Did you know that a jaw joint disorder, one that impacts millions of people, could lead to chronic pain? TMJ disorder, also known as TMD, could develop due to strained joints and imbalanced bites, and could lead to painful headaches and more. To bring relief, your Fort Worth, TX, orthodontist may suggest a custom oral appliance.
The Pain of TMD
TMJ disorder could lead to painful headaches and migraines, jaw pain, popping or clicking in the jaw, facial aches, and pain in the neck and shoulders. The disorder could also lead to bruxism, chronic teeth grinding, which means the pressure and damage to your teeth may cause tooth sensitivity and toothaches. The disorder occurs when the jaw joints undergo excessive strain, a result of complications like injury to the face or jaw, untreated bruxism, tooth loss, bite imbalance, and dental misalignment. If you experience the warning signs we discussed above, let us know. Otherwise, the disorder could grow more severe and even impact how you open and close your mouth!
Creating an Oral Appliance
Our team can treat the issue without resorting to surgery or other intensive solutions. Instead, we could create an oral splint. The device is crafted and fitted based on detailed digital images we take of your smile with the iTero® digital scanning system. The images are taken quickly and comfortably using a small camera at the end of a thin wand. We then combine the images to make a 3D model of your smile, so we design your appliance with accuracy and precision. When the device is ready, we can begin treatment.
Treatment and Better Habits
The device is worn as you sleep at night. When worn, the device actually repositions the jaw to ease pressure on the joints. If you grind your teeth, the device also places a barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth to prevent injury to your smile. We could also help by offering orthodontic care to correct misalignment should that be a factor. Habits to help include cutting back on caffeinated products, or items that are especially hard or chewy as consuming them could exacerbate symptoms. A warm compress against the side of the face could ease stress as well. If you have any questions about treating your TMJ dysfunction and restoring comfort to your smile, then please contact our team today to learn more.
Do You Need TMJ Therapy?
Our team wants to help improve the alignment and function of your smile with a custom oral appliance. To learn more about addressing issues like TMD, then please call Lake Country Orthodontics in Fort Worth, TX at (817) 236-7846. Our office proudly serves patients who live in Springtown, Rome, and all surrounding communities.
