When your jaw joints undergo strain, you could develop a disorder such as TMD, or even chronic teeth grinding, known as bruxism. You need treatment to ease this strain and keep your smile from major complications. In today’s blog, your Prairie Village, KS, dentist talks about the dangers of TMJ disorder and bruxism.
TMJ Disorder and Bruxism
The joints that connect your jaw to your skull control the movements needed to eat and speak. When these same joints undergo excessive strain, this could lead to an issue known as TMJ disorder. Caused by factors like tooth loss, injury, misalignment, teeth grinding, or issues with the growth of the jaw or eruption of the teeth, this could lead to discomfort and even issues fully opening and closing your mouth.
With bruxism, you grind your teeth on a regular basis, which can wear down and damage your teeth to cause major complications. This could be caused by the same factors as TMD, as well as a high level of stress in your daily life.
The Warning Signs of Trouble
When should you see our team for an appointment? We may recommend treatment when you begin to experience persistent pain in and around your smile. For example, toothaches and tooth sensitivity that grows in severity with time instead of subsiding. You should also let us know if you experience pain in your face or jaw, a popping or clicking in your jaw, headaches or migraines, or aches in the neck and shoulders. These could indicate issues that develop due to strain on your bite, and treatment could be necessary to avoid complications like cavities, infections, and issues eating and speaking.
Help with Oral Appliance Therapy
Our team will conduct a detailed examination with digital imaging technology, so that we can plan treatment in detail. In most cases, we will offer an oral appliance that will look and fit your smile like a mouthguard. When in place, this will shift your bite and tongue to help prevent strain, so you enjoy relief from painful symptoms. For people who grind their teeth or clench them, this also puts a soft barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth to prevent further injury. The appliance is easy to use, simple to clean and maintain, and can travel with you too!
If you have any questions about how we diagnose and treat issues like TMJ disorder and bruxism, then contact our team today!
Call Dr. Robert Browne, D.D.S. for TMD Solutions
We want to stop your teeth grinding and protect you from major oral health complications. To find out more about our office, or to schedule an appointment, please call Dr. Robert M. Browne, D.D.S. in Prairie Village, KS at (913) 901-8585.
