What is TMD?

The temporomandibular joint is a hinge that connects your jaw bone (mandible) to the temporal bones in your skull, in front of each ear.  A general term for any problem or issue with this joint is temporomandibular disorder, or TMD.  Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS can help patients prevent and recover from negative effects of TMD.

Patients that grind or clench their teeth often end up with a sore jaw.  Other patients experience injuries with facial trauma that cause jaw pain, or result in the patient feeling their jaw gets stuck or ‘locks’ in either an open or closed position.  A custom night guard keeps the jaw in a neutral position during sleep, and this helps many patients find relief from TMD symptoms.  For any pain, your dentist may recommend an over-the-counter painkiller or warm and cold compresses.  To prevent further discomfort, you may be assigned stretches for your jaw. 

Whatever your symptoms, you don’t have to suffer with discomfort in your jaw.  To learn more about TMD and the services we provide at the practice, visit www.eniddentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS in Enid, OK, call 580-237-2213.

Causes of Gap Teeth

Are you tired of your gap-toothed grin? At Enid Dental Care, we provide orthodontic treatment for major as well as cosmetic tooth alignment issues. We can help close a diastema, or gap between teeth, but treatments may vary depending on other bite issues.

A small gap could be covered with veneers. These porcelain shells are cemented to the front of teeth and can be deliberately made somewhat larger than the natural tooth in order to cover gaps and chips. They also mask cracks and stains. When the teeth are slightly jumbled, the Invisalign brand of clear, removable aligners we offer can move them into positions that are healthier, as well as more aesthetically pleasing. Enid Dental Care also offers traditional braces for people with problems such as overbites which require more intensive orthodontic correction.

Sometimes, a diastema in the top front teeth is not just due to teeth coming in misaligned. There is a strand of tissue on the inside of the upper lip called the labial frenum which links it to the jaw bone, and when it is too thick, it can prevent the teeth from coming together. It must be thinned surgically. Tongue thrusting during swallowing and thumb-sucking can also result in an overbite and gap teeth. These may require coordination with other specialists, such as ear-nose-and-throat doctors, to fix.

Dr. Dennis Morehart, Master of the Academy of General Dentistry, operates Enid Dental Care at 2411 Heritage Trail, Ste #4, Enid, Oklahoma, 73703. To schedule an appointment, call 580-237-2213 or visit Enid Dental Care and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Diabetes and Implants

As a Master in the Academy of General Dentistry, Enid’s Dr. Dennis Morehart is an expert in placing implants. Many people have benefited from jaw-stabilizing tooth replacements, but for a long time, implants were considered risky prospects for people with difficulty controlling their blood sugar. Now, new research is indicating that diabetes may not raise the probability of implant failure, after all.

There are two ways in which diabetes was thought to be relevant to implant placement: duration of healing and inflammation. Because diabetes restricts blood flow, diabetic people take longer to recover from wounds. In order to place an implant, an incision must be made into the gum tissue, which is then sutured and allowed to heal during the time it takes for an implant to integrate into the jaw bone. Another incision may be made when an abutment is placed on top. While it is true that the gums take longer to heal in diabetics, the integration process usually takes six months, giving them plenty of time. And while chronic inflammation is associated with the failure of implants to integrate, the new study found that people with uncontrolled blood sugar do not experience higher failure rates within the first year of placement. It is still beneficial to a patient’s health to control their blood sugar, but if they find this difficult, they may not necessarily be disqualified from getting fixed dental restorations.

Dr. Dennis Morehart, Master of the Academy of General Dentistry, operates Enid Dental Care at 2411 Heritage Trail, Ste #4, Enid, Oklahoma, 73703. To schedule an appointment, call 580-237-2213 or visit Enid Dental Care and fill out a contact sheet.