Why are basic jaw movements starting to cause you pain? Something as simple as biting, laughing, or speaking can become difficult over time because of temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMD. Without treatment, this condition can lead to chronic jaw pain, problems with headaches, and teeth grinding issues that can wear down your enamel and lead to potential oral health issues. At our Mansfield, TX dentist’s office, we can recognize symptoms of TMD and talk to you about treatment. With an oral appliance, we can correct the alignment of your jaw joints and reduce the stress responsible for your problems. We can discuss this and other oral health concerns with you during a routine dental exam.

What Causes TMD To Affect People?

There is no single problem that triggers difficulties with TMD. Some people will develop this problem because their poorly aligned teeth cause stress on their jaw joints and muscles. The result of this stress is problems with your face and joints that can lead to persistent discomfort. It is also possible for you to aggravate the joints and muscles with a habit of jaw clenching, untreated problems with a particular tooth, arthritis in your jaw joints, and physical trauma.

While there may be several issues that lead to TMD, oral appliance therapy can help people who develop this problem for different reasons. Wearing your appliance while you sleep will help you by correcting the alignment of your joints and reducing tension. As that tension is eased, you can find it easier to bite, chew, and speak without discomfort. If necessary, we can also discuss treatment to restore teeth with dental crowns, or the benefits of orthodontic work, to help you move past your bite problems.

Problems With Teeth Grinding Can Affect Your Smile

Teeth grinding can result from TMD, or it can be a cause of chronic pain. This problem, known as bruxism, is also able to affect you by wearing down your enamel and causing permanent damage to teeth! Let your dentist know if you think you are grinding your teeth while you sleep. If you are, treatment can protect your smile at night so that you do not need restorative dental work later.

Regular Dental Exams Can Lead To Signs Of TMD Being Recognized And Treated

At a routine exam, your dentist can recognize signs of poor bite function or jaw alignment. By recognizing these issues, we can move forward with plans to address TMD and improve your quality of life. Routine dental checkups give you important information about your overall oral health. What that means is that in addition to talking about cavity concerns, we can discuss matters like TMD, gingivitis, and other problems that call for attention or treatment.

Talk To Your Mansfield, TX Dentist About TMD Concerns

People in and around Mansfield, TX can count on our practice to help them address aches and pains that may be linked to TMD. To learn more, reach out to Mansfield Dental Associates by calling 817-473-6227.

filed under: TMD