As your Prairie Village, KS, prosthodontist, we can address an array of issues that impact the health, function, and beauty of your smile. From treating tooth loss to correcting alignment issues. But our team can also address strain in your jaw joints. In today’s blog, learn how we approach TMJ disorder and bruxism treatment.
TMJ Disorder
TMJ disorder, also known as TMD, is a disorder in which the jaw joints have become so strained and stressed, that difficulties have developed fully opening and closing your mouth. The strain could be caused by missing teeth, injury to the face or jaw, malocclusion, teeth grinding, or complications with the development of your jaw and the eruption of the teeth. Warning signs could include headaches, migraines, jaw pain, facial aches, and a popping or clicking sensation in the jaw.
Bruxism
Bruxism means you grind or clench your teeth on a nightly basis. The pressure from grinding and clenching could begin to wear down teeth and make them appear short. This could also crack or chip the teeth as well. The damage then exposes the sensitive inner tissues to bacteria, causing tooth decay and dental infection. Warning signs could include painful toothaches and tooth sensitivity, as well as aches in the neck, face, or jaw. As with TMD, this could be caused by misalignment, missing teeth, problems with the growth of the smile, and injury, as well as high levels of stress in your daily life.
Oral Appliance Therapy and More
How do we bring relief? For some, we could replace missing teeth with a dental prosthetic, restoring bite balance to your smile. Orthodontics could be used to correct misalignment, and we could place crowns to improve the balance and function of your smile. But the most common solution is an oral appliance. Crafted based on detailed digital images we take of your entire smile, these will be combined to create a detailed 3D model. The appliance will be custom-fitted to your smile and will be worn like a mouthguard as you sleep at night. The device will reposition the smile to improve balance and alignment, and ease strain. The appliance also places a barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth, a barrier that prevents further damage to the smile.
If you have any questions about improving care with prosthetic treatment, or about the warning signs of TMD and bruxism, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to improve your smile’s health and function!
Do You Need Prosthodontic Care?
Contact Dr. Stuart Dexter, Prosthodontist in Prairie Village, KS by calling 913-362-8200 to schedule your next appointment with our office, and to find out if we can improve the strain and stress in your joints with an oral appliance.