Bruxism is an oral health condition in which a person unconsciously grinds, clenches, and gnashes their teeth together. Typically, this happens while a person is asleep, which is known as sleep bruxism. If you have a roommate or sleep partner, speak with them to determine if they have ever heard you loudly grinding your teeth while you sleep.

Be alert for any signs and symptoms that exist to determine if bruxism is occurring. Upon waking up, check to see if you are feeling any degree of tooth sensitivity or facial pain. If you are experiencing bruxism, your jaw may not easily fully open and close your mouth. Furthermore, physical damage in the form of indentations on your tongue, and tissue damage to the inner linings of your cheeks can be caused by bruxism.

If you are looking to restore your smile with bruxism treatments, contact Dr. Bob Johnson and our team at Horizon Dental Care. Contact us by calling 970-245-3633 to set up a reservation to see us at our office in Grand Junction, Colorado.

The post Maintain Optimum Oral Health with Bruxism Treatments first appeared on Horizon Laser Dental Care.

Ultimately, your dentist will be able to make a recommendation about which tooth restoration procedure is the best for you. While they are very popular, and most people will do fine with them, not everyone is a suitable candidate for dental implants. Here are some things that you should consider before asking your dentist about implants.

A person considering dental implants should have healthy gums. It’s also very important that they have enough bone in their jaw to support the implants. It is possible to have your jaw bone built up through grafting, but your dentist may suggest you try another type of tooth restoration.
If your jaws have not stopped growing, it may be too soon for an implant. If you are pregnant, or if you have diabetes that you are not controlling with medication, or have had a great deal of radiation treatment in your neck and or head, implants may not be a good choice for you. If you have an immune system issue, or you are taking immunosuppressants, your dentist may suggest another treatment.

Perhaps one of the most important factors in deciding if dental implants are right for you is an assessment of your oral hygiene habits. If you do receive implants, you need to be committed to taking care of your teeth and gums. Neglecting your teeth will not help your implants, or you. If you abuse alcohol or drugs; or if you use tobacco and cannot commit to quitting, implants may not be a good choice.

As noted above, you need to have a serious and honest conversation with your dentist about implants. Although implants have many advantages, there are other tooth-replacements that might serve you better. If you are interested in dental implants, have a problem with your teeth, or it is just time for a cleaning and exam, then feel free to make an appointment to see our dentist, Dr. Bob Johnson at Horizon Dental Care in Grand Junction, Colorado, at 970-245-3633. We look forward to hearing from you.

The post Are You a Good Candidate for Dental Implants? first appeared on Horizon Laser Dental Care.

— If you have a missing or lost tooth, dental bridges can help diminish the chances of drifting or tooth movements caused by neighboring teeth freely moving due to the extra space around the gums.

— Dental bridges can upgrade your eating and speaking habits more so than with missing teeth or in many cases, even removable dentures.

— Dental bridges can help relieve and prevent misalignments and malocclusions of your jaw and bite line that could arise due to missing teeth.

— The look of a smile with missing teeth may appear to be sunken in and aged, but it can be reversed with dental bridges.

— With suitable care and the avoidance of any oral accidents, dental bridges can last anywhere from ten years to an entire lifetime.

If you would like to learn more about dental bridges or want to schedule an appointment with Dr. Bob Johnson and the rest of our team at Horizon Dental Care, please call us at 970-245-3633 today. Our dentist office is located in Grand Junction, Colorado. It’s never too late to start taking steps to a healthier you!

The post Tooth Replacement Services 101: Dental Bridges first appeared on Horizon Laser Dental Care.

Because bruxism could be damaging your teeth while you sleep, let’s take a look at some symptoms to look out for:

– You have noticeable markings and indentations on your tongue and inner cheek tissue.

– You experience pain in your head in zones beyond your jaw, including your face and ears.

– You have a temporomandibular disorder that has weakened the joints in your jaw.

– You experience difficulty or have pain when fully opening and closing your mouth

– You have teeth that are worn down or are delicate to the touch.

– You may suffer from bruxism if your jaw has been known to lock up or get stuck in place.

Dr. Mike Martin can provide custom night guards to help treat bruxism (grinding and clenching of teeth) or TMJ problems. For more information or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Bob Johnson, please call us at 970-245-3633 to speak with a member of our team at Horizon Dental Care. Our dentist office is conveniently located in Grand Junction, Colorado. We look forward to helping you find the relief you need!

The post Bruxism Could Be Damaging Your Teeth While You Sleep first appeared on Horizon Laser Dental Care.