Ft. Worth Orthodontists Take a Close Look at What Causes TMJ Disorder

Posted by

3D jaw imageTMJ disorder is only one of a host of complications that can arise from misaligned teeth, but its influence can have wide-spread and long-lasting consequences for your entire oral health. Because of its diverse symptoms, diagnosing TMJ disorder can often be difficult. Finding the source, however, is the first and most important step to treating the jaw dysfunction and finally finding relief from its chronic discomfort. Your Ft. Worth orthodontist, Dr. Ciro Cabal, is well-versed in the intricacies of TMJ disorder and its relation to your mouth’s bite. Today, we explore what causes TMJ disorder and take a close look at the damage that occurs to your jaw’s joints.

Sources that Can Damage Your TMJs

The alignment of your jaws and teeth largely dictates the ease with which you can open and close your mouth when eating and speaking. When your teeth are crooked, the pressure of your bite is thrown-off balance, which can place intense strain on your jaw’s joints and muscles. Aside from malocclusion, TMJ damage can also occur due to extensive tooth loss, a traumatic injury, a congenital (present since birth) jaw defect, excessive stress, habitual teeth-grinding, and arthritis, among many others.

The Composition of Your Temporomandibular Joints

For optimal efficiency, your TMJs are gliding joints that combine a hinge joint with a sliding motion, evenly displacing the pressure of your bite throughout the joint’s structure instead of focusing the pressure on a single point. A shock-absorbing disk separates the cartilage-covered bones of your jaw and facilitates smooth movement when your jaw is aligned properly. When this disk erodes or is forced out of alignment, you might hear a clicking or popping sound when you open and close your mouth. Blunt force/trauma or rheumatoid arthritis may damage the components of your jaw’s joints, making jaw movement difficult and painful.

Treat TMJ Disorder with Help from Your Ft. Worth Orthodontists

To learn more about what causes TMJ disorder, or if you require orthodontic treatment to relieve its symptoms, call Lake Country Orthodontics today at (817) 236-7846 and schedule a consultation with your Ft.  Worth orthodontist. Located in the 76179 area, we proudly serve families from Azle, Saginaw, Springtown, Weatherford, Haslet, Ft. Worth, and all surrounding communities.