Occlusal Therapy
Temporo-Mandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome (TMD) is a common condition referred to frequently as “TMJ”. TMD is characterized by severe headaches, jaw pain of varying degrees, grinding teeth, and an intermittent ringing in the ears. TMD sufferers report that their symptoms generally worsen during periods of stress.
Your occlusion is the way your teeth come together. The most common cause of TMD is the misalignment of the teeth, often called “a bad bite.” It may also be caused by an injury to the jaw joint.
Bruxism (teeth grinding) is particularly common among TMD sufferers and usually occurs at night. The grinding wears down teeth and when left untreated, it can lead to severely worn teeth, cracked teeth, loose teeth, and damage to the jaw joints. Clicking and popping sounds when you open your jaws are an indication that the jaw joints are being affected.
Once a diagnosis is attained, a specially molded bite guard can be created to stop teeth grinding during the night. The teeth can also be realigned with orthodontics and the shape of the tops of the teeth can be adjusted. This adjustment, known as an “equilibration” procedure, alleviates the symptoms by changing how the upper and lower teeth come together in an even, balanced bite.
Every time we restore teeth with fillings, crowns, veneers, bridges, and so on, we want to create the best occlusion possible so your restorations, the opposing teeth, and your jaw joints and muscles do not undergo the harmful stresses of a bad bite. Let us plan treatment to create a harmonious bite for you that eliminates TMD symptoms and supports oral health for the rest of your life.
Our Services
Pediatric Dentistry
Our dentists enjoy children, teens and adults. Some of our patients are only three years old. We care about the health of all of your family members, and we will give you our total best care from preventive cleanings and fluoride treatments to checkups to treatment for dental disease to tooth alignment and cosmetic procedures.
Emax and Zirconia Crowns
Largo, Florida residents are very fortunate to have highly experienced restorative and cosmetic dentists in their neighborhood. Our dentists, Dr. Amy Vespa and Dr. Don Vespa, restore many teeth to strong function and natural appearance with two types of crowns—zirconia crowns and Emax dental crowns. Both of theses types have superior translucence and lifelike qualities, as well as extreme durability.
Teeth Whitening
Dentists Don Vespa and Amy Vespa of Pinellas Family Dental in Largo, FL are proud to offer both Philips Zoom in-office and take-home whitening. “A white, bright smile is the number one cosmetic change desired by Florida residents,” report Dr. Don and Amy Vespa. “Wine, coffee, tea, and smoking cause surface teeth staining. So do a number of other beverages and foods, and with time, these stains seep into the dentin, resulting in an overall darker (often yellowish) appearance.
Occlusal Therapy
Temporo-Mandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome (TMD) is a common condition referred to frequently as “TMJ”. TMD is characterized by severe headaches, jaw pain of varying degrees, grinding teeth, and an intermittent ringing in the ears. TMD sufferers report that their symptoms generally worsen during periods of stress. Your occlusion is the way your teeth come together. The most common cause of TMD is the misalignment of the teeth, often called “a bad bite.”
Cosmetic & Restorative Treatment
At Pinellas Family Dental, we provide the full range of restorative and cosmetic procedures. Our goal is to provide you with the finest quality restorations that will meet your satisfaction for many years to come, in both their function and appearance.
Dental Implants
Doctors Don and Amy Vespa place dental implants (artificial tooth roots) and restore missing teeth with custom prostheses (crowns, bridges and dentures). They use CAMLOG® dental implants made of pure titanium. This material is extremely stable and has a high level of biocompatibility. High precision and reliability are the hallmarks of all CAMLOG implants and components, providing predictable functional, esthetic and long-term stable results.
Veneers
Many patients are good candidates for dental veneers. Our experts at Pinellas Family Dental—Dentists Don and Amy Vespa—ensure optimal, long-lasting results. Dental veneers are wafer-thin shells of porcelain, that when bonded to teeth, not only improve the appearance of your smile, but also strengthen the teeth. They are one of the most conservative and affordable smile makeover treatments.
Sleep Apnea
If you or your partner snores, this could be a source of conflict between the two of you. It’s not as if you can control snoring, but the lack of sleep is making you both irritable. Not only are you tired and cranky, your relationship is starting to suffer. Before you call a counselor, you may want to call your dentist. Loud, chronic snoring can be an indication of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
New Patient Exam
We care about each new patient who comes to us as a special person. When you come to us for the first time, we will spend time talking about your concerns, preferences and oral health objectives. We will review your dental and medical history before performing a thorough oral examination.
Invisalign
Dr. Don Vespa is a Certified Largo Invisalign dentist who offers Invisalign treatment to not only teens but also adults of all ages. After an initial no-charge consultation to determine your orthodontic needs, Dr. Vespa can develop an optimal treatment plan that is best for you, answer your questions, provide a fee quotation, and offer an immediate start to the Invisalign process if you would like to go forward on the path to a new, more beautiful smile.
Mouth Restoration
If you have multiple oral health problems to be solved, you owe it to yourself to learn what can be done to give you back a healthy, youthful smile that allows you to live a fully functional life and smile with confidence.