If you have pain in your face, such as aches in the jaw or chronic headaches, this could be due to a jaw joint disorder. TMJ disorder, also known as TMD, could lead to strained jaw joints and daily discomfort. But we can help! In today’s blog, your Pella, IA, dentist talks about easing facial discomfort with TMJ treatment.
How TMJ Disorder Causes Pain
When the joints that connect your jaw and face undergo excessive strain. This could cause a disorder known as TMJ, or TMD. Without treatment, this stress could impact how fully you can open and close your mouth, and could lead to a host of uncomfortable symptoms. The strain could be due to untreated teeth grinding, missing teeth, injury to the face, or even issues with the growth of your jaw or how your teeth erupt. Factors that cause bite imbalance tend to strain the jaw joints. Even the arrival of your wisdom teeth could be a factor!
The Symptoms To Watch For
When should you see our team for treatment? You should watch for symptoms like chronic headaches and migraines, or a crackling or popping sensation in your jaw. Discomfort in your face and bite could be a symptom too! If you also grind your teeth, you could experience painful sensitivity when you eat or drink, or persistent toothaches, as the teeth are gradually worn down and damaged. Don’t ignore these symptoms, talk to our team! We will conduct a diagnosis with precision and accuracy, so we can then create a treatment plan tailored to your smile, offering relief and preventing further complications.
Treatment with a Custom Appliance
An oral appliance will be custom-fitted for your smile based on detailed digital images and impressions we take of your bite. The device will look like a mouthguard and is worn while you sleep. Once in place, this gently repositions the pressure on the bite to ease symptoms, and also puts a soft barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth to prevent further damage. The place will be easy to use and clean, and it can travel with you too! If you have damaged teeth due to teeth grinding, we could report them with options, like dental bonding and even custom crowns.
If you have any questions about how we diagnose and treat issues like TMJ disorder, then contact our team today to learn more and start your treatment journey.
Schedule a Visit for Oral Appliance Therapy with Allen & Neumann
Our team wants to help treat the pain and discomfort in your bite with a custom oral appliance. To schedule an appointment for TMJ treatment, call Allen and Neumann Family Dentistry in Pella, IA, at 641-628-1121 today.