The mouth plays an important role in maintaining general health. Sedation dentistry provides the opportunity for those who avoid visiting the dentist because of nerves or fright to receive pain-free dental care and maintain both their oral and general health. Poor dental health can lead to heart disease, diabetes, or even osteoporosis.

Undergoing sedation dentistry involves a number of steps. First, you will take a sedative the night before your procedure to combat anxiety. You will also be asked to not eat the morning of your procedure. When you arrive at Dr. Melnick’s office, you will be given another sedative that will last throughout your procedure. These sedatives will make you very comfortable during your procedure. You will be conscious, but you may fall asleep due to the relaxation. Nitrous oxide may be used as well.

There are many advantages to using sedation dentistry. You will not feel the fear or anxiety that has caused you to dread visiting the dentist, the procedure will be quicker because you will be fully relaxed, and you will be much more comfortable and have virtually no memory of the procedure.

If you would like to learn more about sedation dentistry, please contact the Laurel, Maryland dentistry office, Laurel Lakes Cosmetic Dentistry to schedule your initial consultation.

Temporomandibular joint disorder is a term that describes inflammation of the temporomandibular joint. This disorder can be referred to as TMD, TMJ or temporomandibular joint syndrome. The temporomandibular joint connects the jaw to the skull. Temporomandibular joint disorder is most often caused by a misaligned bite. The offset bite puts additional strain on the joints, ligaments and bones in your jaw, resulting in chronic pain.

TMD is a very difficult disorder to diagnose and often requires expertise of a neuromuscular dentist, such as Dr. Daniel Melnick. TMD can result in jaw pain, locking of the jaw, shoulder pain, numbness in the arms or fingers, and severe headaches that are often confused with migraines. These symptoms are very common, causing TMD to often go misdiagnosed.

Dr. Melnick can properly treat your TMD, and once you have been diagnosed with TMD your chronic pain and other symptoms can be permanently relieved. There are three stages to TMD treatment, but in the end, the adjustment of your bite will be permanent, and you will no long suffer from the symptoms TMD causes.

If you live in the Laurel, Maryland area and would like to learn more about TMD, or if you think you may suffer from TMD, please contact Laurel Lakes Cosmetic Dentistry to schedule your initial consultation.