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Your temporomandibular joints (TMJ) are the two joints that connect your jawbone to your skull. Any time you open your mouth — to eat, speak, yawn, laugh, or anything else — your temporomandibular joints work. Most people think about teeth when they think about the dentist, but the doctors at Santa Monica Bay Dental treat … Continued
Experts estimate that close to half of the adults in the world had a headache at least once in the last year. Many of those headaches may have been due to oral health issues. The dentists at Santa Monica Bay Dental see many patients who don’t realize their headaches are likely due to a dental problem. Several different issues can lead to headaches and even … Continued
Experts aren’t sure exactly how many people have dental anxiety or fear, but put the number somewhere between 9% and 20%. In fact, some people have such a deep fear of the dentist, they simply don’t go — which leads to worse problems, eventually requiring more invasive procedures. The dentists and staff at Santa Monica Bay Dental know how many … Continued
The medical name for teeth grinding is bruxism, and when it happens at night while you’re sleeping, it’s called nocturnal bruxism. The dentists at Santa Monica Bay Dental in Santa Monica, California, sometimes discover the signs of chronic nocturnal bruxism during routine dental exams. When that happens, we help the patient understand how to protect their oral health. Signs of … Continued
Your temporomandibular joints, or TMJs, are important. They connect your jaw to your skull, and give you the ability to move your jawbone, which is necessary to eat and talk. When something goes wrong with your TMJ you may develop a temporomandibular disorder, or a TMD. You may not think of your dentist when you … Continued
The Journal of the American Dental Association reports that there’s a high prevalence of gum disease among American adults, with nearly half having some degree of periodontitis. Gum disease is caused by bacteria and can lead to a cascade of oral health problems, beginning with bleeding or sore gums and ending with bone loss. Good dental hygiene, … Continued
At Santa Monica Bay Dental, our providers see patients with a telltale set of symptoms: jaw pain, a clicking or popping sound in the jaw, a swollen jaw, ringing in the ears. These symptoms are often an indication of a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). Your temporomandibular joint and muscle are involved in chewing, talking, swallowing, and any other activity … Continued
