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 Do you get headaches or neck aches at the end of your work day? Do you awaken with sore jaw muscles or sore teeth? Has your dentist told you that you have excessive wear on your teeth and would benefit from a mouth guard? As we age, these are very common complaints that may or may not be actually caused by dental problems. Our chewing muscles, or muscles of mastication, are very large and powerful muscles. When I see patients with extremely worn teeth surfaces, I often will ask them if they grind or clench their teeth. Often they say, "No, never!" I then follow up with questions such as, "Do you get a stiff or sore neck? Headaches? Do you work at a computer terminal all day long?" Often, the response is, "Yes!" Our mouth is one component of our entire body. Oral health can dramatically affect our medical health. Problems with heart disease, stroke, pneumonia and an assortment of other medical diseases can be related to poor oral health. Many medications commonly given to older individuals for medical problems can cause oral problems related to dry mouth, or a decrease in salivary flow. Decreased saliva may increase the incidence of dental decay, gum problems, pain in the soft tissues of the mouth and difficulty wearing removable dental appliances such as partial or complete dentures. If we experience changes in our spine, for example through arthritis or disk problems, we will often also manifest problems and pain in our head and neck. Chiropracticors will often adjust our back with the purpose of relieving head and neck pain. As we age, all of our parts wear out! I am certainly learning this myself I might add! The surface of teeth wear down simply from years of chewing. Grinding and clenching make the wear of our teeth even worse. As teeth wear down over time, it is common to develop jaw pain, which can be directly attributed to the poorer alignment of our teeth. Like all of our joints, the jaw joint may also develop painful arthritis, which can alter the manner in which we chew our food. Treatment by a TMJ (jaw joint) specialist may help to alleviate headaches, neck pain, back pain and tooth pain by evaluating the alignment of the teeth and jaw. Often relatively simple treatment is all that is required. As the population over 40 increases, the type of dental problems change and may need a different approach to treatment than simple fillings and tooth cleanings. It is important to maintain the proper alignment of teeth. If teeth are lost due to gum disease or dental decay, it is important to replace teeth so that proper function may be restored. However, treatment for the aging population should involve a thorough evaluation of the jaw, the proper occlusal (or biting surface) height, the health of the oral soft tissues including a complete oral cancer screening exam, teeth and bone, nutrition, and medical health before a complete treatment plan can be suggested. It may be necessary to include movement of teeth through orthodontics, treatment of the gums with periodontal procedures, and evaluation of the jaw joint as part of the treatment regime. Patients should understand that oral health is more than just looking good, but is an integral component to our overall health. Fortunately there are many more options for dental treatment than there were decades ago. Implants and even implant-supported dentures are better tolerated by many people than the conventional dentures of yesteryear. It is always a good idea to obtain several different opinions from experienced dentists before you decide to undergo extensive dental treatment. Some dentists may feel comfortable treating the entire dental rehabilitation, others may suggest that you see a specialist who has had advanced training in specific areas of dentistry. Always feel comfortable telling your dentist what your concerns are and what your ideal outcome would be. Although we may not be able to look 20 again, we can certainly strive toward good oral health as part of a healthy mind and body.
Molly P. Newlon, DDS, MA, graduated from UOP Dental School in 1982 and completed a GPR residency at the Veteran's Administration Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. She was director of the Faculty Dental Practice for nine years, and 11 years ago became director of health and safety for the UCSF School of Dentistry. Molly provides training in infection control and health and safety to faculty, students and staff, and is an active member on numerous campuswide committees on health and safety and terrorism preparedness. Send your questions to Molly@smartnow.com. |
