When you have jaw joint strain or factors damage or upset bite balance, you could develop serious oral health issues like TMJ disorder or bruxism (teeth grinding). We don’t want these concerns to cause further pain or risk the stability of your smile. In today’s blog, your Grand Prairie, TX, dentist talks about how we treat issues like TMJ disorder and bruxism.
TMJ Disorder
Also known as TMD, this is a disorder that occurs when the jaw joints undergo excessive strain. Over time, this could cause major discomfort and even change how you open and close your mouth. The factors behind the disorder include misalignment, damage to your teeth, missing teeth, issues with the growth of the jaw, problems with the eruption of the teeth, the arrival of wisdom teeth, and untreated teeth grinding. You could experience a popping or clicking sensation in your jaw, headaches, jaw and facial pain, and discomfort in the neck and shoulders. Don’t ignore this discomfort, let us know right away so we can conduct a diagnosis and see if you need treatment!
Chronic Teeth Grinding
Bruxism, in which we grind and clench our teeth during the night, places major pressure on the teeth. Over time, this could crack and chip the teeth, and even wear them down so they appear shorter. While this changes the appearance of your smile, this could also leave you vulnerable to tooth decay, dental infection, and in extreme cases, tooth loss. This could be caused by high stress levels, untreated TMJ disorder, and many of the same factors we listed above for TMD. You could also develop tooth sensitivity when you eat or drink, or toothaches that don’t subside after a day or two. But we can help with oral appliance therapy!
Oral Appliance Therapy
Oral appliance therapy can offer relief from both TMJ disorder and bruxism. Essentially, we will take detailed digital images and measurements of your bite, and use them in a lab setting to custom-fit an oral appliance. The device will look like a mouthguard and fit like one as well. When worn at night, this could reposition the jaw to ease pressure and strain, so you enjoy relief from painful symptoms. You also avoid further damage to your teeth as this acts like a barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth. The oral appliance is easy to use and clean, and can be stored and even travel with you as needed. We can also discuss muscle exercises, changes to your diet and daily routine, and other tips to help alleviate symptoms during treatment.
If you have any questions, then contact our team today to learn more.
Schedule a Visit to Boost Jaw Joint Balance
We want to help you enjoy a comfortable smile, one free of discomfort and the risk of dental damage. For more information on improving the balance and function of your bite, then schedule an appointment with Dr. Smith and our team by calling Pecan Tree Dental in Grand Prairie, TX, today at (972) 262-5111.
