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Archives for December 2022

Full Mouth Reconstruction for TMJ Disorder

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My jaw hurts all the time. Sometimes, I just sip soup because I don’t want to chew. Between that and my constant migraines, I do not feel I am a functioning adult. I spoke to my dentist about it and he said it sounds like I have TMJ Disorder. He’d like to do a full mouth reconstruction. My teeth are healthy, so I am a little hesitant to do this. He said it would mean putting a crown on each of my teeth. If that is the only way to get out of pain, I am willing. I just want to make sure.

Percy

Dear Percy,

Woman holding her jaw from TMJ pain

TMJ Disorder can be quite painful and it does sound like you have quite a few of the symptoms. However, jumping straight to a full mouth reconstruction seems a bit over the top to me. There are less invasive procedures that I would recommend you try first. The exception would be if your case is quite severe and it is obvious that this is the treatment you need.

If that is the case or if you try the less invasive procedures do not work then you want to find the right dentist to do a full mouth reconstruction. This is a very advanced procedure. Very advanced. If it is not done correctly, then you can end up in even a worse situation you are in now. While there is not a TMJ specialty, you do want a TMJ Dentist. What I mean by that is someone with post-doctoral training in treating TMJ Disorder.

Who Is The Best Dentist for a Full-Mouth Reconstruction

This is not a procedure that is adequately taught in dental school. In order to have it done well, you need a dentist who has invested in post-doctoral training in these type of procedural skills.

Some schools to look for a dentist to have received his training in this area are:

  • The Las Vegas Institute of Advanced Dental Studies
  • The Pankey Institute
  • Dawson Academy

The best dentists work hard on their skills. They do not rest on their degree and just go through the motions with what they’ve learned in dental school. You want someone who is consistently working on their skillset.

This blog is brought to you by Duluth, GA Dentist Dr. David Marion.

Should I Update My Dental Implants?

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I have had my dental implants placed about ten years ago. I keep reading about these advances in the technology. I’ve got two on my bottom left and one on the upper right. I’m about to need another one and wondered if I should just go ahead and switch out the rest of them at the same time. If so, what are your thoughts on the zirconia dental implants?

Dean

Dear Dean,

An assortment of titanium and zirconia dental implants.

Most of the dental implants used ten years ago were made of titanium. There is abundant data that these are very biocompatible and will last for a lifetime if well cared for. The only part that will still need replacement, even with care is the crown that tops it. You may find that they need to be replaced every ten years or so.

Should You Replace Your Dental Implants?

Replacing dental implants is not as simple as taking the old ones out and putting in new ones. Because the dental implants integrate with your bone, there will be some bone loss when you extract the implants. That bone is essential to the retention of any new implant placed. In order to have enough bone again, you will need to do a bone grafting porcedure. That means a surgery to remove the implants. A surgery to get the bone grafting done. Then, a surgery for the new dental implants. That is three different chances for something to go wrong. At the moment your dental implants are just fine, so I am not sure it will be worth the trouble, expense, and risk of doing the multiple surgeries.

The newer implants are made from zirconia rather than titanium. Honestly, though, most dentists still use the titanium implants because they have been studied for decades and have a phenomal long-term success rate. Zirconia implants could be fine, but they have not been studied as long.

In your place, I would keep the current implants while they are still working fine and, if you want to, you can get the newer zirconia implant for the tooth you need to replace currently.

There are things you can keep an eye on for your other implants and if they show signs of failing, then you can go ahead and replace them then.

  • Discomfort and difficulty biting
  • Pain and discomfort around the implant
  • The implant shifting or loose
  • Gums receding around the implant
  • Swollen or inflamed gums

This blog is brought to you by Duluth, GA Dentist Dr. David Marion.