406-248-7172Those who suffer from TMJ because of a bad bite know living with it can be painful. Temporomandibular disorders affect the teeth, facial muscles, and jaw joints, leaving them out of harmony and balance, so you are left experiencing painful complications like severe head, neck, and back pain. And if you are a woman, be aware this condition is twice as likely to arise in your smile than in your male counterparts. TMJ can make even the simple act of yawning hurt, which interferes with your quality of life.
How TMJ Develops
Some TMJ conditions surface during infancy, while others do not show up until later in childhood while the teeth are still forming and the jaws are still aligning. But you can experience TMJ issues anytime in your life. For example, if there is physical trauma or the teeth wear down from clenching and grinding because of constant bruxism. Or maybe you had a prior dental restoration or cosmetic treatment where your dentist did not fully consider your jaw’s proper alignment. Or perhaps you have dentures that do not properly replace your lost teeth. In that case, wearing dentures that are not fitted and able to maintain your proper bite alignment, you can risk ending up with TMJ as the jaw joints. The muscles around them also become sore, misaligned and fatigued.
Signs You Might Have TMJ
- Pain in the face, jaw joint, ears, neck and shoulders
- Pain when chewing, talking or opening your mouth wide
- Popping or clicking when opening or closing your mouth
- Your jaw hurts when you bite
- Feeling misalignment in your upper and lower teeth when you close your mouth
- Facial swelling
TMJ And Bite Correction
So what are your options when your TMJ issues come from a misaligned bite? Believe it or not, getting a full mouth TMJ reconstruction can help significantly by easing your jaw stiffness, lack of mobility and correcting the inability to use your jaw with a full range of motion. It is a welcome relief if you have already tried wearing a bite splint that did not make the jaw pain, headaches, tinnitus and vertigo stop.
Bite correction helps your teeth and jaws by aligning the upper and lower jaw in the ideal U-shape where your upper teeth comfortably overlap and rest over your lower teeth. Bite adjustment (or equilibration) can also use orthodontics – with or without jaw reconstruction – or through restorative dental work.
Full mouth reconstruction also corrects your bite by fixing severely damaged (or missing teeth) that impact it. It is important because you could be struggling to put pressure on certain teeth when you bite down. It can also lead to changes in your bite function and affect your diet. If you can’t chew healthy foods, your body and overall health will pay the price over time. Fixing your TMJ dysfunction can help relieve your facial pain, limited jaw movement, and chronic headaches. So being able to chew and move your jaw is the goal with full mouth reconstruction. Dental implants, crowns, and other restorations can help you bite and chew normally again and put less pressure on your jaw joints.
Call To Schedule a Consultation
With a bite correction, you can again look and feel your best! We welcome you to reach out to our team if you are suffering from the effects of TMJ. Our team can assist you with an examination, diagnosis, and treatment options. We are here to help restore your jaw alignment and health!