When you start to struggle with stiff or painful jaw movement, you can feel dread before a meal, or find yourself avoiding conversations due to the discomfort they cause. Discomfort around your jaw movement can be the result of TMJ disorder, which can result from problems with your bite, poor dental alignment, or an injury that affects your joint alignment. Fortunately, these issues can be treated by your Prairie Village, KS dentist. After checking you for signs of TMJ disorder, we can recommend the use of a custom oral appliance to ease the tension on your jaw joints and muscles. That reduced tension can lead to better, easier movement, and it can help you avoid potential problems with harmful teeth grinding.
Problems With Jaw Pain And Limited Movement Should Concern You
If you are no longer able to bite, chew, or speak without some discomfort, it can be a sign that TMJ disorder is beginning to impact your life. This is not a problem that you should simply disregard. If trouble with your bite movement is not addressed, pain can continue to mount. You can experience discomfort that affects your jaw, face, and head over time, and you may begin to develop a tendency to grind your teeth while you sleep. If this does occur, it can lead to potentially serious damage to your enamel.
Is It Time To Discuss TMJ Treatment?
If you feel that something is affecting your bite function, you can let your dentist know at a consultation, or during your next dental exam. After an evaluation of your jaw movement and bite, we can discuss the benefits of using an oral appliance to gently reposition your lower jaw. That adjustment can ease the stress you have been experiencing, and it can lead to a reduction in pain and stiffness.
We Can Also Address Concerns About Teeth Grinding
A tendency to grind your teeth at night increases tension on your jaw, as well as your facial muscles, which leads to more discomfort. Your mornings can be particularly unpleasant, as you can feel pain in your face, jaw, and teeth. One thing to worry about in the long term is that persistent pressure on your teeth can lead to problems with dental damage. If that harm is serious enough, it can make restorative dental work necessary. If the matter is caught in time, you can avoid serious damage, but may still want to discuss cosmetic dental work to address wear and tear.
Talk To Your Prairie Village, KS Dentist About Painful Or Limited Jaw Movement
If painful or limited jaw movement is starting to affect you, Dr. Browne can help! To find out more, contact our Prairie Village, KS dental office today at 913-901-8585.
