Do you frequently find yourself struggling with discomfort along your jaw, or even pain when chewing? If so, have you considered that it could be related to temporamandibular joint dysfunction, or as it is more commonly called, TMJ? Jaw problems can lead to recurring pains that impact your daily life, as well as limitations to your dental function that can make eating and speaking uncomfortable, or difficult. When a person develops TMJ troubles, they can experience symptoms that hurt the quality of their life. If you have TMJ issues that include a habit of grinding your teeth, you can also suffer serious dental damage. Your dentist can help you recover from TMJ dysfunction. With proper treatment, you can enjoy relief from pain, and avoid problems with teeth grinding. While many people will seek treatment specifically for this issue, treatment can also be a part of a larger effort to provide a smile makeover.
Don’t Ignore That Dental Discomfort
Causes of TMJ-related pain can differ greatly. Some pains are caused by subconscious teeth grinding while others may experience issues based on poor teeth alignment. Still others could be suffering because of damaged teeth, or as a result of stress. Problems with this joint can lead to subconscious teeth grinding as well as general discomfort. It can also cause pesky popping noises in the ear, dizziness, neck pains and frequent headaches, as well. Fortunately, many dentists offer a fast way to address jaw-related pain, often in the form of an oral appliance similar to a mouthguard.
Fortunately, dentists that specialize in TMJ treatment can generally help to alleviate the pain, through specialized care.
Enjoy Better Comfort by Recovering from TMJ
For some, simply improving your posture will help your TMJ. For many otheres a simple oral appliance can often help to prevent ongoing jaw-related pain. This device is made to help relax the muscles and allow for improved comfort. It is smart to avoid certain foods that make your problems worse.
In other cases, esthetic restorative dental treatment is sometimes the best solution, as addressing badly damaged teeth can help to prevent discomfort or odd chewing that can lead to jaw pains. Others may find that orthodontic treatment is actually the most effective option, as it can help to correct alignment problems that can also lead to pain.
Directly Addressing Your Issues With TMJ Dysfunction
By taking care of your ongoing issues with TMJ dysfunction, your dentist can free you from days spent struggling with headaches, neck and shoulder pain, and difficult or uncomfortable jaw movement. Your dentist can gauge the severity of your condition, and recommend a course of action that improves your life. While more advanced cases can call for involved work, many people can be helped with the use of a night guard, which helps alleviate the pain in jaw joints and muscles.
Making TMJ Treatment Part Of Your Smile Makeover Experience
While many patients do come in just for TMJ treatment, others will undergo this care as part of a smile makeover. Your dentist can help you deal with discomfort, while also doing work that restores the quality of your smile. Many people with a history of teeth grinding can benefit from work that hides wear and tear, as well as chips and cracks in teeth.
Would you like to talk about recovering from TMJ?
At Lake Forest Dental Arts, we are committed to helping you recover your best smile, and great oral health. If your oral health has been compromised by TMJ dysfunction, we can help you recover, and work with you to address any smile issues you may be facing. We also proudly serve residents of Chicago and all surrounding communities in the Chicago Metro area. To schedule a consultation with us, call our office in Lake Forest, IL, today at 847-234-0517.