anxious about dealing with it so that you can improve the look of your smile. But what is the best option when dentists offer such a variety of procedures? One to consider is having a dental crown fitted to effectively cover it up, allowing to smile once more with pride and relax in social situations.
The good news is that metal fillings are no longer the only option for you if you are suffering from cavities in your teeth. These small holes can occur as the result of sustained attack from plaque that has broken down the protective layer of enamel on your teeth. It is important that they are filled so that your nerves are not able to be compromised and your teeth begin to decay fully.
All dentists will offer you a basic range of procedures to keep your teeth healthy and this will start with a basic check-up. This can involve the taking of X-rays to check the growth of the teeth and the health and condition of your teeth. They will carry out de-scaling of plaque and tartar, fillings, fluoride treatments and extractions and offer any anaesthetics if required to carry out your treatment. If your teeth need straightening, you may require braces or aligners to solve the problem- there are plenty of choices in Leeds. But as we get older, our teeth may grow tired; cracks, gaps, chips and general wear and tear may have set in. We may also suffer from a little gum disease and tooth decay. All these may require work of a cosmetic nature- we may need a little dental bonding, the odd crown, bleaching or veneers if we feel vain enough, just so we can restore that smile to the mouth. A dentist will be able to help you with tooth loss too. You can have a bridge fitted to make up for your loss and in the most extreme situation of all, fit you with dentures. And bringing every thing up to date, implant technology allows not only an odd tooth, and even all the teeth to be replaced, they aid in the fitting of dentures. Everything is available in the city and its all there for you.
It’s not as easy as you’d think choosing a dentist in central Leeds- remember, this is the person, whom you barely know and who you are going to put your trust in, to play inside your mouth. This is the person who is going to play in your families mouths and this is the person who is going to play with some ferocious looking hardware inside your mouth. So before you choose your dentist, it’s important that you ensure you are completely satisfied with your choice before taking the plunge. To start with, location is always an important factor- is the surgery close to your and your family’s home and workplace? It can be very expensive if you have to travel miles for an appointment, especially if you having ongoing treatments. Opening hours are important too- if you are a busy person, you may only be able to fit in appointments at weekends. Another tip is also to ask friends or neighbors which dentist they use and whether or not they are any good. Once you are armed with this information, it’s time to visit the dentist for a consultation. Now is the time to see if you like the dentist and find out the treatments that are on offer. Is the dentist qualified to do the work you want? Is their equipment modern and current? Do they do cosmetic work should you need it, etc, etc? Also important is to find out if the dentist is NHS registered and whether you can spread your payments or not. Now, if you have made all these plans but then you don’t like the treatment you’ve had, try another dentist- you have the choice.
