Dr. G’s High Level Dentistry Series: Are you breaking your own teeth without realizing it?

Dentist in Cambridge

If you regularly wake up with headaches, a sore neck, or a sore jaw it could be related to grinding/clenching.

There are 5 main muscles associated with clenching and grinding. These muscles, like any muscles in the body, can tense up and develop “knots” in similar ways that people’s shoulders and back develop these. During a TMJ (Temporal Mandibular Joint) screening, us dentists evaluate these areas as well as any jaw abnormalities.

Almost 90% of my patients experience mild/moderate TMJ issues at some point in their life and for the majority of them I recommend an over the counter nightguard (once I have confirmed via a TMJ screening).

BUT at what point does this need further customized care?

If you have experienced crowns breaking, fillings cracking, or your front teeth getting shorter as you age, it’s a good indication that you need a TMJ screening to prevent damage to your teeth. Additionally, there are even patients that have their jaw lock in in open or closed position for some amount of time. This also is a good indication that a bigger problem may occur.

The good news though is that once we have found the cause of this problem, there are simple preventative measures we can do to ensure this ends the downward cycle.

Stop by our office today for a no charge TMJ assessment to stop the cavity development in its tracks.

Dr. Jeffrey E. Greenberg DMD

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To view the video series, visit us:

Facebook: @sweetspotdental

Instagram: @hellosweetspotdental

To see how Dr. Greenberg and his team can help you click here

Dr. G’s High Level Dentistry Series: Are you Overwhelmed?

Dentist in Cambridge

Problem: You keep feeling like your dentist is chasing problems instead of “routine” cleanings and exams and it’s getting overwhelming for everyone.

For the scope of this blog entry, complex dental cases are defined as any cases that:

Involve multiple disciplines in dentistry (root canals, implants, crowns, fillings, extractions, aesthetics, etc). Sometimes even within the same treatment plan.
Cases that have underlying clenching/grinding issues
Dental anxiety preventing you from getting proper care

Complex dental cases can easily become overwhelming when:

You can only choose 1 tooth to treat at a time
You don’t begin with the end in mind
The cost of treatment is out of your dental budget

Solution: A structured, clear plan created by your dentist and chosen equally by you and the dentist. This includes time frame, cost breakdown and pros and cons explained for treatment options.

For those patient with dental anxiety, please our previous blog and video series where we discuss it in detail: https://sweetspotdental.com/dentistry/what-is-dental-anxiety/

Dr. Jeffrey E. Greenberg DMD

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To view the video series, visit us:

Facebook: @sweetspotdental

Instagram: @hellosweetspotdental

To see how Dr. Greenberg and his team can help you click here

Dr. G’s High Level Dentistry Series: Cavity Prevention

Dentist in Cambridge

You brush and floss like you are supposed to, but you still get cavities. Maybe you can feel that your dentist or hygienist keep bringing up you not flossing enough making it seem like you are lying.

First off this problem is extremely frustrating for everyone involved. Sure, not everyone is excellent at flossing EVERY SINGLE DAY. But for patient that are “religious” about taking care of their teeth, a diagnosis of new cavities can feel like a personal attack. It makes people regret and feel shame for an after dinner mint or a sip of soda.

What does this mean? It means the cause for this cavity development has not been found out yet and therefore not addressed properly.

There are actually many causes of cavity development that range from: nutritional factors, salivary flow (how much saliva you produce), alcohol intake, pH balance of the mouth, and yes, improper brushing and flossing technique.

The solution that we use here at Sweet Spot Dental is a Customized cavity risk assessment where we can evaluate the many causes of cavity development and treat it accordingly.

Stop by our office today for a comprehensive exam to stop the cavity development in its tracks.

Dr. Jeffrey E. Greenberg DMD

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To view the video series, visit us:

Facebook: @sweetspotdental

Instagram: @hellosweetspotdental

To see how Dr. Greenberg and his team can help you click here

Dr. G’s blog: Introducing our High Level Dentistry series

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Does any of this sound familiar?

Doing everything the hygienist has recommended, and you STILL get cavities
Breaking your fillings, caps, or even your natural teeth
You know there is a lot going on, but you are scared to see a dentist
You are worried about the cost of dental treatment
You feel like your dental office treats you like another number

When things go right, everyone is happy. When things become unusual, that’s when problems can start happening. In my High Level Dental Series I will go over non-cookie cutter approaches to dental problems that fit outside the mold. Please continue this journey with me by following along with this blog, as well as my video series on our social media pages.

Dr. Jeffrey E. Greenberg DMD

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To view the video series, visit us:

Facebook: @sweetspotdental

Instagram: @hellosweetspotdental

To see how Dr. Greenberg and his team can help you click here

Steps to make getting a “shot” easier

Dentist in Cambridge

“For fast acting relief, try slowing down.” ~ Lily Tomlin

Everyone hates needles, and we know that

There is no surprise that you don’t like getting injections (or shots) at the dentist. We all are aware that it is probably one of the biggest triggers for you at the dentist! Here are a few tips for making this process much easier to deal with if you have an appointment where you know you will need to get numb for the procedure.

Trust should be established before an injection is performed.

See the previous post on questions you should ask your dentist! [LINK TO THIS POST]. Then:

Explain your triggers

Opening up a conversation about any bad past experiences is crucial to having an easy visit. By doing this with a provider who is sensitive to dentally anxious patients, there are a lot of “tricks” we are able to use to overcome a sometimes painful administration of local anesthesia (a.k.a., getting a shot).

Mindful breathing

Mindful breathing has been immensely helpful while I worked with patients chair-side throughout my career. The principles may seem very basic, but in reality it gives you something to focus on other than pain. Additionally, slow deep breathes have a helpful physiologic response during this procedure. I have learned to coach my patients chair-side for every single injection on mindful breathing techniques and I am then able to time my injection at the easiest moment for my patient.

For a quick mindful breathing exercise, see the video below:

Dr. Jeffrey E. Greenberg DMD

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To view the video series, visit us:

Facebook: @sweetspotdental

Instagram: @hellosweetspotdental

To see how Dr. Greenberg and his team can help you click here

What BIG question should you be asking your dentist?

Dentist in Cambridge

“Walking into our stories of hurt…can feel dangerous and foreboding, and what we must ultimately confront is ourself. The most difficult part of our stories is often what we bring to them – what we make up about who we are and how we are perceived by others.” ~Bréne Brown

EVERYONE has a unique brand of crazy

Trust me, you do. I say this with lots of love in my heart, but everyone has very unique traits and beliefs that will undoubtably make them crazy (ok, maybe unique is a better word) to someone else. This is the side people are embarrassed to talk about, but it is also what makes them unique. These characteristics should be discussed with a dentist you trust. This explanation can open so many doors that will enable the right provider to create customized care that fits you exact needs.

So, what is the BIG question to ask?

Trust is about vulnerability. Putting yourself in someone else’s hands is tough, especially for those with dental anxiety. I think it is also important to ask as many questions as you need to feel comfortable. This means that for some people only one question is needed, and for others it may need a special visit just to “meet and greet” the dentist. During either of these types of visits, the question I would like you to feel comfortable asking is: “What do you do differently for dental anxious patients?” The secret to this is not the question or necessarily the answer you get; it’s the need to open the door for both of you to discuss how to make your visit an easy one.

Dr. Jeffrey E. Greenberg DMD

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To view the video series, visit us:

Facebook: @sweetspotdental

Instagram: @hellosweetspotdental

To see how Dr. Greenberg and his team can help you click here

First steps to overcome your dental anxiety

Dentist in Cambridge

“When ‘I’ is replaced by ‘we’ even illness becomes wellness” ~ Malcom X

How does your body work?

The first step to overcoming your dental anxiety is to figure out how your body and mind work in anxious situations. Knowing this information is critical to moving forward because your anxiety is not obvious to anyone but you.

Find the right dentist that can work with you

I am a firm believer that nothing good can come from a relationship without a fundamental level of trust. The problem is that as a patient, it’s extremely hard to know who to trust. Sure, we can scour the internet, read online reviews, or get referrals from friends, but in the end, how closer are you to making the right decision? How do you know who will be able to handle your unique brand of dental anxiety? The truth is that you don’t know. This is where trust and having a gut instinct come into play.

In our next post, we discuss topics to address with your dentist to begin creating a more trusting environment and learn how capable your dental provider is in treating your unique needs.

Dr. Jeffrey E. Greenberg DMD

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To view the video series, visit us:

Facebook: @sweetspotdental

Instagram: @hellosweetspotdental

To see how Dr. Greenberg and his team can help you click here

What is dental anxiety?

Dentist in Cambridge

“You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.” ~ C.S. Lewis

Have you ever kicked your dentist in the face (intentionally or unintentionally?) Do you feel like you get a little shaky before your dental visits? Or feel like you are always jumpy in the dental chair? This post, a component of our Anti-Anxiety Dental Series, explains what is happening with your body.

Different types of anxiety

Minor signs:

Nervousness
Chair gripping
Quick talking
Lack of communication
Feeling cold or overheated

Major signs:

Trembling/shaking
Crying
Dizziness
Chest Pains
Hitting dentist/assistant

Not all anxiety is the same

The unique thing about dental anxiety is that everyone has very specific ways it can hijack their minds and bodies. In almost every situation though, it feels as though something is overcoming them with little or no control over it.

Is there hope?

Dental anxiety itself can seem like a large mountain to overcome, luckily I have years of experience in working with patient that have all forms of dental anxiety. In my professional opinion, there is not only hope, but using the right strategy, any procedure can be accomplished with ease and with limited or no medication.

Dr. Jeffrey E. Greenberg DMD

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To view the video series, visit us:

Facebook: @sweetspotdental

Instagram: @hellosweetspotdental

To see how Dr. Greenberg and his team can help you click here

How do people get their dental knowledge?

Dentist in Cambridge

While practicing dentistry, I’ve discovered an unfortunate truth: people are often too scared to ask questions about their own oral health or don’t know where to turn for advice. Too often, they get their information by online sleuthing whenever something hurts or believing false ad claims intended to sell a product.

I’m a firm believer that dental knowledge should be easily accessible, accurate, and free.

As a dentist and educator at Tufts School of Dental Medicine for more than seven years, my goal has been to shed light on topics that have plagued, pained, or confused my patients. I want to be a source of information for anyone looking for some truth on oral health care. As owner of Sweet Spot Dental in Cambridge, MA, I take pride in creating an environment where my patients can bring their questions and have them answered without any fear or judgement. My goal with them is to build a relationship that better addresses their dental needs. I never wanted to be someone who just fixes/cleans teeth, but a resource that can ultimately lead to a healthier smile. As someone curious about dental health, I want to be that resource for you, too.

Please check out the following video and blogs that are part of my dental anxiety series. I dive into what causes dental anxiety, how it manifests, and how it can be tamed. Via this series, I hope to enlighten you and teach you a few things you may not know. I strongly encourage you to reach out to me with any comments, concerns, or questions that I might be able to address in future videos or blogs. Thanks for reading and watching, and for joining me on this educational journey!

Dr. Jeffrey E. Greenberg DMD