Posture and TMJ Related by Celina, TX Dentist

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PostureTemporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) usually involves pain in the muscles and joints of your jaw every time your mouth opens and closes. The temporomandibular joint is the hinge that connects the temporal bone of your skull to the mandible (lower jaw). These joints allow movement by being flexible. When you chew, talk, or yawn, your temporomandibular joints are at work. If you suffer from TMD, many parts of daily life can be greatly affected by the discomfort you feel. Your Celina, TX dentist, Dr. Newton, will explain how standing up straight might actually help you lessen your TMD symptoms.

Jaw Pain and Posture

The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) suggests that if you are experiencing frequent headaches and lower jaw pain, you should take a look at your posture. Poor posture puts your spine in a position that can cause potential stress to the jaw joint. When you slouch, the lower jaw will shift forward in accommodation of that posture. This creates a misalignment of the upper and lower teeth, and backwards movement of the skull on the spinal column. The inflammation from temporomandibular joint disorder is then aggravated.

Stand Up Straight

AGD spokesperson Ludwig Leibsohn, DDS points out that many people don’t realize how much proper posture can affect their oral health. Patients with facial pain often have unbalanced posture that rearranged facial muscle positioning, according to Dr. Leibsohn. This can lead to grooves and bumps developing on the teeth, and causing misalignment in the bite. Oral appliances from your dentist can help realign the teeth and prevent further damage. However, standing up straight is a great preventive measure to avoid needing any TMD treatment in the first place.

Celina, TX Dentist Offers TMJ Relief

If you’re looking for a dentist that can help you with TMJ issues, visit your Celina, TX dentist. To schedule an appointment, call our 75009 dental office. Also, visit the website to view services, print patient forms, or see our smile gallery. We proudly serve new and existing patients in Prosper, Frisco, McKinney, Gunter, Pilot Point, Anna, and the surrounding areas.

Sedation Dentistry: A Part of History

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History BooksSedation dentistry shines as one of the greatest innovations in recent years. The option to undergo dental work while sleeping comfortably makes all the difference for some patients. Multiple procedures can be done at one appointment, which saves time and reduces anxiety. Comfort in dentistry isn’t exactly a new concept, however. Celina dentist, Dr. Newton, provides a brief history of sedation in dentistry.

Why is Sedation Dentistry Important?

Close to 75% of adults in the United States admit to having some degree of dental fear. For a smaller, but still significant percentage, the fear runs deep enough to qualify as a phobia. When someone has a dental phobia, their anxiety is so severe that they will go to great lengths to avoid going to the dentist. Unfortunately, much of what causes the need for dental work involves infection. When issues like gum disease or tooth decay are allowed to spread, the treatment and reparations required become much more involved. This can lead to a vicious cycle where the anxious patient has even more reason to avoid the dentist. The amount of work necessary seems insurmountable.

Ether as an Early Anesthetic

The idea of sleeping through a visit to the dentist may seem completely new, but nitrous oxide has been used to relieve discomfort since the 1840s. Dr. William Morton, a dentist in Massachusetts, wanted to take sedation further, however. He experimented with ether to help avoid dental discomfort, and in 1846, the first tooth extraction under complete sedation was performed. (more…)

Back-to-School Dental Tips from Celina Children’s Dentist

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Children At SchoolIt’s that time of year again. If kids in your neighborhood are not back to school quite yet, they’re probably getting pretty close. This is a good time to remind parents that poor oral health in children can relate to poor academic performance. To help you make sure that your child’s teeth aren’t affecting their grades, your Celina children’s dentist, Dr. Newton, will remind you of the steps you and your child should be taking for their dental well-being.

Brushing and Flossing

Your schedule is bound to get more hectic when the lazy days of summer are over. Trying to get yourself ready for work and your child ready for school at the same time can sometimes send you running out the door neglecting some of the family’s basic self-care needs. If you’ve ever heard your child say “I forgot to brush my teeth” as the bus is about to pull away, you’re not alone. Consider making a checklist of morning tasks so you and your child can stay on track and make sure nothing is forgotten. A solid two minutes is recommended for each brushing, and don’t forget to floss. (more…)

Celina Dentist Partners with Patients for Early Oral Cancer Diagnoses

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SmilingGroupEarly detection of any malignancies is an imperative part of complete recovery.  Oral cancer has a 50 to 80 percent survival rate if you are diagnosed when it’s just beginning. Your dentist will check your mouth for suspicious spots, ulcers, or lesions at your six month checkups. Celina dentist, Dr. Newton, explains the importance of oral cancer screenings and what they entail.

Identifying Oral Cancer Signs

You are bound to have bumps, canker sores, cuts, and unusual spots in your mouth at various times throughout your life. Don’t panic that every suspicious spot means cancer. Usually, the sore will be benign. Still, mouth lesions are one common way for your dentist to identify early cancer. If a bump persists, is particularly sore, seems to heal but then comes back, or looks unusual compared to anything you’ve ever experienced, you should call your Celina dentist and describe your symptoms. Dr. Newton will take a conservative approach in deciding when you should come in to see her.

Examination with a VELscope Tool

Bi-annual checkups are the time for your dentist to take stock of the health of your mouth. Dr. Newton will do a visual examination every time, but there are also helpful instruments to detect oral and pharyngeal cancer early. A VELscope tool scans your mouth with a blue-spectrum light. This will turn soft tissues visually fluorescent. The patterns that appear under the light will tell the story of whether or not you have any abnormal mouth tissues. VELscopes are safe, fast, and comfortable. The entire VELscope examination will be over in two minutes.

Oral Cancer Concerns? Contact Your Celina Dentist

If you are due for a bi-annual checkup, or have questions about our restorative, cosmetic, and preventive dentistry services, contact your Celina dentist at our 75009 dentist office by calling (214) 851-0130. Located in the 75009 area, we serve patients of all ages from Celina, Prosper, McKinney, Frisco, Anna, Pilot Point, and the surrounding areas.

Celina Dentist Challenges You to Dental Quiz

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TrueFalseBlackboxThroughout history, there has been a lot of trial and error in dentistry. Did you know that toothpaste has only been around for about one century? Before that, a variety of surprising substances such as chalk, charcoal, lemon juice, and even tobacco mixed with honey, were used as oral hygiene products.  Your Celina dentist, Dr. Newton would like to challenge you to a true-or-false quiz on some intriguing dental facts that will make you a big hit at the next party you attend. (more…)

Cosmetic Dentist in Celina Offers Variety of Procedures to Improve Smiles

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Smiling Young Man GlassesSummertime is a great time to sport a bright and confident smile. What goes better with a bikini and an influx of sunshine and cool blue water than a gorgeous grin. There are many reasons why someone might be unhappy with the way their teeth appear. There are an equal number of solutions that can be achieved with the help of your Celina cosmetic dentist, Dr. Newton.

Give the Sun a Run for Its Money

Stained teeth happen to literally everyone. If you live enough years, you will see marked dulling and yellowing of your teeth. It’s part of the aging process. Thankfully, cosmetic dentistry has discovered that whitening can be attained at a reasonable rate, thereby shaving years off of your appearance. Your Celina cosmetic dentist offers LumiBrite in-office teeth whitening which provides fast and comfortable results. Sensitivity can be a concern for patients who opt for whitening treatments. LumiBrite answers this issue with a desensitizer. Results can be as many as ten shades in as little as an hour. Summer fun, here you come. (more…)

A Word to the “Wise”: Avoid Cavities in your Wisdom Teeth

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Beaming ManCavities are one of the most common diagnoses that people hear when they go in for a dental checkup. You have many shapes, sizes, and positions of teeth that can be attacked. This includes your wisdom teeth. Dr. Newton, your Celina dentist, takes pride in providing patients with education to help them preserve their dental health. Enjoy today’s blog to learn more about cavities and wisdom teeth.

Weak Enamel Makes Cavities More Likely

Your tooth enamel is comprised primarily of calcium and phosphate as well as other minerals. Enamel is a complex and extremely strong compound. In fact, it’s the second strongest element on the entire planet. Your nutritional efforts and dental health routine can help to ensure healthy levels of calcium and other nutrients that keep your tooth enamel strong enough to combat cavities. Since your mouth is the home of hundreds of strains of bacteria (some good; some bad) you need all the help you can get to stop germs from infecting and rotting away at your teeth.

Wisdom for the Dental Ages

The average human mouth is inhabited by 32 teeth. This includes your wisdom teeth, though a number of people have issues with those back four molars and end up having minor oral surgery in order (more…)

Celina, TX Dentist Offers Suggestions for Handling a Dental Emergency

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An emergency of any kind is unexpected and tends to cause people to panic—especially when it comes to a dental emergency. Trauma to the mouth isn’t an anticipated injury; however, by following the proper steps, your smile can make a full recovery. To help her patients handle a dental emergency effectively, your Celina, TX emergency dentist, Dr. Newton, gives her patients advice.

Take These Steps When Faced with a Dental Emergency

  • Cavity relief. If you’re feeling some discomfort from a cavity, try icing the area on and off. You can also use clove oil since it’s a natural pain reliever. Furthermore, gently floss the affected area to remove any lingering particles or irritants; afterward, use warm salt water rinses to reduce swelling. Continue these steps until you see the dentist.
  • Broken tooth. Warm salt water rinses can also aid this ailment. If you’re bleeding, apply light pressure to the affected gums—not the tooth. Additionally, take any tooth fragments and place them in milk; bring the pieces to the dental appointment.
  • Bitten tongue. For severely bitten lips and tongues, apply a cold compress and gentle pressure to stop the bleeding. Take care to see the dentist immediately, if you can. However, if you can’t see the dentist soon enough, go to the emergency room to get your mouth examined.
  • Crown or bridge fell out. Should a dental crown or bridge fall out, use a bit of denture adhesive to hold it in place. Keep in mind, this is only a temporary fix and a visit to your Celina, TX emergency dentist is in order. Moreover, don’t chew on the dislodged crown or bridge.

Celina Family Dentistry Offers Great Dental Care

If you’re looking for a dentist that’s committed to round-the-clock dental care, visit Dr. Newton. Regardless of the hour, she will mend your ailment and restore your oral function. To schedule an appointment, call our Celina, TX emergency dentist. Also, visit the website to view services, print patient forms, or see our smile gallery. We proudly serve new and existing patients in Prosper, Frisco, McKinney, Gunter, Pilot Point, Anna, and the surrounding areas.

Partial Dentures from Your Celina Dentist

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Older Couple BeachDon’t think that your options for teeth replacement are limited to all or nothing. You don’t have to be missing all of your teeth to qualify for dentures. You don’t have to opt for dental implants as the only means to replace a small number of missing teeth. There is something called a partial denture, or dental bridge that can cover up the space from one or several missing teeth on any given arch. Your Celina dentist, Dr. Newton, will talk more about this form of restorative dentistry.

Hidden Downfalls of Missing Teeth

Unlike cosmetic issues or cavities and decay on back teeth, missing an entire tooth affects both the look and function of your mouth. Don’t think that ignoring a missing tooth that is in the back (and (more…)

Celina, TX Dentist Offers Tips for Keeping Your Natural Teeth

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Older Couple Brushing TeethIf you have already lost teeth, you probably know that there are many options available to replace them. This is good news. Depending on the number and positioning of your tooth loss, you may opt for dental implants, partial implants, partial dentures, or full dentures. However, if you still have all of your teeth and they’re in relatively good condition, there are things you can do to ensure that you keep them well into old age. Your Celina, TX dentist, Dr. Newton, would like to offer you some tips on how to care for your natural smile for many years to come.

Tip #1: Floss Before You Brush

Many people get this backwards, but if you floss prior to brushing your teeth, you’ll be able to brush away the debris that you remove from between them. If you order the operations the way most people are used to, bacteria and food particles can end up sitting on your teeth for hours.

Tip #2: Brush With a Soft Toothbrush Twice-a-day

There’s no shame in wearing dentures, but once you have them, you may find yourself wishing that you’d just done a better job with (more…)