When you have pain in your jaw, this could be due to issues like TMJ disorder (also known as TMD) and bruxism (teeth grinding). To avoid discomfort and prevent complications, we can offer a custom oral appliance. In today’s blog, Dr. Robert M. Browne talks about stopping jaw pain by treating TMJ/bruxism.
TMJ Disorder and Bruxism
TMJ disorder occurs when the jaw joints, which connect your jaw and skull, become strained. You then develop a disorder that could cause painful symptoms and even upset how you open and close your mouth. With bruxism you grind and clench your teeth on a regular basis, which can place pressure on teeth and injure them, increasing the risk of painful symptoms, as well as cavities and infection.
Both could be caused by issues that upset your bite balance, such as missing teeth, dental misalignment, injury, or issues with smile growth and development. Wisdom tooth eruption could be a factor, as could high stress levels. Untreated TMD could lead to bruxism and vice-versa. Symptoms include pain in the face and jaw, headaches and migraines, popping or clicking in the jaw, or even aches in the neck and shoulders. Your teeth could ache or feel sensitive too! Don’t ignore these symptoms, we can stop jaw pain by treating your TMJ and bruxism.
Planning Treatment
Our team will start the treatment process by examining your smile with digital x-rays and intraoral cameras. We can assess the wear and function on your teeth and also the imbalance in your visit, so we can plan treatment with precision. For some, we could offer tooth replacement with custom prosthetics, or restorations to help boost balance. Our team could even correct misalignment with orthodontic clear aligners! But for many, we stop jaw pain by treating TMJ disorder and teeth grinding with a custom oral appliance.
Custom TMD/Teeth Grinding Appliances
The oral appliance is made based on detailed digital images and measurements we take of your bite. The custom-fitted device will look and fit much like a simple mouthguard. However, when worn this will actually reposition your jaw to ease any underlying stress and strain. At the same time, this puts a very soft barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth to prevent any further damage from teeth grinding. If there has been damage, we could discuss repair in one visit with bonding, or even custom crowns if needed.
If you have any questions about how we stop jaw pain by treating TMD disorder and/or teeth grinding, then contact our team today to learn more!
Dr. Browne, DDS, Offers Balanced Bites and Comfort
We are ready to restore balance and comfort to your smile again. To find out more about our approach to comprehensive dentistry, or to schedule an appointment, please call Dr. Robert M. Browne, D.D.S. in Prairie Village, KS at (913) 901-8585.
