When you have pain in your jaw and head, this could be due to a jaw joint issue, such as TMJ disorder and bruxism (teeth grinding). Without treatment, this could lead to worsening pain and even threaten smile stability. But your Garland, TX, dentist can help with our custom oral appliances.
A Look at TMJ Disorder and Bruxism
TMJ disorder, also known as TMD, occurs when the jaw experiences major stress and strain. As the issue develops, you could have trouble opening and closing your mouth. With bruxism, you grind and clench your teeth on a nightly basis, often due to high stress levels of other factors. Both disorders could occur due to missing teeth, misalignment, injury to the face or jaw, or issues with the growth of the jaw or the eruption of the teeth. Symptoms of trouble for both include tooth sensitivity, toothaches, jaw and facial pain, headaches and migraines, and a clicking or popping in your smile. Don’t ignore these symptoms and risk worsening symptoms down the road!
Oral Appliance Therapy
Our team can often provide relief with a custom oral appliance. The device will be designed based on detailed digital images we take of your smile, so the appliance will fit comfortably and offer treatment with precision. The appliance will look and fit like a mouthguard, but has been designed to actually shift the jaw to ease stress and strain, preventing further symptoms. This also helps fight bruxism-related damage, as the appliance puts a barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth. The appliance is easy to use and clean, can travel with you, and provides a noninvasive solution to issues like TMD and bruxism.
Changes to Your Daily Habits
You could also make simple changes to your daily routine to help. For example, you can avoid hard or chewy foods that could further strain your smile, and avoid caffeine products to limit teeth grinding and clenching. You can use a warm washcloth to ease strain on the face and haw, and take an over-the-counter pain reliever as needed. We may recommend muscle exercises to ease tension as well. If teeth grinding has damaged your smile, we can offer lifelike repair with dental bonding or even a custom dental crown!
If you have any questions about how our team will diagnose and treat issues like TMJ disorder or bruxism, or if you want to learn more about our oral appliance options, then contact our team today to learn more.
Learn More About General and Preventive Dentistry
Our team wants to help protect and improve your smile with our preventive treatment options, so schedule an appointment by calling Mai Dental in Garland, TX, today at (972) 530-0552.
