Our bite balance refers to the ways in which our teeth fit together and the amount of pressure placed on the jaw joints. When the joints become strained and teeth don’t fit together properly, the resulting imbalance could lead to serious discomfort and a number of oral health complications. In today’s blog, we’re looking at we restore balance for smiles in Mansfield, TX.
What Causes Imbalance?
Multiple factors could lead to a bite imbalance, such as issues with the growth and development of the jaw and oral structures, problems with the eruption of the teeth, tooth loss, injury to the face or jaw, and dental misalignment. As part of your treatment, we will perform a detailed analysis of your smile, looking at the teeth for signs of wear and friction. Using digital x-rays, we can peer beneath the gum line to assess your jaw joints and obtain digital images of your smile instantly. We can identify the cause of your imbalance, the presence of oral health complications, and decide which treatment will best address the problem.
TMD and Bruxism
When we have an imbalance in our bite, we may develop TMJ disorder, also known as TMD. Caused by the jaw joints undergoing excessive strain, TMD could make opening and closing the mouth completely a difficult task. You could also develop bruxism, in which regular teeth grinding and jaw clenching occur. Over time, teeth grinding could wear down tooth structure, crack or chip teeth, and increase the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Both of these common disorders could lead to jaw pain, headaches, or even aching, damaged teeth.
Oral Appliance Therapy
Restoring bite balance and treating issues like TMD and bruxism could mean placing a custom-made restoration, correcting misalignment with orthodontic treatment, or even recommending special muscle exercises. However, the most common treatment option involves creating a custom-made oral appliance. The device will be worn as you sleep and ft much like a mouthguard. The device repositions the jaw to ease strain and restore balance. For people who grind their teeth, the appliance places a barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth, which helps them avoid damage and safeguards the smile. If you experience pain in and around your smile, or regular headaches, then consider scheduling an appointment so we can assess your bite and see if you need oral appliance therapy. If you have any questions, then please contact our team today.
Do You Have Headaches or Jaw Pain?
With our custom-made oral appliances, we can restore the health and balance of your smile. For more information on our preventive treatment options, including oral appliance therapy, schedule a consultation by calling our dentist’s office in Mansfield, TX, today at 817-473-6227.
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