TMJ disorder, often referred to as TMD, develops when the joints connecting our jaw and skull become strained. Over time, this could lead to pain and difficulty opening and closing your mouth. In today’s blog, your Fort Worth, TX, orthodontist talks about how we use orthodontics and custom-made appliances to help treat TMJ disorder and prevent issues like teeth grinding.
What is TMD?
TMJ disorder occurs when the temporomandibular joints, which connect your jaw and skull, undergo excess strain. When the disorder develops, you could eventually experience pain and discomfort when you open and close your mouth. Factors behind the disorder include tooth loss, bite imbalance, dental misalignment, untreated bruxism (teeth grinding), and injury to the face or jaw. When we examine your smile, we will diagnose the causes of the disorder and recommend the most appropriate treatment options.
Signs of Trouble and Possible Complications
Warning signs vary, but could include aches in the face, neck, and shoulders. You could also experience popping or crackling sensations in the jaw, headaches and migraines, and tooth sensitivity or toothaches, especially, if you also grind or clench your teeth. Unless treated, your discomfort could increase, as could the risk of damaged teeth and related complications like tooth decay. Don’t ignore possibly symptoms, instead contact our team to schedule a consultation and exam, so we can help you find the right solution for your discomfort and improve your oral health.
Treatment with Orthodontics and Oral Appliances
Sometimes, correcting misalignment eases strain and provides relief. We could help with braces, limiting the appearance of your orthodontics with tooth-colored brackets. Clear Invisalign® aligners could also help, which remaining practically invisible throughout the process. We may also suggest treatment with a custom-made oral appliance. We take detailed impressions and images of your smile using advanced digital technology. We combine these images to create a 3D model and then design your oral appliance. The device will look and fit like a mouthguard, and is worn as you sleep at night. The appliance then repositions the jaw to ease strain and provide relief for symptoms, which also improving overall oral health and bite balance. If you have any questions about diagnosing and treating TMJ disorder, or if you have persistent headaches and jaw pain, then please contact our team for treatment.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT TREATING TMD?
We want to not only correct issues with your smile’s alignment, but also problems related to your bite balance and jaw joints. To learn more about treating this common jaw joint disorder, then please call Lake Country Orthodontics in Fort Worth, TX at (817) 236-7846. Our office proudly serves patients who live in Haslet, Azle, and all surrounding communities.
