Dr. Ray Becker has extensive post-graduate training in many branches of dentistry. He dedicates many hours each year to continuing his education to address complex dental problems. Our renovated, state-of-the-art dentist office in Columbia, MD is here to meet your needs. We treat complex concerns using digital dentistry and the latest techniques. Our office wants to ensure the best possible patient experience and superior results.
Choosing Howard County Smiles
Dr. Becker is an internationally recognized educator in both CEREC and Tekscan technologies. He is also currently the sole international interpretation and certifying instructor for the Total BioPAK® system. Total BioPAK® includes the Tscan 3® system from TekScan which analyzes the bite far more accurately than with ‘carbon paper’ alone.
Dr. Becker is one of only a few dentists in the area using these advanced technologies for better diagnosis and evaluation of uncomfortable bites, restorations, occlusion, or temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD/TMJ) issues. Dr. Becker offers a range of TMJ treatments to help his patients.
This combination of technology and experience enables Dr. Becker and his staff to provide more accurate diagnoses for patients with sleep occlusal disease, including TMJ. In many cases, when correctly prescribed, conservative treatment can relieve symptoms and restore oral health.
Dr. Becker also treats sleep-related breathing disorders (SRBD), including obstructive sleep apnea, with oral appliance therapy.
Advanced Dental Care in Columbia, MD
At our dental practice in Columbia, MD, we offer a range of advanced treatments designed to tackle various dental problems effectively. Our goal is to provide high-quality care that meets the unique needs of each patient. Here are some of the dental issues we can address with our advanced treatments:
Occlusal and TMD Disorders
TMJ disorder can cause some people a lot of pain in their jaw joints and the surrounding muscles. It can involve possible issues affecting the jaw joint, facial muscles, neck, and surrounding nerves. Many symptoms of TMD include frequent headaches, clenching of the jaw, jaw pain, teeth grinding, jaw popping, and pain around the ears.
Our office provides TMJ treatment with bite correction and nightguards. Bite correction creates an even bite through SureSmile, crowns, or bonding treatments. TMJ nightguards cover and protect the teeth during sleep.
Snoring and Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea is a very common and potentially dangerous sleep disorder. If you repeatedly stop and start breathing while you sleep, you may have sleep apnea. The position of the jaws and related structures influences the development of sleep apnea, making the dentist a key professional in diagnosis and treatment.
While many patients use CPAP machines, sleep appliances are a comfortable alternative. We make custom sleep splints for you to wear during sleep. These mouthguard-like appliances keep your airway open so you can breathe easy during sleep.
Headaches
Most physicians and dentists find it challenging to connect headaches with TMJ disorders. Dr. Becker will need to perform a thorough examination to determine if a TMJ disorder is the cause of your frequent headaches or migraines. A type of tension headache, TMJ headaches are often caused by teeth clenching or grinding.
We often recommend TMJ treatments like nightguards if you have TMJ headaches. Lifestyle changes can also reduce headaches.
Gum Disease
This disease can impact your gum health. Poor oral hygiene is one of the most common factors that cause gum disease. When you don’t brush or floss every day, then bacteria can build in your mouth. Harmful bacteria in the mouth feed off of tartar and plaque buildup and multiply, spreading throughout the mouth.
We offer multiple gum disease treatments in our Columbia office. Scaling and root planing clean below the gum line to remove plaque and tartar, helping to reduce inflammation and infection. Laser gum treatment uses focused light to remove infected tissue and promote healing with minimal discomfort.
During gum grafting, we take healthy tissue from another part of the mouth and place it on areas with gum loss. These treatments improve gum health and support a healthier smile.
Advanced Dental Care in Columbia, MD: Early Treatment
As soon as you notice changes in your oral health, we welcome you to visit our office for a consultation. Without dental care, you can experience these complications:
TMJ Disorders
When pain in the jaw, face, and neck, is left untreated, it can spread. TMJ disorders can cause your jaw to feel stuck or locked. This makes it difficult to open and close your mouth fully. Over time, jaw movements may become more limited.
TMJ disorders also cause teeth grinding, which can wear down the enamel. This damage can lead to tooth sensitivity, cracks, and even tooth loss. If you have facial pain, it can radiate throughout the face to create TMJ headaches. These headaches can increase in pain and duration without treatment.
Snoring and Sleep Apnea
Loud snoring or symptoms of sleep apnea may seem minimal. However, pauses in breathing can affect your overall health.
When your breathing stops, your body reacts by raising your blood pressure. Over time, this constant increase can lead to high blood pressure, putting extra strain on your heart. Untreated sleep apnea raises your risk of heart attacks, irregular heartbeats, and even heart failure. The lack of oxygen makes the heart work harder, which isn’t good for long-term heart health.
Aside from heart health, when you don’t get enough deep sleep, you feel tired during the day. This can lead to poor concentration, mood swings, and even accidents while driving.
Gum Disease
In the advanced stages of gum disease, infection breaks down your natural gum tissue. As a result, it increases gum and tooth sensitivity. Bacteria in the mouth from untreated gum disease can also cause constant bad breath or a bad taste. This can’t be fixed by brushing alone.
Gum disease has been linked to other health issues, like heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory problems. Bacteria from your gums can enter your bloodstream and affect other parts of your body.
Benefit From Advanced Dentistry: Patient Testimonial
“I had a tooth crack, and he did a new crown on it for me, and he fitted me with an appliance that keeps me from grinding my teeth… It definitely seems to be helping.”
Get Dental Care Today
When you treat complex dental health problems, you restore your oral health and quality of life. Contact our Columbia, MD, area dentist office near you for quality dental care. Call Howard County Smiles at (410) 415-9013. You can also schedule an appointment with us online.
If you have complex dental problems and have questions about your treatment options, let us know. We’re here to help.