When you have strain on your jaw joints, this could lead to a painful disorder that causes a number of uncomfortable symptoms. For relief from TMJ disorder, also known as TMD, our team could offer a comfortable solution with an oral appliance. In today’s blog, your Sheridan, WY, dentist talks about TMJ treatment.
The Causes of TMD
What causes TMJ disorder to develop? Our jaw is connected to the skull with the temporomandibular joints, which controls the actions needed to eat and speak. When these same joints undergo excessive strain, this could mean the onset of TMJ disorder, which complicates how we open and close our mouth. Factors behind the strain could include missing teeth, dental malocclusion, injury to the face or jaw, untreated teeth grinding, or issues with the growth of the jaw. As part of your treatment, we will assess the cause of your dysfunction, and offer treatment for TMD.
Common Symptoms and Complications
Warning signs of TMJ disorder vary, and could include jaw pain, facial aches, and pain in the neck and shoulders. Headaches and migraines are common, along with a popping or clicking sensation in the jaw. When you happen to experience these potential symptoms, then let us know right away. We want to take action to prevent painful symptoms and improve your smile’s function. Otherwise, this could lead to issues with eating and speaking, and with pain throughout the day in your face and head.
Treatment with an Oral Appliance
How do we bring relief to your smile? To treat TMJ disorder, we will first carefully examine your smile to assess the cause and severity. From there, we can decide on the best course of treatment. For some, this will include orthodontics to shift the teeth and improve overall alignment. We could also help improve bite balance and function with the placement of custom dental crowns, or even with bonding and contouring. For others, we could replace missing teeth with bridges, partial and full dentures, or even implant dentistry.
But the most common solution is an oral appliance. The device will be custom-made based on the detailed digital images we gather of your smile. The appliance will look and fit like a mouthguard, and is worn as you sleep at night. The device actually repositions the jaw to prevent discomfort. You then avoid symptoms and complications. If you also grind your teeth, this could prevent damage by putting a barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth.
Talk To Your Sheridan, WY Dentist About Treating TMD
With a custom oral appliance, we can offer relief from TMD symptoms. To find out how our team improves bite balance with an oral appliance, then reach out to Grinnell Street Dental in Sheridan, WY at 307-672-7567.
