What is TMD/TMJ?
TMD, or Temporomandibular Disorder is often mistakenly called "TMJ" because it refers to a number of conditions that affect the "TMJ" or, joint, of where the lower jaw hinges. Problems can range from painless popping, clicking, and even locking, to severe muscle and joint pain that restricts a patients ability to eat or even talk. There can be several factors that can contribute to joint pain including stress, poor bite, and harmful habits such as grinding or clenching. Below you can learn about some of the services we provide to help reduce the pain associated with the TMJ
Occlusal Guards (Nightguards):
Patients who release their stress by grinding and clenching their teeth can not only have a lot of jaw pain, but can do a lot of damage to their teeth or restorations in their mouths. We highly recommend patients who wake up with muscle tightness or sore teeth to wear an occlusal guard while they sleep, often called a nightguard. It is very common for patients to exhibit these harmful habits during the night, and often times it is the sleeping partner who will notice it because they can hear the teeth clicking together. The thermoplastic nightguard we make for you is a very rigid material that is custom fit to your upper teeth. The bottom of the guard is mostly flat with little indentation for your lower teeth that are set in a precise location of the "resting state" of the lower jaw. This allows the lower jaw to move freely without causing any harm to the teeth, and then guides the jaw back into a rested position after moving around. We absolutely DO NOT recommend the "boil and bite" nightguards sold in most pharmacies. They are made by clenching into the rubbery material after it has been softened by boiling. This method of formation means that you will be holding your lower jaw in that clenched, and unrelaxed state, any time you wear that nightguard. You will notice an increase in jaw pain with this type of nightguard.
Restoring your bite:
For patients with missing or misaligned teeth, we can have issues where the teeth guide the jaw into unhealthy patterns during chewing, speech, or rest. This can cause strain on the joints and delicate muscles that control the jaw resulting in inflammation and pain. If you feel that this may be an issue you have, please call your local office today for an comprehensive examination of your teeth and your bite.
