G Family Dentistry - Cosmetic and General Dentistry

I started having jaw pain and headaches several years ago, and Dr. Goodowitz concluded that I was grinding my teeth and clenching my jaw while I slept. He suggested I start wearing an NTI device in order to curb some of the clenching and provide me with relief. The NTI did its job, but then I started to unconsciously clench my jaw during the day after some time. This lead to increased headaches and even frequent migraines due to the stress I was putting on my muscles. I was having great difficulty making it through routine cleanings and having cavities filled because my jaw muscles would become fatigued and cramped. Some of my teeth were also starting to show signs of excessive wear due to the increased unconscious clenching and grinding. It was not until Dr. Grapevine examined how I closed my mouth that we realized everything was out of alignment. I was sliding my jaw forward after closing my mouth in order for my teeth to align comfortably. This also meant my teeth were striking each other incorrectly when I ate. (I had braces and retainers as a teenager, but I was not diligent in wearing the retainers after my braces were removed. A mandibular torus had also developed making wearing the lower retainer uncomfortable and sometimes painful. I later learned that mandibular tori develop when people grind their teeth!) Dr. Grapevine suggested treating my problems with Invisalign, but I was unsure due to the cost. After several conversations and weighing the consequences of not using Invisalign (several crowns and ongoing migraines), I decided the treatment would be the best thing for me in the long run. The treatment process was very easy! The only thing I had to worry about was brushing and flossing after I ate. The discomfort was much, much more manageable than what I endured while wearing braces, and I didn’t have to worry about cutting my tongue or the inside of my mouth on any metal brackets. My Invisalign treatment lasted about 16 weeks, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. I’m no longer dealing with headaches that wake me up in the middle of the night or the inability to hold my mouth open while having my teeth cleaned. I now wear an upper and lower retainer while sleeping, and these help to force my jaw to relax and prevent any grinding. It took me a little time to adapt to the retainers, and now I’m sleeping very well. I’m very thankful for Dr. Grapevine and his staff. My treatment went as smooth as possible, and I know I will be enjoying the fantastic results for a long, long time. Catherine R.

I have been a patient of G Family Dentistry for the past 8 years, and cannot imagine ever going to another dentist! The "family" part of the name says it all, as they really treat their patients as family.

I was enormously impressed with the work that Dr. Grapevine put into designing the crowns, so they would look amazing. The process was as painless as possible and before I knew it, I had the teeth that I had always wanted. I love to smile now, I don't feel like I have to hide my teeth, and I actually like having my picture taken.