TMJ disorder, also known as TMD, can develop when the joints connecting your jaw and skull undergo excess amounts of strain. Uncomfortable symptoms can arise and this even impacts how you open and close your mouth. But we can offer relief! In today’s blog, your Celina, TX, dentist talks about how we treat TMJ disorder!
The Causes of TMD
What causes a disorder like TMD to develop in your smile? The temporomandibular joints connect the jaw and skull, and control the movements needed to eat and speak. TMJ disorder occurs when these same joints undergo excess strain, which could be brought on by issues like tooth loss, misalignment, injury, or complications with the growth of the jaw or arrival of the teeth. Wisdom tooth eruption could also be a factor, as could untreated bruxism (teeth grinding).
Warning Signs of Trouble
People may need to seek treatment if they begin to experience chronic pain in and around their smile. For example, this disorder could lead to headaches, migraines, jaw and facial pain, and aches in the neck and shoulders. There could be a popping or cracking sensation in the jaw. If you also grind your teeth, then there could be tooth sensitivity when you eat or drink or toothaches that cause persistent pain in your smile. Don’t ignore these symptoms, please reach out to our team right away for relief!
The Impact on Your Quality of Life
TMJ disorder could mean trouble fully opening and closing your mouth, creating further discomfort when you eat or speak. If you grind your teeth, this could wear down and damage outer enamel to make your smile more at-risk for tooth decay and dental infection. We don’t want to see your oral health and quality of life suffer, we can offer a comfortable and receive treatment using an oral appliance.
TMJ Treatment
Our treatment could consist of a special oral appliance that will be worn as you sleep. The device fits like a mouthguard and provides a noninvasive solution to your disorder. Custom-fitted for your bite based on detailed images and measurements we gather of your smile, this will help shift your jaw when worn. The pressure on your bite is alleviated, and you can enjoy reduced symptoms during your waking hours. For people who grind their teeth, this places a soft barrier between the upper and sets of teeth to ease discomfort and prevent further damage to your bite.
Celina Family Dentistry Offers TMD Solutions
We want to help you enjoy a comfortable smile and avoid the onset of TMD-related complications and discomfort. To find out more about improving jaw joints and bite function, call Celina Family Dentistry in Celina, TX at (214) 851-0130 today.
