If you have a popping or clicking sensation in your jaw, this could be an indicator of a serious issue known as TMJ disorder, or TMD. To avoid more severe symptoms, including issues opening and closing your mouth, we can help! In today’s blog, Dr. Robert M. Browne and our Prairie Village, KS, team talks about how we diagnose and treat TMJ disorder.
Popping in the Jaw and Other Symptoms
How do you know if you have an issue like TMJ disorder? People with TMJ may experience a host of uncomfortable symptoms, such as popping or crackling in the jaw. There could be aches in the face and jaw, and even persistent headaches and migraines. You may also experience aches in the back and shoulders. For some, this could lead to chronic teeth grinding, also known as bruxism. With this complication comes pain in the teeth, as the outer enamel is damaged and worn away and the onset of cavities and infection begin. Don’t ignore any changes to your smile or painful symptoms, even if they seem minor. Talk to our team right away!
TMJ Disorder
TMD happens when the jaw joints undergo excess strain, leading to painful symptoms and as we mentioned, issues opening and closing your mouth fully. This could also leave you more vulnerable to bruxism. The causes could include stress on your bite due to tooth loss, injury to the face, or even issues with how the bite develops or the teeth erupted. Misalignment could be a factor too, as could the arrival of your wisdom teeth. Our team will conduct a diagnosis with digital imaging to assess the cause and severity of your TMD concerns, allowing us to choose the most appropriate treatment option, including a custom oral appliance.
Help with a Comfortable Oral Appliance
For some, we could ease TMJ disorder with crowns or bonding, boosting bite balance. We could address tooth loss with dental prosthetics, such as bridges or dental implants, even partial dentures. Our team could also correct misalignment with our orthodontic clear aligners. But for many, we offer relief with a simple and comfortable oral appliance.
The device will fit like a mouthguard and is worn while you sleep. Being custom-made means a comfortable fit and treatment with precision. Once worn, this helps reposition the jaw to ease underlying stress and strain, so you avoid TMD-related symptoms during waking hours. This also places a barrier between the upper and lower teeth to prevent injury if you happen to grind your teeth too.
Dr. Browne, DDS, Eases Strain
Our team wants to help stop your chronic teeth grinding and bring relief to your smile. To find out more about stopping TMD or to schedule an appointment, please call Dr. Robert M. Browne, D.D.S. in Prairie Village, KS at (913) 901-8585.
