When you have pain or a popping sensation in your jaw, this could indicate the presence of TMJ disorder, also known as TMD. Without treatment, this could even complicate how you open and close your mouth. In today’s blog, your Garland, TX, dentist discusses how we approach TMJ treatment with a noninvasive oral appliance.
The Causes of TMJ Disorder
How does an issue like TMD actually develop? Factors could vary, but often include issues that upset the balance of your bite and place strain on your temporomandibular joints, which connect your jaw and skull. Factors could include tooth loss, dental misalignment, stress, teeth grinding, and injury to the face or jaw.
Warning Signs and Complications
People with the disorder may report headaches and migraines, jaw and facial pain, and aches in the neck and shoulders. A popping or crackling sensation could also be a sign of trouble. Without treatment, this could make fully opening and closing your mouth uncomfortable, and could make the onset of bruxism (chronic teeth grinding) more likely. When we grind our teeth, this could place pressure on them and lead to damage, such as cracks or chips, that increases the risk of cavities and infection.
Solutions with Oral Appliance Therapy
If you experience one or more of the symptoms we mentioned above, then let us know. We will carefully examine your smile with digital x-rays and intraoral cameras, identifying wear, friction, and other signs of trouble. If we find you’re suffering from TMD discomfort. We will take detailed digital images, which we use to create a computer model of your smile. Using this information, we design and custom-fit an oral appliance. The device will look and fit much like a mouthguard, but is worn as you sleep. The oral appliance then repositions the jaw to ease strain on the joints and prevent symptoms. If you also grind your teeth, the device could place a barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth, so you don’t experience further damage.
If you have any questions about how we treat issues like TMD or bruxism, or if you would like to schedule a consultation, then contact our team today. We want to help you enjoy a healthy smile, and avoid daily discomfort that could have a negative impact on your overall quality of life.
LEARN MORE ABOUT TMD TREATMENT
To learn more about our solutions for issues like TMD, then schedule a consultation today by contacting Mai Dentistry in Garland, TX at (972)-530-0552. You can also find our practice at 6850 N Shiloh Rd, Suite C Garland, TX 75044. We have general and preventive treatment options to help restore the health, beauty, and overall function of your smile.
