Our Frequently Asked Questions
Once a tooth has completed RCT the tooth structure above bone level becomes very brittle. A crown aims to reinforce this structure to ensure it does not fracture down the middle. If a tooth fractures down to the bone level, this is one situation where the tooth cannot be restored and it must be removed. Not only can this be traumatising to a patient but it is also difficult to hear after spending the time and money on a RCT. In addition, for the best chance at maintaining a successful RCT, the filling and tooth structure must remain perfectly sealed. A crown achieves this as it sleeves completely over the entire tooth surface and is cemented permanently. Crowns can be tooth coloured, gold, or silver. It is very important to take care of a crowned tooth just as you would a natural tooth. If a crown is not taken care of the tooth structure under the crown can decay and you could lose your crown, this will be avoided with optimum at home care and regular dental check-ups.
TMD stands for TemproMandibular joint Dysfunction. This is an overall term covering pain and irregular movement of the jaw, its joints, and the muscles of mastication (chewing).
Bruxism is an oral parafunctional activity, meaning it is unrelated to the normal function of talking and chewing. It is a condition in which you gnash, grind, or clench your teeth together. Some patients clench their teeth when they are awake and are simply not aware they are doing it. Others clench and grind unconsciously when they sleep. Over time, this repetitive habit causes destructive wear to the surfaces of the teeth and leads to cracks, breaks and in some cases, loss of teeth.
Masseter Hypertrophy clinically presents as enlargement of the masseter muscle, the main muscle that we use to chew. Many patients complain of pain in the muscle, tightness of the muscle, and in some cases feel as though their teeth don’t come together correctly at times.
Bruxism is an oral parafunctional activity, meaning it is unrelated to the normal function of talking and chewing. It is a condition in which you gnash, grind, or clench your teeth together. Some patients clench their teeth when they are awake and are simply not aware they are doing it. Others clench and grind unconsciously when they sleep. Over time, this repetitive habit causes destructive wear to the surfaces of the teeth and leads to cracks, breaks and in some cases, loss of teeth.
Masseter Hypertrophy clinically presents as enlargement of the masseter muscle, the main muscle that we use to chew. Many patients complain of pain in the muscle, tightness of the muscle, and in some cases feel as though their teeth don’t come together correctly at times.
TMD, Bruxism and Masseter Hypertrophy can be extremely difficult to diagnose and treat successfully. Extensive research has gone into the use of BTx-A injections to relieve these muscular pains. The results have been extremely positive in alleviating patients’ muscular pain and reducing the size of the masseter muscle. The aim of the treatment is to essentially retrain the muscle to behave in a “normal” manner, instead of over activating and causing dysfunction.
While the results are positive, it is important for patients to understand that this treatment will only work if the cause of the pain IS muscular. After a series of BTx-A injections, if there is little to no improvement, then we can discard the cause as being muscular. In this case BTx-A has been a useful diagnostic tool, and we can guide our patients towards investigating other causes of the pain.
While the results are positive, it is important for patients to understand that this treatment will only work if the cause of the pain IS muscular. After a series of BTx-A injections, if there is little to no improvement, then we can discard the cause as being muscular. In this case BTx-A has been a useful diagnostic tool, and we can guide our patients towards investigating other causes of the pain.
An occlusal splint “night guard” is an excellent tool for treating TMD; a jaw disorder which causes pain and irregular movement of the jaw. These occlusal splints focus on protecting your teeth and correcting the way they come together. A splint is your first point of call for treating jaw disorders, regardless of whether you choose BTx-A therapy. Our splints are custom made for our patients. The material is a clear acrylic resin, softer than natural teeth, which fits entirely over the occlusal (top/chewing) surface of your top teeth ensuring they are protected. Wearing an occlusal splint at night protects your teeth against cracks and breaks which are caused by grinding. Your splint will require adjustment over time to ensure the best long term outcome.
Our Dental Clinics dermal filler of choice is Belatero. Belatero is a temporary filler, which means it lasts anywhere from 3-12 months. It is one of the market leaders in dermal fillers as it provides safe, reliable and effective results. These results dissipate naturally over time leaving no permanent changes. This material includes bovine collagen and rooster comb HA, and the effects are reversible with hyaluronidase.
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