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Are your teeth proportionately-sized when you smile - or do they appear smaller or square? If so, you might have a condition known as “short teeth.” It can be caused by a wide variety of factors such as: excessive wear and tear, genetics, or another condition known as a “gummy smile.”

Whatever the cause, short teeth are aesthetically displeasing to most people. When you smile, the overall length of your teeth appears “off”, which can be the focal point for people who have just met you. We’re going to look at the various causes of short teeth, problems that can arise because of them, and several methods that a good cosmetic dentist can use to fix them.

What Causes Short Teeth?

There are several things that can cause short teeth. Severe wear-and-tear and chipping can occur over an elongated period of time is one of the more common ones. It happens so subtly that it’s oftentimes not noticeable until the tooth goes down to the 50% mark. Generally speaking, older adults tend to be at-risk for short teeth due to wear-and-tear over their lifetimes.

Sometimes the teeth don’t get shorter – the gums get longer. A “gummy smile” is one of many dental conditions that can cause the gums to cover the teeth, thereby making them look shorter than they really are.

Some people are born with shorter looking teeth. The problem with this is that it’s only an issue if it causes other medical or dental issues – or the person deems it to be an aesthetic problem. If someone has short teeth and they’re not experiencing any medical or dental issues and they’re 100% content with the way they look, then it really isn’t a problem.

Other times the diet or lifestyle is to blame. Chemical factors such as acidic damage caused by acidic foods and drinks can wear away at the enamel and teeth. If the patient has a history of drug abuse, that too can cause the teeth to wear down or fall out prematurely.

What sort of problems can arise if left untreated?

Aside from the obvious aesthetic issues, short teeth can lead to several other documented medical conditions such as TMJ tiredness, headaches, and facial pain. This is due to a bad bite characterized by shortened teeth. If left unchecked, the teeth can wear down to the point where the raw nerve is exposed, thereby causing intense pain from toothaches.

For some people, the above symptoms do not manifest themselves in any serious way. However, a bad bite due to short teeth can literally leave a person looking much older than they really are. In worst case scenarios, they may experience premature aging in the soft tissue in their necks and faces which can add 10 years or more to their appearance.

What Treatments Exist for Short Teeth?

Fortunately, there are several treatments for people who have short teeth. You will first need to visit a qualified cosmetic dentist office such as Water Tower Dental Care. The dentist will look at the cause of your short teeth and make a recommendation based upon what will look best as well as your budget.

Here are a few treatment options that exist for people who have short teeth:

Porcelain Veneers – Veneers are one of the most common procedures that cosmetic dentists use to treat people with short teeth. They’re very easy to maintain and can transform your smile to the way you want it to look. Veneers are custom-made to each tooth and are non-reversible, so make sure to ask the dentist for more information.

Porcelain Crowns – Crowns are another viable option for people who have weak or damaged teeth.

Dental Bonding – In this procedure the dentist applies a composite resin to the front of the tooth prior to hardening it with a curing light. It offers many of the same results as porcelain veneers but is a better option if you have suffered enamel erosion.

Gum Contouring – If excessive gum tissue is the cause of your short teeth then gum contouring can help fix it. There are many ways to go about gum contouring, but most dentists use an advanced laser diode to trim away a very small amount of gum tissue. This will help reveal your teeth and make them look longer than they did prior.

Will Dental Insurance Cover Short Teeth?

Whether or not your dental insurance will cover short teeth will be dependent upon your plan. If you’re getting them fixed strictly for cosmetic reasons, the procedure will probably not be covered. However, if a valid medical reason exists to get the procedure done, then you might be covered.

The best way to find out for sure is to make an appointment with a cosmetic dentist and have them give you a diagnosis and treatment plan. Sometimes the secretary at the front desk will be able to call your insurance company to see if they will cover the treatment plan created by the dentist.

Cosmetic Dentistry in Chicago

If you suffer from short teeth, are experiencing dental issues because of them, or are just not happy with the way they look, give us a call at (312) 787-2131. At Water Tower Dental Care, we specialize in cosmetic dentistry and can help fix your teeth, so you can regain the confidence to smile once again.

Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) is a condition that affects the jaw, muscles that control jaw movement, and jaw joints. It is often characterized by noticeable pain and discomfort in those who suffer from it. The good news is that TMJ can be treated in a wide variety of ways, including Botox. We’re going to look at exactly what TMJ is, the causes, and how Botox can help relieve pain and suffering.

What is TMJ?

Your jaw is connected to your skull at two points via a joint called the temporomandibular. There is one joint on each side of your jaw for a total of two joints. TMJ occurs when you feel pain in and around this general area. It can cause a grating sensation or clicking sound when you move your mouth or chew.

TMJ is almost always characterized by pain or discomfort – so if you’re hearing a clicking noise and not experiencing any pain or discomfort then you probably don’t require treatment for TMJ. However, if the clicking noise is persistent, it’s usually best to see a qualified dentist who can confirm the presence of TMJ.

Symptoms of TMJ

The main symptom of TMJ is pain on or near the jaw joint. However, those who suffer from TMJ often report the following symptoms:

• Headaches
• Sore or still jaw muscles
• Inability to close the jaw/mouth all the way
• Popping sounds in ears
• Jaw clicking and popping
• Ear aches

Causes of TMJ

Medical science does not currently completely understand why TMJ happens. What is known is that there are several suspected causes of TMJ that affect a wide variety of people:

• Complications from dental surgery
• Genetic
• Hormonal
• Environmental
• Physical injury
• Arthritis

It is also suspected that women tend to suffer from TMJ more than men. It’s not completely understood why, but some doctors think that the female hormone estrogen might play some role.

Home Remedies

People who suffer from TMJ are somewhat fortunate in that it sometimes responds very well to home made remedies such as ice packs on the joint, OTC anti-inflammatory drugs, massages or gentle stretching of the jaw and neck, and avoiding chewing gum.

While the home remedies work for some people, they are not a complete cure and oftentimes only offer a few hours respite from the pain and discomfort. This is why many people seek out medical treatment from a qualified dental office. The TMJ therapy for pain relief solutions offered by a dentist are far superior to popping a couple of Advil and hoping for the best.

Botox as a Solution to TMJ

Botox is a toxin that’s been rendered 100% safe in a medical laboratory. Its primary use is cosmetic - to treat fine lines and wrinkles on people’s faces. Botox paralyzes the facial muscles that are responsible for wrinkles – giving a more youthful appearance and tighter looking skin. In recent years, many dentists have begun using Botox as a solution to treat TMJ.

Many people have found relief when injected with Botox in order to treat the pain, discomfort, and other symptoms associated with TMJ. The dentist will inject Botox directly into the chewing muscles which in turn will relax them. While Botox has not been specifically FDA approved for treatment of TMJ, it has been FDA approved for painful conditions that are usually associated with TMJ. Multiple studies have been published in various medical journals that have found that Botox offers promising results.

How Does BOTOX treat TMJ?

Botox injections paralyze the jaw muscles and prevent them from unconsciously moving about. When they are unable to move, they can no longer grind or clench. This can alleviate severe tension headaches as well as sharp pain in the jaw area. As the muscles are no longer able to be over worked, they enter into a rest phase which allows them to heal and repair themselves. This is when the symptoms of TMJ are relieved.

How long does Botox Treatment Take?

The treatment itself is quick and relatively painless. A sterile surgical needle that contains Botox is injected into the chewing muscles. The length of the procedure will be determined by how many injections the dentist feels are necessary to eliminate pain and discomfort. It will vary from person to person. The average time is anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes.

What to Expect After the Botox Treatment?

Most TMJ patients who are treated with Botox describe the needle prick as a “quick pinch.” Botox goes to work almost immediately although it can take several days to a week for the patient to experience full relief. There is no downtime and patients can return to their normal everyday activities after leaving the dental office.

Muscle tenderness should start to disappear almost immediately. It may take 24 to 48 hours before you start to see wrinkles around the injection areas start to lessen and disappear as well. It can take upwards of 1 week for the full results to be noticed.

Some patients experience bruising, slight swelling, or temporary numbness around the injection areas. This is completely normal and should diminish within a day or two.

Botox for TMJ in Chicago

If you suffer from TMJ and are looking for relief, schedule an appointment to be seen by one of our highly trained TMJ specialists. At Water Tower Dental Care, we have helped countless TMJ sufferers find relief through Botox injections. Give us a call today to learn more how we can help stop the pain and suffering.

Taking care of your teeth is one of the most important things you can do. It prevents tooth decay and other serious issues that can cause tooth loss or lead to other health issues. Most people tend to think that brushing and flossing are the only two ways to take care of their teeth. The reality is that they’re missing a critical 3rd component: watching what you eat.

While it’s well-known that sugar can lead to tooth decay, what most people don’t realize is the amount of sugar that everyday products contain. For example, a “Venti” coffee beverage at a popular coffee chain can contain upwards of 73.8 grams of sugar. The American Heart Association recommends that people limit their sugar into to around 2 tablespoons per day – which equates to around 25 grams of sugar.

This is one of the reasons why doctors recommend people use sugarless chewing gum. In addition to having beneficial effects on your mouth, it’s free from sugar and won’t contribute to tooth decay – in fact, chewing sugarless gum could potentially help prevent tooth decay.

Why Chew Sugarless Gum?

Over the years, doctors and dentists have realized that chewing sugarless gum after a meal has significant benefits such as:

Reduces bacteria

A recent clinical study has shown that chewing sugarless gum for at least 20 minutes after a meal can significantly help prevent tooth decay. The 2015 study was published in the PLoS ONE journal and found that up to 200 million bacteria can be removed from the mouth by chewing sugarless gum for 20 minutes after eating. Most of the bacteria are caught up inside the gum and completely removed when you spit it out.

Reduces dry mouth

Dry mouth is a medical condition where your mouth feels like it’s completely dry and no matter what you do, you can’t seem to quench it. The condition occurs from a lack of saliva and is caused by several unrelated diseases and/or medications. A great way to treat dry mouth is to chew sugarless gum. When you chew your brain signals your mouth to start producing more saliva. Viola! Dry mouth gone, and you get fresh breath as a nice little side effect.

Cavity Prevention

As stated in the previous paragraph, chewing gum can increase the flow of saliva in your mouth. As you chew, your saliva is swished around and helps neutralize and wash away bad acids that are produced by the bacteria on your teeth. The acid is very harmful and breaks down tooth enamel over time which leads to tooth decay. Saliva itself contains calcium and phosphate and those two minerals can help strengthen tooth enamel.

Chewing sugar free gum increases salivary flow, which can help wash away or neutralize acids that occur when food is broken down by bacteria in plaque on teeth. This helps keep teeth strong and limits decay, reducing the risk for cavities.

Reduce Tooth Sensitivity

If you suffer from tooth sensitivity, or your tooth sensitivity is caused by over-using whitening treatments, chewing sugarless gum can help reduce the pain. The increased saliva flow helps neutralize the sensitivity for immediate relief.

Strengthen Enamel

Most sugar free gum contains an ingredient called Xylitol. It is responsible for the sweet taste of the gum. It also helps reduce the acids on your teeth that accumulate after you consume drinks or food. The acid reduction properties of Xylitol helps keep tooth enamel strong in conjunction with the phosphate and calcium that’s contained in your saliva.

No More Brushing or Flossing?

It should be noted that while chewing sugar free gum is good for dental health, it cannot replace brushing and flossing. The benefits you get from chewing a stick of gum aren’t as strong as the ones you get from brushing and flossing your teeth.

What Kind of Sugarless Gum to Buy?

At Water Tower Dental Care, our dentists can make specific brand name recommendations that will best suit your needs. If you don’t have a dental appointment scheduled with us for a while, look for gum that contains the American Dental Association (ADA) seal. This means that the gum product has been scientifically evaluated for efficacy and safety by scientific experts who work for the ADA.

The ADA seal means that the gum meets such requirements as:

• Promotes remineralization of tooth enamel
• Reducing plaque acids
• Reducing cavities
• Reducing gingivitis
• It won’t harm or damage oral tissues

If you’d like to learn more about good oral hygiene habits or have a question about sugarless gum that wasn’t answered in this article, schedule an appointment or give us a call. At Water Tower Dental Care, we’re here to help improve your dental health and give you a smile that looks like a million bucks!

Oral lichen planus is a condition that negatively affects the mucous membrane in your mouth. It is chronic (meaning it comes and goes over time) and can appear as red swollen tissues, open sores, or white patches. In some cases, it could cause mild discomfort, itchiness, or a burning sensation.

It is caused when the immune system attacks the cells of the oral mucous membranes. The reasons this happens are still unknown to medical science. Fortunately, it cannot be transmitted from one person to another.

While Oral lichen planus is not a life-threatening disease in and of itself, people who have it must be closely monitored via regular dental checkups. They are in a high-risk group of developing mouth cancer and other serious medical conditions in the areas that are affected by oral lichen planus.

Symptoms

Those who suffer from oral lichen planus usually have some form of pain, itchiness, or discomfort in their mouths. Physical indicators can include:

• Sores that are open
• Tender, swollen, or red patches of tissue
• White, raised, patches of tissue that sometimes appear lace-like

It can appear in several areas of the mouth. The lesions could appear in the:

• Gums
• Tongue
• Inside of the cheeks (most common)

Diagnosis

The only way to tell if you have oral lichen planus for sure is to visit a dentist. They will request your medical history and ask you to list any medications you’re currently taking. A physical examination of your mouth will be performed, and the dentist might ask you if you’re experiencing lesions or open sores on other parts of your body.

If the dentist cannot make an accurate diagnosis, he will order a biopsy. A small piece of your tissue will be collected and then a laboratory will analyze the sample in order to help make a correct diagnosis.

Other Types

Some people who suffer from oral lichen planus have lesions and sores on other parts of their bodies such as:

Ears – If not treated ASAP, can lead to hearing loss.

Scalp – While somewhat rare, can lead to temporary or permanent hair loss.

Nails – Equally as rare as the scalp, but can result in nail ridges, splitting or thinning, and ultimately nail loss.

Esophagus – Another rare condition where it can cause the esophagus to narrow, which can make swallowing food or liquid very difficult.

Genital area – Pain, discomfort, and burning can occur when having intercourse. Lesions appear eroded and red – although sometimes can appear as white areas. They can occur on both male and female genitalia.

Skin – The lesions will appear as purplish bumps and can be very itchy.

Risk/Complications

If you suffer from a condition that compromises your immune system or you’re taking certain medications, your risk of developing oral lichen planus may be increased. However, at this point in time medical experts are still unsure of the exact cause.

If you think you might be suffering from oral lichen planus, it’s best to seek treatment immediately. Left to its own devices, this condition can increase the risk of:

• Depression
• Oral cancer
• Scarring
• Oral yeast/fungal infections
• Increased pain
• Stress/weight loss/anxiety

Discomfort/Pain

The white patches inside the mouth will most likely not cause any physical pain. It’s only when the red swollen patches (and open sores) occur does the pain start occurring. The actual amount of pain will differ from person to person and be contingent upon their overall tolerance to pain.

Pain can occur in one or more of the following areas:

• Discomfort when chewing or speaking
• Inflammation of gums (gingivitis)
• Bleeding when brushing teeth
• Sensitivity to spicy, hot, or acidic foods
• Burning pain or sensation

Over-the-counter pain medicine could help alleviate some symptoms of the pain, but it’s best to make an appointment with a dentist as soon as possible. Only then can you get a clear understanding of what’s going on and begin the treatment process.

Treatment

Currently it is not possible to completely cure oral lichen planus. Your dentist can only treat the symptoms and prolong symptom-free intervals. One of the first things your dentist will do is attempt to treat any part of your mouth that could exacerbate the condition. Broken/chipped teeth and restoration of bridges and other dental work should be performed. Any agitation to the mouth can cause the symptoms to return, so it’s best that all sharp edges on your teeth are properly taken care of.

Your dentist might prescribe medication based on his diagnosis. Drugs range from NSAIDs to antimalarials and could change based on the determination of your dentist as well as how well your body is responding to the drugs.

Oral Lichen Planus Experts on the Magnificent Mile

If you’re having oral discomfort or you think you might be suffering from oral lichen planus, schedule an appointment as soon as possible. If you do have oral lichen, your chances of developing mouth cancer are very high. It’s important that a qualified dentist examine your mouth and prescribe a course of treatment.

At Water Tower Dental Care, we specialize in helping patients feel and look better again. Our compassionate dentists use state-of-the-art technology which assists in patient comfort and healing time. Give us a call today to learn more how we can help solve your dental problems!