When our jaw joints undergo excess strain, we could develop serious complications that cause discomfort and could even damage your smile. In today’s blog, your Dallas, TX, dentist will look at how we identify and treat TMJ disorder and bruxism with a custom-made and comfortable oral appliance.
TMJ Disorder
First, let’s talk about TMJ disorder, also known as TMD. This disorder develops when the jaw joints, which connect your jaw and skull, undergoes excess strain. Over time, the issue is linked to problems fully opening and closing your mouth, as well as a host of uncomfortable symptoms. Factors behind the issue include untreated bruxism, tooth loss, injury to the face or jaw, stress, bite imbalance, and dental misalignment. Warning signs vary, but people often report popping or clicking in the jaw joints, headaches and migraines, and pain in the neck, face, jaw, and shoulders.
Bruxism
Bruxism is often related, as untreated TMJ disorder could promote it and vice versa. The disorder basically means that you grind and clench your teeth at night on a regular basis. Over time, the pressure from grinding and clenching could begin to fracture or chip teeth, or simply wear down enamel enough to make teeth look short. Damage then exposes the inner dentin and enables cavities and even infection to form, threatening the health and stability of your smile. Causes again include injury to the face or the jaw, missing teeth, stress, untreated TMD, and an imbalanced bite. Along with jaw pain and headaches, other symptoms could include sensitive teeth and toothaches that arise due to damage and exposed dentin.
Treatment Options
To restore balance and address these concerns, we may correct misalignment with braces or clear aligners, or even place a restoration, such as a custom-made dental crown. However, the most common solution is an oral appliance. The device is created to look and fit much like a mouthguard. To ensure a comfortable fit and treatment with accuracy and precision, each one is crafted based on detailed impressions and images we take of your smile. When worn at night, the device repositions the jaw to ease strain, and also places a barrier between the upper and lower sets that help prevent further injury. If you have any questions about these treatment options, or if you encounter any of the symptoms we discussed above, then contact our team today. Remember, there is still time to use your 2020 dental insurance benefits before they expire on December 31st!
Do You Have Jaw Pain or Headaches?
The team at Gentle Smiles Family Dentistry wants to protect you from damaged teeth, jaw pain, and headaches due to TMD and bruxism. Contact our Dallas, TX office at 972-329-7645 to learn more about treating jaw joint disorders.
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