TMD and TMJ

TMJ is an abbreviation for temporomandibular joint, which is the joint that connects your mandible (lower jaw) to your skull at the temporal bone. While many call disorders associated with this joint, TMJ, those disorders are more appropriately called TMD (temporomandibular disorder), and TMD can have symptoms that range from teeth grinding and headaches to trouble chewing and pain when opening and closing your mouth. TMD is not only an annoying disorder; it is also a destructive one and can cause serious damage to your teeth if left untreated. At our office in Bensalem, PA, Dr. Michael Eisenbrock can determine if you suffer from TMD and offer ways to treat the disorder.

The TMJ controls an assortment of jaw functions, including chewing, so if you’re chewing muscles or the joint itself is in pain, it is possible that you have TMD. TMD is often caused by stress, which leads to unconscious clenching and teeth grinding while awake and asleep. TMD’s symptoms include pain, trouble chewing, lock jaw, headaches or ear pain and a popping or clicking sound when opening your mouth. However, these symptoms may be indicative of other health problems as well, so it is important to see a medical professional for a diagnosis.

Grinding your teeth is an especially worrisome TMD-associated behavior since it can lead to further problems with your mouth. If your teeth grinding is left unaddressed, you will cause serious wear to the enamel of your teeth and expose the dentin, which will make your teeth more sensitive to heat and cold and more susceptible to decay. However, you can work with Dr. Eisenbrock to relieve symptoms with mouth guards or night guards.

If you think that you might be suffering from TMD or teeth grinding, schedule an appointment Bensalem Dentistry by calling 215-638-9952. For more information, visit www.bensalemdentistry.com.

Wisdom Teeth Extractions

Some of us are fortunate enough to be born without wisdom teeth, or to have them grow in perfectly straight.  However, most people are not so lucky.  Wisdom teeth can become impacted, or cause crowding and smile gaps.  This is why we offer precise, comfortable wisdom tooth extractions at our practice.

Wisdom teeth can cause a number of dental problems if they are not addressed and removed, if necessary.  Impacted teeth can affect the gum, jaw bone and surrounding teeth.   Patients may experience pain, tooth sensitivity and even develop cysts.

We encourage patients to visit our practice for x-rays, even if you aren’t experiencing any dental pain.  With a careful record of your wisdom tooth growth, we can determine if an extraction will be necessary.  Wisdom tooth extraction is precise thanks to the advanced dental tools and technologies used at our practice.  Any post-op discomfort is manageable with over-the-counter medications.  We invite you to visit us at Bensalem Dentistry to learn more about wisdom tooth extractions.

Stained Teeth

Here at Bensalem Dentistry,  our patients experience a variety of dental imperfections, including lack of luster of their teeth. Stained teeth are an unfortunate result of smoking, drinking certain beverages, and eating foods with high amounts of sugar — in addition to the natural aging process.

Our dentist, Dr. Michael Eisenbrock, provides teeth whitening procedures right here in our office that help patients whiten their teeth. While the tray whitening system we offer can whiten our patient’s teeth up to eight shades, we still believe preventative measures are an important way to keep a smile bright.

Dr. Eisenbrock recommends avoiding the following things that can stain or discolor the teeth:

• Red wine


• Black coffee


• Tea


• Smoking cigarettes


• Dark-colored sodas


• Berries


• Soy sauce


• Sugar and sweets

Our dental office provides the take home whitening system, which utilizes custom-made trays from impressions of the patient’s teeth and whitening gel to whiten their teeth in the office and at home. Our take-home trays are reusable, so our patients can use them again and again should the brightness of their smile fade.

If you have stained teeth and want to whiten them, contact us here at Bensalem Dentistry in Bensalem, PA by calling (215) 638-9952 or visiting www.bensalemdentistry.com. 

Root Canal

When patients are informed that they need a root canal procedure, they often become very fearful and do not want to undergo the procedure. The misconception that root canals are painful, cause illness or will cause further damage to their teeth is decades old and holds no truth. Science has come a long way since the first root canal procedure occurred in the 1700’s. At Bensalem Dentistry, we offer pain-free root canal procedures designed to improve your oral health.

The whole point of a root canal procedure is to alleviate pain, not cause more. Root canals are performed by removing the pulp of the tooth that has become inflamed, infected or dead. The pulp is a soft substance that is in the center of the tooth, it consists of nerves, blood vessels and connective tissue. The most common causes of pulp damage are cracked tooth, deep cavity and an injury to a tooth. Dr. Eisenbrock uses this procedure to save a tooth that is badly decayed and would otherwise be extracted.

One of the main misconceptions regarding root canals focuses on the idea that the procedure “kills” the tooth rather than repairing it. Once the pulp is cleaned and disinfected, the area filled and sealed with a rubber-like material called “gutta-percha.” Afterwards, the tooth is restored with a crown or filling for protection. After restoration, the tooth continues to function like any other tooth. People also think that a root canal procedure is an invasive procedure that takes hours to complete. Modern root canal procedures are often compared to having a routine filling and can be completed in just one visit.

If you have any questions about this procedure, feel free to ask Dr. Eisenbrock during your consultation.

Dental Implants

If you’re missing teeth or are in need of an extraction due to disease decay or injury, dental implants provide an attractive and long-lasting solution for filling the gaps in your smile. While there is other options for replacing missing teeth, bridges require alteration to adjacent teeth and dentures are not permanent. Dental implants, on the other hand, can not only last you a lifetime but also look and feel natural. At Bensalem Dentistry, we can use dental implants to help you achieve a complete smile that you can be proud of.

The implant process can take between three to six months to complete, and the first step in the process is to implant a titanium screw, which will serve as the replacement tooth root, in your jaw bone through an incision in your gums. The gums are then sutured, and the jaw bone is left to heal around the implant. This process is called osseointegration, and while it takes place, you may receive a temporary crown for easier speaking and eating.

Once the jaw has healed, an abutment will be placed on top of the implant to serve as the foundation on which your permanent crown will be fixed. The tooth restoration is then custom made for your mouth and is either fixed or cemented in place so that you may enjoy a complete smile that looks and feels natural.

To learn more, call us at Bensalem Dentistry at (215) 638-9952 or visit www.bensalemdentistry.com.