When you have persistent pain in your jaw, face, or head, this could be connected to your smile. Oral health issues like TMJ disorder and bruxism are separate but often related issues that are caused by jaw joint strain. In today’s blog, your Astoria, NY, dentist talks about how we offer relief from these disorders with oral appliance therapy.
The Factors Behind TMD and Teeth Grinding
TMJ disorder means the joints connecting your jaw and skull are being stressed and strained, leading to a disorder that impacts how you open and close your mouth, and causes major discomfort. Bruxism means you grind and clench your teeth at night on a regular basis, which can lead to strained jaws and even damage the teeth. Both are caused by factors like high stress levels, injury to the face or jaw, tooth loss, misalignment, or issues with the growth of the jaw or the arrival of your teeth. Without treatment, these can threaten the health and stability of your smile.
The Common Warning Signs
You may experience pain in your jaw and face, or chronic headaches and migraines. Popping or clicking in the jaw could occur, as could persistent toothaches and tooth sensitivity. Over time, the teeth could become worn down or cracked/chipped, altering the appearance of your smile and leaving it vulnerable to issues like tooth decay and dental infection. Don’t ignore persistent pain in and around your face and jaw, see our team right away for a diagnosis. We can use digital x-rays to make a diagnosis with precision and accuracy, and to plan the best treatment options.
Treatment with a Custom Oral Appliance
For some, treatment could involve our team using orthodontics to restore bite balance and alignment to the smile. Bonding, contouring, and dental crowns could also help by correcting the overall balance of your bite too. You may even need a prosthetic to address tooth loss, such as a dental bridge or a dental implant. But the most common treatment option is a custom-fitted oral appliance.
The device is custom-made for your smile and will be worn at night, fitting like a simple mouthguard. The appliance will then shift the jaw to ease strain and stress. The appliance also puts a barrier between the upper and lower set of teeth to prevent further damage from teeth grinding episodes. If you have any questions about oral appliance therapy or about TMJ disorder and bruxism, then contact our team today to learn more.
TALK TO YOUR ASTORIA, NY DENTIST ABOUT EASING JAW JOINT STRAIN
If you are ready to find relief from the pain in your face and jaw caused by TMJ disorder and bruxism, then please call Dr. Jeffrey Leibowitz, DDS at 718-728-8320.
