Tag Archives: TMJ disorder

Will Invisalign Stop My Headaches

I have been dealing with headaches for years. At times, they can be rather intense and make it difficult to function. I had one the other day while at lunch with a friend of mine. She told me that she used to have headaches all the time until she had her teeth straightened with Invisalign. She didn’t get them for that reason. She just wanted to straighten her teeth, but noticed that her headaches stopped when the treatment was done. Is it possible that if I get Invisalign that it could solve my headache problem?

Marina

Dear Marina,

Invisalign aligner

If your headaches are due to the misalignment of your teeth then, yes, getting your teeth into alignment could get rid of your headaches. Invisalign is a great way to do that.

When your bite is out of alignment it can cause headaches, jaw pain, and even lead to TMJ disorder if it doesn’t get repaired.

However, headaches can also be from medical conditions, so I would see your doctor even if your teeth are in need of realignment. They should run some tests just to eliminate some important possibilities.

If you do decide the problem is your bite, then you’ll find Invisalign to be a much better option than traditional metal braces. They areĀ  much more comfortable, invisible even at a conversational distance, and can straighten your teeth in half the time.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

 

Does Botox Really Treat Migraines?

I want to get your opinion on something. My wife told me that her dentist suggested Botox to help with her migraines. Is that a legitimate thing? I get the feeling, he’s just finding a way to get patients to try his new money maker. My wife tends to believe anything that anyone with a medical degree tells her. I just want to make sure she’s not being taken for a ride.

Dan

Dear Dan,

Botox Advertisement

Believe it or not, Botox does help with migraines by relaxing the muscles that cause tension. In fact, Botox is not only used to help with the migraines, but it is becoming a way to help patients with TMJ Disorder as well, which we’ll get into more in a moment.

In this case, I think the dentist is just giving your wife some options to help with her headaches. Migraines can be debilitating so getting some relief will make life easier for the both of you.

The only thing I would be careful about is that the dentist has the training to do this. I doubt he’d be offering it if he didn’t, but you want to make sure.

Botox and TMJ Disorder

One thing I would look into in order to make certain she is getting the help she needs and not just having the symptoms masked is the root cause of her migraines. Many patients do not realize that migraines are a symptom of TMJ disorder. I would like to see her evaluated by a dentist with training in that area before she starts masking symptoms.

If that is the reason she is having migraines, it is better to treat the TMJ. Otherwise, her condition will progress and the treatment could end up more invasive than if you catch it early and head it off.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentist Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Smile direct Club Safety

I’ve been wanting to straighten my teeth for years, but wasn’t able to invest the amount of money into it required. I’d run across Smile Direct Club on Facebook. They are significantly cheaper than Invisalign.I did wonder in the back of my mind whether they were too good to be true. Is it okay to use this? I was especially interested because we can’t go in to see a dentist at the moment for routine care because of COVID-19. This seems like a quick, easy way to get my teeth straightened while still social distancing.

Mercy

Dear Mercy,

Invisalign aligner
Invisalign aligner

Smile Direct Club advertises as a more affordable way to invisibly straightening people’s teeth by comparing themselves to Invisalign. While there are some similarities, the differences are the most striking. First, how they’re similar:

  • They use clear aligners
  • You switch your aligners out as your treatment progresses.

That’s about it.

The Shortcomings of Smile Direct Club

It’s the ways in which Invisalign is different that create my biggest concerns.

The Pre-Exam

With orthodontics under the care of a dentist, you get a thorough pre-exam. This is important. You need a dentist to look for things like decay, failing fillings, gum disease, and signs of TMJ Disorder. Ignoring these can have serious consequences. For instance, if you do orthotdontics with untreated gum diease, you could end up with you teeth coming loose.

With Smile Direct, there is no real exam, putting you and your teeth at risk.

The Impression

An accurate impression of your bite is essential for a proper treatment plan. It’s so imperative it’s done right that many dentists won’t even let their hygienists do it.

What you’ll get with Smile Direct is a do it yourself kit. If that impression isn’t free of imperfections, it will throw off your treatment.

The Treatment

Though many cases go as planned, not all of them do. Sometimes teeth don’t turn the way they should or you need more space opened up than originally planned. In that case, a dentist will need to carefully shave some of the sides to your teeth.

I honestly think you are safer waiting for COVID-19 to calm down. This will be the safest way to straighten your teeth.

An Added Benefit with Invisalign

In addition to being able to safely straighten your teeth, the Invisalign aligners can double as teeth whitening trays enabling you to straighten and whiten your teeth simultaneously. It’s like getting a mini smile makeover.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentist Dr. Mike Malone.

Am I Too Old For Invisalign?

I’d like to get my teeth straightened. I’d always wanted to but my husband kept insisting he liked me the way I was. I appreciated the sentiment, but they still bothered me. He passed a couple of years ago. I’ve decided I’m going to do it now. Otherwise I’ll always regret not following a dream. I’ve always heard adults prefer Invisalign. If I’m over 60, am I too old?

Eva – Montana

Eva,

You’re definitely not too old for orthodontics, including Invisalign. You’re right that most adults prefer Invisalign. It’s more comfortable than traditional braces. You don’t have to worry about your oral hygiene. With braces, brushing and flossing is quite the challenge. With Invisalign, you simply remove the aligners then brush and floss as normal.

It’s great that you’re not letting your dreams pass you by. While your husband’s sentiment is sweet and romantic, you may find with a corrected bite you feel better. Sometimes our bite can throw off our hinge joint enough to cause TMJ. It can cause everything from jaw pain and migraines to complete lock jaw.

We’ve also had seniors live out their dreams of a total smile makeover. You’re never too old to do anything!

Make sure you have a dentist you’re comfortable with because you’ll need to change out your aligners every couple of weeks, though most dentists don’t make you check in that often. The point is, you’ll be seeing the dentist a little more than usual.

You won’t have to see an orthodontist, though. Many general dentists are Invisalign certified and will do a fantastic job.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Mike Malone.