Monday, August 25, 2014

TMJ Disorders and Their Treatment

Your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is what connects your lower jaw to your skull, and it is susceptible to temporomandibular disorder (TMD), which has symptoms that range from teeth grinding and trouble chewing to headaches and pain when opening or closing your mouth. Causing both pain and damage to your teeth, TMD should not be ignored. If you’re experiencing pain or trouble chewing, Dr. Geetika Chawla can treat your disorder and help alleviate your pain at our office in Vancouver, WA.  
 
The disorder is often associated with stress and the unconscious clenching of the jaw or grinding of the teeth. After time, these activities can cause pain, lock jaw, headaches or ear pain and popping or clicking sounds when opening your mouth.
 
Teeth grinding is an especially worrisome activity associated with TMD because it can lead to more than just problems with your TMJ. If grinding is not addressed, the enamel of your teeth may wear to the point that your dentin is exposed, increasing sensitivity to heat, cold and decay.
 
Dr. Chawla can work with you to relieve your symptoms at Radiance Dental with pain relievers, hot and cold compresses and night guards to cut down on grinding. While surgery can be required in more severe cases, usually changing the way you use your jaw muscles is enough.
To schedule an appointment, call (360) 369-6420. For more information, visitwww.radiancedentalnw.com

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Full Mouth Fixed Bridge

At Radiance Dental, we offer a multitude of ways for our patients to restore their smiles, from implants to dentures to bridges. The full mouth fixed bridge is a restorative option chosen by many of our patients in Vancouver, WA to replace an entire row of missing teeth. Full mouth bridges are fixed over dental implants—usually six to eight—and are not removable, offering patients the peace of mind of knowing their bridge will not come out at an inconvenient time.
 
While a convenient and popular option among patients who are missing multiple teeth, fixed bridges are not suitable for all patients. Patients must have enough bone mass and gum tissue in their mouths to support the arch. If they do, then the full mouth fixed bridge offers a natural-looking way to complete their smiles.
 
If you are interested in receiving a full mouth fixed bridge, schedule an appointment with Dr. Geetika Chawla to determine if you would be a good candidate. Dr. Chawla also performs soft tissue grafting and bone grafting if needed for dental implant placement. These procedures are usually performed months before dental implant placement to allow for healing.
 
Call (360) 369-6420 to schedule an appointment. For more information on Dr. Chawla, our practice or our services, visit www.radiancedentalnw.com

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Sedation Dentistry

Do you dread going to the dentist? If the thought of receiving dental work fills you with more anxiety than the pain or fear of dental problems, we can help at Radiance Dental in Vancouver, WA. By offering sedation dentistry, Dr. Geetika Chawla can take care of all the work you’ve been putting off in one or two comfortable visits.
 
At our office, you can avoid the stress that typically accompanies trips to the dentist and receive the best dental care possible in a safe environment. Whether you have a phobia or anxiety, there are several types of sedation dentistry available to you. These options include oral sedation, such as through anxiolysis or nitrous oxide (laughing gas), and intravenous sedation, which delivers a combination of drugs into the blood stream. The type of sedation used depends on the preferences and needs of the patient. 
 
Intravenous sedation is administered through the veins, which allows for sedation to happen more quickly and with less recovery time afterward than typical oral sedation. This type of sedation is recommended for those with moderate or severe anxiety. While this method has stronger effects than oral sedation, it will not put you to sleep but rather keep you in a deep state of relaxation.
Nitrous Oxide (N2O) is another form of sedation that works rapidly. For this method, Dr. Chawla places a small mask over your nose and asks you to breathe normally. Within minutes, you will feel its relaxing effects. N2O is another popular option because it doesn’t require needles and wears off quickly with no hangover effect.
 
The anxiolysis method is as simple as taking an aspirin, utilizing an oral sedative, such as valium to relax the patient. Since it is not as powerful as the other methods, it is recommended mostly for those with mild to moderate anxiety.
 
Radiance Dental wants all our patients to be comfortable, and sedation dentistry is just one of the methods we use to do so. Call (360) 369-6420 to schedule an appointment. For more information, visitwww.radiancedentalnw.com

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Emergency Dentistry

While tooth decay is the most common cause of toothaches in both children and adults, infections, gum disease, teeth grinding and an abnormal bite can also cause pain in your teeth. If you have experienced facial trauma, pain in your teeth for more than two days or swelling and abnormally red gums, it is important to get a complete oral examination to determine the cause. This pain would be considered a dental emergency, and Dr. Geetika Chawla of Radiance Dental can help to restore your oral health.
 
Pain in your teeth can arise for a variety of reasons, and you might not always know why. Sometimes pain can come on suddenly if pieces of food come in contact with a decayed area of your tooth or if heat or cold create pressure near your nerve. If you lose a filling or crown, this can expose your nerve and cause pain as well.
 
If your tooth pain worsens over time, you may have food that is stuck between you tooth and gum. This can occur if you do not brush and floss well enough, allowing bacteria to multiply in this area and for infection to develop. This infection can become an abscess, which can develop at the root of the tooth in the bone or in the gums. If not treated, it can be incredibly painful and harmful to your health. If your tooth pain is accompanied by a bad smell or taste, it is very likely an abscess.
 
Dr. Chawla can also provide emergency dental care if you’ve experienced facial trauma. Whether your tooth is loose, cracked or broken, you can come to our office to receive emergency restorative care.
If a tooth is giving your trouble, we can provide you with the care you need to recover in Vancouver, WA. Call (360) 369-6420 to schedule an appointment. For more information, visit www.radiancedentalnw.com