Stop Bruxism Before It Leads To TMJ Dysfunction

January 19, 2012

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , , , — admin @ 5:02 pm

Bruxism is another name for a problem you may be dealing with everyday without knowing it—teeth grinding. More specifically, bruxism can involve grinding your teeth back and forth across each other, or just clenching your jaw.

Often, what prompts this is stress. It’s almost like a natural reaction and is something you can do unconsciously without thinking about too much.

That’s especially the case when you sleep. Patients who have trouble with bruxism often have the greatest trouble at night, when it’s impossible to consciously stop the grinding or clenching.

How Can I Know If I Have Bruxism?

Only a diagnosis from a dentist like Dr. Carmen can tell you for sure, but some symptoms to watch out for include:

  • Jaw pain
  • Headaches
  • Neck, back, and shoulder pain
  • Earaches
  • Sensitive teeth
  • Depression
  • Eating disorders
  • Insomnia

With a thorough oral exam from Dr. Carmen at our Norman dental office, we can help you identify whether or not your painful symptoms are being caused by bruxism.

Why Is It Important To Treat Bruxism?

Treating bruxism is important because, if left untreated, it can lead to TMJ dysfunction. Both have painful symptoms and can significantly damage your teeth.

If you want to save your smile from serious damage and find a way to alleviate your painful symptoms, call our Norman office to schedule an appointment with Dr. Carmen. Our dental office serves patients from Norman, Moore, the University of Oklahoma, Central Oklahoma, and surrounding areas.

Get the New Year Started with a Visit to Dr. Carmen’s Norman Office

January 6, 2012

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , — admin @ 7:46 pm

We’re about a full week into 2012, but many people are still thinking about New Year’s resolutions. If you’re one of them, consider making a New Year’s smile resolution.

What might a New Year’s smile resolution involve?

First, take a close look at your daily brushing and flossing regimen. Keeping your smile healthy means brushing twice a day, flossing at least once, and gargling with an anti-bacterial mouthwash at least once.

But beyond regular brushing and flossing, an important part of New Year’s smile resolution involves coming into Dr. Carmen’s Norman dental office for regular visits. When you come in for your January visit (or any other visit), Dr. Carmen will inspect your smile for signs of tooth decay, gum disease, TMJ dysfunction, bruxism, and oral cancer.

This kind of comprehensive approach to dentistry lets Dr. Carmen provide preventive care that is more comfortable and conservative, benefiting the patient in every way.

As more and more studies are showing, a direct link exists between a patient’s overall health and the health of his or her smile. In particular, poor gum health has been shown to share a connection with diabetic complications, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, premature birth, and heart disease.

To schedule your first visit of the year with Dr. Carmen, call our Norman office today. We serve patients from The University of Oklahoma, Norman, Moore, Central Oklahoma, and surrounding areas.

Merry Christmas, From All of Us at Dr. Carmen’s Norman Office

December 21, 2011

Filed under: Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , — admin @ 9:55 pm

Christmas is a time for presents, for sharing of yourself with loved ones, and for indulging in your favorite holiday treats.

It’s important, of course, not to indulge too much over the holidays, but what are celebrations for if not for indulging just a little?

So while Dr. Carmen and all the rest of us at Dr. Carmen’s Norman dental office hope that you’ll remember to brush and floss just like you always do, what’s more important to us is that our patients from Norman, the University of Oklahoma, Moore, Central Oklahoma, and surrounding areas enjoy all that Christmas and the New Year have to offer.

And if you’d like to go ahead and get a jump on your first visit for next year, we’d be happy to go ahead and set up your next appointment with Dr. Carmen. Just a quick call is all it takes.

Choose Dental Implant Dentures from Dr. Carmen Instead of Dentures

December 12, 2011

Filed under: Dental Implants — Tags: , , , , , , , , — admin @ 2:24 pm

Do you need to replace either your top or bottom teeth with a row of full dentures? If so, have you considered choosing implant-supported dentures over traditional dentures?

While traditional dentures can help patients improve their appearance and even enjoy improvements in functionality, there are three reasons why you should ask Dr. Carmen if implant-supported dentures are right for you.

First, implant-supported dentures can provide you stronger, more natural bite than is possible with traditional dentures. Making this possible is the natural bonding process that occurs between your implants and your jaw over time as they gradually take on the job that your natural tooth roots previously had.

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Air Abrasion from Dr. Carmen Is a Comfortable, Conservative Alternative to Drilling

November 18, 2011

Filed under: Technology — Tags: , , , , , , — admin @ 2:39 pm

For some patients, what’s aggravating about a trip to the dentist isn’t getting a shot or having to hold their mouths open, it’s the drill, whether the whiny sound it makes, the smoky smell it produces, or the vibrations it causes.

That’s why, in many cases, Dr. Carmen’s Norman office uses air abrasion instead of a traditional dental drill. While a traditional dental drill uses a needle to remove decay or prepare a tooth for a filling, air abrasion uses a high-pressure stream of aluminum oxide particles.

What that means for patients is a quieter, more comfortable experience that works for adults and children alike. Dr. Carmen may even be able to complete your appointment without using an anesthetic.

But there’s one more benefit of air abrasion to consider, and that is that air abrasion is a conservative approach. What that means is that air abrasion lets Dr. Carmen preserve more of your natural tooth structure. This benefits your oral health, as the more of your natural tooth structure we’re able to preserve, the longer you can enjoy your natural smile.

Want to Find Out More About Air Abrasion?

If you have questions for us about air abrasion or would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Carmen, call our Norman office today. We serve patients from Norman, Moore, the University of Oklahoma, Central Oklahoma, and surrounding areas.

Dr. Carmen’s Office Also Mills Inlays and Onlays in One Visit with CEREC

November 4, 2011

Filed under: CEREC Crowns — Tags: , , , , , — admin @ 9:03 pm

If you know anything about CEREC, you know that with a CEREC machine, Dr. Carmen can mill brand new, all-porcelain crowns in about one hour. But what you may not know is that we can do more with CEREC than just crowns. Our CEREC machine also lets us mill inlays and onlays.

What Are Inlays and Onlays?

Like crowns, inlays and onlays are used to restore teeth damaged by decay or other kinds of damage. But here’s the difference. While a crown restores an entire tooth, inlays and onlays are designed to specifically for situations where a crown would be overkill, but a filling wouldn’t be enough.

More specifically, inlays are used to restore the space in between a tooth’s cusps, which are tooth’s curved edges, while onlays actually fit over one or more cusp.

Because we can mill them right in our Norman office, only one visit is required to complete your procedure. And, because inlays and onlays let you retain more of your natural tooth structure than a filling would, they can actually help you prolong the life of your tooth.

Want To Know More About Inlays and Onlays from Dr. Carmen?

Call our Norman office to schedule a consultation visit with Dr. Carmen. He’d be happy to answer any questions you might have about an inlay/onlay procedure, or any of our other services.

Get in touch with us today! We serve patients from the University of Oklahoma, Norman, Moore, Central Oklahoma, and beyond.

You Can Make Your Child’s Halloween Cavity-Free with Xylitol Candy

October 21, 2011

Filed under: General Dentistry,Uncategorized — Tags: , , , , , , — admin @ 3:36 pm

Halloween’s just a little over a week away now, and if you have little ones, you know how much they’re looking forward to the big day. You, on the other hand, just wish there was a way you could get them through the night without ruining their teeth.

Well, there is.

With xylitol candy, you can help your child stay cavity-free without dampening their trick-or-treat spirit.

The Benefits of Xylitol

Xylitol comes from the fibers of fruits and vegetables. It’s low in calories, low in carbohydrates, and has been used as for years as a sweetener, especially in sweets for diabetics. But its biggest benefit is in the way it interacts with teeth.

Unlike traditional sugar, which gives bacteria energy to feed on by breaking down, xylitol doesn’t break down. It also promotes a healthy pH level in the mouth and makes it more difficult for bacteria to stick to teeth, meaning that it actually protects smiles from cavities.

But where can you find xylitol candy?

Some online options include xlear.com, zappgum.com, and Amazon, but with a little research you may be able to find just what you’re looking for at your nearest health foods store.

Want to know more about xylitol candy, or how you can help your child have a cavity-free Halloween? Visit xylitol.org or give Dr. Carmen’s Norman office a call today. We serve patients from the University of Oklahoma, Moore, Central Oklahoma, and beyond.

Sedation Dentistry Is Not Just For Anxiety

October 6, 2011

Filed under: Sedation Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , — admin @ 7:49 pm

What comes to mind when you think of sedation dentistry? Typically, it’s dental anxiety, which is the number one reason millions of Americans avoid the dentist each year.

But dental anxiety isn’t the only reason patients may want to consider sedation dentistry from Dr. Carmen’s Norman dental office. For some patients, a sensitive gag reflex could be what’s standing in the way of a healthier, stronger smile. With sedation dentistry, though, patients can look forward to enjoying comfortable care at last.

Likewise, for patients who may suffer from neck or back pain and have trouble sitting for long periods of time, sedation dentistry can help. But with IV sedation, we can make it possible for you to sleep comfortably through your appointment, allowing Dr. Carmen to finish more work in less time than it would ordinarily take without sedation dentistry.

It’s also possible for sedation dentistry to help patients who may not be affected by local anesthetics, easing anxieties about pain. You’ll feel so relaxed that your appointment will feel like it only took a few moments.

Still Have Questions? Call Us Today!

Dr. Carmen would be happy to answer any questions you might have about sedation dentistry. Call our Norman office today to schedule your consultation visit. Dr. Carmen serves patients from Moore, the University of Oklahoma, Central Oklahoma, and surrounding areas.

TMJ Therapy from Dr. Carmen

September 23, 2011

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: , , , — admin @ 3:35 pm

You’ve probably heard of TMJ, but do you know what it is? Many believe TMJ is a painful condition that involves jaw clicking or jaw pain. And while that’s not far from the mark, TMJ actually stands for nothing more innocuous than temporomandibular joint, which is the joint connecting both sides of your jaw to the bottom of your skull.

TMJ dysfunction is the term we actually use to talk about that painful yet common condition involving jaw, shoulder, neck, and back pain, among other symptoms. And because it’s much more common than you might think, Dr. Carmen checks for TMJ dysfunction in every patient who comes in for a visit, because no one should have to live with unnecessary pain.

Relief from Painful Symptoms

One of the primary ways Dr. Carmen can help you treat TMJ dysfunction is with a physiologic bite appliance, the goal of which is to correct a misaligned bite—one of the primary causes behind TMJ dysfunction.

But an oral appliance isn’t the only way our Norman office can help. Because stress is another leading cause of painful symptoms, learning how you can alleviate it can dramatically affect your daily life. We’ll teach you some helpful relaxation techniques to keep in mind and show you how even paying attention to your posture can make a significant difference.

Want to learn more?  Contact our Norman office to schedule your next check-up. Dr. Carmen will thoroughly inspect your smile for TMJ dysfunction, in addition to gum disease, tooth decay, and oral cancer.

Call us today! Relief is just around the corner!

The Benefits of Tooth-Colored Fillings

September 2, 2011

Filed under: General Dentistry — Tags: , , , , , , — admin @ 6:32 pm

For years, dentists have used traditional amalgam fillings to treat tooth decay. So why does Dr. Carmen’s Norman office use tooth-colored fillings? Well, there are a few reasons.

One is that tooth-colored fillings come with a cosmetic benefit. Tooth-colored fillings, as the name suggests, are tooth-colored. So when you smile, you end up showing off beautiful, healthy teeth instead of dark fillings. That’s because tooth-colored fillings can be shaded to blend in exactly with your teeth. Only you and Dr. Carmen will even know you have fillings.

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