Norristown Doctors
Recent Answers
Is Invisalign Appropriate for Jaw Alignment Treatment?
I'm told my jaw is out of alignment and the dentist wants me to do Invisalign. Will that help? It will take all my savings but all I know is that it hurts to eat and I'm tired of my jaw popping out and tired of the headaches.
A: TMJ and InvisalignHi, the answer is absolutely DO NOT move forward with Invisalign when you have TMJ, especially symptomatic TMJ. Firstly, Invisalign in and of itself will do nothing to relieve your symptoms. Secondly, changing your occlusion without the dentist first gathering extensive diagnostic information is very likely to worsen your symptoms. Lastly, with all due respect to your dentist, it sounds like he/she knows nothing about TMJ. Not really surprising because its not a topic really covered in dental school, it is incredibly complex, and its treatment is quite controversial in the dental community for unfortunate political reasons. You and your dentist have no idea what type to TMJ problem you have. Get to a dentist who's practice is solely dedicated to TMJ or has a large TMJ component. Ask them how much continuing education they have in TMJ and craniofacial pain. If they can't prove 300 or more hours of training in just TMJ, move on. Do yourself a favor, find the right practiioner and get yourself out of pain!
i am a second yr BDS student my professor has asked me what are contraindications of enameloplasty...as i am very glad that my earlier question was replied nicely...but not to my satisfaction.can u please help me with this. 2.what is that property known as because of which dentin gives the cushioning effect to the enamel and restorative material.
A: Enameloplasty ContraindicationsThe clinical contraindications for enameloplasty include decalcified enamel, the presence of minimal enamel so that enameloplasty would result in exposure of the dentin, and in patients who exhibit hypersensitivity. I would also not do enameloplasty, unless absolutely needed, on patients with a high caries incidence. All that said, your professor may be looking for a purely academic answer which may be quite different from the answer a clinical dentist would be looking for.
What is my Best Bet to Treat my Tetracycline Stained Teeth?
I have heard so many mixed reviews about veneers and lumineers that I'm not just confused. Could bonding even work? I'm afraid of lasting pain or sensitivity after a procedure and would just like a natural, lasting, painless smile. What would be the best option for me?
A: Veneers for Tetracycline Stained TeethI'd like to help you clear up your confusion: Go with Veneers. Your tetracycline staining will not be helped with teeth whitening. Bonding over tetracycline staining can be really hit and miss and often requires the removal of more tooth structure than veneers would to attain proper tooth contours and mask the staining. Unfortunately Lumineers are often used as the poor man's veneers. You won't find many top cosmetic dentists that use them. You certainly won't see anyone passing AACD accreditation with them. Ultimately, Lumineers are just a brand name of veneers. Getting 'certified' in providing Lumineers is drastically quicker and cheaper than going through a full cosmetic dentistry continuum, accreditation, or fellowship, hence why many dentists choose the Lumineers option. You will get a far more esthetically pleasing result from a highly trained cosmetic dentist using a top tier porcelain lab that specializes in esthetics.
As for the concern about sensitivity, minimal prep is great, no prep is even better but the reality is that no prep veneers (as Lumineers are frequently and IMO, erroneously, marketed) are rarely an option. Maintaining a proper emergence profile and tooth contour is vital not just for esthetics but also the health of your gums. If the margins are properly finished and the veneers properly bonded by your dentist there will rarely ever be post-op sensitivity.
