TMJ Information

Many people today are aware of Jaw & Bite pain problems, caused by the Temporomandibular Joints. Your TMJ are actually two sets of muscles, one on each side of the skull behind the ears, that connect the lower jaw to the skull.
When your teeth, muscles and jaws work together correctly, the teeth do not wear out and your facial muscles and jaw joint are comfortable. Patient comfort is our main concern. Dr. A.J. Boyajian is dedicated to repairing teeth with a focus on maintaining Jaw and Bite health.
For more information on Jaw and Bite health and other services provided in our office, please call and schedule an appointment with Dr. Boyajian in Westchester, CA.

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TMJ and Cosmetic Dentistry

Are these two related at all? They are in some ways!

The biggest correlation between the two that comes to mind is TMJ ruining teeth or the alignment of teeth, therefore creating unsightly gaps, crookedness, chips, scratches, wearing, or even tooth loss. Cosmetic dentistry is to the rescue; but if these issues were caused by TMJ, they will continue as they have been and cosmetic repairs, such as implants or veneers, will be at risk for damage. TMJ may take a long time to treat, and it might be more practical to wait to “pretty up” until the root problems are solved.

However, if you have or think you have TMJ, always, always, always consult your dentist or a TMJ specialist before doing ANYTHING. It will save you great amounts of time, money, and hassle. Who knows? Maybe your case isn’t terribly severe and you can get that crooked tooth fixed faster than you anticipated! Yet if cosmetics are on hold because of undergoing surgery, the rewards of a beautiful, functionable smile are wonderful, even if you must wait a bit for the healing process to run its course.

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

TMJ and Gum Disease

How does TMJ relate to periodontal disease (gum disease)? TMJ actually never quite causes gum disease, but worsens an existing case.

A prime example would be one who bruxes, or grinds, his teeth because of TMJ, but doesn’t maintain good oral hygiene. If even an “insignificant” bit of gum disease develops, the teeth-grinding, and possibly other results of TMJ — such as not being able to open the mouth all the way or swollen joints and sensitive spots in the mouth — will only increase the speed at which the disease develops and turns into something serious.

You really have no excuse if you’re just plain lazy about brushing and flossing your pearly whites; but if something like severe jaw and neck pain is preventing you from brushing and flossing regularly or correctly, then you must see a TMJ specialist immediately. Gum disease is common, and therefore doesn’t sound very serious, but it is.

TMJ is difficult enough to treat on its own; that AND gum disease would be extremely painful!

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

Pediatric Dentistry, Children & TMJ

TMJ disorders are regularly found in adults only, as they are the age group whose facial muscles, structure, and bones are matured. Many of these adults, though, probably were showing early signs as children (i.e. grinding teeth in their sleep or ear pain with no infections), but had these symptoms either ignored or dismissed as “normal” by their parents or pediatricians.

Children generally aren’t specifically diagnosed with TMJ when they are young; it’s the “baby symptoms” that show up around this time and will later provide an environment that causes TMJ to develop and thrive.

It’s important to pay attention to your child’s complaints about physical discomforts. Sure, it may be nothing sometimes (kids DO say lots of things….often too many things!). But if you notice something strange with, for example, the way they chew, tired mouth muscles, inability to open their mouths all the way, or random ear pangs, you should take them in for an orthodontic examination. This is the best way to fix and prevent problems that could lead to TMJ disorders in their adult future.

 

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

TMJ and Neck Pain

It is often a bit discouraging to hear of people’s complaints about neck pain or headaches “with no known cause.” I’ve seen many forums, groups, and online of people who are miserable and not even their doctors can or will diagnose TMJ or suggest that they find a TMJ specialist. TMJ is very common, and it seems there aren’t enough specialists to go around, as these people often are forced to travel to another city or even out-of-state to fix their excruciatingly painful neck-ache or headache flair-ups.

Are you having trouble figuring out why your neck, temples, jaws, or your entire head hurts so much sometimes? It very well could be TMJ. Act now to find a specialist in your area!

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

Dental Treatment for TMJ

All that to say, if you have lately been wondering about unexplained neck pain, headaches, jaw pain, jaws locking up, painful chewing, grinding teeth, or crazy popping/clicking sounds, you probably have TMJ. It is very important to find a TMJ specialist (not all dentists are) and begin treatment, as TMJ will become much more difficult to deal with and will require more complicated surgeries if not handled correctly in the beginning.

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

How TMJ May Start

TMJ may develop slowly over the course of years and years or maybe a few months. Some people might wake up one day, discovering that their face hurts. Or maybe they can’t chew like they used to because their jaw just began popping or locking up. Or even rigorous activity in playing sports, or gnawing on some really chewy candy can set off TMJ problems that had been waiting to happen all along.

TMJ is the acronym for temporo-mandibular joint and, along with TMD (temporo-mandibular disorder), is what refers to problems and malignments in these joints that control your jaw. Physically, as we age or grow up, the natural harmony of the muscles and bones used in the chewing system can move out of place or may be altered. Continuous bad habits, rigorous activity, or just the natural way the body develops can affect the function of “small” details, such as how comfortable and efficient our mouth works when we speak or eat.

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

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Cosmetic and Aesthetic Dental Services

Cosmetic dentistry is different from bioesthetic dentistry, even though some aspects of each are similar (improvement of looks, for example). Bioesthetics concentrates on foundational anatomy of your mouth, with good looks and comfort resulting from treatment, while cosmetics is primarily beautifying the outward appearance of your teeth. Here are the most commonly practiced procedures of cosmetic dentistry: teeth whitening, bonded white fillings (I do not use mercury in any of my dentistry, and we are a mercury-safe office), veneers, porcelain crowns, and dental implants. I will go over each of these in more detail soon.

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

Bioesthetic Dentistry and TMJ

If you read any of my previous posts concerning TMJ, I’m sure you’ve made some sort of connection between that and bioesthetic dentistry. There is, in fact, a grand relationship between the two!

TMJ stands for “temporo-mandibular joint,” (or, more plainly, your jaw joint). “TMJ” itself, or even “TMD” (temporo-mandibular disorder), both refer to problems with the jaw joint that affect your chewing system. It also involves your surrounding facial muscles, and even your whole head or neck. It is important, if you seem to be experiencing unexplained headaches, neck pain, jaw pain, clicking or popping sounds when chewing, crooked jaw movements, grinding or clenching teeth, or limited opening of your mouth, to see a dentist immediately, as TMJ in the long run will become much worse if it isn’t treated.

Bioesthetics comes in handy here. Bioesthetic dentistry restores the original, genetic bite that functions perfectly and is most comfortable and efficient. That lists everything that TMJ is not! Bioesthetics is absolutely perfect for treating TMJ, as it targets correcting the jaw muscles and alignment, where the root problem is. Not the chipped teeth (yet), or the mysterious grinding on one side of your mouth (yet), but the deep-down muscles that control every single movement your mouth makes. It’s wonderful! And everyone who undergoes treatment is enamored with the fact that they can stop taking pain medications, wearing mouthpieces at night, or crashing hard underneath an unexplained migraine.

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

Bioesthetic Bite Correction: What Can I Expect?

I am glad you asked! As I rattle off so many great things about bioesthetics, I fail to list what, exactly, the process involves.

First, you must find a dentist who practices bioesthetics (call me if you live in Southern California). The process begins with procedures involving studying and analyzing your chewing system. A maxillary anterior guided orthotic (MAGO) is formed to temporarily correct your bite and relax or stabilize jaw joints and muscles. A MAGO is made out of hard plastic and shaped like a sports mouthpiece, and is designed to prevent further clenching or grinding of your teeth during this process.

Next, records are written and measurements of your jaw joint rotations in their natural positions are taken. A model of your teeth is made to determine what may be causing the problems and what must be done to correct them. Radiographs and photographs taken all around your face, neck, and mouth to help the dentist make the final diagnosis before beginning treatment. Then the ideal form for your teeth is molded in wax and the design is transferred to your mouth to test the comfort and functionality. Treatment begins after this.

The degree of treatment needed will vary from patient to patient. Some cases require just some reshaping or bonding of teeth, while others may need to undergo surgery and complete full mouth rejuvenation. Bioesthetics, as I mentioned before, though, allows the most conservative dental work to be done, so don’t be scared away by false visuals of half a dozen doctors surrounding you in a dark room with all sorts of sharp, whirring tools! Not the case!

After treatment, which can last as long as a couple weeks to several months, your natural, genetically original chewing system will be restored, and you’ll get to enjoy your new smile, knowing that your teeth and jaws are in their right places and working harmoniously together.

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

 

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Bioesthetic Dentistry

Bioesthetics could be defined, generally, as the study of “natural beauty.” In the area of dentistry, it applies to the healthy beauty of your mouth. It is acquired by restoring proper alignment between your teeth and jaws with a minimal amount of dental work, producing a perfect bite which will prevent wear-and-tear on your mouth that has, until recently, been blamed on mere “aging.” Correct jaw alignment, a good bite with effective chewing, a pretty smile, and lifetime-lasting results are all included in the package.

For years and years, dentists have been taught to work on each tooth individually. But addressing a single crown here, a root canal there, etc… can lead to complications. Those complications could be masking a broader issue, such as poor alignment of your teeth or crooked jaw joints.  The could be the cause of excessive premature wear or grinding of your teeth. Because Bioesthetics covers the core muscles and fundamentals of oral anatomy, surface issues like worn or cracked teeth, a popping jaw, or gum recession are fixed.  Once this occurs, patients walk out with a stable bite that will last them a long time.  Amazing!

Call today for a complimentary consultation to see if Bioesthetic Dentistry may be the right approach for you.

Dr. Boyajian, Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com