Abnormally high amounts of pressure against teeth and the jawbone create tension. This tension may lead to pain and tightness in the jaw that may interfere with its capabilities. This can progress into temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD); which will not resolve without intervention from a dental professional.
When you get an evaluation from your dentist about this issue, they may suggest any of a number of treatment options. Katy Smile Design, a dental practice located in Katy, TX, describes three dental treatments that can help you relieve TMJ disorder symptoms.
3 Ways to Alleviate TMJ Symptoms
Stress Relief Exercises
High levels of stress can lead to oral habits like clenching or grinding your teeth. These behaviors create pressure on your teeth and jaw that can cause TMJ disorders.
Therefore, an early treatment option to resolve TMJ targets this stress. Your dentist can recommend stress relief activities, such as breathing exercises or yoga. They may also suggest specific exercises for your face that will loosen tight muscles in the affected areas.
Custom-Made Mouthguard
Teeth grinding or clenching (bruxism) often occurs without the conscious recognition of a dental patient and can manifest while a patient is asleep. If this is the case, a dentist may create a custom-made oral appliance for you to wear overnight.
This night guard will shield teeth and absorb pressure stemming from bruxism that may happen while the dental patient sleeps. This reduction in pressure can alleviate TMJ symptoms. The personalized design of the appliance ensures that the patient can wear it comfortably and that it will not slip out of place during the night.
Orthodontic Solutions
Another major cause of TMJ disorders is malocclusion, which refers to a misaligned bite or crooked teeth. If your bite cannot close properly, this can put pressure on the jaw and result in a decline in its function as well as pain.
Your dentist can offer an orthodontic solution to straighten your smile so that you can bite down without creating abnormal pressures that will harm your jaw. Invisalign is one such treatment that uses clear-colored plastic aligners worn by the patient for at least 22 hours each day to gradually straighten their teeth.
More severe malocclusions may require alternative orthodontic treatments. Your dental professional can evaluate your smile’s structure, as well as your TMJ symptoms, during a consultation appointment.
Find Effective TMJ Treatment in Katy, TX
Katy Smile Design provides treatment for TMJ disorders and other dental concerns in patients in Katy, TX. Our practice specializes in general, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, including tooth replacement solutions. If you feel nervous about upcoming dental work, ask your dentist about sedation dentistry options. To schedule an appointment or consultation with us, contact our office by phone at 281.843.9814 or reach our staff online.