Easing TMJ-Related Discomfort With An Oral Appliance
When you have headaches or jaw pain due to TMJ disorder, also known as TMD, our team can offer relief! Without the need for surgery or invasive treatment options, we can restore balance to your bite. In today’s blog, your Cleveland, TX, dentist talks about how our oral appliances can ease TMD-related symptoms.
The Causes and Symptoms of TMJ Disorder
TMJ disorder occurs when the joints connecting our jaws and skull become strained. The stress could lead to issues fully opening and closing your mouth, as well as a host of uncomfortable symptoms too. The cases could be linked to missing teeth, malocclusion caused by dental misalignment, injury to the face, teeth grinding, or even issues with the growth of the jaw or the eruption of your teeth. You may experience jaw pain, facial aches, headaches or migraines, and even a popping or clicking sensation. When these symptoms occur, you need to let us know right away.
Creating an Oral Appliance
Our team will carefully examine your smile with advanced imaging technology, so we can diagnose the cause and extent of your cosmetic concerns. We will then decide on the best course of treatment. For some, this could include orthodontics to correct malocclusion, or prosthetics to address missing teeth. We could even improve bite balance with custom crowns or even dental bonding or contouring. But the most common solution is a comfortable and noninvasive one: an oral appliance.
The device is created based on detailed digital images taken of your smile. These are combined to create a digital impression, one we use in a lab setting to design and fabricate an oral appliance. The finished appliance will look and fit like a mouthguard, and is worn as we sleep at night. The device gently repositions the jaw to ease strain and stress, so you avoid symptoms. If you grind your teeth, this also prevents further damage by putting a barrier between the upper and lower set of teeth.
Easing Your Discomfort
During treatment, you can help by avoiding very hard or chewy foods, and by cutting back on caffeinated products. You also help with a warm washcloth to the side of your face, which eases the strain on your smile. If you have any questions about how we design and treat issues like TMJ disorder and bruxism, then contact our team today. We want to help you enjoy a healthy and comfortable smile for years to come!
Talk To Your Cleveland, TX Dentist About TMD Concerns
Don’t live with chronic headaches and jaw pain, talk to our team! For more information on easing the strain on your jaw joints, then contact your Cleveland, TX, dentist, Dr. Uhrenholdt, by calling (281) 592-1234.