Smile Fitness Dental Center Blog

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is one of the most complex joints in the entire body. Because of this, there is a lot that can go wrong. When the TMJ isn’t functioning as it should, this is called TMJ disorder, or TMD. This can result in various uncomfortable symptoms, like headaches, earaches, lockjaw, jaw pain, and tinnitus. You may be wondering why seeing a dentist is recommended for TMD? Continue reading to find out!

Does your jaw feel stiff or sore, or have you noticed a clicking sound when you bite down to chew? If so, you might have developed a TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorder. This can happen if you’ve developed a dental misalignment that keeps your teeth from touching together properly when you bite down. This forces your jaw to overcompensate, triggering a painful joint inflammation that limits your mouth’s range of motion.

You might think of it as more frustrating than problematic, but if left unaddressed, your condition could worsen. Continue reading to learn 3 reasons to call your dentist sooner rather than later!

Your new dental crown may look and feel just like a real tooth, but you may be wondering if it will last as long as your natural teeth. Here’s everything you need to know about giving your mouth the royal treatment with your dazzling new crown!

Here in the (new) year of 2025, it’s easy to take modern dental crowns for granted. These caps have been making teeth stronger and prettier for a while now! Still, you shouldn’t assume the treatment came out of nowhere; dental crowns took a lot of time to reach their current form. Your local Phoenix dentist can even prove that fact with crucial evidence. To that end, just keep reading to learn a brief history of dental crowns.

With proper care, a dental crown can last you for 10 years or more. But they’re not immortal – at some point, you’ll likely have to replace it with a fresh, new restoration. How will you know when it’s time, though?

Read through this post, and you’ll learn four good reasons to replace your crown!  

Sometimes, the anticipation of discomfort is worse than the actual source of anxiety – and other times, it’s not! If you have a dental phobia that simplistic breathing exercises can’t solve, nitrous oxide sedation could significantly improve your in-office experience. But what does “sedation” mean, exactly? Will you be “put under” as if you were receiving anesthesia?

Find the answer to this question and more as you scroll through this post.

If you have any upcoming dental visit scheduled for anything from an exam and cleaning to a major procedure, you may be feeling a little bit anxious about it. Thankfully, your dentist offers sedation dentistry to help patients like you relax comfortably during their appointments. But while this option is great for most people, there are still a few instances where you may not be a good candidate for it. Here are a few reasons why you may not qualify for sedation dentistry.

While quality dental care is essential to maintaining one’s good health, many people experience severe anxiety or nervousness at the thought of seeing their dentist. Thankfully, sedation dentistry can make it much easier for these individuals to sit calmly and comfortably through their oral care appointments, and it can also help people with strong gag reflexes or difficulty sitting still. Here’s a brief guide to a few forms of sedation dentistry and how much they can cost.

After dental implant surgery, proper care is crucial to ensure successful healing and long-term results. Several activities and habits should be avoided to prevent complications and allow the implant to integrate properly with the jawbone. This guide outlines key things to avoid immediately after surgery to promote optimal recovery.

Pregnancy is a life-changing time in a woman’s life, and she makes many sacrifices to bring a healthy baby into the world. For nine months, she shouldn’t drink alcohol, smoke, eat certain seafood or unpasteurized foods, or do potentially dangerous activities. In other words, she does everything she can to reduce the risk of harm to her and her baby.

Still, if you’re like most expecting moms, you try to carry on with life as before. You still do what needs to be done. However, should you proceed with getting dental implants for your missing tooth while you’re pregnant? Your dentist will likely say no, that the procedure will have to occur after birth. Even if you are anxious to get started, here are some important concepts to consider.