Thumb sucking is something we see often at Smile Essential Dental Practice. Problems start to arise when the habit isn’t broken by the age 4. If thumb sucking isn’t stopped it can lead to problems with tooth position and may require braces later in childhood or adult years to correct.

We advise patients to discourage their children from thumb sucking and review it at every 6 month dental appointment. We discovered the Thumbsie® when one of our patients came in proudly wearing one, up until then we have never heard of the Thumbsie® thumb guard. We loved it and her mum let us take a picture. This is one gadget that seems to be working and a thumb guard can help children to stop sucking their thumb.

Thumbsie® was created by a mum of three girls when her third daughter couldn’t stop sucking her thumb. Her daughter’s problem was that she didn’t know when she was sucking her thumb. The Thumbsie® thumb guard can help act as a visual reminder for those children who want to stop thumb sucking but need some help at times such as on a car journey or when watching television. The fabric thumb guards are suitable for children aged 3 – 12 years. They are comfortable to wear and for best results are worn day and night. The Thumbsie® comes in a great range of fabrics, so there should be something for every child.

Lots of children stop sucking their thumb naturally, however dental problems may arise if thumb sucking is prolonged. A lot of the comforting a child associates with thumb sucking is to do with texture and the Thumbsie® is a great solution to help any child break their habit.

Here’s a great parent review from Hannah

“She has been wearing her Thumbsie for ten days now and my husband and I are blown away with how successful they have been. I never thought it could be this easy. She hasn’t sucked her thumb since putting one on, despite being a prolific thumb sucker since she was 5 weeks old – she is now 5! I am so proud of her, especially as it took me until I was 11 to stop sucking mine! The transformation has been wonderful to watch, she is much more engaged in family life and seems much happier and more up for trying new things. We have a different child!.”

Hannah mum to 5 year old daughter Illana

Whether your child is a thumb sucker or a finger sucker Thumbsie® have a solution for you. Check them out by clicking here…

With 84% of all adults having at least one or more fillings and the average adult having 7 fillings. It’s important to understand the different filling options available to you and go over some of the most common questions asked of our dentists at Smile Essential dental practice in Leicester.

Nowadays tooth coloured ‘white’ fillings can be made to look like the surrounding natural tooth. We treat many people at Smile Essential dental practice that are conscious about their silver ‘amalgam’ fillings showing when they laugh or smile.

There are 2 main misconceptions about white fillings and silver fillings that our Leicester patients ask:

1) Will white fillings be as strong as metal fillings?

The answer to this question has changed over the past 20 years. Dental materials are constantly improving and whilst silver fillings used to be stronger than white fillings, the new improved materials are now just as strong.

2) Are white fillings more expensive than silver fillings?

All filling costs vary dependant upon the size and location of the filling and tooth. At our dental practice the difference of cost is quite small. White fillings are around £10 more than silver fillings, this is mainly due to the higher cost of materials involved with placing a white filling.

So what if you already have silver fillings- should you replace them?

This is best assessed on an individual basis by your dentist. If the fillings aren’t visible and are dentally sound, then often it is considered best to leave them until it requires replacing and then opt for a tooth coloured filling.

However if the filling is visible and it makes you self conscious when smiling or laughing then do discuss it with your dentist so they can assess it and advise you accordingly.

Should you always opt for a white filling?

White fillings whilst comparable to silver fillings in strength and longevity may not always be the best option for you. This could be for a number of reasons with the most likely reason being moisture control. It’s crucial when placing most tooth coloured fillings to keep the area completely dry for several minutes and this may not be possible for that particular tooth.

TMJ disorders occur as a result of problems with the jaw, jaw joint and surrounding facial muscles that control chewing and moving the jaw. These disorders are also referred to as TMJ syndrome, TMJ dysfunction or temporomandibular disorders (TMD).

What is the temporomandibular joint?

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the hinge joint that connects the lower jaw (mandible) to the temporal bone of the skull, which is immediately in front of the ear on each side of your head. The joints are flexible, allowing the jaw to move smoothly up and down and side to side and enabling you to talk, chew and yawn. Muscles attached to and surrounding the jaw joint control the position and movement of the jaw.

What causes temporomandibular joint disorders?

The cause of TMJ disorders is not clear, but dentists believe it arises from problems with the muscles of the jaw or with the parts of the joint itself.

Injury to the jaw, temporomandibular joint or muscles of the head and neck – such as from a heavy blow or whiplash – can cause TMJ disorders. Other possible causes include:

• Grinding or clenching the teeth, which puts a lot of pressure on the TMJ
• Dislocation of the soft cushion or disc between the ball and socket
• Presence of osteoarthritis or arthritis in the TMJ.
• Stress, which can cause a person to tighten facial and jaw muscles or clench the teeth.

What are the symptoms of TMJ disorders?

People with TMJ disorders can experience severe pain and discomfort that can be temporary or last for many years. More women than men experience TMJ disorders and it is seen most commonly in people between the ages of 20 and 40.

Dr. Niket Patel of Smile Essential Dentist in Leicester has an interest in this area of dentistry. He has undergone advanced training on Occlusion from the world renowned DawsonAcademy. Here are some of the common symptoms of TMJ disorders:

• Pain or tenderness in the face, jaw joint area, neck and shoulders, and in or around the ear when you chew, speak or open your mouth wide

• Limited ability to open the mouth very wide
• Jaws that get “stuck” or “lock” in the open or closed position
• Clicking, popping or grating sounds in the jaw joint when opening or closing the mouth (which may or may not be accompanied by pain)
• A tired feeling in the face
• Difficulty chewing or a sudden uncomfortable bite, as if the upper and lower teeth are not fitting together properly
• Swelling on the side of the face.

Other common symptoms of TMJ disorders include toothaches, headaches/migraines, neckaches, dizziness,earaches, hearing problems, upper shoulder pain and ringing in the ears (tinnitus).

It is best if you visit the dentist to diagnose a TMJ disorder as many other conditions can cause similar symptoms to TMJ disorders – including a toothache, sinus problems, arthritis or gum disease your dentist  will conduct a careful patient history and clinical examination to determine the cause of your symptoms and discuss any necessary treatment options to alleviate any discomfort.

If you attend Smile Essential Dentist in Leicester for regular Dental Health Checks, then you may have noticed that we check the health of your TMJ before we even check your teeth! So we can diagnose any areas of concern quickly and promptly.

We don’t often think about the way our teeth meet together, through this action we are able to chew and chew hundreds of time a day. The proper term for this is called dental occlusion referring to the way your teeth meet when your jaws bite together.

If your teeth don’t fit together properly it can cause you all sorts of problems and not ones just related to your teeth. Problems with your jaw is a common cause of headaches and can be exasperated if you are clenching or grinding your teeth, which often occurs with the daily stresses of life.

Up to 1 in 4 people can display symptoms related to jaw issues. Women and men are both equally affected, although women tend to ask for treatment more often than men.

TMJ

The TMJ which stands for the ‘temporo-mandibular joint’, is the joint that’s responsible for connecting your lower jaw and your skull. This movement allows your joint to open and close your mouth and chew from side to side.

Headaches,clicking, grinding or pain in your jaw joints, ringing or buzzing in your ears and difficulty in opening or closing your mouth could all be due to your teeth not meeting each other properly.

Headaches

If your jaw is in the wrong position, the muscles that move the jaw have to work a lot harder and can get tired. This leads to muscle spasm. The main symptoms are continual headaches or migraine, especially first thing in the morning; pain behind your eyes, sinus pain and pains in your neck and shoulders. Sometimes even back muscles can be involved.

How can I tell if I have a problem?

Lots of people don’t necessarily have the perfect bite due to imperfect occlusion and missing teeth, yet they might not display any symptoms because they adjust to their problems. Occasionally, in times of increased stress and tension, the symptoms may appear and then go away immediately.

Other things to look for when trying to establish whether you have a TMJ problem:

flattened, worn teeth
broken teeth, fillings and crowns
loose teeth
continual sensitivity of your teeth to temperature change
toothache with no apparent cause

Clenching and/or grinding your teeth can also add to the problem, although most people who do this aren’t aware of it. It can be a good idea to ask your partner if they have noticed you doing it.

Clenching and grinding can be caused by stress and anxiety, however most of the time people clench their teeth because they are concentrating on a task.

You may wake up in the morning with a stiff jaw or tenderness when you bite together. This could be due to clenching or grinding your teeth in your sleep. The majority of people who grind their teeth do it while they are asleep and may not know they are doing it.

If you suffer from severe headaches, or neck and shoulder pain, you may not have linked this with possible jaw problems. Or you may keep having pain or discomfort on the side of your face around your ears or jaw joints or difficulty in moving your jaw. These are all symptoms of TMJ problems.

How are occlusal problems treated?

Treating TMJ problems really depends on the symptoms you’re having, it can be possible to spot the signs of an occlusal problem.

At Smile Essential Dental Practice we review this at every dental health check carrying out an examination of your TMJ and looking for evidence of wear on the teeth. Various muscles may be sore when tested, or the broken and worn areas of your teeth will show you are grinding your teeth – a common sign of an incorrect bite.

Treatments

Mouthguard: If your symptoms are due to an incorrect bite, then you may benefit from wearing a mouthguard to improve the problem. This appliance needs to be measured and fitted very accurately so that when you bite on it, all your teeth meet at exactly the same time in a position where your muscles are relaxed.

Equilibration: Tooth adjustment may be necessary on your teeth may carefully adjusted to meet evenly. Changing the direction and position of the slopes that guide your teeth together can often help to reposition the jaw.

Replacement of teeth: If you have missing teeth this may mean that your teeth and jaw aren’t balanced and could be the cause of your problem. Replacing missing teeth with either with a partial denture, bridge or implants could relieve your symptoms.

Diet: if you are experiencing symptoms it’s advisable to stick to a soft diet avoiding any heaving chewing or opening too wide such as when you bite into an apple or pizza.

Exercise: Just as physiotherapy exercises can help other joint issue in the body it can often help with TMJ issues. If we feel this would benefit you we will demonstrate some of these to you and given you a written exercise sheet to perform.

Relaxation: if you are constantly grinding or clenching your teeth due to life stresses it’s a good idea to try and resolve these and take some time out for rest and relaxation.

Teeth straightening: If your teeth are too far out of line or in a totally incorrect bite position, you may need to have an orthodontic appliance (brace) fitted to move them into a better position.

If you are concerned at all about TMJ issues or frequently suffer from unexplained headaches then please do speak to us. Your dentist will be able to carryout the necessary test and propose a treatment to help relieve your symptoms.

We understand the importance of being able to provide affordable dental care, with the ever increasing cost of modern day living it’s easy to let your health slip. Your 6 monthly dental check up slips into 7 months, then 8 and before you know it it’s been a whole year since your last dentist visit and your mouth is feeling icky.

Smile Plan our practice membership plan offers a simple way to pay for your regular dental care for the same price as your monthly TV license direct debit. Smile plan membership provides you with a comprehensive programme of maintenance, your regular dental health checks are covered, as are x-rays and 2 hygiene appointments to provide a full mouth clean and maintain gum health.

You’ll save significantly if you need to have any dental treatments as our members can also take advantage of a 15% discount on a wide variety of treatments including dental crowns, dental onlays, dental veneers, tooth coloured fillings, extra hygiene appointments and much more.

So whats the BIG benefit of joining the membership plan?

Patients that attend regularly tend not to need as much dental treatment. During your dental health check the dentist will advise you on any areas that they would like you to pay closer attention to as to avoid treatment. Being proactive when it comes to your dental health is important, if keeping your teeth is important!

There’s so many extras included!

The main benefits you will receive will be-

Six monthly dental health checks
X-rays
Six monthly hygiene appointments
15% discounts on most treatments including treatments for cosmetic reasons

The bonus benefits-

Worldwide dental trauma insurance
Emergency callout insurance, should you need a dentist in an emergency anywhere in the world
Redundancy protection for 12 months

And it’s all at the great price of just £12.99 a month

This membership is open to all existing patients that may want to budget for their dental care and take advantage of all of the benefits of smile plan.

It’s also open to new patients following a new patient consultation, if you require some dental treatment then you can take advantage of the 15% discount straight away!

How do I pay my membership?

Most patients choose to set up a direct debit that way they don’t have to worry about renewing and at £12.99 a month it’s a nominal amount for receiving first class private dental care. Though we do tailor payment methods to your individual needs so feel free to discuss your preference with a member of our team.

Signing up is easy we just need your bank details and a signature.

Sounds great? Click here to email the team and take care of your dental health for just £12.99 a month