When you suffer from separate-but-related oral health issues like TMJ disorder and bruxism, this could lead to painful symptoms and the risk of damaged teeth. Fortunately, our team can offer relief with a comfortable and noninvasive solution. In today’s blog, your Mansfield, TX, dentist discusses treating your jaw joint concerns with an oral appliance.
TMJ Disorder
TMJ disorder, sometimes referred to as TMD, is a common oral health issue that occurs when the joints connecting our jaw and skull become strained. The pressure leads to a TMJ disorder, and also alters how you open and close your mouth. The pressure could be caused by missing teeth, dental misalignment, injury to the face or jaw, untreated bruxism, or even issues with the growth and development of your jaw. Without treatment, this could lead to painful symptoms like headaches, migraines, facial and jaw pain, and a popping or clicking sensation in your jaw.
Bruxism
Bruxism refers to chronic teeth grinding, and the constant pressure from grinding and clenching our teeth nightly could wear down tooth structure to make teeth appear short, and damage enamel to cause tooth decay and dental infection, along with a higher risk of tooth loss. As with TMJ issues, this could be brought on by factors that alter bite balance, like tooth loss, malocclusion, injury, untreated TMJ issues, and even problems with how your jaw grows or teeth erupt. High levels of stress could be a factor too.
Oral Appliance Therapy
Our team will carefully examine your smile with digital x-rays and intraoral cameras, so we can assess the cause and extent of your jaw joint concern. These images enable us to make a diagnosis with precision, and to choose the best treatment option. For some, we could offer a custom prosthetic to replace missing teeth, or use crowns and bonding to improve overall bite balance. We could even discuss orthodontics, like braces or aligners to shift the teeth into proper position.
But the most common solution is an oral appliance. A device custom-made for your smile that looks and fits like a mouthguard. The appliance is worn as you sleep and then gently repositions the jaw to ease pressure and stop TMD-related symptoms. If you grind your teeth, this puts a barrier between your upper and lower sets of teeth. If you have any questions about how we diagnose and then treat your bruxism and TMJ concerns with an oral appliance, then contact our team today.
Speak With Your Mansfield, TX Dentist About Improving Bite Balance
Our team wants to address the factors behind your strained jaw joints so you can enjoy relief from painful symptoms. If you would like to find out more about easing the stress on your jaw joints, reach out to Mansfield Dental Associates in Mansfield, TX today at (817)473-6227!
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