TMJ disorder, sometimes referred to as TMD, can occur when your smile is injured or your jaw joints become strained. Without treatment, this could lead to persistent headaches, jaw pain, and other uncomfortable symptoms. In today’s blog, your Virginia Beach, VA, dentist talks about possible treatment options!
TMD Symptoms and Complications
Symptoms could include a popping or clicking sensation in your jaw, persistent headaches or migraines, jaw and facial pain, or even tooth sensitivity or toothaches if you grind your teeth as well. Over time, this could lead to serious discomfort and even impact how you open and close your mouth. TMJ disorder occurs when the jaws become strained, leading to discomfort and stress on the joints. The issue could be caused by factors like tooth loss, injury to the jaw or face, misalignment, high levels of stress, untreated bruxism (teeth grinding), or issues with the growth of your jaw or the eruption of your teeth. When you experience these symptoms, please let us know right away!
Assessing Your Disorder
Our team will start your treatment process with a detailed examination using digital imagery, such as digital x-rays, so we can identify the cause and assess the severity of the issue with precision, and while using a fraction of the radiation. The images allow us to identify the causes of the issue and to choose the best treatment options, so we can restore balance to your bite and help you avoid worsening symptoms and damaged teeth, protecting you from complications like discomfort when eating or even tooth decay or dental infection.
Possible Treatment Options
For some, treatment could involve Invisalign® aligners to correct misalignment, prosthetics like dental implants to address gaps in your smile, and even crowns or bonding to improve overall bite balance, so you avoid strain on your jaw joints. But the most common solution is an oral appliance. The device looks like a mouthguard, but is custom-made for your smile based on digital images and impressions taken of your smile. The device is worn as you sleep and helps reposition the jaw to ease strain and prevent painful symptoms. If you grind your teeth this puts a barrier between the upper and lower teeth to prevent further damage. The appliance is easy to use and clean, and can travel with you easily during the holidays!
If you have any questions about how we diagnose and treat issues like TMJ disorder, then please reach out to our team today. We want to help you enjoy better comfort and a healthier smile!
Talk to Our Team About Our TMD Solutions
We want to help you enjoy good oral health and better bite balance with oral appliance therapy. Call Absolute Dental Care in Virginia Beach, VA at (757) 428-7440 to schedule an appointment.
