Plano Dentist

Imagecare Dental.  Helping people with TMJ pain, Headaches, age worn smiles and bad bites regain their lives with beautifully rejuvenating, long lasting and comfortable smiles!

Plano TMJ Dentist, Dr Steve Thompson helps restore the natural health and beauty of your smile using nature as our treatment model.  In a healthy and comfortable smile, the teeth, jaw joints and muscles are functioning together in harmony. 

Dr Thompson finds that people with healthy jaw joints that are in harmony with their bite to be more attractive and youthful, have less orthodontic relapse, joint problems, periodontal (gum) problems, TMJ pain or TMJ dysfunction (tmd), pain and/or tooth wear. People in general are becoming more aware of problems like these and are seeking solutions.  They can help you solve these problems.

An Ideal Smile (Form follows Function)

An Ideal Smile is a naturally beautiful smile that appears youthful, has normal biologic form free from wear, normal function and is comfortable. This is an example of a natural Ideal or correct Smile.

What you see is a smile that is attractive. What you don’t see is poorly aligned teeth, worn or missing teeth and tense facial muscles. When you look closely at a correct smile, you see how teeth over lap and fit together. You also see each front tooth is of a different length and the back teeth have sharp points. Especially the cuspids (canines). This natural biologic tooth form is found in the absence of dental malocclusion and bite dysfunction.

What makes an Ideal Smile different than other smiles?

The significance of an Imagecare ideal smile is not only how it appears but also more importantly how it functions. Each tooth has a genetic biologic form that determines its function in helping your teeth and jaws to chew correctly. Smiles that have worn or misaligned teeth cannot function properly, creating TMJ problems and a condition known as bite dysfunction or disharmony.

Many people are unaware that they may have a bite dysfunction but exhibit some of the signs and symptoms. Like heart disease or diabetes, many of the early signs and symptom go undetected for many years while damage is occurring because the symptoms seem unrelated to a bite or TMJ problem.

How do I know that I Have TMJ or Bite Dysfunction?

If you have an attractive smile, unworn teeth and are pain free, you most likely have a healthy Imagecare Smile. If you have any of the following signs, chances are you may have a bite dysfunction and the health of your mouth, teeth and jaws are at risk.

TMJ/Bite dysfunction self-test

• Headaches
• Worn teeth Cracked or broken teeth
• Sore of stiff jaw muscles
• Facial pain
• Pain with chewing
• Loose teeth
• Clinching or Grinding of teeth
• Receding gums
• (Abfractions) Notching of the teeth
• Uncomfortable or multiple bites
• Shifting teeth or bite
• Jaw clicking or popping
• TMJ pain / TMD (tempormandibular dysfunction)

If you are experiencing one or more of these signs and symptoms, chances are that a problem is present.  

Ignoring these problems can lead to irreversible damage of your teeth, gums and jaw joints.  Call Plano TMJ Dentist, Dr Steve Thompson for a free TMJ consultation!

If I Have TMJ or a Bite Dysfunction, What Should I Do?

If you are experiencing any of the signs or symptoms,  a comprehensive diagnosis is needed to evaluate your chewing system. To accurately diagnose a bite dysfunction, mounted study models of your teeth are essential along with a dental examination, periodontal examination, jaw joint evaluation and muscle examination.

The models of your teeth are then mounted on an instrument (articulator) that simulates your lower jaw movements allowing Imagecare dentists to evaluate the mechanics of your bite in relation to your jaw joints. Once the problem is identified, a solution to restore harmony to your TMJ and chewing system can be discussed with you.

How Is TMJ/Bite Dysfunction Corrected?

 After a comprehensive diagnosis is completed, restoring harmony to your chewing system to correct the tmj/bite dysfunction is unique to your specific problem.  There are 3 treatment goals to correct the problem and restore your chewing system.

1. Stabilizing the jaw joints (TMJ’s):  The jaw joints are properly positioned.
2. Obtaining Proper Tooth Form:  All teeth must exhibit proper unworn anatomy and touch simultaneously when jaw joints are properly rotated to a closed mouth position.
3. Restore Anterior Guidance:  The front teeth must guide the lower jaw movements protecting the back teeth from colliding inappropriately during normal chewing and speaking motions.

In most cases, splint therapy is used to locate a stable position for your jaw joints satisfying the 1st treatment goal. Meeting the 2nd and 3rd goal requires definitive solutions that vary from patient to patient.  In most cases, a combination of treatment is required to correct the imbalance in the chewing system so the teeth, bones, muscles and joints can work properly together. The result is a long lasting, comfortable, naturally attractive,  ideal Imagecare Smile of your own. If you are suffering from any of the effects of bite dysfunction listed above, including TMJ pain, you need a TMJ dentist who can help you!

Call Today for your free TMJ consultation!

972-256-8312

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