Dynamic Dental Wellness

Airway and TMJ

DO YOU SUFFER FROM ANY OF THE FOLLOWING?

  • Snoring, morning dry mouth, Gasping or choking in sleep
  • Teeth grinding, worn teeth, jaw clenching, Clicking/locking jaw joints
  • Mouth breathing, chapped lips
  • Tooth sensitivity, Gum recession and/or redness
  • Morning headache and/or sore jaws, Neck, shoulder, or back pain or ringing in the ear
  • Sunken lips and reverse smile curve (sad), Bulge under lower jaw, double chin
  • Diabetes type 2, High blood pressure
  • Weight gain, pot belly; acid reflux or poor digestion and elimination, bloating after meals
  • Daytime sleepiness, fatigue, Senile memory, ADD/ADHD
  • Frequent colds, flu, and skin disorder or stuffy/runny nose, scratchy/itchy throat
  • Forward head: ears ahead of shoulders
  • Waking up to urinate more than once or bed wetting in children
  • Large neck size (M>17, W>15)
  • History of teeth extractions for braces
  • Bulge under lower jaw, double chin
  • Depression, anxiety, grouchiness

Above symptoms are associated with Sleep Disorder breathing. Here at we understand the correlation between your overall health and the proper posture, breathing and sleep. We have studied how your Airway plays a major role in your quality of sleep and how the jaw alignment effects the size of your airway.

Here at Dynamic Dental Wellness we have an integrative and whole body approach in treating patients. We have a group of likeminded professional such as Osteopathic physicians, Craniosacral therapist, oral myofunctional therapist chiropractors, nutritionists, physical therapists and ear nose and throat doctors to get our patients feeling better more quickly so they can live their lives more fully and out of pain. Call us for a thorough examination and consultation today.

SLEEP APNEA DENTISTRY: THE PERMANENT SLEEP APNEA TREATMENT

EXPLORE THE CAUSES FOR SLEEP APNEA AND HOW SLEEP APNEA DENTISTRY CAN HELP

Sleep apnea is a commo issue affecting many individuals on a nightly basis. And what’s most problematic about this condition is that when left untreated, the brain and body may not receive enough oxygen hundreds of times every night. This has severe effects on your health over the course of a lifetime! Did you know that sleep apnea dentistry or an airway dentistry can permanently correct this condition?

At Dynamic Dental Wellness, we’re dedicated to comprehensive diagnoses and treatment of sleep apnea to ensure that patients don’t suffer from the disruptive symptoms. At Dynamic Dental Wellness treatments are customized for each patient’s need.

UNDERSTANDING SLEEP APNEA

Sleep apnea occurs when breathing is interrupted during sleep. There are two major types of events that characterize Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

These events include:

  • Hypoxic Events – During Hypoxic Events, oxygen saturation drops by at least 4%. Often, those with OSA won’t notice Hypoxic Events, therefore making it more difficult to recognize the common symptoms of the condition.
  • Apnic Events – Apnic Events are those in which individuals stop breathing altogether. Most often, those suffering from OSA only recognize the Apnic Events because they are more pronounced.

SLEEP APNEA DENTISTRY SOLUTIONS

When left untreated, sleep apnea can increase the risk of several health problems such as high blood pressure, stroke, or even diabetes.

Treatment for sleep apnea will vary depending on the severity of the condition. However, there are several different dental appliances option which can permanently resolve the issue.

In other cases, a CPAP, is required to maintain constant pressure in the airway and prevent block in oxygen delivery during sleep.

CONTACT OUR TEAM TO DISCUSS YOUR OPTIONS FOR SLEEP APNEA TREATMENT

If you suffer from sleep apnea and are seeking a solution, Dynamic Dental Wellness can provide the guidance and go over treatment options with you.

Contact our team at (703) 775-0002 today to learn more about sleep apnea treatment options or to set up your consultation with Dr. Salartash to discuss your needs.

We look forward to working with you to determine the best treatment option for your unique condition!

TMJ

Temporomandibular disorder (TMJ, TMJD or TMD) is a painful disorder with many symptoms that affects the temporomandibular joint, an area that includes the hinge jaw joint (the bridge for the lower jaw or mandible). It also affects the temporal bone of the skull located in front of each ear, as well as the muscles surrounding the jaw and the jaw itself.

This area of the face contributes to chewing, bite (occlusion) and jaw movement. Therefore, TMJ disorder compromises jaw flexibility and may cause pain at rest or during common movements such as talking, chewing and yawning.

The pain and discomfort caused by TMJ disorder may be severe. It can be intermittent for some patients. Other patients can experience constant pain and symptoms, and it may last for many years.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS AND CAUSES OF TMD/TMJ?

Symptoms can vary and include:

  • Pain around your ears
  • Pain in your jaw, tooth, face, neck, or shoulders
  • Clicking or popping of your jaw (jaw instability)
  • Inability to open your mouth in a normal range of motion
  • Grinding your teeth
  • Ringing or fullness in your ears
  • Migraine headaches or any other type of headaches
  • Sinus pressure and lack of draining

There are many causes for TMD/TMJ, including:

  • Trauma/whiplash
  • Braces/dental work
  • Stress/teeth grinding
  • Dental malocclusions
  • Missing or bad teeth
  • Muscle abuse/overuse
  • Inflammation
  • Disease

TREATING THE THREE COMPONENTS OF TMD/TMJ

There are three components of TMD/TMJ, and if your dentist or doctor is not treating all three, your chances of success go down dramatically. These are imbalance of the bite/occlusion; imbalance in the muscles and joints of the jaw, head and neck; and stress imbalance and home care.

IMBALANCE OF THE BITE/OCCLUSION

For years, dentists have had to use a large amount of guesswork in diagnosing dental occlusion. Imprecise tools such as articulation paper, waxes, and pressure indicator paste were all we had to assess and balance the forces of the bite with the muscles and joints of the head and neck. Most of these methods are not sensitive enough to detect simultaneous contact, and none measure both biting time and force–critical components in diagnosing TMD.

Successful diagnosis and treatment of your TMJ condition requires state-of-the-art technology. We use the only computerized test that can accurately and objectively measure your bite/occlusion/bite. Do not leave your bite to chance!

TMD AND MIGRAINE OR TENSION HEADACHES

The most common TMD complaint is migraine headache accompanied by jaw, head, neck, and/or shoulder pain. Migraine headaches usually start in the forehead, temples, or back of the head. Those who clench or grind their teeth may also develop migraine-like headaches. Although the majority of migraines and TMJ headaches have various causes, they all have one thing in common: dysfunction of the temporal mandibular joint of the jaw.

Most migraine headaches have two common attributes:

  • Tenderness in the muscles of the jaw, head, neck, and face are “hot spots” in the muscles – called trigger points – which create pain “wind-up loops” that cause migraine headaches and referral pain patterns.
  • Clenching of the teeth (or bruxism)

The good news is that these migraine headaches and other headaches along with the associated pain can be treated effectively. There’s no need to continue to live with migraine headache pain when you can get relief from these symptoms naturally without drugs.

TENSION HEADACHES AND MIGRAINE HEADACHES ARE AMONG THE MOST COMMON SYMPTOMS OF TMJ DYSFUNCTION!

Call us to receive your full assessment and begin your life without TMD/TMJ pain!

TAKE A TMJ SELF TEST NOW

Answer the following questions:

  • Do you get frequent headaches or facial pain?
  • Do you get frequent neck aches or shoulder aches?
  • Do you find yourself clenching your teeth during the day?
  • Do you grind your teeth at night?
  • Do you wake up with your teeth clenched?
  • If you answered “yes” to any of the above, especially 2 or more, there is a good chance you may have TMD (temporomandibular dysfunction)

TRY THE FOLLOWING SELF ASSESSMENT FOR TMJ:

  • Put the pad of one finger (use the index finger) in each ear and with the pad facing forward toward your nose, press your fingers forward – is it tender? If it is this can indicate inflammation in the temporomandibular joint.
  • With your fingers still in your ears, open and close – do you feel or hear any popping or clicking? Popping or clicking can indicate problems with the cartilage that is in the joint space.
  • Press a finger just slightly in front of the opening of your ears – do you feel tenderness? A yes response again could indicate inflammation within the joint.
  • With your index, middle and ring finger held together, open your mouth and see if you can place them vertically between your upper and lower front teeth? If you cannot, this is often a sign of TMJ problems.

EFFECTS OF MOUTH BREATHING

Read the latest research here.