Do you have chronic headaches or pain in your jaw? If so, this could indicate the presence of issues like TMJ disorder, also known as TMD. To stop the pain and restore overall bite balance, we could offer treatment with oral appliances. In today’s blog, your Fort Worth, TX, orthodontist talks about TMJ therapy.
The Symptoms of TMJ Disorder
When should you talk to your orthodontist about TMJ disorder? Common symptoms could include a popping or cracking sensation in your jaw, as well as chronic headaches and migraines. Pain in the jaw, face, neck, and shoulders is common too. While a separate disorder, bruxism could arise due to untreated TMD and lead to toothaches and sensitivity. The disorder occurs when the joints connecting the jaw and skull undergo excessive strain, often due to complications with the growth and development of the smile, missing teeth, misalignment, untreated bruxism, or injury to the face or jaw. Lack of care could mean painful symptoms and also difficulty fully opening and closing the mouth!
Diagnosis and Treatment
Our team will employ advanced imaging systems to carefully examine the smile for signs of wear and ration, and also assess the balance of your smile. If we find you need treatment, then we can discuss possible solutions. For some, we can correct misalignment with our braces or aligners, which restores balance and function and ease symptoms. However, for many we could create a custom oral appliance. The device will be crafted based on the digital images we take of your smile, and will be worn as you sleep at night. The appliance then repositions the smile to ease tension and pressure, so you avoid painful symptoms during waking hours. The appliance will be simple to clean and use.
Bruxism
If you also happen to grind/clench your teeth, the device could prevent further damage by putting a barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth. We want to bring relief and prevent major issues for the health, function, and appearance of your smile. If you have any questions about oral appliance therapy for TMJ disorder, or about our braces with tooth-colored brackets or Invisalign® aligners, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to offer healthier and more attractive smiles!
Do You Have Questions About TMD?
Our team wants to help improve the balance and health of your smile with an oral appliance. If you have any questions about improving the balance of your jaw, or if you would like to schedule an appointment soon, please call Lake Country Orthodontics in Fort Worth, TX at (817) 236-7846. Our office proudly serves patients who live in Rome, Haslet, Azle, Saginaw, and all surrounding communities.
