Should your jaw joints become strained, this could lead to a serious issue known as TMJ disorder, or TMD. You could develop jaw pain and even issues opening and closing your mouth. In today’s blog, your Prairie Village, KS, dentist talks about how we diagnose and treat TMJ disorder.
The Presence of TMJ Disorder
When our bite is imbalanced and the jaw joint strain, this could lead to the onset of TMJ disorder. TMD then causes discomfort and could complicate how you open and close your mouth. The causes vary, but often include issues that upset bite balance, such as injury to the face or jaw, malocclusion caused by misalignment, tooth loss, untreated bruxism, or even issues with the growth of the jaw or the eruption of the teeth. The arrival of your wisdom teeth could be a factor too. As part of your treatment, we will examine your smile to identify the causes of your TMD and to assess the severity, which allows us to choose the best treatment option.
The Impact on Your Smile
You could find yourself experiencing a number of uncomfortable symptoms. For example, you could experience pain in the face or jaw, headache and migraines, and aches in the neck and shoulders. There could also be toothaches and tooth sensitivity if you grind your teeth. Others could develop a popping or crackling sensation in the smile. When one or more of these symptoms arise, please reach out to our team to schedule an exam. We can then help find the best solution for your smile!
Noninvasive Treatment Options
For some, we could use custom restorations like a crown, or even composite resin, to add structure to teeth and help improve overall bite balance. We could also contour the teeth, removing structure from them to improve overall balance and ease jaw joint strain. For others, we could correct misalignment with clear aligners, or address tooth loss with a custom dental prosthetic, such as a bridge or dental implant.
But we also have a noninvasive and comfortable oral appliance. Custom-fitted based on detailed digital images and measurements we take of your smile, the appliance will look and fit like a mouthguard. When worn at night, this helps reposition the jaw to ease any underlying stress and strain, so you avoid TMJ symptoms and enjoy better comfort. If you also grind your teeth, this prevents damage by placing a soft barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth.
If you have any questions, then contact our team today.
Learn More About Stopping TMD
Dr. Browne and his team in Prairie Village, KS, want to help you enjoy better bite balance. When you have popping or clicking in your bite, then reach out to our team today by calling 913-901-8585.
