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A Migraine: Its Symptoms, Causes, Prevention Tips And Treatment

Many individuals are affected daily with painful migraines. What is a migraine, and how can they be treated or even prevented? Continue reading to learn more about the symptoms, causes, prevention tips, and treatment methods for migraines.

What is a migraine?

A migraine is a type of headache with varying intensity and a wide range of symptoms. It is the result of physiological changes in the brain. They often go hand in hand with sensitivity to light, sounds, and smells, as well as vomiting or nausea. It is important to note that not all headaches are considered migraines and other health issues can be caused by migraines. Many headaches can be treated with the help of a dentist. Certain oral issues such as cavities or infections can lead to head pains. Tension from those who suffer from TMJ disorder can also lead to severe headaches or migraines.

Symptoms of a migraine

Specific symptoms that go along with a migraine are nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, smell, and sounds, and change in vision. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms with your head pain, then contact your doctor for further treatment.

What are the causes of migraines?

Several different things have been found to cause migraines including an underlying nervous disorder, a genetic disorder, irregularities in the brain’s blood vessel system, and abnormalities of brain chemicals.

What are some preventative tips?

There are plenty of helpful steps you can take to lower your risk of migraines including avoiding skipping meals, regular exercise and healthy eating habits, staying hydrated, getting proper sleep, avoiding stress, and reducing caffeine intake. There are many different medications available for those affected by migraines. Contact your doctor today to see how you can find relief!

Jaw Pain? It Might be TMJ…

You may not know, but millions of the population live with jaw pain on any given day. Chronic jaw pain can make it difficult to live out your everyday life. Patients can oftentimes not realize that the jaw pain they experience is a symptom that requires professional attention. If you suffer from clicking, popping, and locking joints, this can be an indication of the deterioration of the joint condyle. At Toothworks we want to make sure that our patients can realize symptoms that they are experiencing, and give our Calgary, AB, office a call if they are worried about any kind of dental condition. With this article, we will be discussing TMJ, that way you can know if you need to visit our Calgary, AB, office sooner rather than later.

How We Treat TMJ Dysfunction

To determine the best type of treatment that will work for you and your circumstances, it is best that you receive a comprehensive evaluation. Below are all of the options available, so you can work in also making a choice that is best for you.

Occlusal Splint Therapy

This particular type of therapy is a non-invasive splint therapy that helps reduce jaw dysfunction by providing guidance for the resting position of the job. A splint, also known as a night guard, provides a barrier between the upper and lower shots to prevent any kind of damage that can occur during the sleeping hours.

Replacing Missing Teeth

Sometimes the best way to treat TMJ is by replacing missing teeth to restore the integrity and health of your bite.

Orthodontics

Sometimes the shifting of teeth can misaligned the jaw and keep your teeth from coming together correctly. A simple visit to the orthodontist, in a solution provided by him or her can drastically help your TMJ disorder.

Equilibration

Sometimes teeth and dental restorations can create a situation in which your teeth do not come together properly. Tiny adjustments to crowns, fillings, or even the surfaces of your teeth can drastically change TMJ.

Treating TMJ in Calgary

As stated above, we at Toothworks in Calgary, AB, are dedicated to helping our patients with any dental condition they may have. If you are currently suffering from jaw pain and would like a consultation, feel free to contact us and we would be more than happy to set up an appointment. Continue reading

Benefits of Digital Smile Design

Achieving a beautiful smile can allow an individual to feel good about themselves. At Toothworks, our dental staff is dedicated to finding treatments that work with each patient’s unique needs to give them a desired look. Having a fresh smile can greatly boost your self-confidence, and we offer a wide range of services to achieve just that. One cosmetic tool is known as Digital Smile Design that helps in improving the look of your smile for a brand-new makeover. Continue reading on to learn how Digital Smile Design from Toothworks can benefit your smile. Our dental staff takes the time to fully understand what you are looking to get from a cosmetic treatment. This allows them to come up with a customized treatment plan just for you. They can also provide you with several models so you can better visualize what your new smile will look and feel like. Digital Smile Design does just that! With careful preparation, you can see your smile transform before your eyes. Some of the benefits include the following:

High satisfaction with your new smile
Truly customized results – no two smile designs are exactly alike
A natural look that complements overall appearance
Increased confidence throughout the treatment process
Multidisciplinary approach preserves health and hygiene

After your dentist shows you the Digital Smile Design, you can agree on the final end goal and begin a personal treatment plan with our dental staff. Cosmetic treatments can involve several different methods. Therefore, contact your Toothworks dentist for more information regarding treatment options to improve your smile. You deserve to have the smile of your dreams!

Achieve a Brighter Smile with Teeth Whitening

Most people want to have a bright, white smile, but teeth can get stained despite the most careful oral hygiene routine. Teeth-staining foods and drinks (coffee and wine are the biggest culprits) and natural aging are some reasons why teeth can appear more yellow over time. Fortunately, professional teeth whitening treatments offered at your dentist office are a safe and effective way to brighten that smile quickly. There are teeth whitening products available for purchase, such as toothpaste, gels, and rinses, but professional treatments – whether in-office or take-home – are more effective and more reliable.

In-Office Treatment

An in-office procedure, also called chairside bleaching, takes just one hour. Your dentist will first protect your lips and gums by placing a barrier before beginning the treatment. A special whitening gel is applied to the teeth, then activated with a special lamp. You simply have to sit back and wait for the treatment to complete. You will leave the office with a smile that is several shades brighter.

Take-Home Treatment

To complete treatment at home, your dentist will provide you with plastic trays and whitening gel. You will need to fill the trays, which are created to fit your teeth precisely, with a small amount of whitening gel and wear them overnight. This treatment takes approximately two weeks but has similar results to an in-office treatment. You can discuss these teeth whitening options with your dentist to decide on which is the best for you.

Should You Wear a Sports Guard?

Whether it is Little League, High School, professional sports, or just a friendly event, a sports guard can save your mouth. It does not matter the level of sports you are playing; a sports mouthguard should be used in all cases where you have a risk of injuring your jaw. A sports guard can help protect injury to the jaw, chipped teeth, and even loss of teeth. This warning should not be taken lightly comma because it can save you a lot of money, pain and trouble in the future. Replacing permanent adult teeth is no easy matter, and it may be very expensive. Take a look at how mouthguards work, dangers of not wearing them, and the types of mouthguards available to you today.

How do Mouthguards Work?

Mouthguards are like airbags for your mouth. They absorb the force that otherwise would have struck your precious teeth and ruined your beautiful smile. Mouthguards absorb and redistribute the force that strikes them across all of your teeth and jaw more evenly so that there is less damage.

What Can Happen If I Don’t Wear A Mouthguard?

Without proper protection you put not just your teeth, but the health of all of your mouse at risk. When a force strikes you in the jaw, the jaws may crash together causing teeth to chip, break, or fall out completely. Further damage may be done to the jaw bone and TMJ joint as well.

Types of Mouthguards

Are many types of mouthguards available on the market today. Some of them are higher quality than others so it is very important to do your research before purchasing a mouthguard. Remember, that the money that you spend on this mouth guard maybe saving you hundreds or thousands of dollars in dental surgery in the future.

Why You May Need a Tooth Extraction

Oral bacteria are present in everyone’s mouth, no matter how well you clean your teeth. This bacterium produces harmful acids that destroy enamel. When allowed to accumulate, these critters form a sticky layer that adheres to teeth. The unremoved plaque will eventually eat a hole in tooth enamel, commonly known as a cavity. If the cavity continues to spread, the bacteria can destroy the tooth structure and travel into the center nerve. When this happens, patients experience increased sensitivity or pain. The decay also causes the tooth to weaken and become more vulnerable to cracks, chips, and breakage. Luckily, an injured tooth can be treated with root canal therapy and a dental crown. But if the severity of the decay is irreparable, extracting the tooth may be the only solution to protect your oral health.

What to Expect During Your Tooth Extraction

Tooth extractions are performed all the time. First, it will be determined if an antibiotic is needed pre- or post- tooth removal. Then, the surrounding area will be numbed. The tooth is then extracted without pain. If it is an impacted wisdom tooth, any bone or gum tissue trapping the tooth will be removed first. After the path is cleared, the impacted tooth can be freed with forceps. Your dentist will use a gentle rocking motion to loosen and remove the tooth. Dissolvable stitches may be used to close the surgical site. Sometimes, a bone grafting is needed to maintain healthy bone. This added bone may be necessary if an implant is your chosen tooth replacement option.

What to Do After a Tooth Extraction

You will be provided with aftercare instructions post-extraction. Typical instruction after tooth removal include:

Prop up your head and keep it elevated until you are no longer bleeding.
Put pressure on the treatment area by biting on gauze, until bleeding subsides.
Apply an ice pack to the cheek on the side of the extraction.
Avoid physical activities and contact sports until the empty socket is covered with a scab.
Keep the extraction site clean by gently brushing the area around the socket.
Don’t tamper with the surgical area.
Take prescriptions as directed and contact your dentist if you experience unusual itching or swelling.
Stick with soft foods while the empty socket heals.
Stay hydrated.

For at least 24 hours, do not smoke, use a straw, or make any sucking motions to avoid disturbing the blood clot. If the clot dislodges, it can lead to a painful dry socket. If a primary tooth was taken out, it might take a 1 or 2 day to recover. With the extraction of an adult tooth, expect several days of tenderness at the treatment site. No matter what lead to the need for your tooth extraction, we are here to help. Contact our dental office at +1 587.316.9728 to schedule an appointment today.

The Connection of TMJ and Posture: Postural Phenomena

A more common problem than probably realized, temporomandibular joints, also known as TMJ can be the main culprit causing your headaches, paw pain, or even soreness. If you’re wondering if you suffer from this syndrome, keep reading to find out some of the symptoms and ways to improve or alleviate TMJ discomfort.

What is TMJ?

TMJ or TMD are both acronyms used interchangeably to describe TM joints or a disorder afflicting this part of your skull. TM joints are located on either side of your head and are responsible for all of the major movements of your jaw. Coupled with the muscles, ligaments, and bone in your face, the TM joints are responsible for your chewing, yawning, speaking and the opening of your mouth.

How Does Posture Cause TMJ Disorders?

All of our bodies are designed to work at their best when all of your joints, bones, tendons, and muscles are properly aligned. Any posture de-alignment or abnormality can ultimately affect your health, sometimes in the form of TMJ or TMD. Living with a TMJ disorder can be hard, that’s why seeing a chiropractor or just trying to generally improve your posture is an inexpensive place to star treatment.

Ways to Improve Posture to Alleviate TMJ Discomfort

Trying jaw stretches, allowing your jaw to relax and even taking up stress reduction therapy are all ways to alleviate any pain or discomfort associated with TMJ. Even yoga, Pilates, physical therapy or guided stretching has proven a big help to some. At Toothworks in Calgary, AB, we don’t want to see any of our patients in pain. Thanks to this, we will do everything in our power to help you if you experience any kind TMJ discomfort. Give us a call today to experience a pain-free way of dentistry!

Shining a Light on Migraine Relief

Migraine pain makes it very hard to ignore. The accompanying throbbing headaches can last for hours or days in severe cases. While millions of Americans are affected, the cause is still relatively unknown.

What Is a Migraine?

A migraine is much different than a normal headache. A headache can cause pain and pressure on both sides of the head similar to the feeling of a belt are around your head and being squeezed. Uncomfortable, but most people can work through them. Common types of headaches include sinus, cluster and tension headaches with tension being the most common. Adversely, a migraine is recurrent and throbbing head pain that focuses on one side of the head. Sufferers will experience pain behind the eyes and/or ears and can additionally lead to nausea and vomiting, vision difficulties and sensitivity to both light and sound. While it is unclear what causes them, there are certain factors that trigger them. Family history is often a big factor, but a person’s sensitivities to other triggers can be very different. Additional triggers often include poor sleep, age, alcohol, sex, food, and hormonal changes.

Migraines and Light Sensitivity

Increased sensitivity to light is one of the most common symptoms of a migraine. Many prefer total darkness to rest and deal with the pain. A recent study tried to gather more information about light sensitivity and migraines and found that green lights were much less harsh when compared to red, blue and amber lights. While the green light did not cure the headache, it is a significant discovery and will lead to further testing.

How Do We Treat Migraine Headaches Now?

While hopefully a green light therapy program can be created in the future, for the time being, many rely on medications to treat the symptoms. At Toothworks Calgary Dentist, we offer injection therapy to help with jaw pain that often leads to migraines. However, understanding your triggers and avoiding them can be the best medicine possible.

Facts About Dental Implant Pricing

It’s safe to assume that most people would love a radiant and bright smile that could give them the confidence to take on new endeavors. Unfortunately, the reality is that not everyone has this kind of smile naturally. Even the use of dental implants can seem daunting for some patients that may have the financial aspect of the situation on their minds. Here at Toothworks, we want to make this process as easy as possible. We just want to see you leave our office with a renewed sense of self that can come from a new smile. Before all of that though, take the time to read this article to see the reality of the cost of dental implants.

Affordable Dental Implants: Fantasy or Reality?

If you find yourself less than satisfied with the appearance of your teeth or suffering from tooth loss for a variety of reasons, there is no reason you should take the initiative to make a new mouth for yourself (Not to mention at a reasonable price as well.)! While making dental implants cheap isn’t a feasible feat, we hope to keep

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the fees straightforward, but the term “affordable” is rather relative. What may be cheap for one group of people, could be absolutely preposterous for another. The average cost for a single dental implant, meaning one single tooth is about $4,000. Our office has significantly lowered this figure for the benefit of our patients. How can we keep our dental implants affordable for you?

How We Lower the Cost of Dental Implants

By making the dental implant process much more streamlined and organized, you can be safe from hidden fees. From the consultation to the digital images, you can be sure we won’t charge you in chunks as the process goes on. Dental implant financing keeps the costs straightforward, meaning you know what you’re paying for and why.

What’s the Deal with Invisalign?

Crooked or misaligned teeth can make cleaning them difficult, and even more than that, they can hurt your self-confidence. So you’ve decided that you want to straighten your teeth, but now you have two choices: wire braces, or Invisalign? Ultimately, the choice is up to you. You already know the deal with wire braces — they hurt a lot, they are really noticeable, and they have sharp little wires and brackets that are always poking at you. So, what’s the deal with Invisalign?

A Little Information About Invisalign

The difference between Invisalign and traditional braces are mostly clear (no pun intended). Aesthetically, they are complete opposites. One is clunky, metallic, and can even change the way your facial structure appears, while the other goes largely unnoticed. However, there are quite a few benefits to Invisalign that you might not have thought of before.

Two Huge Benefits of Invisalign

One huge benefit of Invisalign is that your mouth is infinitely easier to clean than with traditional wire braces. People with wire braces have to worry about every little piece of food getting stuck in every little nook and cranny. They are hard to keep clean, and because of that, many people even notice that their breath is smellier with wire braces than without. You don’t have this issue with Invisalign! You can just take them out of your mouth while you eat, brush your teeth like normal, then put them right back in! You don’t have to give up any foods! While sugary foods are still good to avoid for the general health of your teeth, you don’t have to give up all these different kinds of foods like hard candy, or beef jerky. With Invisalign, you can eat like normal! There are even more benefits to Invisalign that are not discussed here. If you want to know more, stop by our office or give us a call today!