Most people know that they need to schedule a visit to their dentist as soon as they feel tooth pain. However, you might be surprised to learn that the cause of a toothache is not always cavities or tooth damage.
Pain in your tooth can sometimes be caused by a health condition occurring in a different part of your body. If you are noticing pain in one of your teeth, it may be a symptom of the following health issues.
Ear Infection
An ear infection can occur whenever bacteria cause inflammation in any part of the ear. These sorts of infection cause swelling throughout the ears, nose, and throat, and all the buildup of pressure can make the teeth ache. You might have an ear infection if you have pain in your teeth or ears along with one or more of these symptoms:
Fever
Dizziness
Ear pain
Nausea
Impaired hearing
Difficulty balancing
In most cases an ear infection will likely clear up on its own or with the help of an antibiotic prescription from the doctor. However, prolonged tooth pain should be examined by a professional dentist to ensure that there aren’t any other hidden issues affecting the tooth.
Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ)
Commonly called TMJ, this is a disorder that makes it difficult for the joint of the jaw to move properly. It often results in pain while you move your jaw or chew, and many patients make the mistake of thinking it is a tooth problem. Signs of TMJ can include:
Jaw pain
Ear pain
Face pain
Clicking noises in the jaw
Limited motion while opening or closing the jaw
TMJ is a complicated condition. Sometimes it may be caused by an injury to the jaw or teeth grinding, but it may also be due to genetics, arthritis, or connective tissue diseases. As such, there are many different treatment options you could explore. There are solutions available such as custom night guards created to prevent grinding in your sleep.
If you’re in the Manhattan NYC area, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with one of our providers, who are experts at diagnosing and treating TMJ disorder.
Head Trauma
Any sort of head injury is obviously very serious because it can cause damage to the brain and the delicate structures of the face. Following an injury to the head, you may notice that your teeth are beginning to hurt. Why is this?
Head trauma can cause pain in the mouth even when there is no detectable injury. This can be due to an injury to the nerves in the head. Head injuries should not be taken lightly and you should seek a professional opinion.
Dental Abscess
A dental abscess occurs when a pocket of bacteria is present inside the gums, bone, or teeth. Due to the inflammation build-up in the area, you may notice these issues occurring:
Throbbing pain around a tooth or gum
Pain spreading from sore gums to the neck, jaw, or ear
Swollen, reddened gums
Unusually bad breath
Swelling and redness in the face.
This type of infection can spread and can cause high fevers and infections throughout the body, so it is important to get them treated as soon as possible. Keep in mind that you will need treatment from a professional dentist, not a general physician to fix this issue. If you believe you have a dental abscess, please contact us to schedule an appointment.
As you can see, a toothache can sometimes be a sign of something more serious. The only way to find out the true cause of your tooth pain is by visiting a dentist.
At our NYC dentist office, we can treat common reasons for dental pain while ruling out the possibility of more serious health problems. With our friendly staff, boutique environment, and lack of wait times, we make a dentist trip into a convenient and comforting experience.
Midtown Dental Group offers a range of cosmetic dentistry services that can provide you with straighter teeth and a more beautiful smile. One of the most popular treatments that we offer is Invisalign.
This treatment is similar to braces and can help make your teeth straighter. It uses a set of clear aligners that can be removed and are exchanged with a new set every two weeks.
When you are considering a teeth-straightening solution such as this, you should first be aware of the pros and cons associated with the treatment to determine if it’s right for you.
Is Invisalign Right for You?
When you are trying to identify whether or not Invisalign is right for you, there are a variety of questions that you should ask yourself. For one, what are you looking to fix and two, how severe is the problem?
While this treatment is designed to straighten teeth in the same manner as traditional braces, it is only meant to work with issues that aren’t too extreme. Some of the main teeth issues that can be corrected with this treatment include:
Teeth that have large gaps in them
Crossbites
Overbites
Crowded teeth
Underbites
Now that we are aware of some of the main dental issues Invisalign helps correct, let’s take a look at the pros and cons of using these clear braces.
If you can follow these guidelines, then this solution may be the perfect fit for you. Our NYC dentist, Dr. Mishaan, will also help you determine if this orthodontic solution is right for you.
Pros of Invisalign
Invisalign is highly popular because of its many benefits. The most notable of these benefits is that the aligners are clear, which makes them practically invisible to your friends and family (a perk especially for adults who need braces!). Additionally, Invisalign is extremely effective at correcting dental problems like crowded teeth and bite misalignments. Using Invisalign treatment alongside Dr. Mishaan will ensure you have a beautiful smile for years to come.
Another benefit of the aligners is that they can be removed for your added convenience. This makes it easy to brush your teeth and eat throughout the day, vs. having to use special brushing techniques that are often a hassle with traditional braces.
You also won’t need to follow the same guidelines as braces about what you can eat and drink. For example, individuals who wear traditional braces will need to avoid eating sticky foods and chips, both of which are known to cause damage to the metal brackets that are used with braces. With Invisalign, you have a lot more flexibility about what you can and cannot eat during the duration of wearing your braces.
The materials used with this treatment are largely comfortable as well. While braces use a hard metal, the aligners used with Invisalign consist of a relatively soft plastic that won’t cause irritation.
This clear alternative to braces has also been known to work slightly faster than braces at straightening teeth. The average treatment time is typically around 12 months.
If you feel as though the Invisalign treatment is right for you or would like to learn more about it, schedule a consultation with Dr. Mishaan to further discuss this treatment and ask any questions that you may have.
Your tooth enamel is the hard, outer layer of your teeth that protects against decay and daily abuse. Tooth enamel is stronger than bone — but it isn’t immune to damage.
As your enamel erodes or becomes weak, you may become more sensitive to hot and cold drinks and food. This is because weak tooth enamel essentially exposes the nerves in your teeth.
Once tooth enamel has been damaged, it can’t be restored. You can’t rebuild tooth enamel, but you can strengthen it with better lifestyle choices and cosmetic dentistry procedures. Here’s what you should know about enamel erosion and how we can help.
What Causes Enamel Erosion?
Enamel typically becomes eroded as bacteria produce acids that wear it down. This can also be caused by lifestyle choices such as:
Consuming soft drinks and fruit drinks. Soda is high in citric acid and phosphoric acid that seep into the pores of the enamel.
Having continual acid reflux or GERD, which causes acidic damage to the enamel.
Constant dry mouth. Saliva washes away bacteria and protects the enamel from acid, so if you’re not producing enough saliva your enamel may not be as protected.
Eating a high starch and high sugar diet. The bacteria in your mouth feed on starch and sugar and produce an acidic byproduct which can lead to enamel erosion.
Nightly friction from teeth grinding and other wear and tear can wear away enamel.
Daily poor brushing habits. How you brush your teeth may contribute to enamel loss if you brush too often or too hard.
While it’s true that you can’t rebuild or replace enamel, your dentist can help repair the worn enamel and restore the appearance and function to your teeth. There are several procedures that may be a good option, depending on the severity of the enamel loss.
Options for Strengthening Enamel & Restoring Appearance of Teeth Due to Weak Enamel
Tooth Bonding. One of the most popular cosmetic procedures is called tooth bonding, which is ideal for mild cases of erosion. Tooth bonding involves applying a special tooth-colored resin that’s bonded to the tooth. Bonding can be effective at fixing a chipped tooth, improving the appearance of discolored teeth, and essentially creating “false” enamel to strengthen tooth enamel before it erodes further.
Dental Veneers. If only the enamel on the front surfaces of your teeth has become damaged, we may recommend dental veneers. Veneers are very thin pieces of porcelain that are cemented to the front-facing surfaces of the teeth. Dental veneers are basically custom-made shells that improve the appearance of your teeth and protect you against the consequences of worn enamel. Once the veneers are bonded to your teeth, they can change the length, size, shape, and color of your teeth.
Due to his years of experience in cosmetic dentistry, Dr. Mishaan is an expert at using procedures like dental veneers to carefully craft a beautiful smile that fully compliments you.
Porcelain Crowns. Finally, porcelain dental crowns may be recommended if your enamel is very damaged or your teeth are severely misshapen, discolored, or require extensive dental work. A crown serves as a cap that covers a damaged tooth completely.
Unfortunately, most people do not give their tooth enamel much thought until it’s gone. Dental procedures like tooth bonding and veneers can be a permanent solution to address weakened enamel while restoring a bright, beautiful smile.
If you are concerned about enamel loss and are in New York City, contact our office today to schedule your appointment and discuss your treatment options with leading cosmetic dentist Dr. Mishaan.
Whether you’ve broken a tooth due to a fall or lost a tooth from disease, you may be asking yourself, “can you regrow teeth?” or “can teeth grow back?” It may sound silly, but we’ve come across many people who ask these questions! Understanding this topic can help ensure that your dental health is well-maintained throughout the years.
Can Teeth Repair Themselves? Here’s The Simple Answer
When your teeth are cracked or chipped, or the enamel is damaged, the simple answer is that they are not going to regrow themselves.
Your teeth are different than your skin and do not regenerate. You probably know that when you get a cut, the skin should eventually grow back. Teeth, however, do not operate in the same fashion because they are not made of living tissue. Due to this, you will need to seek out the help of a cosmetic dentist to see what options are available to repair your teeth.
But What About “First and Second” Teeth Sets?
Humans are actually born with two sets of teeth. This is why children have the ability to regrow teeth when they lose their first set of teeth and their adult set eventually grows in. However, once that second set of adult teeth are in, you can’t grow another set naturally.
In other words, as an adult, if your teeth are damaged or one or more of them has fallen out, regrowth is not going to happen on its own. In most situations you are going to have to get your chipped or cracked tooth fixed professionally so that the damage doesn’t become worse.
Why You Shouldn’t Use Over-the-counter Methods
While it may be tempting to stop by the local drugstore and grab an over-the-counter dental repair kit or similar product, we do not advise this. Some of these products may seem like a convenient idea, but keep in mind that they are not designed specifically for your condition or any underlying problems you may have that has contributed to your chipped, cracked or lost tooth.
Scheduling an appointment with a professional is a much better idea than using over-the-counter repair kits. By visiting a skilled cosmetic dentist like Dr. Mishaan, you are getting the benefit of a professional diagnosis and treatment plan, which increases your odds of a speedy recovery.
How Cosmetic Dentistry Can Help
Cosmetic dentistry services are varied and depend upon your specific needs. This specialty is really the best for dealing with damaged teeth and enamel problems as there are several available options.
At your appointment Dr. Mishaan will discuss all of the available options and provide a treatment plan. For example, there are dental veneers, dental crowns, or fillings to help repair the problem. Depending on where your damaged tooth is located, you may need to have one or more of your teeth bonded using a tooth-colored composite, which will completely restore the appearance of the tooth.
When Dr. Mishaan is finished with your procedure, you will never be able to tell there was an issue. In addition, we will walk you through your options and discuss the best solution to your problem. We will also discuss how to prevent further damage to your teeth to avoid these issues in the future.
The Bottom Line
In general, unfortunately adult teeth cannot regrow or repair themselves. Fixing your smile requires the help of a professional in the field. We encourage you to schedule an appointment with Dr. Mishaan today and start loving your smile again.
With so many options for straightening the teeth these days, we understand that going through the process can feel both overwhelming and confusing. In fact, you may think that all braces involve those little metal brackets that were popular in the not-too-distant past.
While metal braces still exist, Invisalign braces are now the more popular choice, especially amongst professionals in NYC who want to look their best while at work and play! The clear Invisalign braces make them far more discreet than traditional metal braces; most times people can’t even tell you’re wearing them.
Learning more about Invisalign can help you to understand what these braces do and whether or not they offer a permanent solution for straightening your teeth.
Understanding Invisalign
Whether you’re looking into adult braces or getting ones for your kids, this type of straightening method is as the name implies. While metal brackets are visible on the front of teeth, Invisalign structures are virtually invisible.
People of all ages tend to worry about what they will look like after having this dental procedure done, and the good news is that wearing Invisalign braces doesn’t really change one’s appearance. It’s unlikely that anyone would even be able to tell that you’re wearing this invisible set!
The initial suggestion that your bite may need correcting usually comes from your general dentist, who then recommends that you see an orthodontist or Cosmetic Dentist like Dr. Mishaan, who can prescribe this treatment option. Here in our NYC office, we are actually able to both recommend and treat with Invisalign, saving you an extra step!
Invisalign can be used to straighten the teeth, or it may also serve as a tool for helping individuals with an overbite or an under-bite. Treating an irregular bite can be an important cosmetic treatment that not only helps you look your best, but preserves the health of your jaw and bone structure.
The only way to know for sure what you qualify for is to have an appointment with an Invisalign specialist. Dr. Mishaan can guide you toward the best plan for your mouth.
Permanency
As with virtually any procedure, we understand that you probably want to know how long the treatment is going to last.
So now for the main question: Is Invisalign a permanent solution?
The short answer is that yes, the purpose of Invisalign braces is to provide you with straight teeth for life. However, it’s not quite that simple.
Think about your teeth right now. If you are seeking any type of orthodontic treatment, they are likely crooked in some capacity. While Invisalign helps straighten them, if you do not properly care for your teeth and the Invisalign structures while wearing them. In other words, imagine that the doctor prescribed you medicine but you never took it. It wouldn’t work!
So, let’s learn more about Invisalign treatment and about proper care in order to ensure the long-term success of wearing these invisible braces.
Caring For Your Invisalign Braces
Back when people almost always wore metal brackets for these types of issues, they had many restrictions placed on them. For example, they could not eat certain types of food. Invisalign’s invisible structures generally come with fewer rules, restrictions and suggestions; however, in order to get the most out of wearing the braces, you need to follow the information that you’re given. Failure to do so could interfere with the tool’s ability to permanently straighten your teeth.
Don’t Skip Your Dental Visits & Follow-ups
During your time wearing these structures, you’re going to need to schedule check-ups with your dentist or orthodontist, or Dr. Mishaan if you’re planning to visit our dental office here in NYC.
If you constantly skip your appointments or entirely disappear until the time comes to have them removed, you are decreasing the chances that the invisible units will permanently straighten your teeth.
We always recommend that our patients make sure to keep up with the appointments until the dentist (or orthodontic specialist if you’re going elsewhere) tells them that the treatment is complete.
Wear Your Retainer
When the structures are removed from your teeth, you are probably going to get an Invisalign retainer. This practice is certainly a common one in the field of orthodontics and cosmetic dentistry.
Dr. Mishaan, an Invisalign specialist, is then going to give you instructions about wearing the retainer. For example, you may need to wear it all day at the beginning and then slowly start wearing it for shorter periods of time each day. It’s also possible that you will need to wear it for only portions of the day from the start. Situations vary from one another. What’s important here is that you do exactly what the orthodontist/dentist says in order to optimize the possibility of long-term success.
As you can see, the answer to the question of whether or not Invisalign is a permanent solution is really that it depends on your commitment and care to the treatment! Yes, this procedure is designed to be one that will provide you with permanent results. However, in order to get those results, you need to make sure that you are caring for your mouth.
As a team, we find that our patients and Dr. Mishaan can work together to craft the perfect mouth and smile.
If you’d like to learn more about Invisalign, contact our office today. Dr. Mishaan and our staff would be happy to review your options with you and see if Invisalign may be right for you.
