Little Rock Family Dental Care Blog

Why Do I Grind My Teeth in My Sleep?

January 11, 2018

Teeth grinding, known as bruxism, most often occurs during the night. It is characterized by the clenching of your jaw muscles and sometimes moving your teeth back and forth against each other. It is an involuntary condition that affects individuals of any age, gender, or race. And if you grind your teeth at night, you’re one of the 8% of adults who also suffer from bruxism.

You may have figured out you grind your teeth in one of many ways. Maybe you determined it for yourself because of consistently waking up with a sore jaw or dull headache. Maybe your dentist took a look at your teeth and noticed the wear and tear on your mouth. Maybe a loved one has even awoken to the sound your teeth make when grinding together.

Whichever way you found out, you now want to know why.

Unfortunately, the answer is not always clear. For years, dentists have been asking this question, but there is no definitive answer. However, we have determined that there are many things that contribute to bruxism. Knowing what these are can help you take active steps against them to mitigate the problem of teeth grinding. (more…)

Root Canal Myths Debunked

Root canals have garnered a nasty reputation over the years. Whether in movies, on the Internet, or through word-of-mouth, you’ve probably heard things that make you apprehensive about the root canal procedure.

However, the hearsay is often wrong or simply just outdated information.

If you’ve heard that root canals are painful, cause illness, or other scary rumors, don’t believe the hype! Root canals are one of the safest and most pain-free ways to save a natural tooth. So, if you’re scared to get in the dental chair for your root canal procedure, the friendly dentists at Little Rock Family Dental Care are here to put your mind at ease by debunking the myths that surround root canals.

Here are the REAL facts about root canals… (more…)

How 3D Digital Imaging is Revolutionizing Dentistry

The use of technology in dental practices allows for dentists to be on the cutting edge of changes in the industry. Digital imaging, in particular, has benefited from advances that give dental professionals a better idea of the issues patients might have and better diagnose treatment.

At Little Rock Family Dental Care, we offer digital radiography using the PlanMeca® ProMax® 3D Mid which gives our team more effective imagery for all your dental needs. Take a look below at some of the reasons 3D digital imaging has benefits over traditional X-rays and some ways in which it goes beyond the typical imaging most people associate with their trip to the dentist. (more…)

Dr. Randy Machen of Little Rock Family Dental Care partnered with Women’s Own Worth

August 31, 2017

Dr. Machen partnered with Women’s Own Worth (WOW) to help a domestic violence survivor get their smile back. As featured on THV11, Haley Mcham and her family endured an abusive situation and, with the help of the domestic violence support group and the team at Little Rock Family Dental Care, Mcham can take the first step towards a new life with the help of cosmetic dentistry.

WOW is a 501c3 public charity serving Arkansas. Founder Jajuan Archer and fellow board members created WOW to provide resources and support throughout the state for domestic abuse victims and their families.

Why You Need to Replace Missing Teeth

July 19, 2017

According to the American College of Prosthodontists, about 178 million people in the United States are missing at least one tooth and these numbers are expected to grow within the next two decades. It is very important to always replace a tooth that you have lost as soon as possible. It is more than just about the way you look. Rather, it is about the health of your mouth, jaw, and body, which are all designed to work together at peak performance.

When you have a tooth that is missing, this can cause many problems including:

Tooth shifting

Your jaw has space for and is designed to operate with 28 teeth. If one of those placeholders fall out, then the surrounding teeth begin to shift to fill this empty space, resulting in all of your teeth being moved out of alignment. This can cause a biting problem because when the lower and upper jaws don’t meet properly, it can strain and damage the jaw joint. In some cases, the remaining teeth can super erupt and cause increased sensitivity to temperature extremes and sweets. (more…)