TMJ disorder, also referred to as TMD, is a common oral health issues and one that could lead to major discomfort and even dental damage without attention. In today’s blog, your Woodland Hills, CA, dentist talks about how we can use oral appliance therapy and other noninvasive options to treat TMD and bring relief.
The Causes of TMD
How does one develop a disorder like TMD? This is caused by strain being placed on your temporomandibular joints, which connect your jaw and skull. The pressure could be brought on by issues like tooth loss, malocclusion, injury, or complications with the growth of your jaw and the eruption of your teeth. Untreated bruxism, also known as chronic teeth grinding, could be a factor as well.
Common Symptoms and Possible Complications
People with the disorder often report a cracking or popping sensation in the jaw. Other symptoms include headaches, migraines, jaw pain, and aches in the face and neck. If you also grind your teeth, tooth sensitivity and toothaches could occur as well. Without treatment, the symptoms grow in severity and the pressure could even wear down or crack/chip a tooth. Difficulty fully opening and closing your mouth could develop as well. If you experience these symptoms, then let us know right away. With advanced imaging software, we will take a close look at your smile for signs of wear and friction on the teeth, and also assess the balance of your bite. From there, we can choose the most appropriate treatment option.
Treatment Options
For some, we could bring relief by replacing missing teeth with dental implants and other prosthetics options. In addition, we could help restore balance to you bite with a crown or dental bonding/contouring. But in most cases, we will bring relief with an oral appliance. The device will be designed and crafted based on the detailed digital images we take of your smile, ensuring a fabrication with precision and accuracy.
The appliance is then worn as you sleep. While in place, this repositions your jaw to ease pain and pressure, bringing relief to your smile. If you also happen to grind your teeth, this device acts as a barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth, preventing further damage to the smile. if you have any questions about how we diagnose and treat issues like TMJ disorder or bruxism, then contact our team today to learn more and start treatment!
Talk to Your Woodland Hills, CA Dentist About TMD
We’re ready to help you smile with confidence and avoid serious discomfort with oral appliance therapy. If you would like to learn more about how we improve the balance of your bite, then contact your Woodland Hills, CA dentist, Dr. Naminik, by calling 818-347-5124.