Whoopie Goldberg had recently gone through some major dental surgery and was discusted with herself for letting it go so long. She encouraged others to make sure that they see their dentist or to find a dentist before it is too late. Sounds like she may loose many of her teeth. Click on the link to listen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-t7Npdwi8c

Many of the patients we treat in Cincinnati, Ohio are surprised when they see our list of symptoms that can be caused by TMJ problems. The list includes:

Headaches
Loose teeth
Worn, chipped, or cracked teeth or fillings
Clenching or grinding
Ditched root grooves
Pain or clicking and popping in joints
Shoulder, neck, and back pain
Numbness in arms and fingers
Pain behind the eyes
Facial pain
Difficulty swallowing
Pain and sensitivity in teeth
Crowded teeth
Receding gums
Ringing or congestion in the ears

These can all be due to an incompatibility of the muscles and joints to the position where the teeth hit. This is especially common in patients who have had teeth extracted for orthodontics. After the extractions, the front teeth are pulled back to fill the spaces and this traps the lower jaw in a position that is in conflict with the muscles. This is also a common cause of relapse with the lower teeth getting crowded again.

A “gummy smile” is seen in patients that show a lot of gum tissue between their top teeth and upper lip. Patients often ask if we can correct this with porcelain veneers. Sometimes we can if the teeth are short with gum repositioning and veneers. If the teeth are the ideal length to begin with, this combination of procedures will not help.

the ideal amount of gum to display is around 2 millimeters. When it gets to 4millimeters, it is sen as unattractive.

In cases where the gums cannot be moved up, the upper lip can be brought down utilizing a lip tac procedure. Dr. Warren Wingate, our periodontist (gum specialist), can remove some tissue in the mouth under the upper lip and bring the lower lip down. Call Corine at 513-777-7017 for a complimentary consultation in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Dr. Hedge is now offering six month orthodontics in his Cincinnati, Ohio office. Short term orthodontics utilizes new tooth colored wires and brackets to move the teeth to a beautiful new smile in about six months.