If basic jaw movements involved in biting, chewing, and speaking are starting to become uncomfortable, you should speak with your dentist about TMJ disorder. Problems that affect our jaw joints or muscles can lead to chronic pain, limited dental function, and even issues with chronic headaches. At our Houston, TX dental practice, we take problems with your jaw seriously, and we can use a modern treatment approach to determine what is affecting you. In addition to providing you with a custom appliance to help you reduce discomfort with your jaw, we can perform a careful evaluation to determine what underlying cause (or causes) might be affecting you, so we can provide lasting care.
TMJ Disorder Can Make It Hard To Bite, Chew, Or Speak Without Pain
People develop issues with TMJ disorder for several reasons. Your pain could be traced to awkward or improper jaw movement taxing your joints and muscles, the onset of arthritis in your jaw joints, or a tendency to grind your teeth while you sleep. It is important to address TMJ disorder when it starts to affect you. If you put off treatment, you can struggle with chronic discomfort that makes your daily routine harder to manage. If your troubles include teeth grinding, there is also a danger that you can suffer potentially serious dental damage.
Jaw Problems May Be Responsible For Issues Like Headaches And Neck Pain
The nerves that control the movement of your jaw are also responsible for sensation in your face, neck, and head. Because of this, TMJ disorder can be responsible for many common discomforts. It may seem odd to think of your dentist as the right person to talk to about chronic headaches, but these problems are often rooted in unaddressed jaw troubles. Through restorative dental work or orthodontic work to improve your bite, or dedicated work to relieve stress on your jaw joints and muscles, these discomforts can stop interfering with your quality of life.
Stay Informed About Your Smile With Regular Dental Visits
At regular dental exams, your dentist wants to know about more than just whether you have a cavity or not. Problems with TMJ disorder can be recognized and addressed during evaluations, so you can put an end to discomfort. Our practice can also identify the signs of teeth grinding, also known as bruxism, and we can provide you with a special appliance to protect you from damage caused by the habit of grinding your teeth.
Talk To Healthy Smiles Family Dentistry About Problems With Painful Jaw Movement
At Healthy Smiles Family Dentistry, we are prepared to help you address problems with jaw pain, sensitivity, or difficult movement. If these issues are starting to affect your life, or if you have any other oral health concerns, call our dental office in Houston, TX, today at (281) 974-4494.
