jaw pain Archives - 5 Star Dental Group

A Collapsed Bite

Posted on March 7, 2021 by Annmarie Worthington.

I would like to see if there is a way to fix my smile. I am thinking it might need porcelain veneers, but thought I’d check first. When my mouth is in repose you cannot see my teeth at all. Even when I am smiling, I have to sort of force my lips to make my teeth show. It’s very embarrassing to me. At night I wear a mouthguard because of pain in my jaw from clenching and my face and mouth both feel and look better when I do. Are veneers my best option or should I look at something else?

Kaelyn

Dear Kaelyn,

Woman covering her mouth with her hand

I am very glad you wrote now, before you had any work done. It is all too often that people end up writing after they went to the wrong dentist to get this fixed and their mouth is now a disaster. Based on your description, it sounds like you have combining factors of some TMJ disorder along with a collapsed bite.

Porcelain veneers alone will not fix this. You will need at least some dental crowns to help open up your bite. However, you are looking at a very advanced procedure. This is one of the toughest cases a dentist can do and it will take some advanced, post-doctoral training. I want you to look for a dentist with full-mouth reconstruction experience.

You may want to look for a prosthodontist. They have more advanced training in dental reconstruction and will make sure your bite is in proper alignment throughout the procedure.

This blog is brought to you by San Antonio Dentist Dr. Gilberto Tostado.

Why Did My Jaw Hurt After My Dental Appointment?

Posted on August 7, 2020 by AllSmiles.

Hi,

I recently had my teeth prepared for several temporary crowns and several porcelain veneers placed on my lower teeth. I am looking forward to when my porcelain crowns come in, but ever since my appointment, my jaw has been aching. I cannot get through the day without taking over the counter pain killers, and wish I had something stronger. It usually hurts worse later in the day, and I need to take something to ease the pain before bedtime.

It’s been several days since my appointment, but my jaw pain hasn’t let up. Is this normal? Do I need to go back to my dentist? I really hope it stops soon.

Mayumi, from Gadsden, AL

Hi Mayumi,

There usually is residual pain after long appointments, as your mouth has been through a lot. You will likely have pain or discomfort for one or two weeks after the surgery. Preparing that many teeth for crowns and veneers requires the mouth to be open for much longer than you’re used to.

To make yourself more comfortable, you can call your dentist and ask if there is anything else you can do. The pain is likely temporary, so it should not be TMJ or TMD. Over the counter pain killers are OK to take, and try to rest your jaw as much as possible. You can also use heat from warm towels to help your jaw relax.

This blog post is brought to you by San Antonio TMJ dentist, Gilberto Tostado, of 5 Star Dental Group.

Are My TMJ Problems and Diabetes Related?

Posted on July 3, 2020 by AllSmiles.

Hi there,

I have been having jaw pain for months. I tense my jaw when I’m stressed, and I grind my teeth at night. My dentist made a night guard so I would stop grinding, but still no relief. I have tried cold compresses and ibuprofen to reduce the pain and inflammation, but still nothing. My dentist also ground down some teeth, as a misaligned bite was likely causing TMJ pain. Still no help.

My insurance has not been covering this, so I am out a lot of money and no closer to finding an answer to my pain. I feel like my dentist has given up, as his latest idea is that my diabetes is responsible for my pain. Is that correct? He knew I had diabetes when I first walked into the office, so why did it take him so long to mention a link between the two?

Since he thinks it is linked to my diabetes, he says there is nothing he can do for the pain. It is interfering with my daily life; I can barely eat or sleep because of the pain. What can I do? Or will I be in pain for the rest of my life?

From Alphonse, in Columbus, Ohio

Hi Alphonse,

You are correct, your temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, is likely the cause of your pain. However, if your dentist knew you were diabetic, he should not have prescribed you ibuprofen, as it is contraindicated for diabetics, meaning you could be at higher risk of side effects.

Diabetes can cause oral health problems, such as dry mouth, which can lead to gingivitis. It can also cause diabetic neuropathy, or nerve damage to your nerves near the surface of your skin. This usually affects a patient’s feet but can affect other parts of your body, and very rarely affects your face.

Despite the link between the two, there are still ways to options. If your dentist is not willing to treat your pain, you should seek a second opinion. A dentist more skilled in treating TMJ will likely be able to provide you some relief.

This blog post is brought to you by San Antonio TMJ dentist, Dr. Gilberto Tostado, of 5 Star Dental Group. Please note that TMJ is not a specialization or certification, but dentist who pursue continuing education courses pertaining to TMJ will call themselves TMJ dentists or TMJ specialists.