Though there are many facets of dental care, the health of your jaws may not be what you immediately think of as it relates to dentistry. However, this issue is very important and many dentists are actually the ones trained to help with TMJ disorders (problems associated with a certain joint that connects your jaw to your skull), because they can interfere with your overall oral health by disrupting your jaw function or causing other problems. One issue that can be related to TMJ disorders is bruxism (teeth grinding), and these two conditions can have an interesting and cyclical relationship.
What are These Disorders?
TMJ disorders are any problems involving the temporomandibular joint, which can interfere with your ability to chew, and cause pain, tenderness, or swelling in your jaw. The cause may be from stress on the joints or your teeth.
Bruxism is generally chronic teeth grinding that you may not even be aware of. This can occur at night or during the day, as a result of stress or a misaligned jaw, which can also cause a jaw disorder. Habitual teeth grinding can cause toothaches, flattened teeth, headaches, and jaw problems, from the constant wear and tear on your jaw.
The two disorders can be completely separate from each other, with neither causing the other, but that is not always the case. Bruxism can either be caused by a TMJ disorder or create one as a symptom of teeth grinding. If you are diagnosed with either of these conditions, we will try to determine the root cause in order to decide on the best treatment. If you are diagnosed with bruxism, we may check your jaw’s alignment to see if there is a problem in that area. Both conditions are typically treatable with certain therapies or treatments that may involve oral appliances that may decrease pressure and pain in your jaw.
About Your Downey Dentists:
Questions about implant-retained dentures in Downey, CA? To learn more about our services, or to schedule an appointment with one of our dentists, contact us at 562-645-4566. Our Downey dentist office welcomes patients living in Lakewood, Whittier, Norwalk, Pico Rivera, and the neighboring communities.
