False teeth repair cost and your dental health is important

If your false teeth have broken and you want to know the repair cost you should also consider your general dental health before having your false teeth repaired or getting new ones. For instance do your teeth still fit properly together? If you are getting headaches then you may have TMJ disorder, which is short for ‘temporo-mandibular joint’, this is the joint connecting your lower jaw and your skull. The movement in this joint lets you open and close your mouth and chew from side to side.

If your false teeth don’t fit together properly, you can have problems not only in your teeth, but also the gums, the temporo-mandibular joint and / or the muscles that move your jaw. These problems are called ‘occlusal’ problems. Up to 1 in 4 people may have some symptoms. Both men and women are affected equally, although women tend to seek treatment more often than men. The symptoms can often start with the menopause or other hormonal changes.

Repairing your false teeth is not your only concern

Teeth that are out of line, heavily worn or constantly breaking, fillings that fracture or crowns that work loose may all be signs of occlusal problems. Your teeth may also be tender to bite on or may ache constantly. Loose teeth or receding gums can be made worse by an incorrect bite. Clicking, grinding or pain in your jaw joints, ringing or buzzing in your ears and difficulty in opening or closing your mouth could all be due to your teeth not meeting each other properly. If your jaw is in the wrong position, the muscles that move the jaw have to work a lot harder and this leads to muscle spasm.

The main symptoms are continual headaches or migraine, especially first thing in the morning; pain behind your eyes; sinus pain and pains in your neck and shoulders. Sometimes even back muscles are involved. Most patients develop occlusal problems long before they start to suffer from head and neck pains. The commonest tooth and gum related problems are:

Flattened, worn teeth
Broken teeth, fillings and crowns
Loose teeth false teeth
Continual sensitivity of your teeth to temperature change
Toothache with no apparent cause.

Clench or grind your false teeth? - Damage & expensive repairs

You may find that you clench or grind your teeth, although most people who do aren’t aware of it. Sometimes it can be caused by anxiety, but generally most people clench their teeth when they are concentrating on a task – housework, gardening, car mechanics, typing and so on. You may also wake up in the morning with a stiff jaw or tenderness when you bite together. This could be due to clenching or grinding your teeth in your sleep. Most people who grind their teeth do it while they are asleep and may not know they are doing it.

Video showing "Temporo Mandibular Joint Syndrome" - TMJ Disorder

Dr. Erson Religioso – Physical Therapist, speaks about the unique anatomy of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Material copyrighted by third parties. https://fxnlmedia.com

False teeth may lead to an unbalanced bite

If you suffer from severe headaches or neck and shoulder pain, you may not have linked this with possible jaw problems. Or you may keep having pain or discomfort on the side of your face around your ears or jaw joints or difficulty in moving your jaw. These are all symptoms of TMJ problems. If you are missing some teeth at the back of your mouth, which may or may not be replaced by false teeth this may lead to an unbalanced bite, which can cause uneven pressure on your teeth.

Together, all these symptoms are called ‘TMJ syndrome’. Depending on the problems you are having, it can be possible to spot the signs of an occlusal problem. Various muscles may be sore when tested, or the broken and worn areas of your teeth will show you are grinding your teeth – a common sign of an incorrect bite. All these problems can result to having false teeth.

Treating TMJ disorders

Treating this condition is largely centered on controlling the symptoms and several methods are used in combination to provide pain relief. These include:

Splint Therapy
Most patients generally grind or clench their teeth at night and are not aware they are doing this. The Occlusal Splint (or night guard) is a simple plastic shield which rests over the teeth (usually the upper) and allows even contact of the opposing teeth against the plastic of the night guard. Patients may still continue to grind and clench with the night guard in place, however they are now unable to put heavy forces on individual teeth, and the biting load is distributed evenly over many teeth. The sideways and forward jaw movements are now smooth “gliding” movements which are much easier on the teeth and jaw muscles. The plastic splint is softer than natural tooth structure so any wear will occur in the night guard and not on the teeth themselves.

Tooth Adjustment (equilibration)
Sometimes your teeth may need to be carefully adjusted to meet evenly. Changing the direction and position of the slopes that guide your teeth together can often help to reposition the jaw. This will involve the use of sophisticated digital monitoring equipment that accurately maps which teeth contact first and what level of force is generated by each contact. Using this method we can accurately adjust the contacts to make the teeth come together evenly and spread the biting pressures over more teeth.

Replacement of teeth
The temporo-mandibular joint needs equal support from both sides of both jaws. The chewing action is designed to work properly only when all your teeth are present and in the correct position. Missing teeth may need to be replaced either with a partial denture or bridgework. Replacement is not usually done until a diagnosis has been confirmed by using an appliance and this has fully relieved the symptoms. Relief in some patients is instant: in others it can take a long time.

Medication, Diet and Exercise
Some drugs can help in certain cases, but this is usually only used for a temporary measure. Hormone replacement therapy may also help some women. A soft diet, corrective exercises, application of heat pads and physiotherapy can also be helpful.

Dental Implants are a great alternative to repairing your costly false teeth

There are many advantages to a dental implants depending on the patients personal needs and treatment plan. Patients who suffer from TMJ disorders may benefit from implant supported false teeth that would have been prepared by our specialist dentist (prosthodontist) at the Birmingham Periodontal and Implant Centre . Sometimes there could be a gingivitis under your false teeth, this is caused by build up of dental plaque, and this condition could be avoided by having a dental implant instead of repairing your old false teeth.