Gum Disease and Dental Disorders
Good dental care is about more than treating toothaches and dental decay. At the office of Scott A. Hudimac, DDS, we are concerned with the entirety of your dental health. Without exception, early diagnosis and treatment is the least stressful and least costly. Contact Scott A. Hudimac, DDS today so that we can begin a treatment plan that’s right for you.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is an infection of the gum and bone that surrounds and supports your teeth. It is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults and is almost always painless. Signs include persistent bad breath, bleeding of the gums, swollen gums, gums that pull away from the teethe, and loose or moving teeth. It won’t go away on its own, and research shows that it increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, respiratory infections, lower birth weight babies, and premature babies.
A variety of techniques and tools can be used to treat gum disease, including deep cleaning to remove plaque, tartar, and bacteria from below the gum line, antibiotics, oral rinses, oral hygiene education, and risk factor counseling.
The sooner we begin treatment, the better we can control periodontal disease and restore you to good dental health.
TMD
Temporomandibular disorder involves muscle spasms, pain, and joint imbalance where the lower jaw meets the skull at the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Symptoms include headaches, earaches, clicking and popping of the joint, difficulty opening and closing your mouth, and sore or painful jaw muscles. Millions of people suffer from TMD, but your dentist can help break the cycle of pain.
Bruxism
Do you clench or grind your teeth while sleeping? This is called bruxism, and over time it can lead to worn and sensitive teeth, damage to the jaw joint, earaches, and even chipped and loose teeth. A common and quite effective treatment is a nightguard, a plastic device worn while you are sleeping to protect your teeth from the damage of grinding.
Migraine and Tension Headaches
Yes, even headaches can be a dental disorder. Intense, prolonged jaw clenching is one source of migraine pain, tension headaches, and jaw pain, even making your neck feel stiff. Today, there is a simple appliance approved by the FDA for the prevention of migraine pain. It is called the NTI Tension Suppression System. NTI prevents contact of the teeth between the molars and canine teeth, without which your jaw muscles cannot clench and become fatigued.
Oral Cancer
A sore that does not heal or that bleeds easily. A red, white, or discolored patch or lump in or around your mouth. These are just a few of the signs of oral cancer. The problem with oral cancer is that most pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions are completely painless, and patients often seek treatment too late, when the disease has advanced to a stage where survival rates are the lowest. How can you protect yourself from oral cancer? In addition to healthy habits (like avoiding tobacco and excessive alcohol use), visit your dentist for regular checkups. We can screen you for signs of cancer and will always be on the alert for any early developments.
