TMJ disorder and bruxism may be very different oral health issues, but they are often related to one another and could cause serious discomfort for sufferers, including jaw pain and headaches. In today’s blog, your Livonia, MI, dentist explains how we approach treating these disorders with a comfortable and custom-fitted oral appliance.
Signs of Trouble
With these disorders, people may experience soreness in the neck and shoulders. Jaw pain and facial aches are common too. We often see people suffering from unexplained headaches and migraines, or experiencing a popping or crackling sensation in the jaw. If they grind their teeth, then toothaches and tooth sensitivity could occur, and teeth could appear short or develop damage. If you have unexplained orofacial pain, the please contact our team. We will schedule a consultation and carefully examine your smile for signs of wear and friction, as well as imbalanced bites. We then decide the best course of treatment, which often includes an oral appliance.
TMJ Disorder
With TMJ disorder, the jaw joints, known as temporomandibular joints, have undergone excessive strain and stress. The result is painful symptoms and eventually, trouble opening and closing your mouth. The disorder could also lead to bruxism. Causes include misalignment, tooth loss, injury to the face or jaw, and poorly place dental restorations. With an oral appliance, we create a device based on detailed impressions and images taken of your smile. Custom-fitted to your smile, the device is worn at night and fits like a mouthguard. The appliance then repositions the jaw to ease strain on your joints and provide relief!
Bruxism
With bruxism, you grind and clench your teeth on a regular basis. Over time, this could weaken teeth and eventually, damage them to cause an increased risk of tooth decay and dental infection. With our oral appliance, we provide a barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth, preventing further damage. Repositioning the jaw could address the cause of your strain and grinding. To repair your teeth, we could employ dental bonding and even custom-made crowns. Other possible solutions to issues like bruxism and TMJ disorder include orthodontic care to correct misalignment, or possibly the placement of crowns to improve overall balance.
If you have any questions about how we approach diagnosing and treating issues like these, or about how we repair teeth and offer relief, then contact our team today to learn more.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT TMD SOLUTIONS?
Correcting issues with the balance of your bite could prevent painful symptoms and even damage to your teeth. For more information on our custom solutions for issues like TMJ disorder and teeth grinding, then call the office of James Stewart, DDS in Livonia, MI, today at (734) 425-4400.