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New Orleans Dental Center Newsletter
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MORE THAN JUST A SMILE MAKEOVER
We are writing this special-edition newsletter to let you know of some exciting advances in treating patients with serious dental needs. In this issue, we will discuss several topics that concern patients who have:
We will also discuss migraine headaches and how your “bite” can contribute to them. There have been some exciting advances in treating debilitated oral conditions. Today, in addition to “fixing the teeth,” dental treatment can have a significant impact on the entire face, often giving adult patients a younger appearance. It can also give relief to headache sufferers.
As people age, the distance between the nose and chin can shorten, due to changes in the teeth and jaws. It can appear that the nose and chin get bigger as they get closer together, and the smile can appear less prominent than in younger years. It’s an “old” look that can be dramatically changed when we restore a patient’s “bite.” Advances in neuromuscular dentistry have enabled us to slightly increase the distance between a patient’s chin and nose when restoring the teeth. This makes a big impact on the overall look of the face, resulting in a much younger look. It can also reduce or eliminate the incidence of “migraine-type” headaches that had the bite position as a contributing factor. Some experts assert that over 80% of migraine headaches are TMJ-related. That is, the Temporo-Mandibular Joint is held too far back in its socket due to the position, and sometimes excessive wear, of the teeth. This pinches the blood vessels and nerves that travel from the neck upward, behind the TMJs and in front of the ears, to the head. As the blood vessels and nerves are pinched in this area, pain in the form of headaches is often the result. Restoring the teeth into a new position allows for repositioning the joint into a more healthy, functional and comfortable position. Plus, there’s the usual benefit of giving a more youthful appearance. We have had incredible success treating patients with this philosophy.
We invite you to read more about TMJ issues on the Patient Center portion of our website. We would love to see you in our office for a complimentary visit, to discuss your needs. Just call us at 504-347-6000. We’re confident that you will enjoy meeting us and our staff. If you are a current patient, we’d love to see you again.
If we determine that you are a candidate for our “full mouth rehabilitation” treatment, we can schedule for complete records for our study. CT scan technology lets us create very accurate cephalometric X-rays, which allow us to study how your facial bones grew, see a very accurate view of your TMJs, and get a 3-dimensional view of your jaws to evaluate you for dental implant placement, if needed. We also take photographs, make study models of your teeth and perform a thorough clinical exam of your head and neck area. We also take traditional dental x-rays to examine the health of your teeth and gums. These records are studied, and you will return for a consultation with us to discuss the treatment options. Our patients are always impressed with the thoroughness of our diagnostic records that assure we will be making good decisions in planning your treatment.
Sincerely,
Dwight D. Landry, D.D.S.
Give us a call today at 504-347-6000, and let us help you get the smile you’ve always wanted!
Past New Orleans Dental Center Newsletters
  
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