When you have imbalance in your bite that strains your jaw joints, you could develop a host of uncomfortable symptoms related to TMJ disorder, or TMD. To provide treatment with precision and accuracy, we can examine your smile with the TruDenta® system and by providing a custom oral appliance. In today’s blog, your Virginia Beach, VA, dentist talks about treating TMJ disorder.
The Causes and Symptoms of TMD
TMJ disorder occurs when the balance of your bite is altered, which could happen through factors like teeth grinding, injury to the face or mouth, malocclusion brought on by misalignment, or tooth loss. Over time, the disorder leads to a host of uncomfortable symptoms and the risk of issues fully opening and closing your mouth. You could also be more at-risk for complications like chronic teeth grinding (bruxism). Warning signs to be aware of include headaches and migraines, facial and jaw pain, popping or clicking in the jaw, and aches in the neck and shoulders. Don’t ignore these uncomfortable symptoms, reach out to our team for a diagnosis right away!
The TruDenta® Diagnosis
To make a diagnosis with precision and accuracy, we will employ TruDenta digital T-scan technology. This advanced imaging software looks closely at your bite to see how evenly pressures are being distributed. We can use the measurements and information to design and craft an oral appliance, one that fits like a mouthguard but helps address your TMD concerns.
A Custom Oral Appliance
The oral appliance will look and fit like a mouthguard, and is worn while you sleep. However, the appliance has been custom-made to ease pressures on your jaw joints and structures, so you avoid painful aches in the head and jaw, as well as other associated symptoms like earaches, tinnitus, dizziness, and more. The device is easy to use and clean, and can travel with you as needed. We can also discuss other helpful changes, such as avoiding hard or chewy foods, cutting back on caffeine, muscle exercises, and using a warm washcloth to ease strain on the jaw muscles. If you grind your teeth as well, the device prevents further damage by acting as a barrier between the upper and lower teeth, and our team can use custom crowns or bonding to repair any damaged or worn-down tooth structures.
If you have any questions, then contact our team today to learn more.
Talk to Our Team About Correcting Bite Imbalance
We want to provide a solution to the imbalance in your bite and to ease painful TMD symptoms. To learn more about how we treat issues like TMJ disorder, then give us a call at Absolute Dental Care in Virginia Beach, VA at (757) 428-7440 to schedule an appointment.
