Facial pain, back pain, locking of the jaw and an aching pain in and around your ears. These are just some of the most common symptoms of TMD or Temporomandibular Joint Disorder. In essence, TMD is when the joint that connects your skull to the rest of your face and the muscles surrounding it become damaged. It has many causes which you may read here.

Do you think you suffer from this disorder? Here are five exercises you can do at home to help you confirm your suspicion.

1. The Pinky Test. Place your pinkies inside your ears with the rest of your hands positioned in front of your face, then slowly open your mouth to its full capacity. Afterwards, close your mouth slowly as if you’re biting something. Do you feel pressure pushing your fingers away from your ears? Do you feel any pain or discomfort while performing this test? Did you hear any cracking sound in your jaw area? If your answer to ANY of the questions above is yes, chances are the parts of your jaw that’s supposed to be connected to your temporal bones are positioned backwards, making you susceptible to TMD.

2. The Jaw Reflection. Stand in front of a mirror and start opening and closing your mouth. Open it as wide as you can. Close it as if you’re biting something. Do this several times and try to observe if your jaw tends to move to one side of your face, especially as you open your mouth. If this happens—especially if it’s accompanies by pain or muscular discomfort—chances are there has been some damage to your temporomandibular joint, which means you may already have TMD.

3. The Three Finger Rule. Try opening your mouth to its full capacity. Can you fit your index, middle and ring fingers comfortably inside? If the answer is no, this means that your jaw is not properly positioned, which if left untreated, may lead to TMD.

4. Ringing Sound. Have you been suffering from ear pain or have been hearing a ringing sound that just won’t go away? Have you been to other specialists who told you that there is nothing wrong with your ears? Well, the problem could be coming from your jaw. This is actually a common TMD symptom.

5. Pain Cycle. If you experience pain in your jaw, neck, shoulders or back in the morning, which lessens by the middle of the day and starts to intensify again at night, especially during bedtime, there is a very big possibility that there are misalignments in your temporomandibular joint. Unknown to most, any damage in this area of the face can and will affect all other parts of the body, especially the ones mentioned above.

It is important to go to a dentist who specializes in TMD management the moment you suspect that you’re suffering from the disorder. Delaying treatment can lead to more serious problems which may cost you more in the future.

 

Here’s a fact—most people, probably you, included, hate dentists or have dental anxiety. And who can blame you? Your first memory of a dentist is probably when during your first tooth extraction when you were seven or eight. So much pain is associated with that memory. Then again, when you were 12, when your mom got you braces. Again, so much pain. Your memories of a dental clinic are probably so painful that you don’t want to step into one ever again.

The thing that you need to realize though is that dentists—as all other doctors—are here to help. Yes, your memories of them might be filled with pain, but when you think about it, after the initial pain, everything got better.

In all honesty, oral health care, due to its nature of dealing with areas of the body with lots of nerves that are so close to the brain, is one of those practices, where pain and discomfort are often included in the process of correcting a sickness or disorder. But this should never discourage anyone from going on regular dental check-ups, especially because early detection of any kind of disease allow you to save so much time, money and pain.

Here are some of the most important reasons why you should invest in making sure you see your dentist at least once every six months:

1. Finding underlying problems—It goes without saying that if there’s anyone who can detect any oral health problem you may have before anyone else, that will be your dentist. What you should know is that there are destructive diseases out there that show little to no symptoms and progress really quickly. Routine check-ups can help you identify these right away and put a stop to any problem you may have before it gets worse.
2. Keeping your teeth in pristine condition—Regardless if you’ve been diligently brushing and flossing, there will always be areas in your mouth that you won’t be able to reach—areas that only professional oral care practitioners like a dentist or dental hygienist will be able to effectively clean. The thing about plaque is, when it builds up, it turns into tartar, which results to cavities that cause tooth decay. In other words, you can prevent tooth decay and save money for fillers or dentures by getting regular professional dental cleaning.
3. Stopping bad habits—Chewing on your nails? Grinding your teeth? Brushing your teeth too hard? You can bet that your dentist can tell all these things just by looking at the state of your mouth. Most people usually think these bad habits don’t have any significant impact on your health, but they do. And sometimes you just need someone to let you realize that what you’re doing is bad for you.

What you need to realize is that going for regular visits to your dentist may not seem like the most budget-friendly and nicest way to spend your extra time, but it’s very much worth it, because as with any disease, prevention way better than any cure.

Oral care is a serious matter. And whether you like it or not, it’s something that you can’t keep in tiptop shape all by yourself. The thing about caring for the health of your mouth is, it’s something that you will want to have a regular doctor for. Why? Simply because your mouth is a very personal area.

It’s no uncommon knowledge that, unlike with most other parts of the body, you can tell a lot about a person based on their oral health. Do they have good hygiene practices? Are they big meat eaters? Are they heavy smokers? Regardless of who you are, you can bet that your mouth will always give telltale signs of your lifestyle. With that said, it’s very important that you find the right dentist who you can stick with for the long haul and can understand your needs on a personal level. But how exactly do you do that?

Here are five points that you can use as a guide to help yourself find the dentist that fits your needs.

1. Qualifications and specialization—Just like with any other fields, not all dentists have the same qualifications and specializations. Now, depending on your needs, you will want to find the dentist that offers the right kind of care. Are you suffering from TMD? Better find a dentist who has experience dealing with TMD and orofacial pain. Want to fix your crooked teeth? Then find an orthodontist (and always ask for proof that they are indeed orthodontists). The key to knowing if you and your dentist’s qualifications are a match is by first identifying what your needs are.
2. Knowledge on current dental innovations—Oral healthcare is a very dynamic field. Almost every year, new technologies and methods are discovered to make procedures more effective and less painful—both physically and in the pocket. Do your own research and test your dentist if he or she is abreast with the latest in oral health techniques. Regardless if your dentist is practicing them or not, knowing that he/she is always on the lookout for ways to improve his patients’ experience should give you peace of mind.
3. Peer recommendation—Do you know anyone who has been a patient of that dentist you’re eyeing? Better ask for their impression and judgment regarding his practice. Also, you may want to stick with dentists who are members of the Philippine Dental Association. This professional organization is known for being very strict especially as regards to the ethical practice of its members.
4. Accessibility—It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure this one out. You will want to go have a dentist who you can go to at your own convenience. Do you want to go to someone near your home or your office? Are his working hours compatible with your schedule?
5. Patient service—Choose a dentist who commits to taking care of you and will go above and beyond his duties to ensure that you get the best service you deserve. In addition, someone who is able to confidently and effectively explain the solution he offers for all your oral healthcare needs.

Keep in mind that choosing the right dentist for yourself may take time and may require several visits. Don’t rush into making this decision. However, when you feel like you’ve found the right one, make sure you stick with him or her.

Are you a potential victim of TMD?

Temporomandibular joint disorder or TMD may sound like the type of condition that is found in only one out of 10,000 people—you know, the kind you only see on the television or some viral post on social media—but honestly, it is not. In fact it is one of the most prevalent medical conditions all over the world today, and honestly, you may already have it.

“In essence, TMD happens when the temporomandibular joint, or the area that connects your skull to your jaw is damaged,” shares Dr. Edward Beduya, DMD., one of the very few TMD dentist-slash-orofacial pain practitioners in the country.“By itself, TMD is not really a serious problem. However when left unaddressed, it can cause other complications and develop to a point where it significantly impacts the life of the patient.”

Emphasizing the importance of early detection, Dr. Beduya explains, “As with any sort of ailment, the earlier that you identify its existence, the earlier you can get it treated, the better. It will save you a lot of time and money. However, the thing about TMD is its symptoms vary from one person to the next. So sometimes, the best way to tell if you’re potentially suffering from it is by recognizing the causes.”

“There are many ways by which a person may acquire this disorder. One of the most common causes is loss of teeth, especially the molars. Unknown to most, molars do more than just grind food, they also act as a support and help hold our jaw in place. Therefore, once you lose them, it follows that your jaw will start to slip out of its original position.”

“Then there are accidents of course. And by that, we mean accidents that cause significant trauma to the jaw area, causing it to move out of place. Poor posture, dental malpractice, and stress may also cause TMD, along with teeth grinding, gum chewing and arthritis—essentially, any activity or illness that may cause the connection between your jaw and skull to misalign.”

TMDis a very common disorder that may lead to serious complications. If you experience any of its symptoms, including facial, neck and/or back pain, locking of the jaws, numbness or fatigue in the jaw area, and misalignment of the jaw, you are encouraged to go seek the advice of a dentist that has experience dealing with TMJ.

[REPOST] Jaw Droppers, Dentistry’s Most Attractive Men

It’s not every day that you would find somebody, apart from the usual, that made you smile out of affection—it may be due to reasons of good personality or simply because the person is good looking. However, wouldn’t it be better if the same person who makes us smile does so for two reasons that are plain natural such as, the person being a dentist and one who is also good looking?

True to both ideas, we listed 10 of dentistry’s hottest that are worth the clinic visit as is the smile attributed with it:

10. Dhudz Berondo

A man who enjoys travelling, wine and a good, clean adventure, Dr. Dhudz seems to be a complete package. When not in his dental clinic, he is out having fun under the sun,  playing wakeboarding.

9. Rex Trista Villalobos

A dentist hailed from San Jose del Monte, Bulacan and currently resides at Quezon City, Rex Trista Villalobos is more than just his fancy dimples that come with his smiles, and he looks good even without it.

8. John Crespo

A graduate of St. Augustine’s Academy and now a founder of his own business clinic, John Crespo Dental Center, located at San Juan City, John Crespo may not be a dentist but a model at first look, but go to his clinic and I’m sure you would be impressed.

7. Arvin Soriano

Here is a graduate of Centro Escolar University who made the list. Due to undisclosed information, however, that is all that we were able to gather about Arvin for now. Nonetheless, he still deserves a spot in this list based on looks alone.

6. Erick Geneciran Puzo

Would it be surprising to find that this 6^th person that made this list is from Centro Escolar University yet again?

Currently, he is a practitioner at his home province of Laguna at Ionics Ems, Inc. and an Associate dentist at Great Smile Dental Clinic.

5. Edward Keith Beduya

A dentist of 13 years’ experience and yet another person who was a graduate of Centro Escolar University, Edward Keith Beduya is already a person considered to be an expert in his profession. Originally from Cebu, he moved to Metro Manila in order to practice his profession in Makati City.

4. Justin Talao

Yet another graduate of Centro Escolar University who made this list is Justin Talao of Angeles City, Pampanga who now resides in Manila. While a little bit shy of revealing much about himself, he is probably best known for his belief that being a dentist is the sum of three factors namely being a doctor, an engineer, and an artist, which basically hinted his line of work in dental aesthetics. Of course, like the others who made this list, Justin Talao is a piece to look at with or without his dentist’s gown.

3. Jan Emil Nava

Having been practicing his profession for 6 years since graduating as a full-fledged dentist from the University of the East in 2010 and followed by being an Endodontist a year later, Jan Emil Nava knew what he wanted in life and managed to achieve it with a huge smile on his face.

But given his looks as both an ordinary person and as a dentist, I bet you do too just looking at him.

2. Steve Mark Gan

Stunning good looks paired with an excellent profile in his career in dentistry, I am sure clients are not the only ones smiling when they see him—I bet his fellow colleagues do too.

A licensed Doctor of Dental Surgery with continuous learning endeavor following it, Steve Mark Gan exemplify what an excellent dentist is. Paired with good looks, he is worthy to be called an icon of inspiration for aspiring dentists in the industry.

Dr. Gan graduated doctor of dental medicine from University of the East  then University of Southern California for residency and training.

He is the proud founder of Gan Advanced Osseointegration Center (GAOC).

1. Caesar Joseph L. Muere

Part actor, part dentist. Who says a good-looking person cannot be an actor and a dentist at the same time? Well, Caesar Joseph L. Muere, also known as C.J. Muere, proves otherwise.

While many may not see him as active as his fellow StarStruck peers, C.J. Muere is actually still active in his career as an actor and model while also pursuing a career in dentistry at Canossa College San Pablo City or Lee-Muere Dental Clinic.

He is a proud graduate of Centro Escolar University.

Original article of The Medrix Post.