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Is It Headaches Or Jaw Pain?

Hello! I’m Andrea Patterson, DDS, of TruCare Dental in Albuquerque. I have been practicing quality general and been a cosmetic dentist since 2008. Today’s post focuses on malocclusion, or bad bite.

Do You Know What Malocclusion is?

Occlusion refers to the alignment of teeth and the way that the upper and lower teeth fit together (bite). The upper teeth should fit slightly over the lower teeth. The points of the molars should fit the grooves of the opposite molar.

 

Jaw Pain and how to fix it with an emergency appointment
How to get my jaw pain to stop need an emergency visit to the dentist

Malocclusion means having crooked teeth or a “poor bite.” Bite refers to the way the upper and lower teeth line up. In a normal bite, the upper teeth sit slightly forward of the lower teeth. Very few people have a perfect bite.

Most of the time, malocclusion is a cosmetic problem, which means that people don’t like the way their teeth look. But it can also have a serious impact on self-esteem. Plus, crooked teeth can be hard to take care of, which may lead to tooth decay or tooth loss. When malocclusion is severe, it can even cause problems with eating or speaking.

Orthodontic treatment can correct the way teeth and jaws line up, and that may help a person feel better about his or her appearance. Dentists who are specially trained to correct malocclusion are called orthodontists. They use a variety of tools and techniques to move teeth, and sometimes the jaw, into the right position.

  • Upper protrusion (overjet). In an upper protrusion, the upper front teeth are pushed outward (buck teeth). A small lower jaw may be the cause. Pacifier use or thumb-sucking can also create this condition by pushing the teeth outward, sometimes causing the roof of the mouth to change shape (upper palate).
  • Spacing or crowding problems. Too much or too little room for the teeth can cause spacing or crowding problems. Crowding can prevent permanent teeth from coming in properly or at all (impaction).
  • Misplaced midline. In people who have a misplaced midline, the front center line between the upper front teeth doesn’t match up with the center line of the lower front teeth.
  • Open bite. Although the molars fit together in a person who has an open bite, the upper and lower front teeth don’t overlap. This creates an opening straight into the mouth. An open bite can also be present on one or both sides of the mouth.
  • Overbite. In a person who has an excessive overbite, the upper front teeth reach too far down over the lower front teeth and, in severe cases, can cause the lower teeth to bite into the roof of the mouth.

 

Do You Know The Causes of Malocclusion?

Malocclusion is usually caused by problems with the shape or size of the jaw or teeth. A common cause is having too much or too little room in the jaw. If a child’s jaw is small, the teeth may grow in crowded or crooked. If there’s too much space in the jaw, the teeth may drift out of place.

Other causes include:

  • Childhood habits such as thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, pacifier use beyond age 3, and prolonged use of a bottle
  • Extra teeth, lost teeth, impacted teeth, or abnormally shaped teeth
  • Ill-fitting dental fillings, crowns, dental appliances, retainers, or braces
  • Misalignment of jaw fractures after a severe injury
  • Tumors of the mouth and jaw

Other causes of malocclusion include thumb-sucking, pacifier use, and tooth loss. Long-term mouth breathing seems to be linked to malocclusion too, but how isn’t exactly clear.

What are the Symptoms?

The most obvious sign is teeth that are crooked or stick out. But there are many different types of malocclusion. For example, some people have buck teeth (called an overjet). This means that the upper front teeth are pushed outward. Some people have an underbite. Their lower front teeth sit farther forward than their upper front teeth.

The domino effect of these troubles can get pretty serious. For example, chewing difficulty can trigger ulcers and gum disease increases the risk of stroke and heart disease. Consider also how these problems can impact a patient’s emotional well-being and ability to perform their job.

Putting health issues aside, these problems can get pretty expensive to treat.

There are several effective treatments for malocclusion, but first you need a diagnosis. If you suspect that you have a misaligned bite, I hope this post has given you some good reasons to meet with Dr. Andrea Patterson. Call (505) 369-0074 to schedule a consultation and exam, or for any of your cosmetic dental options.

Contact TruCare Dental

(505) 369-0074

Location (Click to open in Google Maps):

​4824 McMahon Blvd NW #119 
Albuquerque, NM 87114

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Dental Office in North Valley

Dental emergencies in North Valley

Dental office in North Valley
Dental office in North Valley

A dental emergency is a serious issue that needs immediate treatment. When teeth are damaged severely or knocked out, dentist have a number of hours to be able to put the tooth back safely in the mouth. Broken teeth should also be fixed as quickly as possible. A matter of hours can make a big difference in saving a tooth. At the offices of TruCare Dental, our dental office in North Valley caters to patients seeking emergency dental care and urgent dental care.

There are some things the patient can do while waiting for the dentist. If a tooth has been knocked out, and it is a permanent adult tooth, it should be kept moist or put back in the socket without hurting the root before coming to our dental office in North Valley. The same procedure should be repeated for children’s teeth. For cracked teeth, the mouth should be rinsed immediately with warm water and a compress put on the face to reduce any swelling that is occurring. Other dental emergencies, such as broken jaws, should also apply a cold compress before reporting to our offices or an emergency room immediately. Some patients may have an object that is stuck in their tooth, and although floss may help remove it, if it doesn’t come out, it can cause an infection, which is considered a dental emergency. See our doctor right away if this is the case.

Other problems, such a toothaches, may not be cause for a dental emergency but may be painful enough to warrant a trip to the dentist. In this case, patients can try rinsing the mouth with warm water and using dental floss to remove food that may be bothering the teeth. Aspirin may help, but not directly on the tooth so as to avoid burning gum tissue. Before contacting us to make an appointment at our dental office in North Valley, be sure to clean the mouth by swishing warm water with salt if needed.

4824 McMahon Blvd NW #119
Albuquerque, NM 87114
(505) 369-0074

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Dental in Albuquerque

Emergency dentist in Albuquerque

Dental in Albuquerque
Dental in Albuquerque

Even if you take excellent care of your teeth, there may be a time when you find yourself in need of immediate attention with something that cannot wait for an available appointment. Here at TruCare Dental, we promote prevention and good strategies for maintaining the well-being of your teeth. But when an urgent matter does come up and you have a dental in Albuquerque, we’re here for you. Some of the reasons you might need us in a pinch include toothaches, a broken tooth, an emergency root canal or extraction, an abscess (infection), or to re-cement a crown, bridge, or veneers that have come loose.

The most common reason for a dental in Albuquerque is tooth pain or sensitivity. If you are experiencing either of those, or if your tooth is bothered by hot or cold foods or beverages, it could be either the result of a cavity, a filling that has fallen out, or an infection. In the case of a cavity, you may just need to have it filled. A lost filling can be replaced. And if you have an infection, you will most likely need root canal therapy or possibly an extraction if the tooth is beyond the point where it can be saved. A broken tooth is quite vulnerable to infection, so it is vital that you be seen by our emergency dentist so that you can be measured for a crown and a temporary one can be placed to protect the tooth in the meantime.

Loose restorations can be addressed fairly simply, but you don’t want to take the chance of losing them entirely. Furthermore, you might be unable to eat solid foods until the matter is resolved. That’s one of the ways in which we are able to help you with a dental in Albuquerque.

We’re not in the office 24 hours per day, but we do check our messages constantly throughout the day and night. So do leave a message and we will call you back. If your dental in Albuquerque occurs during our regular hours, just walk right in. We will fit you in.

4824 McMahon Blvd NW #119
Albuquerque, NM 87114
(505) 369-0074

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Emergency Dentist in Albuquerque

Albuquerque dental emergencies

Emergency dentist in Albuquerque
Emergency dentist in Albuquerque

Have you ever wondered what you would do if you or a family member had a dental emergency and needed urgent dental care? The sad truth is when you need emergency dental service it can be next to impossible to find an emergency dentist in Albuquerque.

Well, we hope you will keep our phone number handy. At TruCare Dental we have an emergency dentist in Albuquerque who can expertly handle dental emergencies and provide exceptional urgent dental care services. The dentists at our practice are: Dr. Andrea Patterson, Dr. John Anton and Dr. Shelly Verma. Our dental practice provides expert dental care for families in the Albuquerque and Rio Rancho area. When you need emergency treatment or a new dentist for all your family’s needs, we hope you will always think of us. Our dentists provide the highest level of patient care and treat all of our patients as members of our extended family. Nothing but the best care is ever good enough for our patients. We especially are concerned with providing excellent care in a dental emergency. If you have a dental emergency we want you to call our office at (505) 369-0074 and we will be sure that you are seen within 1 hour. Our caring staff is very efficient and makes sure that we can always accommodate any unexpected emergency patients.

As an emergency dentist in Albuquerque we provide treatment for many different dental emergency situations. Among the common dental emergencies that we treat are: broken teeth; emergency tooth extractions; tooth pain relief; treatment of an abscess infection; emergency root canals; and re-cementing of crowns, and bridges and veneers. We also provide care for teeth that have been knocked out of the mouth. If this happens try to recover the tooth and rinse it off while holding it by its crown. If possible, and it does not need to be forced, reinsert the tooth into its socket. If this is not possible then place the tooth in a glass so that it is covered by milk. If there is no milk available, bring it to us in a glass with water with a tiny bit of salt added. When it comes to this type of situation, time is truly of the essence for saving the tooth. If you are interested in becoming a regular member of our dental practice, we would be happy to accommodate you as well. In either event we will always try our hardest to be there should you, a friend, or relative ever need excellent emergency dental care.

4824 McMahon Blvd NW #119
Albuquerque, NM 87114 United States
Phone: (505) 369-0074