TMJ disorder, also known as TMD, could provide jaw joint strain and lead to serious discomfort. Without treatment, this could also cause associated complications, like bruxism. In today’s blog, your Prairie Village, KS, prosthodontist talks about how we provide comfortable and noninvasive solutions for TMD.
The Causes and Dangers of TMD
When the bite is imbalanced, this could place strain on the joints that connect your jaw and skull, known as the temporomandibular joints. This strain and imbalance cause TMJ disorder. The disorder could cause a number of uncomfortable symptoms, and could even implicate how you open and close your mouth. Causes could include issues with the growth of the jaw and oral structures, tooth loss, malocclusion, injury to the face or jaw, or untreated teeth grinding. To protect your smile from discomfort and dental damage, you need to seek treatment.
Diagnosing Your Smile
Our team will employ advanced imaging technology to take a close look at the smile. We use x-rays to assess the stability and balance of your jaw joints and certain oral structures. We also look for the signs of wear and friction on the teeth, and test the balance of the bite as well. Our team will then be able to diagnose the problem with precision and accuracy. We then choose the most appropriate treatment option.
Possible Treatment Options
For some, we could use custom-made crowns, or even dental contouring, to help restore proper balance to the bite and ease the strain on the jaw joints. We could discuss orthodontic care as well to treat dental misalignment. Dental implants help replace missing teeth, filling the gaps in the smile and offering decades of quality tooth replacement. But the most common treatment option is the oral appliance. This device is custom-made and fitted to your smile using a detailed digital impression we create. The finished product is worn as you sleep, and helps reposition the jaw to ease strain and bring relief from painful symptoms. If you grind your teeth, then the device also puts a barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth, a barrier that helps prevent further damage to the teeth.
If you have any questions about how we diagnose and treat issues like TMJ disorder, or about tackling teeth grinding or other serious oral health concerns, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to help you enjoy a strong and healthy smile for years to come!
READY TO ADDRESS YOUR MISSING TEETH?
Contact Dr. Stuart Dexter, Prosthodontist in Prairie Village, KS by calling 913-362-8200 to schedule your next appointment with our office, and to find a solution for your strained joints and discomfort by stopping your TMD.