When you have painful headaches and aches in your jaw, this could be a warning sign of TMJ disorder, also known as TMD. Without treatment, this could complicate how you open and close your mouth. To provide pain relief, your Astoria, NY, dentist could treat the issue with a custom-made and comfortable oral appliance.
The Painful Symptoms of TMJ Disorder
TMJ disorder means that various factors have strained your jaw joints, which control the movements needed to eat and speak. The strain could lead to the disorder, which eventually means trouble fully opening and closing your mouth. Causes could include tooth loss, injury to the face or jaw, misalignment, untreated teeth grinding, or issues with the development of the jaw and oral structures. Warning signs include popping or clicking in your jaw, headaches and migraines, and aches in the neck, shoulders, face, and jaw. If you encounter one or more of these potential symptoms, then give us a call right away.
Treatment with an Oral Appliance
Often, we can treat the issue with an oral appliance. The device will look and fit like a mouthguard, and is worn as you sleep. We custom-design and fit the device based on detailed digital images and measurements we take of your smile. The finished device then helps reposition the jaw to ease strain and prevent worsening symptoms, offering you relief. We could also help by correcting misalignment with a series of clear aligners, known as the ClearCorrect system. The placement of dental crowns could also improve the overall balance of your smile.
The Link to Bruxism
Did you know that untreated chronic teeth grinding, known as bruxism, could be a cause? Likewise untreated TMJ disorder could lead to bruxism. The nightly grinding and clenching could place enormous pressure on your teeth, wearing down structure or even cracking or chipping a tooth. They could appear shorter than usual, and you could also be more likely to develop tooth decay or even a dental infection. The same oral appliance used to treat TMD could also help prevent further damage by placing a barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth! The device also repositions the jaw to ease the factors behind chronic bruxism.
If you have any questions about how we diagnose and treat issues like TMD or bruxism, then contact our team today. Don’t live with painful symptoms, talk to our team about a solution that works for your smile.
Do You Have Questions About Treating TMD?
We want to offer treatment that addresses your discomfort and improves overall oral health. To learn more about treating pain in your head, face, and neck, then schedule a consultation by calling Jeffrey Leibowitz, DDS, in Astoria, NY, today at 718-728-8320.
