In our last blog we looked at chronic teeth grinding, also known as bruxism. In today’s blog, we’re going to talk about a related disorder that could complicate how you eat and speak. TMJ disorder, known as TMD, could cause serious discomfort and complications, which is why your Allen, TX, dentist offers a treatment option.
The Causes of TMD
Our jaw is connected to the skull with the temporomandibular joints. These control the movements necessary to eat and speak. Which means when they become strained and TMD develops, this could complicate how we open and close our mouths, and lead to discomfort. Causes could include injury to the face or jaw, complication with the growth and development of the jaw, malocclusion, tooth loss, or untreated bruxism (teeth grinding). This impacts millions of smiles in the United States, and could lead to major discomfort.
Common Symptoms and Dangers
People with the disorder may experience chronic headaches and migraines, jaw pain, tension in the smile, neck and shoulder aches, and a popping or clicking sensation in your jaw. Without treatment this could lead to daily pains and cause complications with eating and speaking. This is also linked to bruxism, or chronic teeth grinding, which could wear down teeth and crack and chip enamel, increasing the risk of cavities and infection in your smile. To avoid these pains, you need to seek treatment to restore balance to your smile and reduce strain in your jaw joints.
Treatment Options
For some, relief means replacing missing teeth with a lifelike dental prosthetic, or restoring balance with the placement of a custom dental crown or with dental contouring. But for many, we offer relief with an oral appliance. Our team will take detailed digital images of your smile and combine them to create a 3D computer model. This allows us to design an oral appliance with precision and accuracy. The device is then worn as you sleep, and helps ease the tension in the smile by repositioning it. The device also places a barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth, a barrier that helps prevent further damage from bruxism.
If you have any questions about how we diagnose and treat an issue like TMJ disorder, and how we can offer relief with a comfortable and noninvasive oral appliance, then contact our team today to learn more.
Talk To Your Allen, TX Dentist About Treating TMD
Our team can help ease jaw joint strain and bring relief with an oral appliance, so you don’t develop complications eating and speaking. If you want to know more about managing and treating issues like TMJ disorder, or if you are ready to book an appointment, contact your Allen, TX, dentist, Dr. Torrens-Parker, by calling 469-342-6644.
