If you have strain on your jaw joints, this could cause stress and serious discomfort, including a persistent popping or clicking in your jaw. Without treatment, this could impact how you open and close your mouth! In today’s blog, your team at Cedar West Dental talks about the treatment we offer for TMJ disorder in Richfield, MN.
The Causes of TMJ Disorder
What causes TMJ disorder to occur? If you have factors that place stress on your jaw joints, which connect your jaw and skull, this could lead to TMJ disorder, also known as TMD. When this occurs, you could develop painful symptoms and even issues opening and closing your mouth. Possible causes include missing teeth, dental misalignment, injury to the face or jaw, or even concerns with the growth of your bite or eruption of your teeth. Imbalance could also occur due to the arrival of your wisdom teeth! As part of your treatment, we will conduct a diagnosis to assess the cause and severity, so we can choose the best treatment option.
The Link to Teeth Grinding
Without treatment, TMD could increase the risk of bruxism, or chronic teeth grinding. The reverse is true as well. With bruxism, you grind and clench your teeth on a regular basis, which not only places pressure on your jaw joints, but could wear down and damage teeth to change the appearance of your smile and increase the risk of serious complications like tooth decay and infection.
Symptoms of TMJ Disorder
Symptoms of the disorder could include soreness in the face, headaches or migraines, aches in the neck or shoulders, or even a popping or clicking sensation in your bite. If you also grind your teeth, there could be painful toothaches or even sensitivity when you eat or drink.
TMJ Treatment
For some, we could offer orthodontics to correct misalignment or dental prosthetics to address the gap in your smile. We could also boost balance with the placement of a crown or with a dental bonding procedure. But for most, we offer relief with an oral appliance, one custom-fitted for your smile and worn while you sleep. This fits like a mouthguard and will help shift your bite to ease stress and strain and bring relief from painful symptoms. If you grind your teeth, this could place a soft barrier between your upper and lower sets of teeth to prevent further injury to them.
Schedule A Visit for TMD Solutions
We want to help boost the balance, health, and function of your smile to offer relief from TMD symptoms. To learn more about easing strain, call Cedar West Dental in Richfield, MN, today at 612) 861-7188.
