Surgically Accessing Sinuses can Help Grow New Bone for Implants

Dental implants are by far the best way to replace missing teeth. But they do more than improve your smile: they can restore your ability to eat, chew and talk properly, especially if the teeth replaced are in the back of your mouth. What’s more, they can improve the entire look of your face by restoring facial height and cheek support lost because of the missing teeth.

There is, however, one obstacle to overcome before receiving dental implants — a lack of sufficient bone at the implant site. Bone loss usually occurs when teeth have been missing for some time. This is because when we chew the forces generated by the teeth stimulate continual bone growth to make up for older bone that has dissolved (resorbed). This stimulation doesn’t occur after teeth are lost, which slows the rate of bone growth. Over time the amount of healthy bone diminishes.

Without enough bone for support, implants can’t be placed properly. Fortunately, some of the bone can be regenerated through techniques that place bone grafting material at the site to stimulate and serve as a scaffold for new bone.  The new bone will eventually replace the graft.

For missing upper back teeth with bone loss, we can take advantage of facial anatomy to grow the bone needed for implants. This area of the face is where the maxillary sinuses, air spaces lined with a tissue membrane, are located on either side just above the upper jaw. After determining their exact size and location through detailed x-ray imaging, we can surgically access the area inside the mouth just above the missing teeth.

The sinus cavity is an area where bone growth can occur by placing a bone graft between the floor of the sinus and the sinus membrane. Sometimes bone growth enhancers are used to stimulate and speed up regeneration. The procedure can usually be performed with local anesthesia (much like a routine tooth filling), with only mild discomfort afterward for a few days managed by an anti-inflammatory drug like ibuprofen and a decongestant for sinus swelling.

After six to seven months, we re-evaluate the area to see if sufficient bone has returned for implant surgery. If so, you will be well on your way to achieving a new look and better function through dental implants.

If you would like more information on building new bone through sinus surgery, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Sinus Surgery.”

FAQs about TMJ Disorder

Learn more about this common condition that causes jaw pain and discomfort.

Are you dealing with jaw pain? Do you find that your jaw is stiff or clicks when you open it wide? Then you could be dealing with TMJ disorder. Find out more about this condition and when you should see your Ontario dentist Dr. Brock Rondeau for treatment.TMJ

Q. What is TMJ/TMD?

A. TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint or the jaw joint but the term TMD (temporomandibular disorder) is most often used to describe painful conditions that affect the jaw muscles and joints, as well as the face.

Q. What are the symptoms?

A. Jaw pain and stiffness tend to be the two most common symptoms associated with TMJ disorder. You may also hear a popping or clicking noise when opening your jaw wide. Other symptoms include:

  • Headaches
  • Facial pain
  • Sensitive teeth
  • Teeth clenching
  • Neck pain
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Worn down teeth

Q. What causes this condition?

A. While it’s not always certain what could be causing your TMJ disorder here are some of the most common reasons:

  • A bad bite or bruxism (teeth grinding)
  • Traumatic jaw injury (e.g. car accident; sports injury)
  • Poor spinal alignments
  • Degenerative arthritis
  • Emotional/psychological stress

There are so many things that can cause a TMJ disorder and your general dentist in Ontario, CA may be able to give you some insight into why you are dealing with this condition.

Q. How is it treated?

A. Any dentist’s goal is to try and eliminate your pain right away. If we discover that your disorder is caused by a bad bite we will determine whether a dental appliance could be worn that could reposition your bite and reduce your symptoms.

Over-the-counter pain medications and sometimes prescription medications can help reduce pain and soreness. Other lifestyle changes such as stress management may also be recommended.

Rondeau Seminars ensures that Ontario dentists get the continuing education they need to provide you with the proper care patients deserve, so you can enjoy a life that is free of TMJ-related pain. If you are interested in learning more about dental courses at Rondeau Seminars or if you would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Rondeau regarding your TMJ problems call us today!

Game, Set, Match: Milos Raonic Says A Mouthguard Helps Him Win

When you’re among the top players in your field, you need every advantage to help you stay competitive: Not just the best equipment, but anything else that relieves pain and stress, and allows you to play better. For top-seeded Canadian tennis player Milos Raonic, that extra help came in a somewhat unexpected form: a custom made mouthguard that he wears on the court and off. “[It helps] to not grind my teeth while I play,” said the 25-year-old up-and-coming ace. “It just causes stress and headaches sometimes.”

Mouthguards are often worn by athletes engaged in sports that carry the risk of dental injury — such as basketball, football, hockey, and some two dozen others; wearing one is a great way to keep your teeth from being seriously injured. But Raonic’s mouthguard isn’t primarily for safety; it’s actually designed to help him solve the problem of teeth grinding, or bruxism. This habitual behavior causes him to unconsciously tense up his jaw, potentially leading to problems with muscles and teeth.

Bruxism is a common issue that’s often caused or aggravated by stress. You don’t have to be a world-class athlete to suffer from this condition: Everyday anxieties can have the same effect. The behavior is often worsened when you consume stimulating substances, such as alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, and other drugs.

While bruxism affects thousands of people, some don’t even suspect they have it. That’s because it may occur at any time — even while you’re asleep! The powerful jaw muscles that clench and grind teeth together can wear down tooth enamel, and damage both natural teeth and dental work. They can even cause loose teeth! What’s more, a clenching and grinding habit can result in pain, headaches and muscle soreness… which can really put you off your game.

There are several ways to relieve the problem of bruxism. Stress reduction is one approach that works in some cases. When it’s not enough, a custom made occlusal guard (also called a night guard or mouthguard) provided by our office can make a big difference. “When I don’t sleep with it for a night,” Raonic said “I can feel my jaw muscles just tense up the next day. I don’t sense myself grinding but I can sort of feel that difference the next day.”

 An occlusal guard is made from an exact model of your own mouth. It helps to keep your teeth in better alignment and prevent them from coming into contact, so they can’t damage each other. It also protects your jaw joints from being stressed by excessive force. Plus, it’s secure and comfortable to wear. “I wear it all the time other than when I’m eating, so I got used to it pretty quickly,” said Raonic.

Teeth grinding can be a big problem — whether you put on your game face on the court… or at home. If you would like more information about bruxism, contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can learn more in the Dear Doctor magazine articles “Stress & Tooth Habits” and “When Children Grind Their Teeth.”