Pennsylvania Advanced Esthetic & Neuromuscular Dentistry
January 25th, 2012
The human body is a delicate marvel of interacting systems, each supporting and reinforcing the other. When all the systems are functioning as they should, you will notice improved health and performance from all your systems, which you can appreciate whether it means being at the top of your golf game or just avoiding regular heartburn. Many people do not appreciate the role that dental health plays in overall health, but here are some of the ways that problems in your mouth contribute to major health issues.
Periodontal disease has been associated with a number of significant health problems, including heart disease, coronary artery disease, and stroke. Bacteria can enter your bloodstream through your gums, and attach to fatty plaques in your coronary arteries where they contribute to buildup, and if you are at risk of infective endocarditis, your risk may be increased by periodontal disease.
A poorly-aligned bite can contribute to digestive problems. Chewing is the first step in digestion, and poor chewing can make it harder for your stomach to digest the foods you eat, leading to acid reflux, and other digestive problems. If you have a bad bite, chewing certain foods may be difficult or uncomfortable, causing you to avoid them, which in some cases can contribute to poor nutrition.
Neuromuscular issues are closely related to an inefficient bite, but are related to the impact your bite has on neighboring systems. The area around your jaw joints, called the temporomandibular joints, is a very crowded one for essential nerves, blood vessels, and muscles. When your bite is out of alignment, it can lead to temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ. One of the most common effects of TMJ is the pinching of nerves in the area, causing headaches or other seemingly-inexplicable pains. The muscles of your jaw also work in concert with those in your neck to support your spinal column and skull, so when your bite is out of alignment, your spine might be, too, causing neck and back pain, as well as pinched nerves along the length of your spinal column.
Don’t think that your oral health is separate from your overall health. Your body all works together, and when one part is unhealthy, the entire system suffers.
To learn more about how improving your dental health will improve your overall health, please schedule an appointment with Dr. Michael E. Kun today.
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December 23rd, 2011
If you have a missing tooth or are facing the loss of a tooth, you have probably researched your options for tooth replacement. And if you’ve done any amount of research at all, you’ve come to realize that dental implants are, bar none, the best tooth replacement option available. Short of extracting the secret for constant tooth regrowth from shark DNA, dental implants are the closest you will come to having a replacement tooth that is as good as the one you lost. But are you a candidate for dental implants?
Yes!
The ideal candidate for dental implants has all the following characteristics:
- Adequate jawbone in the implant area
- Good oral health
- A non-smoker
- A balanced bite
If you have all these characteristics, you can get your dental implant today! Well, not quite today, but at the earliest appointment time convenient for both you and Dr. Kun.
But even if you don’t have all these characteristics, you are probably a candidate for dental implants, but you’ll have to wait a little bit. Bone grafting has become a much more reliable technique than in the past, allowing us to build up jawbone in people who have lost bone to periodontal disease or resorption. And oral health conditions can generally be treated to make you a good candidate for dental implants. If you are a smoker, you will be asked to quit smoking for a period before and after your dental implant procedure, and your chances of a successful implant procedure are improved if you quit altogether. Finally, if you have an imbalanced bite, neuromuscular treatment can improve your bite to avoid undue stress on the dental implant.
So you are most likely a candidate for dental implants. The only way to be sure, though, is to discuss it with a qualified implant dentist like Michael E. Kun, DMD. Please contact us today to schedule an appointment at our Whitehall office, convenient to the entire Lehigh Valley.
Posted in implant dentistry | No Comments »
December 15th, 2011
There are many cosmetic dentists in the Lehigh Valley, and you may have difficulty selecting the one that’s right for you. It’s worth taking the time and spending the effort to find the dentist that is the perfect match for you because you will be working with him for years to come. Dr. Michael E. Kun is not the right dentist for everyone, but he might be the right dentist for you if you want a dentist with:
- Total commitment to exceptional dentistry
- Love for dentistry and compassion for patients
- An individualized approach to dental treatments
- Relaxation dentistry techniques
- Fellowship in three of the most important societies in cosmetic dentistry:
- Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies
- American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
- International Academy for Dental Facial Aesthetics
- Experience in complicated restorations
- Training in how to make a smile last
If you think these characteristics describe the right dentist for you, then we invite you to schedule an appointment with Dr. Kun at his practice in Whitehall, Pennsylvania today.
Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry, General Dentistry, implant dentistry | No Comments »
November 15th, 2011
Relaxation dentistry is dentistry that recognizes many people have anxiety about going to the dentist. Many of these anxieties are formed in childhood, and others are derived from cultural stereotypes about what a visit to the dentist is like. Whatever the cause, these anxieties can make visits to the dentist unpleasant for you, and may even prevent you from getting the dental treatment you need. Dr. Michael Kun offers relaxation dentistry to make your dental visits more pleasant.
In relaxation dentistry, an oral medication is used to help you feel relaxed during your dental visit. This can not only reduce your anxiety, but because it helps you to remain still and relaxed during your appointment, it means you can have more work performed during a single visit, and because you are relaxed and not fighting, it helps you to get better quality work, and it will reduce the amount of discomfort you experience.
If you would like to experience the benefits of relaxation dentistry, please contact Dr. Kun today to schedule your consultation. Serving patients in Allentown, Bethlehem, and the entire Lehigh Valley.
Posted in Relaxation Dentistry | No Comments »
October 25th, 2011
Your smile is one of the first things that people notice about you, and based on your smile they make a number of conclusions about you. They are not only making judgments about your attractiveness, but a number of judgments about many different aspects of your life and your character. Research has shown that if you have a healthy and white smile, people will not only conclude that you are more attractive, but also that you are more intelligent, wealthy, successful, and even sensitive to other people.
Cosmetic dentistry can dramatically improve your smile, and you will be surprised at how extreme the change can be. Cosmetic dentistry can help you look:
- More attractive
- Younger
- Healthier
- More successful
Whether you have teeth that are discolored, chipped, cracked, gapped, or even missing, cosmetic dentistry can help. From simple tooth whitening to a more intensive dental implant procedure, cosmetic dentistry has solutions to whatever ails your smile.
If you live in the Lehigh Valley and are looking for a skilled cosmetic dentist, please contact Dr. Michael Kun today to schedule your consultation.
Posted in Neuromuscular Dentistry | No Comments »
October 13th, 2011
If you are looking for relief from TMJ and other neuromuscular dental conditions, then a neuromuscular dentist is uniquely trained and equipped to help. Neuromuscular dental problems show themselves in a number of ways, from the movement of your jaw to the activity of your muscles to the diverse array of symptoms you experience but never imagined were all connected together and due to a single problem.
But even if you are looking for a general dentist or a cosmetic dentist, you should choose a neuromuscular dentist. A neuromuscular dentist can identify when tooth problems are really jaw problems. Cracked teeth, worn teeth, and broken teeth can all be caused by a poor bite. When this is the case, simply putting a restoration, such as a porcelain crown or porcelain veneers, on the damaged tooth or teeth will provide only temporary results. Soon the jaw condition that led to the initial tooth damage will also damage the restorations. To ensure long-lasting results, it is important that your dentist take neuromuscular factors into account.
If you are looking to resolve the symptoms of TMJ or looking for the best quality dental restorations, a neuromuscular dentist is your best option. For a neuromuscular dentist in the Lehigh Valley, please contact Dr. Michael Kun today.
Posted in Neuromuscular Dentistry | No Comments »
September 22nd, 2011
Temporomandibular joint disorder(TMJ or TMD) is a condition that can cause a wide variety of broadly scattered symptoms. The most common TMJ symptoms are:
- Migraines and other headaches
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Facial pain
- Jaw pain
- Tooth pain
- Clicking, grinding, or popping in the jaw
- Locking jaw
- Ringing, roaring, or buzzing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Chipped, cracked, or worn teeth
Less common symptoms include numbness or tingling in the hands and fingers and many others.
Most of our TMJ patients have tried to find relief from these symptoms by working with a doctor, and have only incidentally discovered their symptoms were due to TMJ when we mentioned it during a dental exam. If you are suffering from these symptoms, don’t wait–seek relief today by working with a neuromuscular dentist.
If you are looking for relief from TMJ symptoms anywhere in the Lehigh Valley, including Allentown and Bethlehem, neuromuscular dentist Dr. Michael Kun can help. Please contact him today to schedule your consultation.
Posted in Cosmetic Dentistry, General Dentistry, TMJ | No Comments »
September 19th, 2011
That depends on who is doing the diagnosing. TMJ has been called the “Great Imposter” because its diverse and wide-ranging symptoms can make it very hard to pin down, especially for some doctors. When you talk to your doctor about your TMJ symptoms, such as headaches, back aches, ringing in the ears, and numbness or tingling in the fingers, your doctor may very well begin by considering a spine problem. Treatment may give temporary relief, but until the root cause is identified, the problems will return.
A traditional dentist may listen to your description of tooth pain and look for problems with the affected tooth or teeth. Your dentist may even recommend basic orthodontic treatment, but traditional orthodontics do not always address the full range of your TMJ.
A neuromuscular dentist, on the other hand, knows what to look for. Like most medical conditions, TMJ can be detected with relative ease if the doctor knows what to look for. Then, with treatment, your TMJ symptoms may be relieved.
If you have gone to a number of doctors for relief of nagging or serious chronic symptoms, but have not gotten relief, you should see a neuromuscular dentist. Neuromuscular dentistry gives you the greatest chance of finding relief.
To learn more about neuromuscular dentistry and the diagnosis of TMJ, please contact Dr. Michael Kun, Lehigh Valley neuromuscular dentist, to schedule a consultation today.
Posted in TMJ | No Comments »
August 10th, 2011
The short answer is: Yes! The longer answer is: If you have been going to a doctor for migraines but haven’t been getting relief, your dentist may be able to help. The full answer depends on the relationship between the trigeminal nerve and migraines.
No one really understands how migraines work, but one of the chief players in many migraines seems to be the trigeminal nerve. Stimuli along the trigeminal nerve are conducted to the brain stem, where they trigger chemical changes that ultimately result in a migraine. The trigeminal nerve controls some of your jaw muscles, some facial muscles, and carries sensation from your face (including pain sensation) to your brain.
As it runs from the brain stem to the face, the trigeminal nerve passes very close to the temporomandibular joint, which connects your jaw to your skull. Most of the time, this causes no problems, but in people who suffer from temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), the trigeminal nerve can suffer collateral damage as a result of a misaligned jaw joint. Overdeveloped or poorly aligned jaw muscles can put pressure on the trigeminal nerve, or irritate it with friction as the jaw moves. The result can be facial pain or numbness, and it may trigger migraines.
So if you suffer from migraines and removing most of the traditional triggers (such as stress and foods from the nightshade family), you should see your dentist. He may be able to give you relief from migraines as well as a host of other TMJ symptoms.
To learn more about the relation of migraines and TMJ, please contact neuromuscular dentist Dr. Michael Kun today. Helping patients from across the Lehigh Valley, including Allentown and Bethlehem.
Posted in General Dentistry | No Comments »
August 8th, 2011
The causes and triggers of migraine headaches are poorly understood. If you look at a list of migraine triggers, they may include:
- Hormonal changes in women
- Foods
- Stress
- Bright lights, loud sounds, unusual and unpleasant smells
- Being jet lagged or getting too much or too little sleep
- Physical exertion
- Changes in the weather
- Medications
These changes seem to be mediated by a number of interactions in the brain, such as with the brain stem and the chemical serotonin. Treating migraines is all about identifying and eliminating triggers, or identifying them by eliminating them.
One of the major pathways that trigger migraine headaches is the trigeminal nerve. The trigeminal nerve is one of the major cranial nerves that brings stimuli between the face and the brain stem, and in its pathway passes very close to the temoporomandibular joint which connects the jaw (mandible) and the skull. In temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), the muscles of that support and move the jaw can put pressure or friction on the trigeminal nerve, causing facial pain or numbness, or, in some cases, triggering migraines.
Neuromuscular dentistry can treat TMJ and remove this aggravation of your trigeminal nerve, which may lead to a reduction in the frequency and severity of your migraines.
If you are suffering from migraine headaches despite treatment from your doctor, you should talk to a neuromuscular dentist about TMJ and its potential role in your migraines. If you are looking for an experienced neuromuscular dentist near Allentown and Bethlehem, Michael E. Kun serves the entire Lehigh Valley. Please call or email him today to schedule your consultation.
Posted in Neuromuscular Dentistry | No Comments »
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