When the joints that connect our jaw and skull become stressed, this could lead to a widespread disorder responsible for an array of painful symptoms. TMJ disorder, also known as TMD, can mean serious trouble for your oral health! In today’s blog, your Sunny Smiles team talks about our treatment options for TMJ disorder.
The Causes of TMJ Disorder
How does the disorder develop? The strain on our jaw joints could be due to untreated teeth grinding, misalignment, missing teeth, issues with the eruption of teeth or then growth of the jaw, or as a result of injury. Once TMJ disorder develops, this could impact how you open and close your mouth, and lead to a number of painful symptoms. As part of your treatment, our team will conduct a detailed diagnosis to assess the underlying causes and severity, so we can plan treatment with precision and offer relief!
The Signs You Have Bite Imbalance
As we touched on above, the warning signs can vary and may include toothaches and tooth sensitivity, headaches and migraines, neck and shoulder pain, and aches in the face and jaw. You could also experience a popping or clicking sensation in your jaw. Without treatment, these symptoms worsen and the disorder could lead to complications like teeth grinding and an increased risk of tooth decay and infection. We want to protect your smile from these complications, so when you experience one or more of the symptoms we’ve discussed, please see our team for treatment.
Treatment Options
We begin by carefully examining your smile for signs of imbalance and strain, using advanced digital imaging systems for an accurate diagnosis. For some, treatment could include orthodontics to correct misalignment, or dental prosthetics like bridges or implants to address tooth loss. Improving bite balance could be done with custom crowns or even dental bonding. But for many we offer treatment with noninvasive and comfortable oral appliances, which look and fit like a mouthguard. These are worn as you rest and help reposition the jaw to ease stress and strain, so you avoid symptoms. If you grind your teeth, these can act as a barrier between the upper and lower teeth to prevent further damage from bruxism.
If you have any questions about how our team will diagnose and treat issues like TMJ disorder and bruxism, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to help you smile with confidence and avoid discomfort!
Let’s Stop Your Jaw Joint Strain!
We want to keep your smile healthy, comfortable, and strong, and that can sometimes be done with a simple oral appliance. Call Sunny Smiles in El Paso, TX, at 915.759. 7000 to schedule an appointment for a diagnosis and to discuss possible treatment options.