When you develop jaw joint concerns like TMJ disorder and/or bruxism (teeth grinding), this can cause major discomfort and long-term issues for your oral health and appearance. But we can help bring relief, and even repair any damage that has occurred. In today’s blog, your Prairie Village, KS, dentist talks about treating TMJ disorder and bruxism.
The Warning Signs of TMD and Bruxism
What warning signs should you be aware of? With TMJ disorder, stress on the jaw joints creates discomfort. With bruxism, you grind and clench your teeth on a nightly basis. Both can cause headaches, migraines, jaw and facial pain, and aches in the neck and shoulders. You could also experience a popping or clicking sensation in your jaw, or tooth sensitivity and toothaches as well. Don’t ignore persistent pain in your smile, contact our team for a diagnosis and to discuss possible solutions!
Causes and Complications
Both can be caused by tooth loss, injury to the face or jaw, misalignment, or issues with the growth of the jaw or eruption of the teeth. Teeth grinding could also be caused by stress. Untreated TMJ disorder can lead to bruxism and vice versa. Without treatment, TMJ disorder can lead to issues opening and closing your mouth, as well as persistent discomfort. Teeth grinding can actually wear down enamel and damage teeth to increase the risk of cavities and infections, and to change the appearance of your smile too. To avoid these complications, you need customized treatment!
Oral Appliances and Lifelike Repair
Our team can often provide repair with an oral appliance. To begin, we will take detailed digital images and measurements of your smile from multiple angles, and use them in a lab setting to design and craft an oral appliance. The device will be worn at night and once in place, will help shift the jaw to ease strain and pressure, so you avoid TMJ-related symptoms. For those with bruxism, this provides a barrier between the upper and lower teeth to prevent further damage to the smile. The oral appliance will be easy to use and clean, and can travel with you too!
If you have teeth damaged by these disorders, we can offer dental bonding to repair them in one visit, or we could create a custom crown for more substantial damage. If you have any questions about how our team will diagnose and treat issues like TMJ disorder and teeth grinding, then contact our team today.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT ORAL APPLIANCE THERAPY?
Our team wants to help restore proper balance and function to your smile again. To find out more about easing jaw joint strain and discomfort, you can call Dr. Browne in Prairie Village, KS, at 913-901-8585.
