Your Teeth, Your Health, Your Life » TMJ

Sleeping Problems are Nothing To Yawn About!

Dr.Barbat — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:31:44 +0000

If you’re not getting a sufficient amount of sleep, the end results have significant physical and mental consequences.

“As a dentist, I am concerned that many adults never associate teeth grinding and nighttime clenching with sleep deprivation,” states Dr. Barbat.
For most humans, eight hours of sleep is the ideal. When sleep time is sacrificed or interrupted on a regular basis, the losses are devastating. Sleep loss has been calculated at 90 billion dollars a year due to absenteeism, car accidents, lost productivity, and medications.

As little as six hours of sleep per night can result in some serious problems, such as:

* Problems with memory or concentration
* Irritability
* More susceptibility to infection

Sleep loss related to clenching or grinding teeth can often be easily resolved. Dr. Barbat creates a custom-fitted mouthpiece that is small, comfortable, and prevents clenching and grinding. If you are losing sleep, or feel clenching or grinding may be a problem for you (or a mate), call our Shelby Township Cosmetic Dentist Office at (586) 739-2155 to discuss this concern.

What is the leading injury in rear-end collisions? TMJ

Dr.Barbat — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:02:48 +0000

One of the most common rear-end collision injuries is a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) injury.

This joint is very fragile and can be easily hurt during a car accident. Usually head or neck injuries are blamed for the pain but if left undiagnosed TMJ can get worse over time.

Whiplash resulting from a car accident can be a cause of the TMJ injury.

When you are hit from behind your head can go in many different directions. This happens so Fast that the neck muscles can’t relax so they don’t hold the jaw in place. The impact on the head can force it backwards and the mouth overreaches, causing further injury.

Sadly, there are not a lot of medical and dental professionals that specialize in the training necessary to diagnose TMJ correctly. Physical exams that involve radiographic surveys can help diagnose your condition. After diagnosis, you can begin TMJ treatments which may include a bite splint, temperature therapy, trigger point injections, nutritional, & physical therapies involving the jaw. Contact Dr. Ban Barbat at her Michigan Cosmetic Dentist Office for more information.