What do you know about common issues like TMJ disorder (also known as TMD) and bruxism (teeth grinding)? These are two common and often-related oral health concerns that can lead to discomfort and even damage teeth. But we can help! In today’s blog, your Grand Prairie, TX, dentist talks about providing relief from TMJ disorder and teeth grinding.
TMJ Disorder
First, let’s talk about TMJ disorder. This issue occurs when the jaw joints undergo excessive strain, which could be brought on by factors like teeth grinding, injury, misalignment, tooth loss, or issues with the growth of the jaw or eruption of the teeth. The arrival of wisdom teeth could be a factor too. Eventually, this could impact how you open and close your mouth. TMJ disorder could lead to discomfort, such as pain in the face and jaw, headaches and migraines, aches in the neck and shoulders, and a popping or clicking sensation in the jaw. While bruxism could be responsible for TMD, the reverse is true as well.
Chronic Teeth Grinding
Bruxism means you grind and clench your teeth on a nightly basis. This disorder could be brought on by high stress levels in your daily life, untreated TMJ issues, and stress on your jaw joints, including the common factors behind TMJ disorder that we discussed above. Without treatment, this could be responsible for pain in the face, head, and neck, as well as toothaches and tooth sensitivity. The issue could lead to worn down or damaged teeth, which alters your appearance and leaves your teeth vulnerable to issues like tooth decay and dental infection. But we can help bring relief and protect your smile from injury!
Treatment with Custom Oral Appliances
We have a single treatment option that could offer relief for our patients. We will start by taking detailed digital images and measurements of your bite. With this information, we can design and craft a custom-fitted oral appliance, which looks and fits much like a mouthguard. However, once the device is worn it will reposition your jaw to ease stress and strain on your bite, easing the symptoms of TMD. For bruxism, this provides a soft barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth, which helps prevent further damage. The oral appliance is worn while you sleep and is easy to clean and maintain. The oral appliance can also travel with you easily too!
If you have any questions about treating TMD and bruxism, then contact our team today! You don’t have to live with daily discomfort in your life, and we can help prevent painful complications that could threaten your overall bite balance. You deserve relief, so talk to us today about possible solutions!
Learn More About Improving Bite Balance
With an oral appliance we can ease the stress and strain on your jaw to offer relief, so you can enjoy a better quality of life. When you are ready to schedule your appointment with our office for treatment, contact Pecan Tree Dental in Grand Prairie, TX at 972-262-5111.
