Living with TMD can be difficult. You can become all too aware of just how often we move our jaw to bite, chew, speak, laugh, and yawn when these motions start to become uncomfortable because of stiffness or pain. The causes of TMD vary. Some only develop persistent jaw problems after they pick up a teeth grinding habits, while others can start to feel pain because of an unresolved issue with their bite alignment. It is also possible to develop chronic pain after an injury that disrupts your joint alignment. At our Mansfield, TX dentist’s office, we can examine you to determine how TMD is affecting you before recommending treatment. To ease tension and resolve difficulties with poor alignment, we can use advanced digital imaging tools to closely study your bite movement and look for areas of concern.
What Does TMD Do To Affect Someone’s Quality Of Life?
If your jaw joints and muscles are under too much tension, or if your jaw movement is not properly aligned, you can experience difficulties with TMD that lead to stiffness, pain, and teeth grinding troubles. You may be unable to move your jaw without feeling resistance, or you may experience pain as well as “popping” sounds that are uncomfortable. For many, TMD will be connected to issues with bruxism. You may start to suffer from jaw pain after you start grinding your teeth, or you could develop a teeth grinding habit because of jaw tension.
Resolving Problems With TMD And Bruxism
Through a careful study of both your jaw and your bite movement, we can determine how to best help you ease tension and pain. Digital radiography can be used to take a detailed study of your jaw motions, which we can use to assess how you might be experiencing or causing tension. With that information, we can talk to you about lifestyle changes or modifications to your bite that can benefit you. For issues with bruxism, we can suggest the use of an appliance, worn at night, to stop you from grinding or clenching your teeth.
Addressing Damage Done By Teeth Grinding
Teeth grinding can cause friction on your enamel that will lead to chips and cracks. If this has already happened, we can talk to you about restorative dental work to protect these teeth. For protection and bite support, we can recommend the placement of dental crowns on teeth that have been damaged. These restorations will allow you to bite and chew with more comfort, protect you from potentially causing more damage, and they can even improve the way you look after wearing down certain teeth.
Talk To Your Mansfield, TX Dentist About TMD Treatment
Patients who are struggling with chronic jaw pain or stiffness can contact our Mansfield, TX dentist’s office to discuss treatment. If you think TMD and bruxism might be affecting your life, please reach out to Mansfield Dental Associates by calling 817-473-6227.
Recent Comments