TMJ disorder affects the joints on either side of the head, both of which connect to the jaw. When there is any sort of dysfunction, the result is a disorder, which is often diagnosed, treated, and managed by a general dentist.
Here at Bridge Creek Dental, our dentists are certified in diagnosing and treating TMJ disorder. We have several different treatment options and approaches to ensure that we can treat the many causes of TMJ disorder. Call our office today to learn how TMJ treatment can help you.
Contributions to TMJ Disorder
There are a couple of common causes of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). These causes might include the following listed below. If you are dealing with any other complications that may affect your oral care, feel free to let us know. Bridge Creek Dental offers a wide variety of services to address exactly what you need.
Health Conditions
Health conditions out of your control that affect your muscles or the surrounding jawline can lead to TMJ disorder. Some common examples of this may include arthritis and other autoimmune diseases.
Accidental health conditions, such as a dislocated jaw or dental trauma (from unforeseen tooth impact), can weaken your jaw muscles and lead to TMJ disorder. When these accidents happen, be sure to call Bridge Creek Dental soon to minimize the risk of further dental damage.
Unhealthy Habits
Unhealthy habits affect more than just your visual look. Poor habits, such as teeth grinding or poor posture, can put unnecessary strain on your jawline throughout the day. As jawbones weaken, they become increasingly vulnerable to additional harm and tooth decay. Placing your smile in an ideal environment can make all the difference in proper care and development.
Improper Diet and Neglect
Speaking of habits, creating good dental habits and dieting regimens is crucial in preventing jaw dysfunction and significant oral and physical health concerns. Even small habits, such as chewing gum or eating excessively bulky foods, can become detrimental if not taken seriously.
As with developing any healthy habits, approaching potentially unhealthy habits should be done in moderation. Receiving biannual dental cleanings can assist in making sure that these proper habits are kept for you and your loved ones.
Jaw Misalignment
Jaw misalignment is typically out of the patient’s control and can develop at any time throughout a person’s life. Crooked teeth can cause constant pressure on your jaw and gums as you bite, leading to more chronic concerns later on.
These issues typically require care outside of typical TMJ disorder treatments, usually through our Invisalign® clear aligners.
Enhance Wellness with TMJ Disorder Care
Here at Bridge Creek Dental, our primary goal isn’t just to manage systems but to course-correct your smile towards long-term success. TMJ disorder treatment is meant to stabilize your jawline from additional complications, including:
Further Jaw Damage
TMJ disorder treatment seeks to reduce and eventually eliminate unnecessary strain on your jawline. Without the coaching involved with TMJ treatment, your jaw will start to weaken and can eventually lead to broken jaw joints and misalignment. TMJ treatment reverses the possibility of chronic pain and fortifies your smile to better resist what life throws at you.
Damaged Teeth and Gums
Because your jaw and gums are interconnected, when one weakens, the other struggles to maintain your usual eating and drinking patterns. This added pain can cause patients to clench and grind their teeth, which in turn severely deteriorates tooth enamel. Weakened tooth enamel (the outermost layer of your teeth) can cause cavities and greater tooth sensitivity.
Managing TMJ disorder helps patients continue a strong, stalwart smile that can resist significant strain and discomfort.
Disrupted Sleep Schedule
The long-term pain caused by TMJ disorder can occur at night as well. Here is why having a good night’s sleep is critical to your oral health:
- Encourages Tissue Repair: Deep sleep aids in cell regeneration, which heals your gums and other tissues around your body.
- Improves Jaw Relaxation: Quality rest reduces tension in the jaw, which helps fight back against chronic TMJ symptoms.
- Reduces Dry Mouth: Proper sleep maintains saliva flow around your mouth, which helps neutralize acidic foods and drinks that can result in cavities.
- Boosts Immune System: A well-rested body fights infections more effectively, lowering the risk of other oral health issues such as gum disease.
Boosted Mental Health
Being upbeat and positive through the ups and downs of life can take up a lot of energy. TMJ disorder’s chronic nature can take a lot of that energy away, even despite one’s best efforts through pain management and quick fixes.
TMJ disorder care can give back your original energy levels, no matter how long you’ve been dealing with TMJ concerns. Allow yourself to feel confident and comfortable no matter where you go through managing your symptoms with our TMJ recovery program.
Receive Advanced Care
Drs. Taylor and Wassmer are happy to provide long-term relief for our patients in a uniquely comfortable and rewarding environment. We truly support happy smiles and happy lives, and our unique customer culture makes all the difference for patients in the Billings, MT, area.
Skilled Dentists
We can help you with your TMJ disorder, no matter the extent or cause of your TMJ-related pain.
Our board-certified dentists have post-residency training to assist you with your concerns effectively. A significant portion of TMJ treatment is a trial-and-error method to see what works best to ease TMJ discomfort. Our expertise and constant training allow us to efficiently pinpoint the area of concern, saving you additional time and energy, free from chronic pain.
Invisalign® Clear Aligners
Many patients find that their TMJ disorder stems from crooked or misaligned teeth. When these cases are spotted, we typically suggest orthodontic treatment to eliminate the strain on your jaw muscles. Bridge Creek Dental makes the transition to orthodontic work simple by providing Invisalign clear aligners as a modern solution to orthodontic treatment.
Invisalign aligners are completely transparent, removable, and require no diet restrictions. Visit our Invisalign aligners page on the Orthodontics tab for more information about this service.
Advanced Dental Technology
Advanced and current dental technology is essential in treating TMJ disorder to quickly identify the concern and manage your symptoms. Our recently opened dental office allows our team to provide some of the finest dental tools in the Montana area, giving our patients extra reassurance as they get started on their dental care.
TMJ Treatment Options in Yellowstone County
TMJ treatment is often unique depending on the individual’s needs and what we find from the initial appointment. The treatments listed below provide a starting point for us to personalize your treatment to the specifications you need.
If you are wondering whether these TMJ treatments might be right for you, come meet with our board-certified dentists.
Our team here at Bridge Creek Dental is trained to understand your concerns and point you to a treatment plan that best fits your needs. Whether you are officially diagnosed with TMJ disorder or not, we offer a wide variety of other services to manage pain.
Understanding TMJ Disorder Treatment
TMJ disorder treatment is a rather simple, streamlined process that can be adjusted to fit your busy schedule or other personal circumstances. As you figure out the details on scheduling your TMJ disorder appointment, here are a few things to keep in mind about the service.
How Is TMJ Disorder Recognized?
Dental professionals recognize TMJ disorder by scanning and evaluating jaw movement, alignment, and joint function.
Physical examinations, imaging scans, and overall health history pinpoint structural concerns and irregular movements to properly diagnose the issue. Subtle symptoms such as a clicking jaw or irregular joint behavior can help us spot the problem.
Reducing the Risk of TMJ Disorder
Though TMJ disorder is not always preventable, there are multiple ways to reduce the risk of it. Here are four different ways to minimize strain on your jaw joints:
- Maintain Good Posture: Keeping your head and neck aligned helps reduce strain on your jaw joints.
- Limit Hard Foods: Avoid excessive chewing on tough foods to prevent unnecessary jaw tension.
Manage Daily Stress: Practice daily relaxation techniques to avoid teeth clenching and grinding.
Don’t Suffer with TMJ Symptoms Any Longer!
We completely understand how suffering from TMJ pain can get in the way of being able to properly function during your day. Our dental team at Bridge Creek Dental is ready to help you understand the options you have available to you. Give our office a call to start curing your TMJ pain.