TMJ Facts
The temporamandibular joint disorder, often referred to as TMJ, presents itself as pain, tenderness or discomfort surrounding the temporomandibular joints.
Its symptoms include:
- Jaw stiffness, clicking and locking
- Difficulty in opening and closing the mouth
- Problems with chewing
- Pain in the jaw, face, or around the ear
- Headaches
TMJ (TMD) Causes:
Although controversial, most experts agree that Trauma to the jaw, stress, anxiety and rheumatoid arthritis all play a role in TMJ disorder.
Treatment:
The treatment varies greatly depending on the cause and severity of symptoms. At times, TMJ disorder goes away without doing anything. When it persists, however, recommendations may be made to avoid stress, give up gum chewing, or to exercise the jaw. Other suggestions involve inflammation control by applying ice packs to the sore area and by using store bought anti-inflammatory medicine.
In extreme situations, orthodontics or surgery may be recommended for TMJ. In these cases, a second opinion is highly advised.
What a pain!
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Meet the Dentist
Dr. Artemenko has practiced in Sterling Heights (14 Mile & Ryan Rd area) for over 30 years. He graduated with Honors from the University of Illinois College of Dentistry in 1979. Selected with four other classmates (out of 150 graduating dentists) he was recognized with a University of Illinois Medical Center Leadership Award. The dental school faculty also awarded Dr. Artemenko the Doctor Robert Savage Memorial Award for professional qualities and concern for his patients. Upon graduation he was selected for a dental residency program at Sinai Hospital of Detroit. After completing his residency, Dr. Artemenko was invited to join the teaching staff at the hospital where he instructed residents in dental prosthetics for the following 20 years while in private practice. Born in Chicago, he developed his Michigan connection in Ann Arbor as an undergraduate in the Honors Chemistry program at the University of Michigan. That is where he met his wife (& mother of their 3 children) Laura. Accepted into dental school after 5 semesters, Laura jokes that, according to U of M, he is a college drop-out.
Dr. Artemenko is a member of the Macomb Dental Society, the Michigan Dental Association and the American Dental Association, as well as the Academy of General Dentistry. He has served as a member of the Macomb County Dental Society Executive Council and the Professional Advisory Committee to Delta Dental representing Macomb County. In the local community he has served on the Government Relations Committee of the Warren –Center Line – Sterling Heights Chamber of Commerce as well as serving on the Board of Directors for the organization.For more than 25 years Dr. Artemenko has been involved in implant dentistry, including placing and restoring dental implants. He is a longtime member of the Academy of Sports Dentistry and is a founding member of the Parkway Dental Study Group which is dedicated to continuing education and advancement in dentistry. As an officer in the organization, he has coordinated educational seminars for the whole dental community. For the past five years, Dr. Artemenko has been a volunteer baseball coach and assistant hockey coach with a current Level III Coaching Certification through USA Hockey.
Outside the office, Dr. Artemenko enjoys spending time with his wife of 34 years, Laura, and their three children: Lauren – 10, Matthew-10, and John-12.
Dental Insurance, Who Knew? Part 2
One of the questions in my first post about dental insurance that I think is critical when you are choosing a dental plan is:
Where can I receive treatment?
Some dental plans are called traditional or indemnity plans. This means you can see any dentist you like in any location. You may have less out-of-pocket expense if you see a dentist in their network or a “preferred provider”, but it is not a requirement of the policy in order for you to receive benefits.
A PPO plan is another type. This is where it gets a little tricky. Some PPO plans still allow you to choose any dentist you like, but will pay benefits at a lesser rate or based on a fee schedule. Other PPO plans require that you see a dentist that is part of their network. In most cases you can check with your dental office or even better check the insurance company’s website for the most current listing of network providers or participating dentists.
BEWARE: accepting insurance is different than being a participating provider with a particular company. The difference can cost you $$$$.
Usually one of the most cost effective type plans for both employees and employers is called a capitation dental plan. A lot of times this is a very attractive policy because you may have little to no out-of-pocket-expenses. But you can only see a participating dentist or dental facility. Often times, you are required to pick a dentist or office when you sign up without knowing anything about them. For some people, this is okay. Other people, like me, are dentally challenged or just plain scared. So, I need to know who is sticking their fingers in my mouth.
Lastly, there are some dental discount programs. Typically these are not offered by employers. Usually these are aimed at individuals and again require you to see a participating provider. The participating provider agrees to provide care to you based on the company’s fee schedule. In other words, if the dentist charges $140 for an extraction and the fee schedule allows $100, you pay $100 and receive a discount of $40.
Do you have a question about dental insurance? Please call me (586)939-8800 or email insurance@drjeart.com.
WANTED: New Patients!
Are you tired of being talked at? Do you feel like you have no voice or say in your dental care? Or like you are a part on an assembly line, not a name or face, just a number? Do you work or live close to the Sterling Heights area? If so, we want the opportunity to meet and get to know you.
We are interested in you and what brings you to our dental office. So, your initial appointment may be a bit different from what you have experienced in the past. We will review in depth your medical and dental history, previous dental experiences, lifestyle and your expectations for your oral health. Additionally we will perform the following diagnostics:
A thorough gum screening and evaluation of periodontal conditions
- Complete set of x-rays
- Oral cancer screening
- Jaw joint and bite evaluation
- Assessment of any existing dental restorations for wear or breakdown
- Examination for any current decay
This will help us determine your present level of health as well as any immediate problems. If necessary, we can then create a comprehensive restorative blueprint.
We want you to know, in our opinion; you should expect and receive the best treatment and advice that contemporary dentistry has at its disposal. An open mind and continuous exchange of information about your dental circumstances are key components. You are entitled to an explanation of the availability and intricacies of advanced dental treatment and discussion of the investment of time and money of such treatment.
Please feel free, at any time, to ask questions about our recommendations or to make any suggestions. We believe an informed patient is highly motivated, which results in optimum care.
If you have financial help in the form of dental insurance, we are happy to assist you to receive the maximum benefits available. We also offer outside financing with interest free periods and extended fixed payment plans, please see our financing page. If you have dental insurance we ask that you come ready to handle any co-pays and/or deductibles that may apply to your visit. If you do not have any dental coverage we ask that you are prepared to pay for the services we provide at your visit.
Some people are fortunate to be in the group of people that only need regular preventative (cleaning) appointments and an occasional simple restoration. Some people are in need of more comprehensive dental work. In either case, we would love for you to come and visit us!
If you are coming to us for the first time with a dental emergency, you are welcome too! We will help you with your immediate concern and then schedule you another time to come back for the red carpet treatment.
Call us at (586)939-8800 or email us at: generalinfo@drjeart.com
Dental Insurance, Who Knew
It always surprises me how little information is communicated between employees and employers about their insurance, especially about their dental insurance. Usually once a year you are handed a booklet or sent an email giving you an overview of what plans are available to choose from along with a chart indicating what your costs are. And let’s be honest, for most of us our eyes automatically jump to the least expensive plan. A lot of times there will be a snazzy looking graphic showing the cost of a routine dental visit or simple filling and a column indicating your out of pocket expense. In bold numbers there will be a minimal fee or even better yet $0.00. Sounds awesome?! Well, maybe.
We are all familiar with the saying if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. This is the point where you need to look for some additional information. There are some key questions I think are important when choosing a plan:
- Where can I receive care?
- Do I get to choose my own dentist or do I have to choose from a list of their dentists?
- What kinds of treatment are covered?
Dental plans are kind of like cars, you can buy your basic transportation, the sports car you’ve always dreamed of or something in the middle. What it boils down to is what are your needs, how much can you afford and are you comfortable seeing any dentist? In future blogs I’ll be expanding on these topics.
Do you have question about dental insurance? Please feel free to post it, email me insurance@drjeart.com, or even call the office (586)939-8800.
Listerine Documentary
Recently an online video clip from the Today Show aired that had an interview with actor, Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother). He was promoting an upcoming film project but what caught our attention was his mention of a Listerine “infomercial” he recently narrated. If you click on the link, you can watch a brief documentary entitled, “This is Your Mouth”. Each time the video is viewed, $1.00 is donated to the National Children’s Oral Health Foundation. As a parent, what better way to advocate oral health education and help eliminate the nation-wide epidemic of a very preventable condition known as pediatric gum disease? We encourage you to spend 5 minutes of your time to watch this documentary. It reminds us all how oral health and your general health go hand in hand. By the way, there are also money savings coupons that you can print out from the site. How convenient is that?
New Team Member
Meet our team member - Ace
Meet the newest member of our team. His name is Ace and he’s nine weeks old. Check back with us for new pictures and updates
