February 25th, 2010 amogell
Afraid of the dentist? One pill can make those fears disappear!
COLUMBUS, OH – Some polls show that as many as four out of five Americans admit to being afraid of the dentist and up to 25% of adults are so fearful that they don’t get the care they need. Every day more research shows that healthy teeth and gums are a huge contributor to your overall health. Avoiding gum disease can protect you from heart disease, diabetes, some types of cancers and for pregnant women, can even help your unborn baby.
People who are afraid of the dentist usually have one of three types of dental fear -
- Dental anxiety is a reaction to something unknown such as a procedure you have never had before
- Dental fear is a reaction to something that is known or perceived to be known such as experiencing treatment from an uncaring dentist or being told horror stories by friends or family
- Dental phobia is an extreme type of dental fear which may cause a physical fear response such as fight-or-flight
There is help available for those suffering from anxiety and fearfulness about dental procedures. Sedation dentistry or relaxation dentistry uses medication to relax the fears away. Combine this with a highly trained, caring doctor and staff and your healthy, beautiful smile is finally within your reach.
Contact us for more information about dentistry with the “little pill” in the Columbus, Ohio area at 614-476-6696.
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February 23rd, 2010 amogell
Self help solutions to ease the pain caused by TMJ
COLUMBUS, OH – Headaches, facial pain, neck pain, strange noises in your ears, clicking jaw joints – all symptoms of temporomandibular joint dysfunction and all difficult to live with. If you are suffering from any one or more of these symptoms you could have a TMJ problem. Until you are able to get an appointment with your neuromuscular dentist here are some do-it-yourself suggestions that can help alleviate your discomfort.
Remember that ice is your friend. Gel ice packs are available at your local pharmacy and are easy to apply to the jaw area. Just like you might apply ice to a sprained ankle, ice on the temporomandibular joint helps reduce swelling and pain. If you can tolerate ibuprofen, it is a wonderful drug to reduce inflammation and help begin healing.
Modify your diet. Again, think of your injured jaw joint like a sprained ankle. Every time you eat hard or chewy foods, you are “running” on that jaw joint. Place yourself on a non-chew soft diet. Nothing harder than the consistency of cooked pasta. No chewing gum or ice and stifle your yawns as much as possible. In general, minimize using your mandible as much as possible.
Gentle passive exercises to strengthen the muscles of the temporomandibular joint and mouth area are important to maintain a healthy range of motion. A referral to a qualified physical therapist is always beneficial in getting the TMJ muscles relaxed and pain free.
Treating temporomandibular joint dysfunctions is not something that every dentist is trained to do. The jaw joint is among the most complex in the human body and it takes advanced training in neuromuscular dentistry to effectively treat these types of cases. Dr. Mark Levy is an LVI Fellow which means he has attained the highest levels of neuromuscular training at the prestigious Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies.
These self-help tips will not “cure” your TMJ problem but may help make you more comfortable until your appointment with Dr. Levy. Please contact us today at 614-476-6696 to schedule your consultation.
Posted in Home, TMJ | 1 Comment »
February 19th, 2010 amogell
TMJ can be the cause of Tinnitus, or ringing in the ears
COLUMBUS, OH – What is that constant ringing in my ears? One of the most vexing conditions is tinnitus – a ringing or buzzing sound in the ears. Fortunately for most sufferers the condition is not related to serious illness but is extremely annoying and can affect social relationships or work.
What causes the bells to start ringing? Sometimes it is damage to cells of the inner ear. This damage could simply be age related or caused by previous traumatic injury. Some medications cause tinnitus. A frequently overlooked cause of funny sounds in the ears is TMD or temporomandibular joint disorder.
The temporomandibular joint is the joint where your lower jaw attaches. This joint is one of the most complex in the human body – flexing and bending in many directions. The jaw joint is also under constant stress from talking, chewing and, for many people, grinding their teeth. While the most common symptoms of TMD are facial pain, neck pain, clicking in the jaw and severe headaches many patients report ringing, buzzing or a feeling of “fullness” in their ears.
Many patients have gone from one specialist to another for many years seeking relief, only to be told that their ears look fine. There are effective treatment options from a trained neuromuscular dentist. Treatment of these conditions requires extensive education such as that offered at LVI (The Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies). As an LVI Fellow, Dr. Levy is uniquely qualified to care for patients with TMD in the Gahanna, Ohio area.
Contact our office for a consultation about neuromuscular dentistry and tinnitus at 614-454-3488 or visit our website at www.marklevydds.com.
Posted in Home, TMJ | 2 Comments »
February 15th, 2010 amogell
Grinding Your Teeth and Sleep Apnea
COLUMBUS, OH – Research presented at a recent scientific assembly of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) found that nearly 1 in 4 patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) also suffer from bruxism, or nighttime teeth grinding. About 8 percent of the US population experiences bruxism, commonly known as teeth grinding, which is associated with TMJ problems, a bad bite or stress.
According to Dr. Shyam Subramanian of Baylor “High levels of anxiety can lead to bruxism, and untreated sleep apnea is known to cause mood disturbances including depression and anxiety. Daytime sleepiness from sleep apnea may cause a person to ingest caffeine, and this has also been associated with a high risk of bruxism.”
Left untreated, teeth grinding causes extreme tooth wear and decay. Gum tissue may be damaged and common complaints include jaw pain, headaches and neck pain – continued teeth grinding may also lead to temporomandibular joint dysfunction.
“Bruxism can be both a daytime syndrome as well as a nighttime syndrome, but it is bruxism during sleep, including short naps, that causes the majority of health issues” said Dr. Subramanian. Fortunately, oral appliance therapy for obstructive sleep apnea is highly effective for treating both OSA and solving the problem of nighttime teeth grinding.
“Sleep disorders such as sleep apnea can lead to many secondary health conditions,” said Dr. Kalpalatha Guntupalli, President of the ACCP. “When treating sleep apnea, clinicians must also recognize and address secondary health conditions, such as bruxism, in order to fully manage a patient’s sleep disorder.” As an experienced neuromuscular and dental sleep medicine practitioner, Dr. Mark Levy is uniquely qualified to meet this need.
If you feel you are grinding your teeth during sleep and have a snoring problem or if you have been diagnosed with OSA contact our office to find out more about oral appliance therapy. Patients in the Columbus, Ohio area call 614-454-3488 or click to arrange a consultation to discuss oral appliance therapy with Dr. Mark Levy.
Posted in Sleep Apnea, Teeth Grinding | 2 Comments »
