About Articular Eminence

If you’ve ever dealt with jaw pain or a jaw injury, you’ve probably wondered what happened structurally, and whether or not there are aspects that are vital to the functions of this.  Most of us never considered though what stops out jaw from opening super wide. 

That is the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, which is vital for the function of the jaws. The most particular part of this is what’s called the articular eminence. Here, we’ll discuss the role of this, how this will fit into your TMJ anatomy, and also potential issues too. 

This may seem strange initially, but once you learn a bit more about this, you’ll understand why this is important. 

The articular point of this is pretty much a movable joint.  The eminence is pretty much a projection or raised area of the temporal portion of your skull. 

This is part of the temporal bone, which is a fused part of where the skull is by the ears. The AE is a part of the lower half of the ear area, near the font. It is positioned in front of the hinge on your lower jaw portion, moving downward to get into a semicircular shape. 

The role 

The role of this is pretty much part of the three motion planes, which include going upwards and downwards, each side, and of course the back and forth motion. The AE is a unique structure that guides the pathway near the top part of your jawbone, which is known as the condyle, and the rotation that’s there too. 

The articular tubercle is where the ligaments attach to the TMJ in a lateral sense, with the condule moving it to open up the jaw. 

This portion does actually control how far the jaw is able to open.  When the mandible is lowered, the AE does restrict it by controlling the ability to rotate, and this works with the articular disk toto cushion your movements too. 

Disorders and Treatment 

This can potentially get hurt and affected in some cases, and this is what leads to disorders of TMJ, and that includes clenching and grinding. 

If you notice that there are jaw problems, you should talk to your doctor sooner rather than down the road, and you may need some care for this. 

This is very common, and there are different causes to this, and it can manifest into different symptoms. 

Grinding, clicking, or even popping and tightness or limited mobility of the jaw is very common. T his can actually cause problems based on the angle of this too, and it can intensify with different issues. 

This can sometimes go away over time on its own, but for those more permanent instances, you do need to treat it. The treatments can include pain relievers, medications to treat inflammation, or even relaxers for the muscle. 

Ice along with heat may be used to help relieve this, along with a mouth guard so you’re not grinding. In the worst-case scenario and it’s not getting better, you will need to get surgery for this. But for the most part, that’s considered a last resort, and that also is dependent on the pain that you’re going through too. 

Regardless though, you should most definitely make sure that you get the most that you can out of this, and make sure that you do get the help that you need to take care of the jaw pain, and if it’s affecting that area, you should definitely look into treatment options for this problem so you’re not in pain, and your jaw stops clicking.

Titanium Implant Allergies

One thing that happens when you damage your teeth, is the replacement option. Dental implants are one of these, and it’s a great way to replace them. That's because it feels and looks like an actual tooth.But what happens if the body rejects this, and also what might happen next? Implants are made with a metal alloy, and in a few cases, people do get allergies from the titanium in there and you’ll be able to recognize the symptoms and get a diagnosis from the dentist. 

What implants Are 

Implants are essentially a replacement for the tooth. It’s inserted into the jawbone in a screw or cylinder one.  It won’t make noise or slip, and then, an abutment joins the implant and the crown together.

 Once the surgery is finished, crowns get put on part of the implant, and further protrude through one’s gumline. 

Usually, dental implant surgery is something that takes some time to heal. It takes longer if you’re removing the tooth that’s damaged, struggling with bone grafting, and also the placement of the crown and the rest of it.  Once this is placed, then you just have to practice proper oral hygiene in order to heal that area. This does take a long time, especially months. 

Implant Rejection 

While titanium causes a lot fewer problems compared to other types of metals, there’s the allergy factor some people struggle with. 

The International Journal of Implant Dentistry notes that the corrosion and wear that happens with these implants can happen when the titanium alloy gets put into the tissues surrounding it.  

It can cause inflammatory reactions, bone loss, or even hypersensitivity that can create implant failure. 

How does one know if they have an implant allergy though? 

It usually involves the following: 

• Skin redness around the implant area 

• Hives on the skin and the surface of the gum. 

• Eczema and itching of the gums and skin. 

• Pain and swelling 

• Tissues and cell death around your implant 

• Yellow nail syndrome or other toxic reactions (this also does affect the airways and lungs) 

• Bone loss 

If this does happen, don’t wait, and contact the dentist right away! 

Diagnosis of the Allergy 

Most of the time, dental professionals may look at the mouth and the implant site.  They also may do diagnostic types of tests like the patch test to figure out where the allergy is happening. 

They may also use in vitro blood tests so that you can get a feel for the metal allergy. There is also the lymphocyte transformation test and the lymphocyte migration inhibition test to help you get a feel for the allergy to the area and the sites. 

They also may look at whether it’s an allergy or something else. 

If there is an allergy, they might use zirconia instead. However, due to the lack of long-term data, the professional may look to other options. 

Noticing that you might be allergic to the implant can be overwhelming and disappointing. But the cool thing about this, is that there are many new evolutions to implants that you can use, and plenty of options to choose from. Dental professionals will help you treat this allergy, ensuring that the gap within the mouth and the treatments are ideal for you. 

The sooner you do this the better, especially since it can cause issues with the body, and there is a strong chance that it could impact your health on other levels. You don't want that, right? 

Then start taking care of this right away, and start changing out the titanium implants, especially if you’re worried about the potential effects.

What to do about Cracked Molars

 When it comes to consuming food, molars are the MVPS. They do a lot of the work, and sometimes, if they crack, it can be a major problem.  You do need them.  Here, we’ll go over the cracks in molars, what to do about them, and the treatment before you get to the dentist, and when you get there. 

How it Happens 

Cracks in molars happen due to the fact that they’re on the mouth’s side and back, and they absorb the brunt of the force whenever you chew something. Hard types of foods such as candy, and even chewing on some ice leads to this. 

Teeth grinding also causes this a lot of times too. Sometimes, you may not even realize that this is happening until you get a shot of pain through the mouth, and it can be quite sensitive as well, especially when drinking or eating foods that are cold or hot.  If you suspect this, it’s better to get an appointment sooner than later to look into this and get relief fast! 

What to do when waiting for Appointments 

Obviously, not every person’s able to get in immediately to their dentist. If you’re not able to, there are a few things to figure out before seeing them. 

Make a note first and foremost of the location of the pain. That way, you’re able to create a better experience, and also have a cracked molar treatment that is pinpointed. 

Try not to chew on the side with the crack, so that it doesn’t get worse or cause further problems 

Keep anything hot or cold away from that area if you can, especially liquids. 

The Diagnosis and Treatment 

If you’re able to get in, the first thing is they’ll look at the teeth. 

If you’re lucky enough to have a crack that only affects the outer layer of the teeth, they’ll look to see if they need to do something immediately. Hairline fractures are usually not a big deal, and if they’re superficial enough, the dentist may be able to just polish and smooth out the area and dissipate the pain as well. 

If it’s more than that however, they may need to do something else.  If there is an infection, or even deeper fractures, then the treatment will be based on crack severity.  Dentists may recommend crowns, root canals, or extraction of the teeth, depending on the situation. 

If there is a situation where you may need to get a root canal or a crown, they’ll do that.  they may need to do this if there is an internal infection problem with the teeth. 

Extraction is the final case scenario, if they’ve exhausted the options, or if the tooth is so far gone that they’re unable to save it. 

They only do that as a last minute thing because molars are integral to tooth structures. If you’ve cracked one, it’s even more important to go see a dentist that will look at this.  This is especially true if it’s sensitive to heat and cool. 

The sooner you’re able to see a dentist, the better it will be.  Hairline fractures are always a best case scenario, and early treatment does mean a difference between just crowning it, getting a root canal to handle inner infections, or an extraction. 

Good oral hygiene keeps this maintained, and when you do regular cleaning that check on the teeth, they keep these molars, which are so hard working mind you, healthy and happy for the long-term, benefitting your mouth in the best ways that it can possibly do so as well.