Many patients suffering from the pain and stiffness that often accompanies temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder are willing to do just about anything to find relief. Unfortunately, though well worth the time investment, most conventional treatments can take months or even years to pay off, as there is no "quick-fix" treatment for the condition. That’s why researchers are taking a closer look at the condition and trying to find a way to get maximum relief in as short a time as possible. Recently, researchers in Taiwan set out to discover if platelet-rich plasma injections into the temporomandibular joint were effective at treating TMJ disorder. The researchers searched already-published reports to see if platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections made any difference in patients’ pain and also in jaw flexibility. Dr. Alexandra George did not participate in the study but was not surprised by the findings. "What they ended up discovering is that, while there was a slight reduction in pain, the PRP had no real effect on the stiffness of the jaw," she says. The good news, however, is that the injections did work better than placebo and hyaluronic acid at reducing pain. Studies have shown that hyaluronic acid worked better at improving jaw flexibility than platelet-rich plasma did. "What this shows us is that when it comes to TMJ disorder, for now, slow and steady still wins the race," says George. "It would be wonderful if there were a miraculous quick fix, but unfortunately there isn’t, and for now the best way to treat temporomandibular joint disorder is still a combination of neuromuscular orthodontics and sometimes additional physical therapy. The good news is it will pay off in the end if you stick with it."

A recent study conducted by the Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Turku in Turku, Finland, has found that children who experience oral infections or who have bad oral hygiene may experience atherosclerosis as adults. Atherosclerosis is defined as fatty plaque deposits that clog the arteries and thicken the walls of the blood vessels. This in turn restricts the blood flow through the arteries and reduces the amount of oxygen and nutrients that are absorbed by the body. Arthrosclerosis can be a precursor to numerous dangerous and deadly conditions like heart disease, angina, kidney disease and carotid artery disease. As if those risks weren’t bad enough, the plaque coating the arteries can even break free of the artery walls and become trapped, causing a heart attack or stroke. If the plaque blocks an artery leading to a limb, it can cause tissue death or gangrene - and in extreme cases it can even lead to amputation or death. Until recently, researchers have believed that arthrosclerosis is caused by lifestyle choices such as smoking and by medical conditions like high blood pressure and high cholesterol or triglycerides. However, according to the Finnish study, it may be at least in part caused by poor oral hygiene early in life. "Most of the studies conducted that link poor oral health to medical conditions are looking at adults, not children," says Wexford, Pennsylvania, dentist Dr. Alexandra George. "This study is quite groundbreaking in that it’s examining the oral hygiene of children and following them to adulthood." According to George, it is also the first study that links poor oral hygiene in children to cardiovascular disease. But the good news is now that we know there’s a possible link, there is time to curb it. "Yes, there does appear to be a connection between poor oral hygiene in kids and adult cardiovascular disease," says George, "but the good news is that with children, there’s time to turn things around." For example, according to George, two of the conditions that were noted in the study were childhood gum disease and childhood dental caries (also known as cavities). George says despite the grim outlook, if parents and dental professionals can manage to prevent these conditions early in life, they can in theory reduce a child’s risk of developing conditions like arthrosclerosis later in life - and it's easier than you may think! "Preventing oral health conditions like dental caries and periodontal disease is as easy as brushing twice a day and flossing once a day," says George. "It’s literally as simple as that to protect your child’s teeth and gums today and their overall health tomorrow. What could be easier?"

Think back to your last dental exam: Did Dr. George measure the periodontal "pockets" between your teeth and gums? You may be wondering why - and what exactly she was measuring. It's called the gingival sulcus, and though it’s quite a mouthful (both literally and figuratively speaking) it’s a lot easier to understand than it sounds, especially when you know what you’re looking at. The gingival sulcus can best be described as the space between the tooth’s surface and the gum tissue that surrounds it. The sulcus is a V-shaped groove that goes around the circumference of the tooth’s base. Simply put, the sulcus is what keeps your gums attached to the tooth’s surface. When we measure the pockets of the gums, we are measuring the sulcus. The sulcus should be no deeper than 3mm. Anything deeper is considered periodontal disease, which can cause and contribute to everything from diabetes to stroke to heart disease. Deep gingival sulcus can cause gum disease because the pocket openings allow plaque and bacteria into the gums and then the bloodstream. If the gingival sulcus becomes too infected or pulls away too far from the teeth, there are methods of caring for this issue that can repair damage and prevent any current damage from worsening. If you do have deep pockets and your gingival sulcus is damaged, Dr. George may recommend something called a root planing and scaling procedure to help deep clean the bacteria and plaque from the teeth and gingival sulcus pockets. A root planing and scaling procedure uses special tools to scrape the plaque from the teeth below the gum line. Then the gums are planed, or smoothed, back to the tooth so the gingival sulcus reattaches itself. In some more severe and advanced cases, root scaling and planing may not be quite enough to repair damage caused to the gingival sulcus by periodontal disease. In these cases, Dr. George may recommend a gum-grafting procedure. Gum grafting entails either transplanting gum tissue from elsewhere in the mouth to cover receded sulcus or surgically reattaching loosened sulcus to the teeth. To have your own gingival sulcus checked, schedule your annual or semi-annual oral health exam with Dr. George by calling 724-220-2347 .

When you have temporomandibular joint disorder, you are likely all too familiar with the pain and stiffness this joint condition causes. You probably also know that the pain caused by temporomandibular joint disorder isn’t isolated to just the temporomandibular joint. In fact, this condition can cause pain to reverberate throughout the rest of the head and upper body. It can even cause seemingly unrelated side effects such as tinnitus (ringing of the ears). If you’re wondering why your temporomandibular joint disorder is causing you so much pain and wondering what other muscles and bones could be affected by this joint misalignment, keep reading. Masseter Muscle The masseter muscle is a muscle in the face that allows you to chew much of the solid foods you consume. The masseter connects the mandibles to the cheekbones and is described as being almost parallelogram shaped. The masseter has two sections: the deep section and the superficial section. Because of the location of the masseter muscle, it is very often irritated by the movement of the temporomandibular joint when it is out of alignment. This is one of the many reasons having temporomandibular joint disorder makes chewing painful and difficult. Mandible The mandible is your lower jawbone – the bone that is most likely misaligned with the temporomandibular joint. The mandible is used in speaking and chewing and is the only movable bone in the face. The mandible is also the strongest and largest bone in the entire face. Temporomandibular Condyle The temporomandibular condyle is a ball-shaped joint that facilitates the movement of the jaw when it opens and closes. Ideally, when the jaw opens and closes, the condyle should come out of its socket and move forward. Then, when the jaw closes, the condyle should return to the socket. With temporomandibular joint disorder, this doesn’t happen. Instead, the condyle often travels too far and becomes stuck so it cannot return to the joint where it belongs. This causes the surrounding muscles to spasm and the jaw to freeze. Temporalis The temporalis is another muscle that aids in chewing. It is a fan-shaped muscle that covers the temporal bone, stemming from the temporal fossa. The temporalis is the most powerful muscle in the temporomandibular joint and is the joint that hurts when we grind our teeth or clench our jaw – behaviors that could contribute to or stem from temporomandibular joint disorder To learn more about TMJ disorder or to schedule an appointment with Dr. George, please call 724-220-2347.

Imagine if your jaw ached when you opened and closed your mouth, or sometimes you heard a telltale clicking or popping sound when you spoke or chewed food. Sometimes you might even experience stiffness in your jaw that feels like a precursor to lockjaw, or your jaw may lock up against your will and you have no way to correct it. You think you may have temporomandibular joint disorder, but without a proper diagnosis, you can’t be sure. So, you do the logical thing and schedule an appointment with a dentist. But how do you know your dentist is using the right method to diagnose the problem? And what exactly is the right method? In the old days – and in many modern-day practices - disorders such as temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJD, were partially diagnosed using something called articulating paper. Articulating paper is a sheet of paper that patients bite down on to show the alignment of their bite. It was a good idea in theory, but over time dentists realized that articulating paper has some pretty big pitfalls. Namely, while you can see the alignment of the bite, you cannot see which teeth bite down first or hardest, nor can you see the dispersion of pressure on the bite. Enter the Tekscan, or T-scan, machine. The T-scan machine is the best tool available to any dentist to measure dental occlusion (where the upper and lower jaw meet in the mouth) from a bad bite (called malocclusion) or temporomandibular joint disorder. A T-scan machine measures how the teeth make contact with each other, and the force with which they do so. The T-scan machine delivers instant results via a small, hand-held device that connects to a computer. By reading the data gathered by the T-scan, Dr. George can determine whether you have malocclusion or TMJD and can better formulate an accurate treatment plan to get your teeth looking and feeling their best. When you choose a dentist who uses the T-scan machine, you are choosing to benefit your bite with the newest and best occlusal measurement technology available today. To schedule your own T-scan, please call Dr. George’s office at 724-220-2347.

Spring. It’s a time of renewal and hope. The snow melts, the flowers bloom and the summer birds return to their nests. We humans celebrate by swapping our dark, heavy coats for pastels and jackets, and if we’re really motivated, we deep clean the house. But why should our homes get all the love? What about our smiles? That’s right – spring is the perfect time to spring clean our smiles, too. Here are some great ways to make your smile beautiful this spring! Try Something New With the recent introduction of toothpaste tablets, designer flavored dental flosses and toothpastes, and xylitol gum, now is the perfect time to try a new oral health product to add some excitement to your care routine. Get (a) CleaningThe fastest and easiest way to get a spring-clean mouth is to schedule your regular oral health exam and cleaning. There’s no better feeling than a truly clean mouth with two rows of sparkly-clean teeth, to boot. Your exam is also your opportunity to diagnose any oral health issues and "clean house" in your mouth. Show Your Colors With winter darks being packed away and spring brights coming back out of hibernation, why not pick a few colors that will help make your smile bright? Blue or blue undertones help neutralize yellow and make your teeth look whiter. That goes for shirts, decorative scarves and, yes, even lipstick. Tackle Your Issues Suffering from jaw pain or temporomandibular joint disorder? Spring is the perfect time to get in control of your oral health and begin treating these ailments before the official kickoff of vacation season this summer. Imagine enjoying your favorite foods again this summer instead of missing out another season due to the pain. Start a Construction Program Spring is the perfect time to begin your full-mouth reconstruction journey. Tax refunds are here, the holidays are over, and the kids are finishing up with school. Now is the time to focus on yourself and make the improvements to your health and appearance you’ve been putting off while helping everybody else. Carve out a little you time and speak to Dr. George about getting new dental implants, partials, bridges, bonding or veneers and spring forward to a more beautiful smile. To schedule an oral health spring cleaning, give Dr. George’s office a call at 724-220-2347.

Marathons. Triathlons. Tough mudders. Whatever your endurance sport, training and performing is a major plus for your body. From your heart to your muscles to even your mental health, physical activity has a holistic positive effect on all the systems of the body. But there’s one area of your body that may not be so lucky if you’re not careful. It’s your mouth, and endurance training can really put it through the ringer. If you participate in any kind of endurance sports – or even just put in a grueling workout at the gym – here’s what you should know about protecting your oral health. Dr. Alexandra George is a dentist from Wexford, Pennsylvania. She says participants in endurance sports need to be extra mindful of their oral health. "It’s natural when straining your body to grit or grind your teeth," she says. "That is why it's imperative that when you are participating in endurance sports you wear a mouth guard. A mouth guard is also useful for protecting teeth against accidents like falls or being accidentally hit in the mouth while being active." Another natural thing to do when performing an endurance sport is to breathe through the mouth. This forceful breathing can be dangerous to the teeth because it dries the mouth out at a faster rate than normal mouth breathing or nasal breathing. If you breathe through the mouth while participating in sports, be sure to increase your fluids to compensate! "When performing in sporting events many people choose to drink sugary electrolyte-enhanced beverages that can be bad for the teeth," says George. "If you drink sugary sports drinks, the combination of dry mouth and excess sugar is upping your risk of cavities and bad breath. If you must drink sports drinks while active, be sure to alternate sips with water, or rinse your mouth out with water when your sports drink is finished." Because of the extra wear and tear on your teeth from endurance training, it is important that you visit your dentist more frequently than you might think. George recommends you stop by your dentist’s office at least two or three times a year to be sure that your oral health is solid and there is no damage to your teeth. Remember: Your oral health, or lack thereof, affects your total body health, which can affect your sports performance.

If you consider yourself a bit of a foodie, you’re probably familiar with trendy drinks as well as trendy foods. Right now, beverages from rose to kombucha are having their moment in the spotlight - and some of them even have purported health benefits. But are they true? And what’s the tradeoff? Can a good-for-you drink taste as good as one that isn’t healthy? Here’s the lowdown on some trendy beverages - and whether they’re really as good for you as they claim to be. Kombucha. It’s got a funny name, but this trendy fermented tea beverage supposedly packs a wallop of probiotics and prebiotics, substances that stimulate microorganism growth. Unfortunately, however, it also packs something else "Kombucha is very acidic," says Dr. Alexandra George, a dentist from Wexford, Pennsylvania. "And that acid can be very bad for your teeth." Not only that, but studies have shown it doesn’t really do much for your health. "It probably won’t hurt your health, but there’s been no proven benefits to your health, either," says George. "Experts say if you really want to get the benefits of pro- or prebiotics, you should stick to yogurt or yogurt smoothies." Another trendy beverage that claims to be better for you than the rest of the pack is sparkling water. You know the brand. But again, even though it's lower in sugar than traditional soda, sparkling water is still really acidic, and acid erodes your teeth, causing enamel damage that leaves teeth susceptible to cavities. So, is there a trendy beverage that actually is good for you? Yes! It’s called matcha green tea, and believe it or not, it’s everything it claims to be. "Matcha green tea’s only real threat to your health is that it could discolor your teeth a little bit," says George. "But otherwise it's got some great benefits." Those benefits include a ton of antioxidants, reduction of oral inflammation, and a bunch of antibacterial properties that can help kill off some of that nasty oral bacteria responsible for cavities and bad breath. Basically, matcha is everything kombucha aspires to be. Even better, matcha isn’t just good for your mouth - it’s been popping up as an ingredient in everything from face masks to smoothies. "Matcha green tea really is a wonder ingredient, as long as you use it wisely," says George. That means brushing your teeth well after drinking to avoid staining, and if you do drink it, not overloading your tea with sugar or honey, which will feed the very bacteria you’re hoping to eradicate by drinking matcha in the first place. Recent studies have also shown that drinking too-hot tea can cause throat cancer, so be sure to indulge in your matcha green tea at a reasonable temperature.

Some like it hot – their tea, that is. But if the findings of a new study are any indication, it may be best to let that cup of tea, coffee or bone broth cool down quite a bit before drinking it. That’s because, according to a research study recently published in the International Journal of Cancer, drinking scalding-hot tea could do more than just burn your mouth: It can cause esophageal cancer. Esophageal cancer is admittedly not the most common type of cancer. In fact, in the United States, esophageal cancer only affects 1 percent of the population. But rates of the disease are much higher elsewhere on Earth - mostly in Asian countries like Iran and China, where tea drinking is not only much more common, but teas are also served much hotter than they are in America. "The theory behind the increased risk in cancer is that the hot tea is causing cellular damage by repeatedly injuring the tissue in the esophagus," says Dr. Alexandra George, a dentist from Wexford, Pennsylvania. "Think of it like getting skin cancer from repeated sunburns, except it’s from hot liquid." In the study, researchers took several temperature measurements of participants’ tea. They measured the tea’s actual temperature as well as the temperature at which the participant chose to consume their cup of tea. A staggering 317 new cases of esophageal cancer were diagnosed during the study. What the researchers found was that the hotter the tea, and the less time that passed between the tea being poured and being consumed, the higher the risk for esophageal cancer. The results were then compared with samples from people who drank 700 ml of tea each day at lower temperatures. Individuals who drank the hotter tea (over 140 degrees Fahrenheit) had a 90 percent higher risk of developing esophageal cancer than those who did not. "It's important to note that this is not exclusive to just tea," says George. "It can happen with any hot beverage. Tea was used in the study because it is the second most popular drink in the world – the first being water. It’s also important to note that drinking too-hot tea once or twice probably won’t cause esophageal cancer. The study followed regular tea drinkers who regularly drank tea above a certain temperature."

Over time, our teeth can become worn down and the edges softened. This is normal wear and tear on teeth, and it can happen no matter what we eat – especially if we eat a lot of hard or crunchy foods. But what isn’t normal is chipping or cracking of the teeth. Imagine this. You just finished lunch and decide to chew a piece of sugarless gum to help clean your teeth and freshen your breath. No harm there, right? But as you chew, you feel a crunch. Uh oh! Your tooth just cracked. Now, granted, it probably wasn’t caused by the gum, but gum can loosen old fillings, and an already weakened tooth can crack with very little pressure. Now what? Should you leave that chip alone, or should you fix it? Depending on the size of the chip and the location of the tooth itself, it may not seem worth it to get it fixed. But believe it or not there are valid medical reasons for getting a chipped or cracked tooth fixed. Protect Your Enamel Depending on the location of the chip, when you damage a tooth you can chip into the tooth’s outer protective layer, the enamel. Chipped enamel may not look like a big deal, but it can leave the tooth vulnerable to decay and cavities. That’s why it’s important to have the tooth evaluated by Dr. George, even if you think it's no big deal. Go Back to Your Roots Enamel damage can not only harm the surface of your teeth, but can also lead to infection of the roots of your teeth. That’s because when the enamel is damaged, bacteria have an easier way into the dentin and roots of your teeth. Keep Growing A chip may not seem big now, but remember that wear and tear? Well, if your chip gets worn down naturally or the tooth itself is weakened, the chip can get a lot bigger, a lot faster. It Looks Bad Depending on where the chip is located it might just look bad, and honestly, that’s enough of a problem to warrant fixing it. You are entitled to a beautiful, healthy smile, and that includes having all your teeth completely intact. To have a chipped or cracked tooth repaired, call Dr. George at 724-220-2347.

Do you have a "gummy" smile? Do your gums cover your teeth unevenly? Do you feel like your teeth are too small or your gums cover too much of your teeth? Are your gums receding? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may not have realized there is a treatment option that can correct all of these problems. Yes, that’s right - the same procedure can correct both receding gums and too much gum tissue. It’s called gum reshaping or gum contouring, and it can change where your gums sit on your teeth and transform your entire smile. What Is Gum Reshaping? Gum reshaping and contouring is an in-office medical procedure that either reduces or reshapes the gum line either for medical or aesthetic reasons. Gum reshaping is done with lasers that cut away the overage of gum tissue that sits on the teeth, creating a more streamlined gum line. Thanks to the nature of the laser, it can actually cut the gums in such a way that they sit evenly on your teeth and frame them perfectly. The laser then seals the gums, stopping them from bleeding and, in the case of patients using the treatment for periodontitis, seal any newly cleaned gum pockets and prevent bacteria from reentering them. After the Procedure Gum recontouring sounds painful, and before lasers, it used to be. But today's procedures are more comfortable than ever, thanks to the laser itself. Laser cutting allows for less bleeding, as does sealing off the wound with the laser. This also causes less inflammation, which in turn enables a faster healing time and an easier time practicing excellent oral hygiene, which includes brushing and flossing. While it may not seem like a good idea to floss newly recontoured gums, it is imperative to take good care of the teeth and gums during the recovery period to prevent infection. Pain following the procedure is generally well tolerated and can usually be managed by over-the-counter pain medications such as ibuprofen, which is also an anti-inflammatory. We also recommend soft foods for the first week following your gum-contouring procedure. To speak to Dr. George about gum recontouring or any other cosmetic dental procedure, please call 724-220-2347.

Do you or a loved one suffer from the debilitating joint condition known as temporomandibular joint disorder (or TMJ disorder for short)? Do you have young children with either crooked adult teeth or seemingly straight baby teeth? It may be time for an orthodontic evaluation. While it may seem a tad premature to be worrying about realigning the teeth of a child, dentists and orthodontists recommend that children be evaluated for orthodontics as young as age 7. This is because at age 7, the bones of the roof of the mouth are still not completely fused together, making it much easier to treat common orthodontic problems and ward off a potential pain: temporomandibular joint disorder. Temporomandibular joint disorder is a condition of the temporomandibular joint wherein a misaligned bite stemming from the jawbone or surrounding muscles can cause severe pain. It is categorized by a clicking or popping sound while opening and closing the jaw; jaw pain and stiffness; tinnitus; muscle aches in the back, neck and face; and even headaches. But getting to the root cause of TMJ disorder is not so simple. While we don’t know for sure if temporomandibular joint disorder is genetic, we do know there are some genetic predispositions to the condition. Thus, if a parent or someone in the family has TMJ disorder, others in the family – including children - may also be genetically predisposed, even if they currently exhibit no signs of the condition. But helping to diagnose TMJ disorder is not all an early orthodontic evaluation can do for your child. Orthodontic visits can help predict the growth pattern of adult teeth and either begin a treatment plan or develop a future treatment plan for your child. This enables you to get a head start on warding off any orthodontic trouble, and it may even make your child’s orthodontic treatment less painful and much shorter than it might be at a more advanced age - namely after the jawbones fuse around age 9. Remember, orthodontic intervention can prevent more than just cosmetic issues like crooked teeth. It can prevent problems like TMJ disorder, sleep apnea, snoring and more. To schedule an orthodontic evaluation for your child, call Dr. George’s office at 724-220-2347.

Wine drinkers around the world who enjoy a specific type of sparkling wine may have a new reason to cut back on their favorite bubbly beverage. It seems prosecco, a sparkling wine from Italy that’s been touted as a cheaper alternative to champagne, is causing a lot of oral health problems. The effervescent drink has been rising in popularity globally, but dentists are cautioning that, while delicious, the Italian-made prosecco could be causing damage to drinkers' teeth. Much like champagne (that is only made from grapes grown in the Champagne region of France), prosecco is a sparkling wine made from grapes that can only be grown in Veneto, Italy. But prosecco has the benefit of being just as delicious as champagne and far more affordable – and thus more drinkable. Unfortunately, prosecco does have a pretty big drawback: It has been found to cause serious damage to the teeth. That’s because the fizzy prosecco has a high level of acidity – a pH of a little bit more than three, which is the equivalent of drinking orange juice or soda. But shockingly prosecco has more sugar than soda! Between all that sugar and all that acid, those tiny bubbles are wreaking havoc on teeth, causing something that dentists have dubbed a "prosecco smile." So, what is a prosecco smile? It’s a smile marked by a white line across the teeth caused by damage to the tooth’s enamel. The good news is that a prosecco smile is totally preventable. Yes, there’s always the option of simply not drinking the buoyant beverage, but where’s the fun in that? If, like an increasing number of consumers, you must have your prosecco, there are a few steps you can take to make sure your teeth are protected from those bad little bubbles. Limit Your Intake No, you don’t have to give up prosecco - or any other drink - as long as it is drunk in moderation. But because of the acid and bubbles in prosecco, it’s a wise idea to limit what you drink in one sitting. Rinse, Repeat As you drink, alternate sips of prosecco with water. This will help rinse off the teeth as you drink and keep weakened enamel to a minimum. Hold Off on Brushing When you drink prosecco (or any other acidic beverage, for that matter), you weaken the tooth enamel, making the teeth softer and more vulnerable to damage. To keep enamel damage to a minimum, do not brush teeth immediately after drinking prosecco. Wait at least 30 minutes so the enamel has a chance to re-harden before you pull out your brush Enjoy Don’t let potential damage ruin a great glass of wine. Just put these tips into practice and enjoy! To schedule an appointment with Dr. George, please call 724-220-2347.

A study published in the March 2019 edition of Pain: The Journal of the International Association for the Study of Pain has made some remarkable discoveries that could shine a brighter light on temporomandibular joint disorder and why it affects more women than men. Temporomandibular joint disorder is a painful medical condition that occurs when the temporomandibular joint gets out of alignment. It can cause everything from a popping and clicking jaw to tinnitus, teeth grinding (or bruxism), headaches, upper-body aches and even the inability to open or close the mouth. The article studied 999 cases and a control group of 2,031 persons without temporomandibular joint disorder from a previously conducted study, the Orofacial Pain: Prospective Evaluation and Risk Assessment (OPPERA) study. Researchers examined case data for patients to better understand if there is a genetic component contributing to who gets temporomandibular joint disorder and who does not. The study yielded some surprising answers. "They found that there definitely is some gender-based reasoning why more women suffer from temporomandibular joint disorder than men," says Wexford, Pennsylvania, neuromuscular orthodontic practitioner Dr. Alexandra George. George specializes in treating patients with temporomandibular joint disorder and says the condition is much more common in women. George is right: Statistically speaking, an estimated 90 percent of temporomandibular joint disorder sufferers are women in their childbearing years - a phenomena that has left many scratching their heads. "There have been many theories as to why women are so much more frequently affected by temporomandibular joint disorder," says George. "Everything from women just report it more to women lead more stressful lives. These could still all be contributing factors." But there could be something else at play, too. According to the Pain study, some men may have a genetic predisposition to high pain tolerance and may simply not notice they have temporomandibular joint disorder in the first place. Researchers were able to locate what they call a single nucleotide polymorphism, located on chromosome 3 in men with temporomandibular joint disorder. The men were found to have what is known as a trait locus with decreased expression on a muscle near their temporomandibular joint. This is known as a MRAS expression, and it affects the resiliency to chronic pain in men. Thus, the more men who have this MRAS expression, the fewer who would notice the pain associated with temporomandibular joint disorder. It’s fascinating science that answers a long-held mystery - and a breakthrough in temporomandibular joint disorder research to boot.

A recent article on the lifestyle blog Refinery29 featured a young woman who delayed her impending nuptials to undergo an extensive (and expensive) smile makeover. But the woman didn’t do it just for fun - she did it to look better in her wedding photos. The makeover ultimately cost the young bride $25,000 and stretched her engagement out to two and a half years, following the completion of the full-mouth reconstruction she underwent. So, what does a $25,000 full-mouth reconstruction include exactly? In the case of the story’s author, it included braces, dental implants, teeth whitening and a temporary bridge. With the average wedding now costing $25,714, this young bride spent enough on her teeth to get married twice! "I think the full-mouth reconstruction is absolutely a better investment," says Dr. Alexandra George, a cosmetic dentist from Wexford, Pennsylvania. That’s because, according to George, investing in your smile is investing in something that not only lasts, but also gives you confidence and makes you look and feel better. And with the average marriage only lasting 15 to 18 years, a beautiful smile may just last longer. "For patients with dental implants or orthodontics like the bride in the story, those should last a long time." According to George, orthodontic treatment should last a lifetime if well maintained. The average dental implant can last an average of 15 years, but with excellent maintenance can last much longer. So, what’s empowering this new generation of brides to take the appearance of their smile so seriously all of a sudden. Believe it or not, it may be something a lot less serious (and maybe more fun) than you think. "Brides are turning to social media for inspiration and getting motivated to perfect their appearances by seeing selfies of other brides and celebrities," George says. But why social media? After all, television and magazines have been around for ages, and both are known to showcase swarms of celebrities with perfectly aligned business-card-white teeth. George, for her part, thinks it could be due to a few things. First, the lack of airbrushing creates a sense of realness when looking at others’ photos. Second, these are "real" people with really great smiles "So it gives you that feeling of ‘I can have this too'," says George. And don’t underestimate those trendy filters, either. "Sometimes seeing a photo of yourself through a filter can show you what your potential is," George says. "If you see how good your own smile could look with some adjustments, that could be enough to encourage someone to finally take action." https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2018/11/217081/bride-teeth-whitening-wedding-smile

Augmented reality. It’s one of those futuristic, high-tech-sounding terms we’ve all heard once or twice but have no idea what it really means. Well, augmented reality is a little bit like virtual reality, except it changes what is already there - in other words, it allows you to see a projected image of something over an already existing thing or image. This fascinating technology is already being used in everything from video games to car repair and civil engineering – and it soon may have a new use: at your dentist’s office! You read that right - augmented reality could be coming soon to a dental clinic near you. Here’s why. Imagine you are preparing to invest in something you’ve wanted for a long time: a healthy, beautiful smile. But in order to do so, you need to invest in a full-mouth reconstruction – a deluxe smile makeover, if you will. The problem is, for the amount you’re investing, how can you be sure you’ll get the results you want? That’s where augmented reality (or AR) steps in. A new startup in Switzerland is developing software that uses augmented reality to superimpose an image of a made-over smile onto the faces of patients seeking to undergo cosmetic dentistry procedures, and it could change the whole industry. "Being able to show patients what kind of results they can expect will be a game changer," says Dr. Alexandra George of Wexford, Pennsylvania. "For some patients it's hard to imagine what that might look like." George performs everything from teeth whitening to full-mouth reconstruction in her Pennsylvania practice. She says the new software will be a useful tool for dentists. "The software doesn’t just superimpose an image – you can actually adjust that image," says George. "So if the patient doesn’t like what they see, they can make changes." And that’s very good news for both patients and dentists. "We want patients to be satisfied with their smile," George says. "If they’re able to get a better idea of what they can expect, that will eliminate any surprises in the end. And if they see something they don’t like, it empowers the dentist to be able to correct the treatment plan before the treatment even begins." That can save valuable time, money and frustration. "Bottom line, it’s your smile, and it's your money," George says. "We want you to be satisfied with our work, and if this software can create realistic expectations of what your final outcome looks like, everyone wins."

Let’s face it: It can be hard to get away from the office to get to a dental exam. Plus, with so many adult Americans suffering from odontophobia (fear of the dentist), a lot of people simply don’t make it a priority. But what if you didn’t have to leave the office to get your dental exam? What if your dentist dropped by for a work-based house call and came to you? Well, the future is here and so is the dentist at a new startup that’s sending dentists to business offices to do in-office exams and cleanings for employees. The startup follows other oral health startups like those braces-by-mail companies. It offers dental exams and cleanings in the comfort of your own workplace, usually in an empty office or conference room. Great idea, right? Wrong! So, what’s the problem with in-office oral health? After all, it is a timesaver and would solve a big problem for many people. But there are bigger problems created by this type of dentistry. First of all, getting your teeth cleaned and scraped – something that can cause bleeding - is not something to do in a conference room where you just had a board meeting and celebrated Bob from HR’s 46th birthday. Dental offices are sterile environments that are cleaned thoroughly between patients. All materials used are either disposed of properly or sanitized properly. Most office conference rooms don’t have an autoclave sanitizer or proper disposal system for materials containing bodily fluids. Next, think about how your job makes you feel. Even if you love what you do, it can get stressful. Do you really want the stress and tension of being in the office added to the stress of being at the dentist? How can you relax if you spend your entire cleaning worrying about that big report that’s due in three hours? Most dental offices go the extra mile to make patients feel comfortable and relaxed during your visit. Finally, think about what may be required at your exam. Do you want your boss to see you in bitewings? Your HR person to hear you under nitrous oxide? Probably not. While in-office dentistry seems to have its heart in the right place, dentistry is one field that’s better left in-office: a dental office. To schedule an appointment with Dr. George, please call 724-220-2347.

If you’re under treatment for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, you may have been prescribed occlusal splint therapy. The name sounds complicated and maybe even a little scary, but occlusal splint therapy isn’t as mysterious as it seems. In fact, it’s used to treat a multitude of oral health problems. What Is an Occlusal Splint? An occlusal splint goes by many names, but you may know it by its most common name: a bite guard. Generally, occlusal splints are used to keep the teeth in line and protect them from bruxism (teeth grinding), but they can be used to treat many different conditions. Occlusal splints are made at your dentist’s office and are custom-fit to your individual mouth, so you’re not stuck with an awkward and uncomfortable "boil-and-bite" type of bite guard you can buy over the counter. Reasons for Occlusal Splints There are actually many different reasons for a dentist or neuromuscular dentists to prescribe an occlusal splint. They can be used to treat:

No one likes finding out they need a crown on their tooth, but crowns are nothing to be afraid of. In fact, crowns can even be a good thing. Think of them as a deluxe filling, if you will: well made, secure and luxurious. But the type of crown you need is another story - and the answer depends on several different factors. Crowns are typically used when the area of the tooth that needs a filling is too big. The dentist makes a cap that fits over the tooth while leaving the main structure of the tooth intact. The crown looks and feels like a natural tooth and keeps away the decay from the base of the tooth. There are several different types of crowns to choose from. Here are the types and what they’re best used for. Porcelain Crowns If you need a crown on one of your front teeth, your dentist will likely choose a porcelain crown. Porcelain crowns, much like resin fillings, look natural and blend in with the rest of the teeth. They are also durable enough for the front of the mouth. Gold Crowns Gold crowns sound regal, don’t they? But instead of sitting on top of your head, a gold dental crown sits over your tooth. Considered among the most durable types of crowns, gold crowns can’t break or fracture or even damage the underlying tooth. Metal Crowns Much like gold crowns, metal crowns are extremely strong but still gentle to the teeth. They also can be fitted to the tooth with a very small amount of natural tooth needing to be removed. Porcelain / Metal Fusion Crowns A crown made of porcelain that is secured to a metal underpinning is a durable option commonly used for back teeth. Think of them as the Le Crueset of fillings - offering the beauty of porcelain with the durability of metal. Though Dr. George will determine which crown type is best for your individual tooth, it helps to know why one crown may be selected over another. For any further questions regarding your crowns or any other dental procedure, please call Dr. George’s office at 724-220-2347.

Women are requesting teeth fit for a princess. Beauty trends come and go, but at least one of them isn’t going anywhere anytime soon: the quest for whiter, brighter teeth and a healthy, beautiful smile. Each year, Americans spend billions of dollars on elective cosmetic dentistry procedures – everything from teeth whitening to braces to porcelain veneers. But while whitening is among the most common and affordable cosmetic procedure, sometimes it's not enough to simply whiten the teeth. Some patients want a little something more to create a healthy beautiful smile like their favorite celebrity. Media outlets are reporting that right now the biggest trend in cosmetic dentistry is, not surprisingly, new princess Meghan Markle’s stunning smile. The American actress-turned-royalty has women around the globe rushing to their dentist’s office to capture that signature glow for themselves. So, what’s so great about that "Markle Sparkle" that everyone wants their own version of it? Trend spotters and dentists agree, it's not just the natural whiteness of Markle’s smile, but the spacing, tooth size and even her tooth-to-lip and -gum ratio that makes her smile so beautiful. But Markle isn’t the first or only celebrity to spark an oral-health trend. Julia Roberts’ iconic smile is still a popular request, as is Gabrielle Union, and even Markle’s own sister-in-law, fashion icon Kate Middleton. So, what can you do if you want some of that signature Markle Sparkle for yourself? Whitening: A professional whitening treatment from Dr. George may be all your smile needs to capture that "fit for a princess" glow. These in-office treatments can reduce stains and discoloration by several shades, giving you that celebrity gleam you deserve. Veneers: Veneers are a great way to correct cosmetic issues with the teeth. Thin layers of porcelain are custom fit to each tooth, improving shape, size and color. Veneers can hide chips, cracks and discoloration and create a gorgeous grin in about two weeks. Orthodontics: Orthodontics changes the positioning and alignment of the teeth. It can also improve the tooth-to-cheek and tooth-to-gum ratio, widening the jaw to create your very own megawatt smile just like the one celebrities such as Markle and Roberts are famous for. As for Markle, we have a feeling she’ll be an inspiration for more than just her smile for years to come. Between a Hollywood career, dazzling teeth and a fairytale love story, what’s not to smile about? To get that Markle Sparkle for your own teeth, call Dr. George’s office at 724-220-2347.