Cosmetic Dentist for Temporomandibular Disorder

At increasing rates people are going to a cosmetic dentist to get a perfect beautiful smile. They seek to have porcelain veneers and implants to create the mouth of their dreams. These specialists offer benefits like no other in the field of aesthetically appealing dentistry. However, there are many people with real medical problems that are increasingly benefitting from the specialty of these doctors.

Particularly, those with temporomandibular disorder often referred to as TMJ.
TMJ refers to either acute or chronic inflammation and pain of the joint of the jaw. This creates significant discomfort and some functional impairment. Because it is not a specific problem it spans a number of medical disciplines. Often some of the cause is psychological, other times physiological concerns like arthritis and trauma.

For many people the pain of this condition leads to difficulty eating and opening the mouth. This condition is sometimes caused by the loss of teeth or misalignment. As a result undue pressure is placed on the remaining structures. A commonly reported symptom of TMJ is grinding or clenching of the teeth at night. This results in achiness and pain in the morning but it also contributes to the deterioration of tooth enamel and can cause functional concerns.

This is where a cosmetic dentist comes in. This type of specialist is an expert in recreating the architecture of a healthy mouth. Some of these doctors have begun applying their specialty to realms outside the purely aesthetic. Most of their work is for beauty concerns but some have found that by approaching this fairly mysterious problem that is difficult to nail down one cause for from a holistic perspective they can correct some of the problems.

By using porcelain and other veneers it is possible to create a smile for which the patient is fond. This reduces some of the psychological cause because they do not want to damage their new smile. By using dental implants the cosmetic dentist can replace a missing tooth or several if need be. This procedure makes alignment better and reduces the pressure on the other teeth. This also reduces pain and can cause a reduction in grinding and clenching.

For patients with temporomandibular disorder there have not been many treatments that addressed underlying issues. They were often given mouth guards to reduce grinding. Other times they have taken relaxants or antidepressants. There are many different treatments with varying success but because of the ambiguous origins it is often something of a crapshoot. If treatment for TMJ has been unsuccessful it is worth consulting a cosmetic dentist to see if perhaps they can do something for you. Wanting to have the perfect smile?