Orthodontics Can Help Relieve TMJ Pain
Long Beach, CA – Do you frequently experience headaches, ear discomfort, or jaw pain? Do you have chronic discomfort in your shoulder, neck or upper back? These could all be related to one thing – your temporomandibular joint (TMJ). But did you know your orthodontist may be able to provide relief?
Types of TMJ
TMJ disorders (TMD) occur when the joint is misaligned and can be a result of one or both of the following: muscular origin or disc pathology. Muscle-related TMD is often caused by stress-induced grinding or clenching of your teeth. Patients with an improper bite may also experience myofacial pain due to the type of jaw movement that is needed in order to properly function during chewing. Problems associated with it may worsen at night because it is harder for the muscles and joints to relax. Conversely, disc-related TMD is caused by the displacement or destruction of the disc within the jaw joint. Displacement or destruction of the disc is most often due to injuries of the jaw but can also be related to systemic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
In my office, we see patients all the time who don’t sleep well, or who have chronic pain and don’t know what to do about it. They may not realize their jaw is misaligned, and that is the source of their problem.
Orthodontics can be a great way to ease the symptoms associated with TMJ disorder, particularly if the cause is due to an improper bite. Before treatment can begin, however, it’s important to get an accurate diagnosis. This can pose difficult, because there isn’t a widely accepted and standard way to identify TMJ disorders, and pain associated with it can be caused by other issues. When you come in for a consultation, we’ll discuss your symptoms, but we’ll also do a physical examination, take x-rays, and discuss your complete medical history. When all of this is put together, it will give us a clearer idea of how to proceed.
TMJ Treatments
For patients who are experiencing consistent pain and discomfort in the TMJ, the most appropriate treatment is to first be fitted with a night guard or stabilization splint. This will allow the joint to reset into a more comfortable and ideal position. Once we can pinpoint the cause and relieve the TMJ symptoms, we can prescribe the treatment we think will most accurately correct the underlying problem and provide permanent stability and function. For some patients, that may be braces or other orthodontic treatment, and for others it may be orthognathic surgery to correct the jaw.
In many cases, we can relieve pain and discomfort by correcting tooth alignment through orthodontic treatment. Patients are often surprised to find out that braces can help relieve their headaches and help them sleep better! By moving your teeth into ideal position and correcting the occlusion so the teeth bite together properly, we can enable your jaw to be seated properly in the joint and function normally during chewing activities.
As a result, orthodontic treatment has multiple benefits. First, you’ll see your TMJ symptoms alleviated because the origin of the problem is corrected. Second, you’ll notice less wear and tear on your teeth because they’ll be in their ideal positions.
If you’ve been suffering from pain that you believe may be associated with TMJ, you don’t have to live with it any longer. Call my office today for a consultation and we can have you on the road to a pain-free life in no time.