FAQs

Nature has an ingenious plan for the way your chewing system functions. The teeth are only one part of a complex system. The foundation of comprehensive dentistry is that your dentist identifies and corrects problems, not only with individual teeth, but also with how the teeth, gum tissue, jaws, and muscles function together as a unit. To achieve stability, health, comfort, and long-lasting beauty, all of these components must operate in harmony. If any one of these is out of balance the entire system will be affected. Comprehensive dentistry treats the cause of problems rather than just the symptoms.

A Bioesthetic dentist is a dentist that has had specialized training for evaluation, diagnosis, and restoration of the whole chewing system…not just the teeth. Bioesthetic dentists recognize that successful and predictable esthetic dental treatment must be functional and in harmony with all parts of the chewing system. OBI dentists are uniquely trained to accurately diagnose problems with the chewing system and provide the most conservative dental therapies necessary to correct the underlying causes of dental breakdown, not just the symptoms. Thus, Bioesthetic Dentistry can help you preserve the function and provide lasting natural beauty of your teeth and smile for a lifetime.

Abscessed teeth or teeth with inflamed nerves can indeed cause headaches. Another, more common cause of headaches is muscle soreness. Soreness, spasm, or straining of the jaw related muscles is a very common and frequent symptom of “TMJ” or “TMD.” Knowledgeable Bioesthetic dentists have been helping headache patients successfully for years. However, headaches are just one of many symptoms of a dysfunctional chewing system.

No it is not normal. Jaw and muscle soreness in the morning is a sign of some kind of abnormal jaw muscle activity when sleeping. There can be many reasons for this excessive muscle activity. Most often, it is due to some kind of discrepancy or instability in the chewing system.

When the teeth, muscles and jaw joints are all working in harmony there will usually be no wear of the teeth. When the individual components of chewing system are out of balance or unstable, a destructive chewing pattern can result. This often causes wearing down of the front or back teeth.

When one or more of the components of the chewing system (jaw joints, jaw-related muscles, and teeth) are not functioning in harmony with each other we may see any of the below listed symptoms:

• Painful facial or neck muscles
• Upper back or shoulder pain
• Jaw joint soreness or pain
• Difficulty or pain with chewing
• Grinding or clenching of the teeth
• Jaw popping or clicking or grating noises
• Loose teeth or receding gums and bone
• Unattractive smile
• Worn, chipped, cracked, worn or broken teeth and dental work
• Headaches or migraines
• Shifting bite
• Ear pain, congestion or ringing in the ears

The New England Journal of Medicine has reported that inflammation like you find in gum disease causes the liver to produce C- Reactive Protein which is a better indicator of future heart attack and stroke than cholesterol. Think of all the fuss we’ve heard about cholesterol over the years and now imagine a heightened concern that actually causes people to return to the dentist. It now should be standard protocol for physicians to send their stroke and heart risk patients straight to the dentist to get their gum disease under control as their first line of defense.

The Journal of Periodontology (oral gums and bone) showed that pregnant women with high levels of bacteria in their mouth are at high risk for delivering preterm low-weight babies. Doctors believe that the bacteria from the mouth travels to the uterus and interferes with the pregnancy.

We have always known that gum infections of the mouth can spread to other parts of the body like the heart and even the brain! The news about gum disease and its connection to our overall health continues to come up again and again in research and medicine. It’s time to get deadly serious about periodontal disease.

With the number of exciting developments in dentistry over the past few years, we are able to offer patients the latest cosmetic procedures. It’s now possible to give patients dazzling smiles, and many of them report that cosmetic dentistry has been a life-changing experience. Dr. Orazio is qualified to consider the entire chewing system to ensure any cosmetic treatment will be long-lasting. From non-metal fillings to porcelain veneers to gum re-contouring, Dr. Orazio offers patients the latest cosmetic procedures, including:

• Tooth colored fillings
• Porcelain veneers
• Whitening or bleaching
• All porcelain crowns, onlays and inlays
• Cosmetic reshaping of teeth.

For our patients who want the longest-lasting, most conservative restorations available we can provide gold inlays and onlays. As a member of Tucker Gold Study Clubs since 1996 Dr. Orazio has become an expert in providing gold restorations that are long lasting, conservative of tooth structure, and yet, still esthetic.

Teeth that need protection from fracturing can be restored with onlays or crowns. These can be gold or white.

Dr. Orazio can replace missing teeth with bridges, removable partial dentures, full dentures, or implants.

Today, the preferred method of tooth replacement is dental implant treatment. Dental implants replace missing tooth roots, and form a stable foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel and function like your natural teeth. Dental implants also preserve the remaining bone by providing the stimulation previously provided by the natural tooth roots.
Dental implants are an ideal option for people in good general oral health who have lost a tooth or teeth due to periodontal disease, an injury, or some other reason.

While high-tech in nature, dental implants are actually more tooth-saving than traditional bridgework, since implants do not rely on neighboring teeth for support. With dental implants it is not necessary to grind down the adjacent teeth for a bridge, or secure a partial denture to adjacent teeth with clasps which can cause tooth loosening. Implant-supported replacement teeth spare patients many of the disadvantages of traditional false teeth.

Dental implants are so natural-looking and feeling; you may forget you ever lost a tooth. If you are missing one or more teeth and would like to smile, speak and eat again with comfort and confidence, there is good news! Dental implants are teeth that can look and feel just like your own! Under proper conditions, such as placement by an experienced and skilled surgeon and diligent patient maintenance, implants can last a lifetime. Long-term studies continue to show improving success rates for implants.

Modern techniques have made it possible for nearly everyone who is missing teeth to qualify as a candidate for implant treatment. The determining factors are a sufficient amount of quality bone, good oral hygiene, and generally good health.