Dr. Quigless St. Louis Cosmetic Dentistry Blog

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2010-04-26T14:30:00.001-05:00

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Neck Pain and TMD

2010-04-01T17:02:00.002-05:00

Many people have TMD (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder) without realizing it, and if you suffer from chronic neck and/or shoulder pain, you could be one of them. It is not a well-known condition, nor is neuromuscular dentistry well-known. Dr. Quigless is a qualified neuromuscular dentist and can determine whether your neck pain is a symptom of TMD or not.

TMD is a misaligned bite. You may wonder why your bite would be causing neck or shoulder pain and not just jaw pain. In fact, TMD causes a great many symptoms which at first glance do not seem to have much relationship. How could headaches be related to chips in a tooth or tingling fingers?

Large Nerves With Many Branches
The common factor of the pain of TMD symptoms is the large, many-branched nerves that run from the brain to the face, head, jaw, neck, and shoulders. If your bite is misaligned, the jaw joints are part of the problem, as are misaligned teeth. Even the atlas (top bone in the spine) may be part of the problem and be out of alignment with the spinal bones.

The jaw muscles try to close your mouth correctly with the teeth meeting smoothly, but they cannot. The mechanics of your bite are incorrect and the muscles build up a lot of tension. The tension creates inflammation. The inflammation puts pressure on the nerves nearby and you feel pain.

Because these nerves have many branches, when one branch sends a pain message to the brain, another branch of the same nerve may also send one. Then you would feel pain in two places when the cause is only in one place. So you may feel neck or shoulder pain when the problem is in the jaw joint or a jaw muscle.

Dr. Quigless can diagnose your TMD using his extensive knowledge and specialized technology. If you would like to come for a free neuromuscular consultation with him, please contact us today. Our office serves St. Louis Missouri.

The Missouri Dental Board and the ADA do not recognize the treatment of TMJ(neuromuscular dentistry) or cosmetic dentistry as a specialty. Further, the ADA does not require any additional training of dentists who perform or advertise these procedures.

Diagnosing TMJ

2010-03-15T10:25:00.001-05:00

TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder – also called TMD) is an under-diagnosed condition worldwide. Most people who have it are completely unaware of what is causing their daily discomfort. TMJ has many symptoms that you cannot fail to notice, such as severe headaches, facial and neck pain, shoulder tension, poor posture, earaches, teeth grinding, and many others.

You would probably not have all the symptoms but you would have some of them in your own unique combination. Each case of TMJ is individual. If Dr. Quigless finds that you do indeed have TMJ, he will devise an individual treatment plan for you to reduce or eliminate pain permanently.

How is TMJ Diagnosed?
TMJ can only be accurately diagnosed by a neuromuscular dentist. It requires knowledge not taught in dental undergraduate schools and technology not owned by a typical general dentist. Dr. Quigless uses technology called the K7 Evaluation System.

The K7 System gathers comprehensive data about your jaw joints and how they move. It is a comfortable procedure and you will have a patient version of its findings, with graphs and understandable explanations as to your jaw joint sounds, jaw muscle movements, and jaw muscle electrical activity.

Dr. Quigless also uses a TENS unit (Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation). It has a number of electrodes the he will place on your head, neck and jaw areas to administer mild electrical stimulation to the muscles. After a half hour or so, the TENS unit will relax your jaw muscles, perhaps for the first time in years.

Immediate Pain Relief
With the jaw muscles relaxed, your jaw is in its correct position, whether or not the teeth are meeting comfortably. They may be misaligned and need some correction. The goal of your TMJ treatment will be to make your relaxed, correct jaw position permanent. That will permanently relieve you of TMJ pain, including headaches that you may have been suffering from for years.

If you would like to schedule a free neuromuscular dentistry consultation with Dr. Quigless, please call or email our office today. We serve the St. Louis, Missouri area and we look forward to meeting with you.

The Missouri Dental Board and the ADA do not recognize the treatment of TMJ(neuromuscular dentistry) or cosmetic dentistry as a specialty. Further, the ADA does not require any additional training of dentists who perform or advertise these procedures.

What is Neuromuscular Dentistry?

2010-02-26T14:16:00.002-06:00

As a neuromuscular dentist, Dr. Quigless has extensive extra training beyond what is offered by dental schools for general dentistry. He has trained at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI) and you can read more about his background and affiliations at Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Quigless.

As the name implies, neuromuscular dentistry looks at the nerves and muscles connected with teeth – that is, the jaw muscles and their related nerves. Where a general dentist looks at teeth and gums, a neuromuscular dentist looks at teeth, gums, jaw joints, jaw muscles, and the nerves and blood vessels associated with your bite.

A Well-Aligned Bite
Your occlusion - bite - is a three-point piece of mechanics (chin and two joints) that needs all its parts properly aligned for you to be pain-free. Each jaw joint should be moving smoothly with its cartilage pad in between the upper and lower bones. The jaw should open wide with no popping or other sounds and no discomfort.

When the teeth come together, there should be no bumping or wear and tear. Jaw muscles should be relaxed when the jaw is closed, just as the leg muscles are relaxed when you are seated.

When the Bite is Poorly Aligned
If one or both jaw joints are misaligned, they throw the bite out of alignment. Alternatively, if too many of the teeth are misaligned, they can gradually push the jaw joints out of alignment. The occlusion parts are not working together correctly and you will have uncomfortable or painful symptoms.

This is the condition called Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMD or TMJ). Neck pain is one of the many TMD symptoms, as are teeth grinding and headaches. If you have chronic headaches for which no doctor has definitively found a cause, it would be worth your while to visit Dr. Quigless for a TMD diagnosis. If he finds that you do not have TMD, you have at least ruled it out and can go on to other possibilities.

If Dr. Quigless finds that you do have TMD, he can plan a customized treatment for you. TMD is a dental condition and for pain relief, you need the care of a neuromuscular dentist.

To learn more about TMD and whether you have any of its symptoms, please contact our St. Louis, Missouri office for a free neuromuscular consultation.

The Missouri Dental Board and the ADA do not recognize the treatment of TMJ(neuromuscular dentistry) or cosmetic dentistry as a specialty. Further, the ADA does not require any additional training of dentists who perform or advertise these procedures.

Tinnitus from TMD

2010-01-11T11:42:00.000-06:00

The primary concern of neuromuscular dentists is the diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular disorder also known as TMD. One of the primary symptoms of TMD is called tinnitus, which is a ringing in the ear that has no physical cause. This ringing is often a result of the effects of TMD on the trigeminal nerve, the major nerve of the face. St. Louis tinnitus relief specialist Dr. Quigless is a qualified neuromuscular dentist who treats tinnitus from TMD.

Tinnitus Pervasiveness
Although most people experience this phenomenon at some time or another, approximately 10 to 15 percent of the population experience tinnitus that causes them to seek medial attention. In too many cases, medical doctors and others dismiss tinnitus as being all in your head.

Tinnitus and TMD
A neuromuscular dentist however, understands that tinnitus from TMD is treatable by treating the underlying causes of TMD. There can be many factors that cause TMD, some of them include:

Grinding your teeth
Misaligned jaw
Missing teeth
Physical trauma

Once TMD is diagnosed, there are many possible treatment paths that may be followed.

Dental appliances
TENs therapy
Orthodontia
Realignment of the jaw
Surgery

Neuromuscular Dentistry
Fortunately, a neuromuscular dentist is specially trained to treat TMD using all of these options so you will not have to be referred to another specialist. If you suffer from tinnitus from TMD, please contact St. Louis tinnitus relief specialist Dr. Quigless today. Using the latest neuromuscular diagnosing techniques, he will be able to diagnose and treat this maddening condition.

Difference Between Caps and Veneers

2009-12-22T15:09:00.001-06:00

The default position of most dentists for treating certain tooth problems is to remove the tooth and replace it with a cap or crown. The difference between caps and veneers is that porcelain veneers are proven to be more versatile then their ancestors, the metal caps and crowns.

Metal Caps and Fillings
For many years, metal caps and fillings served the purposes of most people needing dental care to correct tooth decay and tooth loss. Gold and other metal crowns and fillings on the back teeth are not as prominent as on the front teeth, but still can detract from a winning smile.

Many patients with existing metal fillings are interested in improving their smiles by overlaying them with porcelain veneers.

Porcelain Veneers
Veneers are thin appliances that are bonded to your teeth to improve a number of minor dental issues, including:

Tooth whitening
Straightening slightly crooked teeth
Filling in gaps
Splinting cracked or broken teeth

There are numerous advantages to using porcelain veneers to improve your smile and over all dental health, to find out more about the difference between caps and veneers, please contact St. Louis dental veneers expert Dr. Quigless. He will put together a comprehensive plan to remake your smile, starting with a free initial consultation.

Mini Dental Implants

2009-11-18T10:24:00.000-06:00

Dental implants have been used since the 1970s and have been approved by the FDA since 1999 for permanent tooth replacement. These handy devices are basically titanium screws that are used to anchor one or more teeth prostheses directly into the bone.

Root Form Dental Implants
Traditionally, these screws were relatively large, approximately 3.65 mm in diameter and required a substantial amount of bone to which they are affixed. For people with an inadequate amount of bone material, a bone graft would be indicated prior to undergoing the implant procedure. This is a costly and painful process that delays final implant placement for up to six months in some cases. Recently, mini dental implants have hit the market.

Benefits of Mini Dental Implants
Still considered root form implants, these implants have smaller diameters, which offer many benefits over traditional implants.

Less bone mass is required
Implants can be placed immediately
No bone grafts are necessary
More people are good candidates for the procedure
You can start eating right away
No care other than normal brushing and flossing is required

If you are tired of the difficulties associated with wearing dentures and want a more permanent solution, please contact St. Louis implant dentist, Dr. Quigless to schedule an initial consultation.

Types of Dental Implants

2009-10-30T10:23:00.000-05:00

To replace missing or damaged teeth, dental implants are usually preferred over dentures. In most cases, dentures are uncomfortable and ill fitting. Over time, the bones of your jaw deteriorate in a process called resorption. Unlike dentures, dental implants help reverse resorption and can actually strengthen your jaw.

There are various types of dental implants available depending on your specific needs and the current condition of your bones. St. Louis implant dentist, Dr. Quigless is able to evaluate your bone mass and determine which type of dental implant will work best for you.

Types of Dental Implants
There are three main types of implants used in most cases.

Root form implant – The most common type of implant is the root form implant. The implants are basically titanium screws that are attached to the underlying jawbone. The tooth replacement, called an abutment is then affixed to the implant.
Plate form implant – Instead of a screw, a rectangular plate is inserted vertically and the abutment is applied to one or two metal prongs.
Subperiostial implant – If the bone is severely small or damaged this option is used. It uses a fitted plate that sits on top of the bone, but under the gums to which the tooth replacement is attached.

Dental implants do not only replace the tooth, but also the root, which helps strengthen the bone and reverse the resorption process. Not only are implants more comfortable, they are permanent and in many cases end up being stronger than your original teeth. To find out more, please contact St. Louis implant dentist, Dr. Quigless to schedule an initial consultation.

Results of Successful TMD Treatment

2009-09-23T12:24:00.000-05:00

The results of successful TMD treatment can literally be life-changing. People who have suffered chronic pain for years without a definitive diagnosis can find themselves pain-free and able to enjoy life again.

TMD, or Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, is caused when the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) becomes misaligned. This is often caused by an irregular bite. If your bite is uneven, the jaw muscles try to pull your teeth into alignment, leading to tension, spasm, and even locking of the jaw. Even if the jaw itself doesn't spasm, it's pulled out of ideal position, which puts pressure on facial nerves, causing pain in the neck, eyes, ears, or face, and even ringing in the ears or chronic headaches.

When you're diagnosed with TMD, Dr. Quigless will evaluate the placement of your jaw. Using a TENS unit, he'll completely relax the jaw muscles so the mandible can fall into the proper place. Once this proper placement is determined, he'll decide what treatments will be most effective is keeping it properly positioned.

Possible approaches to correcting TMD include:

Dental work
Orthodontic work
Orthotic devices

Most TMD treatments will involve a combination of these approaches, but the final goal is always the same: to properly align the jaw and permanently relieve your pain.

For more information about TMD diagnosis and treatment, please contact Dr. Kirk Quigless at his St. Louis, Missouri dentistry offices. We'll be happy to answer you questions and schedule an appointment to see if TMD treatment will work for you.

Typical Signs/Symptoms of TMD

2009-08-19T11:05:00.000-05:00

A variety of symptoms can accompany temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMD. The range of possible symptoms can make TMD difficult to diagnose, as many of these symptoms could be caused by a variety of other issues.

TMD often includes one of more of the following symptoms:

Jaw pain
Clicking, spasms, or freezing in the jaw
Shoulder or neck pain
Headaches
Ear pain
Ringing in the ears

Any one of these symptoms, or a combination, could indicate TMD. Since many of them can also indicate other, sometimes serious conditions, it's a good idea to rule these out before pursuing TMD diagnosis. However, often patients who've been in pain for years stumble upon TMD as a last resort, since other doctors were unable to diagnose their condition. This is particularly common when recurring headaches or tinnitus are present without other accompanying symptoms. Once other possibilities are ruled out, many doctors don’t think of diagnosing TMD.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, especially if you've had difficulty getting a definitive diagnosis, please contact Dr. Kirk Quigless, DDS. Dr. Quigless, St. Louis neuromuscular dentist, can diagnose TMD and recommend an individualized treatment plan that will correct your jaw alignment and eliminate your pain.

Choosing a Qualified TMD Dentist

2009-07-21T10:59:00.000-05:00

While many general dentists will treat TMD, they aren't necessarily qualified to do so. Successful treatment of TMD requires knowledge of the nerves, muscles and bones of the face and how they all interact. General dentistry focuses primarily on the teeth and gums.

A neuromuscular dentist has the education and knowledge to diagnose and treat TMD. As opposed to a general dentist, a neuromuscular dentist has received special training in treating the entire nerve and muscular system of the mouth, jaw and face. This special experience makes a neuromuscular dentist much more aware of the variety of symptoms that can occur with TMD and the various approach to treatment.

If you're looking for a dentist qualified to help treat TMD, look for someone who has advanced training in neuromuscular dentistry. Most dentists will include this information on their websites. Only a dentist with specific training in neuromuscular dentistry is truly qualified to help you with TMD.

Dr. Quigless is a qualified neuromuscular dentist who understands the way the various systems of the face and mouth interact. With this training, he can successfully diagnose and treat TMD in a way that will be beneficial to this entire system.

If you have questions about TMD and how it can be diagnosed and treated, please contact Dr. Kirk Quigless, DDS in his St. Louis, Missouri neuromuscular dentistry offices. We can answer all your questions and help you determine if your symptoms could be caused by TMD.

Facial Nerves Associated with TMD

2009-06-23T15:54:00.000-05:00

One of the reasons TMD can be so painful, and cause symptoms through such a wide area, is because of the specific nerves that can be affected. The major nerve in this area is the trigeminal nerve, also known as the fifth cranial nerve. This nerve is extremely powerful and complex, carrying signals to the jaws, face, tongue, teeth, and eyes.

The trigeminal nerve is closely connected to the hypoglossal, facial, and vagus nerves. These nerves carry signals to the neck, throat, and head. If one of these four nerves is disturbed, it usually causes a disruption in the others in a sort of neural chain reaction. So if TMD interferes with any one of these nerves, it can also disrupt the others. Another branch of the trigeminal nerve is the mandibular nerve, which serves the middle ear. Disruption to this nerve by TMD can cause tinnitus.

This variety of symptoms is one of the factors that make TMD so difficult to diagnose. When doctors are dealing with a patient complaining of headaches, the jaw isn't the first thing that comes to mind as a possible cause. Yet some doctors estimate that over half of undiagnosed migraines are due to TMD.

If you're suffering from headaches, tinnitus, or other possible symptoms of TMD, please contact Dr. Kirk Quigless, DDS, for a consultation. Dr. Quigless, cosmetic and neuromuscular dentist in St. Louis, Missouri, can diagnose your TMD and recommend treatment that will eliminate your discomfort and pain.

Porcelain Veneers

2009-05-21T12:19:00.000-05:00

Do you cover your mouth when you laugh or smile? Avoid showing your teeth when taking pictures? Or perhaps you recently chipped a tooth and need to have it fixed.

If anything is keeping you from sharing the gift of your smile with people around you, it may be time to consider porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers are an ideal way to give yourself the smile you truly want. They offer a natural tooth appearance, they are stain resistant, and they’re strong enough to stay in place under your gum tissue.

The process of applying porcelain veneers can typically be handled in as few as three visits.

In the first, we’ll have a consultation so that I can examine your existing smile and we can discuss how you want your new and improved smile to look.

In the second, I’ll prepare your tooth or teeth for the veneers by shaving just a portion of your tooth enamel – a completely safe and harmless procedure – so that I can create a mold. The mold is then sent to a dental lab where your custom made veneers will be made in one or two weeks.

Lastly, I’ll have you back in the office to properly fit and bond the veneers to your teeth. Special cement will be applied to the veneer and the veneer will be placed on your teeth. We’ll work together to make sure your bite is properly aligned and comfortable.

I may ask you to come in for a follow-up after a couple of weeks just to examine your gums and the placement of the veneers.

Then, before you know it, you’ll be enjoying a naturally beautiful smile and sharing it with others. Please contact our St. Louis, Missouri cosmetic dentistry practice today to find out how we can make it happen for you.

TMD and TENS

2009-04-29T10:00:00.000-05:00

If you have a toothache, we can perform x-rays, find the source of the pain, and perhaps fix it with a simple filling.

But what if the muscles of your jaw are the source of pain or discomfort? What if your top and bottom teeth aren’t lining up properly? You might be even experiencing constant headaches, neck and shoulder pain or ringing in your ears.

If so, it’s possible you could have Temporomandibular Joint Disorder or TMD.

That’s when a TENS unit can become an amazing way to help relieve the chronic pain that often accompanies TMD and the physical distress it causes.

What does TENS stand for and how does it work?

The full terminology might be a difficult mouthful, but the procedure is simple and non-invasive.

A TENS – or Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation – unit is a small device used in neuromuscular dentistry. I have been specially trained to use this method of helping to realign your jaw and treat TMD in a few simple steps.

First, I find the position where your jaw muscles are most at rest. Next, I use the TENS unit to send out painless frequencies that will relax the jaw muscles. I’ll then measure your joint activity to create an orthotic (a custom made device just for you) that will be placed in your mouth to help your jaw open and close in the best possible way.

You’ll wear the orthotic for about three months to help alleviate your TMD and get your bite back to its ideal position. Or together we can determine if further steps need to be taken to get you back to the life and smile you deserve – without pain!

Please contact our St. Louis, Missouri cosmetic dentistry practice today to learn more.

Misaligned Jaw?

2009-03-25T10:13:00.002-05:00

Having your jaw be out of alignment can be painful and damaging to the jaw and surrounding area. Unfortunately, many people are unaware that their jaw is misaligned, even when they experience the painful symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).

Below I’ve outlined three of the ways your jaw can become out of alignment.

Teeth Grinding and Clenching

Though grinding and clenching our teeth can happen as a source of stress and anxiety or even when we’re asleep, it can cause wear on the jaw joint and lead to a shift in the jaw that leaves you with an uneven bite.

Post Wisdom Teeth Extraction

Removing teeth from the bones of your jaw can cause an unwanted shift in your dental bite. You may experience stretching of the cartilage in the “ball and socket” joint that allows us to open and close our mouths.

Trauma to the Face

Perhaps one of the most aggressive ways a jaw can become unaligned, experiencing any sort of trauma to the face, can easily knock your jawbone off-kilter. Two of the most common traumas are automobile accidents or sports injuries.

Any of the above problems should be carefully diagnosed, properly treated and given the best follow up care. If you think your jaw could be out of alignment and are perhaps experiencing the symptoms, please contact our St. Louis, Missouri cosmetic dentistry practice or come in for a visit so that we work on your issues and get things back to the way they should be.

Pure Power Mouthguard

2009-02-20T11:12:00.003-06:00

If you’re an athlete, you know how important it is to keep your body in peak condition.

Believe it or not, one of the best things you can do for your athletic form is to wear a Pure Power Mouthguard or PPM. The PPM is more than just a protective mouthguard. The device helps to align your face and neck. When those two components are in sync, the rest of your body shifts into place, as well. The full effect is that your body feels better and gives you top athletic performance.

Many people have jaws that aren’t properly aligned and don’t know it. They also don’t know how harmful it can be to the rest of their physical performance.

When you wear a PPM, playing long and hard won’t be as difficult. You can feel invigorated after a workout or competition. Pushing yourself to break a plateau won’t seem so strenuous. You can experience an increase in your endurance while training.

Many patients are amazed by how much having proper jaw alignment can change the way they feel throughout their entire bodies.
If your goal is to be a better athlete – to move faster, hit harder, and do it without feeling the fatigue or muscle stress you may currently have now – come speak to me about how a Pure Power Mouthguard could improve your game. Whether it’s golf, swimming, football, basketball or tennis, getting proper jaw alignment with a PPM is an asset to any sport. Please contact our St. Louis, Missouri Cosmetic Dentistry practice today.

Welcome

2008-09-12T15:43:00.001-05:00

Not all cosmetic dentists are the same, and it’s important to choose one who has full cosmetic dentistry training. Dr. Quigless has trained at the prestigious Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies. LVI is the premier school for both cosmetic dentistry and neuromuscular dentistry, and attracts dentists from countries all over the world.