Dentra

Jaw Joint TMJ Disorders

TMJ disorders cause jaw pain, headaches, and sleep issues; treatment includes mouth guards, supplements, and hot packs.

Symptoms of Temporo-Mandibular Joint (Jaw-Joint) disorders:

  • - Abfraction (yellow depressions on the tooth, towards the gum).
  • - Bruxism (Teeth-grinding).
  • - Wearing-down teeth (decreased teeth length).
  • - Limited ability to open mouth.
  • - Red, swollen, inflamed, and painful corners of the patient’s mouth.
  • - Swelling of the face.
  • - Headaches.
  • - Ear problems such as pain, decreased hearing, and ringing in the ears.
  • - Difficulty sleeping (insomnia) due to all the problems listed above.

Treatment:

  • - A Mouth Guard is the most effective treatment for TMJ disorders. The device is used for at least 8 hours overnight and one hour daily; it directs joints into an unstrained position and relaxes the jaw muscles.

  • - A course of glucose-amine tablets (three months long) aids in strengthening joint cartilage (natural substances that lubricate the joint). This may be enhanced by the intake of vitamin C.

  • - Hot packs applied externally on the joint and jaw muscles enhance blood flow, cleaning out and nourishing the muscles.
TMJ Treatment Mouth Guard

BRUXISM

Regular grinding on teeth, from side to side, with excessive pressure. It starts as a result of certain factors but becomes a habit that is difficult to stop as time goes by. Some of the initiating factors include psychological stresses, some medical conditions, and antidepressants.
If left untreated:
Wearing, flattening, & increasing of tooth sensitivity.
Abfraction (yellow depressions on the tooth, towards the gum).
Cracking and fracture of teeth.
Pulp inflammation.
Gum inflammation with subsequent loosening of teeth.
Dry Mouth.
Bone bumps appear in the mouth as the body attempts to strengthen the bone.
Square-shaped face; muscles on both sides of the face grow.
Older face: vertical dimensions of the teeth decrease, causing the face to become shorter.
TMJ roughness, ringing in ears, headache, and limitation of jaw movement.
Noisy grinding sounds while sleeping.
Disturbed and restless sleep.
Treatment:
The same as treatment of Jaw-Joint (TMJ) Disorders.

ABFRACTION

It is a yellow depression that appears on the front of the teeth near the gum line.
Causes:
Brushing too hard using brushes with hard bristles.
Bruxism: The tooth becomes weaker because of the grinding and starts to bend from its weakest point (gum line). This is followed by the dissolving of its tissue.
If left untreated:
The tooth becomes sensitive, due to the exposure of its inner sensitive layers (dentin), and its weakness makes it increasingly susceptible to fracture.
Treatment:
Use soft-bristled brushes and brush softly. Tooth grinding (bruxism) should be treated first, followed by white filling to restore the lost tooth tissues. If tooth grinding does not stop, the white filling will fall out of place within a very short time.

Frequently Asked Questions

1What are the advantages of using a mouth protector?
A mouth protector (Guard) protects teeth from injuries that result from teeth grinding or sports. These injuries include chipped or broken teeth, nerve damage to a tooth, or even tooth loss.
2Are there different types of mouth protectors?
- Stock mouth protectors are inexpensive and come pre-formed and ready to wear.

- Boil and bite mouth protectors also can be bought at many sporting goods stores and may offer a better fit than stock mouth protectors.

- Custom-fitted mouth protectors are made by your dentist for you personally. Because they are customized, they offer a better fit and can make breathing and talking easier.

For more info, don't hesitate to contact us.