Are You Impacted With A Malocclusion?

Malocclusion is a poor fit between the teeth and jaw. You deserve to have a life free of pain. No matter whether you are only impacted with pain some of the time or all of the time don’t let a malocclusion impact your day. Malocclusion that is not treated can lead to more problems later on including crowding teeth, jaw pain, an overbite or under bite.

Malocclusion can be inherited and can change the shape and structure of the jaw. Some of the causes may be a cleft palate, thumb sucking when you were a child, or an injury that has left your jaw misaligned. Some symptoms of Malocclusion can include improper alignment of the teeth, alteration in your appearance of the face, discomfort when chewing or biting or breathing through the mouth instead of the nose.  Depending on how bad your symptoms are will depend on the suggested treatment.

While you may think, this is a minor problem you want to wait to fix, Dr. Judy Strutz and her team recommend you take care of the problem now. When the teeth do not bite together correctly it can result in choking on food that is improperly chewed or TMJ pain that can result in face and jaw pain, that when severe may require surgery to correct, while there may be plenty of non-surgical options that may be available to you now.

For more information on Malocclusion and jaw problems, contact Dr. Strutz and her team today.

Occlusal Problems & How They Impact Your Perfect Smile

Extensive dental work can cost thousands of dollars and many hours of time. No one wants to spend so much money to fix a problem with their smile to only turn around and have the work damaged due to an occlusal or bite problem. If you find you have cracked, chipped or constantly worn teeth you may want to visit your prosthodontist today.

There are several options available to you depending on the root of the problem. Waiting is unfortunately not one of them. If your bite is just slightly off then Dr. Strutz can usually do a quick adjustment on the surface of the teeth to adjust the bite.

But what if the damage is more extensive? The chewing action of the jaw is designed to work when you have all of your teeth in place. Missing or cracked teeth can cause a problem for your jaw, not allowing it to do its job correctly. Replacing missing teeth may help with some of the pain you are experiencing.  Missing teeth can be replaced using a bridge, implant or some sort of removable appliance or denture depending on how many teeth you are missing and the health of your gums.

If your jaw is tight and achy, and your bite is fine along with no missing teeth, you may need to look more internally at the amount of stress you are experiencing. Stress can cause jaw pain that is misinterpreted as a more serious problem. Find relaxing activities or meditate if this is the problem.

My Jaw Hurts When I Chew. How Can I Fix It?

Your jaw hurting is a sign of something significant. You might have an occlusion or a bite problem. “It is important if your jaw is bothering you to visit a prosthodontist or dentist as soon as possible in order to get the problem checked out,” says Dr. Judith Strutz. If your bite is off, and you do not have it fixed, you can begin to crack or break teeth. You may experience pain that radiates down from the jaw. And bite problems may cause you to readjust the foods you are eating.  
TMD is a jaw problem that can cause extreme pain in the Temporomandibular joint. The pain can last for a few minutes up to hours. Sometimes the discomfort lingers and sometimes it’s an on again off again thing. TMD is many times caused by grinding or clenching your teeth, a bite problem caused by an injury, or malocclusion (the teeth do not fit together correctly). Some other causes are arthritis in the joint, movement of the soft cushions or stress, which can cause you to tighten your facial muscles.  
The signs you may have TMD or jaw joint troubles are: migraines, a tightness of the face in the mornings, or pain when chewing gum. You may also experience an inability to open your mouth wide or hear a clicking or popping noise when chewing. Dr. Strutz suggests, "you can experience swelling on the inside of your face, dizziness, or an earache."
TMD can be very painful, but there are options available to help. It is important to schedule an appointment with your dentist immediately in order to have it taken care of. The longer the problem progresses the more damage is done to the joint.  

A Prosthodontist, Not Just A Dentist

While a general dentist may advertise and provide support to you in the area of implants, dentures, jaw pain and other advanced smile techniques; a prosthodontist is a specialized dentist that takes these procedures to the next level. There is no reason for continual heartache and unhappiness with your smile, because Dr. Judy Strutz and her team can provide the smile you have been looking for.

 

Combined, the team at Dr.  Strutz’s office in San Bernardino, California have years of experience working on difficult cases. Including but not limited to full mouth restorations, dentures, and injuries of the mouth due to periodontal disease, accidents or malignancies.

Their goal from the time you enter the office to the time you leave is to provide a comprehensive plan that brings change and happiness to your life. Your overall career success can be impacted by cracked and broken teeth. Your sleep may be impacted by jaw pain. However, you do not need to spend one more minute in pain, discomfort or being embarrassed because there is a dedicated and hard-working group of individuals that want to give you back the smile you need to achieve your dreams. 

Dr. Strutz has extensive experience in working to fit dentures. She will craft and design the fit you need in order for you to have teeth that feel comfortable in your mouth. Without a proper fitting denture you maybe missing out on the nutrition you need to live a healthy lifestyle.