When your jaw frequently pops and clicks, this could mean you have a serious disorder caused by imbalance. TMJ disorder, also known as TMD, could lead to difficulty opening and closing your mouth, and serious complications like bruxism. In today’s blog, your Garland, TX, dentist will explain how we treat issues like TMJ disorder with a custom and comfortable oral appliance.
The Dangers of TMJ Disorder
Our temporomandibular joints connect our jaw and skull, and we need them to eat and speak. However, a serious disorder could arise if these joints begin to experience serious pressure. TMJ disorder could mean trouble fully opening and closing the mouth, as well as a range of uncomfortable symptoms. This could also increase the risk of bruxism, a disorder that causes persistent grinding episodes. Over time, bruxism actually damages teeth and increases the risk of tooth decay and dental infection.
Causes and Common Symptoms
Different factors could potentially place pressure on your smile. For example, tooth loss could upset bite balance, as could poor restoration placement or dental misalignment. An injury to the face or jaw could cause problems too. People with TMD may report popping or clicking in the jaw, headaches and migraines, aches in the face, neck, and jaw, and tooth sensitivity and toothaches. If you experience one or more of these potential warning signs, then please contact our team today. We will carefully examine your smile to see which treatment options will best address your jaw joint strain.
Treatment at Home and From Our Team
At home, we could recommend a warm compress against the side of the face to ease pressure, as well as cutting back on caffeinated products, or hard or chewy foods. At our office, we could correct your bite with the placement or one or more crowns. We also address misalignment with orthodontics, such as Invisalign clear aligners. However, the most common treatment option involves the use of an oral appliance, which looks and fits like a mouthguard. The device is created based on detailed impressions and images we take of your smile. When worn at night, the device repositions the jaw to ease joint strain. If you also grind your teeth, the appliance places a barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth, preventing further damage. If you have any questions about treating TMD, then contact our team today.
We’re Ready to Help You Enjoy a Comfortable Smile
Our team is ready to offer treatment to help improve the position of your jaw and restore bite balance. To learn more about preventive dental care, then schedule a consultation by calling Mai Dentistry in Garland, TX, today at 972-530-0552. For our patients who don’t speak English, our office is fluent in both Spanish and Vietnamese.
