When people think of the dentist, some of the first things that come to mind are routine cleanings and the infamous root canals and extractions (unfortunately made out to be the most painful experiences on earth, thanks to Hollywood and the media). However, your Plano, TX dentist, Dr. Barfield, has extensive experience and training in more that just the run-of-the-mill dentistry. Of course, we do offer many things other practices don’t, such as dental implants or even wisdom tooth removal, usually referred out.
But there are a few more services we offer that might surprise you. Read on to see how your dentist can help resolve problems you might never have considered before. Some may make a dramatic difference in your or your loved one’s life.
TMJ Disorder Relief
Do you have constant jaw pain? Have you looked to your dentist for help? Perhaps you didn’t even realize you needed help, but frequent jaw pain or discomfort is not normal, nor should you have to live with it day in and day out.
Chronic jaw pain is usually a result of either bruxism – teeth grinding and clenching – or TMD, temporomandibular joint disorder. There’s not a whole lot known about all its causes (injury, stress, a bad bite, and arthritis are a few), but who better to help treat it than your dentist?
If you have any of the following TMJ symptoms, see us for relief.
- sore, tired, or painful jaw joint
- clicking or popping of the jaw
- grinding teeth
- unexplained headaches
- tiredness in your face, neck, or shoulders
- ringing in your ears and/or earaches
We work with a trusted specialist in our office to provide you with a diagnosis and nightguard. You can wear our custom night guards while you sleep or even during the day so that you can stop grinding your teeth and causing the pain. The night guard can also keep your jaw in a natural position that puts less strain on the jaw joint. We can also provide advice, such as jaw relaxation techniques, that can reduce the discomfort.
Are you a constant snorer? What about your sleeping partner? If so, you need to determine whether your snoring is a sign of a sleep disorder.
Obstructive sleep apnea affects about 18 million Americans. It’s caused by your airway tissues blocking your airway and preventing you from breathing while you sleep. The vibration of these tissues is what causes snoring, a frequent symptom of sleep apnea. If you have sleep apnea, you wake up several times during the night gasping for air, but you probably don’t remember it. All you know is that you’re tired all day for some reason, and that you seem to fall asleep easily in front of the TV, while reading, or even when driving.
Sleep apnea can be caused by large tonsils or a large tongue, as well as being overweight. We have a sleep apnea specialist who works with us to find out the cause of your sleep apnea, as well as help you treat it. Our office can make a snoring device that keeps your airway open and eliminates the breathing issues you have during sleep.
Usually, people look to an orthodontist to straighten their teeth. If you have mild or moderate bite problems, such as crooked or misaligned teeth, our office can help! We offer Invisalign right here so that you don’t have to go to an orthodontist for treatment. Getting your teeth straightened here can save you time and money from all those orthodontist office visits.
The best part is that you will never have to deal with uncomfortable wires, cleaning devices, food stuck in your teeth, or just the appearance of metal braces! Our patients love the clear, removable Invisalign aligners and the results they’ve gotten, which look the same as if they had gone through traditional orthodontic treatment.
Headache and Migraine Relief
You might have noticed in our TMJ discussion above that one of the symptoms of TMD is headaches. If you have unexplained headaches or migraines, especially in the morning, you may be grinding your teeth. Because your jaw joint (TMJ) is the joint that connects your jaw to your skull, the pressure from the grinding makes its way from your teeth to your jaw and your head – hence the headaches.
Don’t let your headaches persist. Check out our recent blog post on headache relief, and call our office today for a consultation.
No, you don’t need to read that heading again. Our office can even help you with your anxiety – your dental anxiety, that is! If you haven’t been to the dentist in a while out of fear, then let us help! Our kind doctor and staff will treat you with respect and gentleness. We can also provide you with sedation for the most relaxed dentist visit you may have ever had!