When you have painful jaw aches and tooth pain, or persistent headaches, then this could mean the presence of a widespread and serious disorder. TMJ disorder, also known as TMD, can cause painful symptoms and even lead to teeth grinding (bruxism). But your Overland Park, KS, prosthodontist can help with tooth replacement, oral appliances, and more.
The Causes of Your TMJ Disorder
TMJ disorder means there is imbalance in your bite that places serious strain on the joints connecting your jaw and skull. The stress could be due to changes in balance, such as misalignment, missing teeth, or injury to the face or jaw. Issues with the growth of your jaw and oral structures could be responsible, as could issues with the eruption of your teeth, including the arrival of your wisdom teeth. Untreated bruxism (teeth grinding) could lead to TMJ dysfunction, and the reverse is true as well. Symptoms that indicate the need for treatment could include jaw and facial pain, headaches and migraines, pain in the neck and shoulders, and toothaches and tooth sensitivity. A popping or clicking in the jaw could be experienced too. When one or more of these symptoms occur, please reach out to our team today.
Planning Treatment with Precision
Our team will use advanced imaging systems, such as digital x-rays and intraoral cameras, to take a close look at your smile, and analyze the bite and identify any imbalance. We can then create a treatment plan to correct the imbalance and help ease the symptoms of TMJ disorder, so you avoid issues opening and closing your mouth, or damage to your teeth. We want to help preserve your smile and stop discomfort, so you can smile with confidence.
Options for Stopping TMD Pain
For some, we may need to replace missing teeth to restore proper balance, and we can do this with custom bridges or even dental implants. Our custom restoration can help improve balance as well, so you avoid TMD-related symptoms. For many, we can offer treatment with a simple and noninvasive oral appliance, a device that looks and fits like a mouthguard, and is worn while you sleep. The oral appliance is based on detailed images we take of your bite, so we can create a 3D model. We then craft the appliance to ensure a proper fit, and that it can shift your jaw to ease discomfort and strain and prevent painful symptoms. If you grind your teeth, this places a barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth too!
DO YOU NEED TREATMENT FOR JAW JOINT CONCERNS?
We can provide a number of options to improve bite balance and stop TMD dysfunction. If you want to find a solution for the pain caused by your jaw joint stress, then call your Overland Park and Prairie Village, KS prosthodontist, Dr. Stuart Dexter, DDS at (913)362-8200.