Should I have TMD treated? Why?
Tempromandibular joint disorders (TMJ disorders) can occur when your bite is not properly aligned. This malalignment can cause the jaw to experience unnatural stresses and prevent it from resting properly when your mouth is closed. If you have a TMJ disorder, you may have noticed a clicking noise when you chew, speak, or yawn; you may even experience pain and discomfort during these actions. In some cases, your jaw may feel “locked” following a wide yawn.
TMJ disorders can cause pain and discomfort in the jaw as well as headaches that occur when the muscles that help the joints open and close become overtired. Beyond the pain and discomfort, TMJ disorders can also cause serious dental problems if left untreated.
Because TMJ disorders are associated with a poor bite or malocclusion (which literally translated means “bad closure”), your teeth do not meet properly. As a result, extra tension and stress may be placed on your teeth, resulting in chips and cracks that allow cavities to form and may even result in tooth loss. Over time, TMJ disorder can cause teeth to break, which requires cosmetic treatment to rebuild your healthy smile and ensure that the broken tooth and its neighbors are protected from decay.
While treating TMJ disorders used to mean expensive and invasive surgery to reposition or even rebuild the jaw joints, today’s approach at Perry Dental is much more patient-friendly. By restoring broken, chipped, or cracked teeth, replacing missing teeth, and using braces or other dental devices, Drs. Mackley, Esplin, and Spackman and our team can help realign your jaw so it’s able to function properly and eliminate pain and discomfort. There’s more good news: by restoring damaged teeth and tooth surfaces and straightening crooked teeth, you’re also left with a better smile.
Every patient is different, and that means your course of treatment will be different too. After a thorough examination of your teeth and jaw, our experienced staff at Perry Dental will work with you to develop a treatment plan that will have you feeling better – and looking better – sooner than you ever expected. Don’t let your untreated TMJ disorder cause more pain and problems; give us a call at our convenient Perry office today to schedule a consultation.