We use a variety of orthodontics to correct dental misalignment in smiles of all ages, from kids to adults. But did you know we can also treat a serious jaw joint issue like TMJ disorder as well? In today’s blog, your Fort Worth, TX, orthodontist talks about how we approach TMJ therapy.
The Causes and Symptoms of TMD
TMJ disorder means that something has caused an imbalance in your smile, and place serious strain on the temporomandibular joints, which connect your skull and jaw. Since these joints control movements necessary to eat and speak, the disorder could eventually cause problems fully opening and closing your mouth. Causes include tooth loss, dental misalignment, injury to the face or jaw, bruxism (teeth grinding), high stress levels, and malocclusion. People with the disorder could report a number of different symptoms, including jaw and facial pain, headaches and migraines, popping or clicking in the jaw, and aches in the neck and shoulders.
Treatment with Braces or Aligners
If you experience one or more of these symptoms, then contact our team today to schedule a visit. There is still time to see us and put your 2021 dental insurance benefits to use before they expire on December 31st. Sometimes, orthodontic treatment to correct misalignment could bring relief and ease tension in your smile. For more severe cases of misalignment, we could use braces. To make them less visible for our teen and adult patients, we could employ tooth-colored ceramic brackets and clear bands. We also have the Invisalign® system, which employs a series of clear and almost invisible aligners to correct misalignment and restore balance to the smile.
An Oral Appliance
However, we often correct the issue with a unique appliance. The TMJ appliance is crafted based on the clear and detailed digital images we take of your smile and jaw with the iTero® imaging system. The resulting appliance will look and fit much like a nightguard, but actually repositions the jaw to ease tension and bring relief. If you have any questions about how we use a custom appliance to stop TMD issues, or if you want to learn more about our clear aligners or tooth-colored brackets, then contact our team today. We look forward to working with you, and helping you employ a more even, healthy, and comfortable smile again!
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT TREATING TMD?
We would like to help you find relief by easing the imbalance of your smile with an oral appliance. To learn more about how our team treats issues like jaw joint strain, then please call Lake Country Orthodontics in Fort Worth, TX at (817) 236-7846. Our office proudly serves patients who live in Azle, Saginaw, and all surrounding communities.
