Questions for Your Pascoe Vale Dentist
Choosing a dentist is an important decision for your family's health. We enjoy educating patients and making them feel confident in their decisions for their smiles.
Listed below are some of the most common enquiries we receive in our clinic. If your specific question is not listed below, we welcome you to telephone us directly for assistance or to contact us via our online form.
No question is too small or too complex. and you will find our team both friendly and knowledgeable.
TMJ and Bruxism Treatment
TMD is a disorder of the temporomandibular joints. These joints join your lower jaw to your face and allow you to open and close your mouth. When these joints are not functioning as they should, you may have difficulty yawning, chewing and speaking. TMJ disorders can be very painful.
Bruxism defines nocturnal teeth grinding. This habit may result from anxiety, but without treatment, it can cause head and shoulder pain, dental health issues and even TMD.
Treating TMD and Bruxism in Pascoe Vale, VIC
Treatments for TMJs can range from surgery to oral appliance maintenance. Your dentist will evaluate your case to see if an oral appliance (nightguard) will relieve your symptoms. Likewise, we can use appliance therapy to relax the TMJs, promoting healing.
Therapy aims to restore life quality. We want you to enjoy your time and not suffer needlessly from TMJ and bruxism pain. Additionally, we want to ensure that bruxism does not lead to tooth fractures and loss.
Your Pascoe Vale, VIC, Dentist Awaits Your Call
We welcome your call if you want to learn more about our treatments and services or have questions for our dental team. Also, we urge you to reach out if you suspect TMJ and bruxism. We can book your evaluation with the dentist today!
TMD (temporomandibular joint disorders) may be present from birth, an anatomical issue that presents symptoms later. It can also result from an injury to the jaw joints—the TMJs connect your jaw to your skull. In these cases, it's not possible to prevent TMD. However, if TMD results from bruxism (teeth grinding), your dentist may be able to help!
As for bruxism, it may be due to stress, malocclusion, or night terrors. You can help prevent TMJ and worsening of your bruxism symptoms by seeking advice from your doctor.
Treatment for TMJ and bruxism
Depending on your case's complexity, TMJ may benefit from appliance therapy. Appliance therapy (or a nightguard) prevents teeth grinding, which can help heal your TMJs. Your dentist will evaluate your case to determine whether a nightguard will work for you.
Other treatments for TMJ may include specific mouth exercises and oral surgery.
Of course, the first step is a comprehensive consultation with your Pascoe Vale dentist.
Bruxism and TMJ Treatment in Pascoe Vale, VIC
We want to help you enjoy a pain-free life and not worry about the dental complications associated with untreated bruxism. To learn more or to book a consultation with the dentist, we urge you to contact a member of our friendly dental team to get started.
Untreated TMJ and bruxism can impact life quality and interfere with your day-to-day life enjoyment. Let’s explore what these conditions are and how your Pascoe Vale dentist may be able to help.
Symptoms of TMJ
TMJ is short for temporomandibular joint. These are the joints that allow for lower jaw movement. When the TMJs are not functioning correctly, you may notice some or all of the following symptoms:
- Clicking sound in the joint
- Joints locking when yawning or chewing
- Painful yawning and chewing
- Head, neck and shoulder pain
Symptoms of Bruxism
Bruxism means teeth grinding, especially during sleep. Symptoms of bruxism include some or all of the following:
- Tooth fractures
- Jaw joint pain
- Head, neck and shoulder pain
- Bulkiness in front of the ears
TMJ and Bruxism Treatment
In many cases, your dentist can fabricate a nightguard to help alleviate the symptoms associated with TMJ and bruxism. This oral appliance allows the TMJs to relax and heal. Additionally, you’ll be unable to grind your teeth while wearing your nightguard.
Your dentist may also recommend you for additional treatments, including surgery for TMJ complications.
The first step is an evaluation in our dental clinic.
Bruxism and TMJ Treatment in Pascoe Vale
We encourage you to contact our dental team today to learn more or book your consultation with the dentist.
TMJ may result from an injury, be present at birth, or it can be a complication of bruxism (teeth grinding). TMJ means the hinge-like joints that allow you to chew, speak, yawn, and open your mouth are not functioning correctly.
Bruxism may result from night terrors, or anxiety, or the cause may not be immediately apparent.
TMJ and Bruxism Causes
Besides injury and anatomical defects, TMJ and bruxism may be linked to sleep apnoea. Sleep apnea means you stop breathing several times during the night. This condition can lead to severe health complications, including high blood pressure and sudden stroke.
TMJ and Bruxism Treatment
Your dentist can work with you and even refer you for a sleep study if sleep apnea is suspected. It may be that you need only an oral appliance to combat bruxism and TMJ. Your dentist can customize a nightguard to prevent bruxism and rest your TMJ joints.
We recommend booking an evaluation with the dentist to learn whether appliance therapy suits you.
Do You Suspect TMJ or Bruxism in Pasco Vale, VIC
To learn more about our treatments and services or to book a comprehensive evaluation with the dentist, we urge you to contact a member of our friendly dental team today.
TMJs (or the temporomandibular joints) connect your lower jaw to your lower skull. They are in front of the ears. The diagnosis is called TMJ or TMD when these joints are not functioning correctly.
Bruxism means you grind and clench your teeth at night, which can lead to TMJ and a whole host of complications like pain, exaggerated musculature in the lower face (boxy jaw), and head, neck and shoulder pain.
Without treatment, TMJ or bruxism can disrupt life quality, making it difficult to chew and yawn. Additionally, bruxism can damage your teeth, leading to tooth loss, fractures and other complications.
Fortunately, your Pascoe Vale dentist offers treatment options.
Treating TMJ and bruxism may be as simple as wearing a nightguard. Sometimes, your dentist can fashion a custom nightguard to prevent grinding and clenching. The nightguard fits over the teeth to prevent grinding and clenching. It also rests on the TMJs to promote healing.
Your dentist will evaluate your case to see whether appliance therapy is the right treatment option for you.
TMJ and Bruxism Treatment in Pascoe Vale, VIC
If you would like to book a consultation with the dentist or have questions for our team, we encourage you to call us today.