Dental News & Blog

Teeth Grinding Getting You Down?

You go to bed worried about your job security, as your company has stopped growing.  Talk has begun regarding cutbacks and layoffs. You are concerned regarding house payments..  Upcoming budget strain of a child returning to school during Covid-19. You may have anxiety over the state of your investments.  Whether the decision to buy that stock will come back to bite you, may be clouding your mind.  Grinding, bruxism and mouthguards may be in your future.  Apprehension regarding the weakening economy dictates your bedtime mood and with a mind teeming with uneasiness, you fall asleep. The next morning brings even more discomfort as you wake with a splitting headache and a sore jaw. While brushing your teeth you notice that some of them feel sensitive, so despondently you head off to work feeling like your body is falling apart along with the economy. Perhaps it’s time to schedule an appointment with dentist, William H. Miller, D.M.D.

The Symptoms of Bruxism

There are many contributing factors to the shaky economy.  Solutions may be convoluted and varied.  The good news is that the headache, sore jaw, and loose teeth may all be due to a single cause.  Bruxism, more commonly known as “teeth grinding.” Bruxism is when a person clenches their teeth together tightly, or grinds them back and forth against each other.  This typically occurs in one’s sleep, unconsciously.

Adults who do not see a dentist for regular cleanings may be unaware that they are in danger of losing their teeth. Gum disease may be the culprit.

The practice and business of dentistry along with insurance has changed in the past several years. Choosing a dentist is a very important decision. A person has only one set of adult teeth and these teeth need to last a lifetime.  With proper care and attention, most healthy adults should be able to keep their teeth for a lifetime!

Brushing and flossing are very important to a healthy smile, Regular dental check-ups are also necessary.  One can’t visualize their teeth and determine if there are problems and therefore a dentist is needed to evaluate one’s teeth and gums.

There are many factors in choosing a dentist.  Many select a dentist based on “non-dental” considerations.  Some of these may be location, ease of parking, hours of operation etc.  Some select on “word of mouth” recommendations by friends, fellow workers and family members.  Today, many people select and choose a dentist based on insurance.  Those in the United States that have dental insurance have opportunity to have a portion of their out-of-pocket expense lowered by payment by a third party, dental insurance.

Dental insurance has changed significantly during the past several years. The majority of dental insurance companies today have Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO’S).  These organizations or plans are the primary framework for benefits for those that have dental insurance.  Patients always have a choice when choosing their dentist but it is very highly recommended by the insurance companies that patients choose dentists that are contracted, “signed-up” providers with the dental insurance companies.

If a patient chooses a contracted dentist his out-of-pocket expense is less than choosing a non-contracted dental provider.  But it also a great financial benefit to the insurance company as it pays much less to one of it’s contacted providers than to a regular, non-contracted dentist.  One can easily see why the insurance would want a patient to go to a “contracted/insurance dentist” as it pays much less to one of “their providers” than a “non-contracted dentist” that has no legal/contractual affiliation with the insurance company.   Some estimates are that insurance companies may pay anywhere from 20-60% less to contracted dentists and therefore have much higher profits and make as much as 60% more by patients going to their selected contracted providers.

Dentists are solicited by insurance companies to “sign-up” to become providers with the insurance company.  Insurance companies will lead dentists to believe that they will gain new patients by being a preferred provider.  But that comes at a cost to the dentist.  When a dentist signs the, many times, multi-page contract with the insurance company he agrees legally and contractually to a schedule of fees that may be 20-70% less than their normal fees for services.  Therefore, a dentist provides services that are discounted to the patient and insurance company of many times half price or more.

Some thoughts to consider when selecting a dentist based on Dental Insurance….

* Would you select a dentist that has a contract with your dental insurance company for fees charged?

*  Do you feel comfortable with a dentist that has a legal/contractual relationship with the insurance for dental services?

* Keep in mind that your coverage and choices may be limited due to contract(s) between a dentist and the insurance company on your behalf.

* In-network, contracted dentists have, by contract, many guidelines set forth by the insurance companies that may affect your dental care.

* Out-of-network, non-contracted dentists have no direct limitations set forth by an insurance company that would affect your treatment or choice.

* Out-of-network dentists have no contractual relationship with insurance companies and are not directly limited and dictated by an insurance company.

We hope that this information has been helpful to you as you look at dental insurance as criteria in selecting your dentist for you and your family. Dallas Texas dentist, Dr. William Miller is an experienced general dentist that has been providing his very best in personal,  quality focused dental care for over 30 years.  He works with one patient at a time so that he and staff may devote 100% of their time to YOU during your scheduled visit.  Dr. Miller practices dentistry as an Out-of-Network provider for all insurance companies.

Dental implants, bridges and dentures might become obsolete in time. Recent research has gotten us closer to discovering how to grow our own teeth!

While teeth implants, bridges and dentures are useful, they might not be the only options available for tooth replacement in the future. Researchers in Finland have found a way to pinpoint stem cells that are essential to growing teeth. Don’t get too excited yet – the stem cells they are working with belong to the incisors, or front teeth, of mice and therefore still far removed from actually growing a human tooth. However, this is still an exciting and useful discovery since mice incisors grow continuously throughout their life, and studying this process is likely to lead to information that can be used to grow human teeth. Another important application for this study is growing new dental enamel, especially since enamel wears down over time and is irreplaceable. All speculation aside, here are the options for teeth replacement:

North Dallas Dental crowns are used in dentistry for many different application or uses.  This article will discuss purposes and potential uses of dental crowns with patients.  As a dentist in Dallas, TX, I see patients that would benefit from having a crown on a particular tooth.  

At times a patient may have a tooth that has broken or fractured whereby there is not enough tooth structure remaining to place a filling.  If there is insufficient tooth structure for a filling to stay “anchored” to a tooth, a dental crown is an excellent option.

Another common use of a North Dallas dental crown is after a root canal procedure on a tooth. After a root canal procedure, a tooth may become “brittle” or is in need of re-building due to decay or other problems with the tooth.  By placing a dental crown on a root canal tooth, the tooth is reinforced and strengthen by having a protective covering over the tooth.  Therefore, when biting or chewing, the tooth is covered and protected by the crown.  The underlying tooth is protected and less prone to fracture or breakage. (Keep in mind that if your tooth already has a dental crown prior to the root canal, it may not need a new crown.  If the existing dental crown is adequate and free from decay or problems, a filling may be placed over the hole that was created to do the root canal.)

Most all posterior or back teeth are covered with crowns after root canals to protect them from breakage.  Anterior or front teeth may or may not at times require crowns.  Front teeth may need crowns to not only strengthen them but to make esthetic improvements to the patients smile.

Dental crowns are also used to strengthen unbroken and “whole” teeth that may have very large fillings already present within the tooth.  Teeth that have existing large silver fillings or composite/”tooth-colored” fillings have a high probability of breakage which may necessitate the need for an extraction of the tooth.  Although a tooth may have a large filling, the remaining natural tooth structure or enamel may be weak which will make a tooth more prone to fracture or breakage.  Remember, a tooth when it breaks may fracture into the root of the tooth which may make the tooth hopeless to repair or place a crown. Therefore, that tooth would need an extraction.  All attempts are typically made to restore and repair a tooth but at times the tooth is “non-fixable” and an extraction would be needed.

Old dental crowns may need to be replaced if there are problems with the existing or older crown.  If there is decay around the neck or margin of the crown, a new crown may be needed.  If the older crown is broken or if a hole has been worn through the metal of the crown, a new crown may be needed.

In summary, several different purposes of dental crowns have been described.  There are many different reasons that a crown may be need or a new crown place on a tooth.  Only a dentist can diagnose and determine if a new crown is needed.  A clinical examination if necessary with an x-ray of the tooth to determine the best course of treatment.

Dr. William H. Miller, a dentist in Dallas TX, is able to help determine whether or not your tooth would need a crown.

Whitening has become very popular past few decades. Many men and women alike have tried this in some form or another. There are many methods. Over-the-counter products include whitening toothpastes, mouthwashes, and home whitening strips. However, a safe and successful way to get whiter smile is to have it monitored and completed by a dental professional.