Dr. John Moore on TMJ and Bruxism 
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Bruxism and TMJ fall under this area of dentistry known as the inclusion bite it turns out that the joint, which is what TMJ stands for - the temple bone, the T, the mandible, the M and J for joint - TMJ is the hinge that gets into trouble when the teeth are not set exactly correctly. If you can imagine for a minute biting down on something that's a little bit high on one side and tipping the jaw the kind of stress that it could place here in the joint can be extremely uncomfortable if you don't manage that problem. This is an area of dentistry that I actually taught in dental school for about 10 years and that area at the time was very confused with it being a psychological problem and, you know, it's just all in your head, you'll get over it. here you just need to like quit grinding your teeth and stuff like that. That's not really what's going on here. TMJ, when it's truly that problem, the teeth are causing the issue. Okay? You can have other things wrong with the TM joint, like a cancer in there or arthritis and or something like that that's not the typical TMJ that dentist will deal with. He's really after the one that involves your teeth being out of alignment. So you can use a temporary acrylic bite positioner which is referred to as a night guard or a bite guard or occlusal guard. Those kinds of things can be used temporarily all the way to the point of getting Invisalign or braces to straighten the teeth out and fixing the bite or making the crowns that you need to have done or putting a bridge in where you lost some teeth and getting that balance between the two joints re-establish so that you're healthy again. So, TMJ definitely does belong in the realm of a dentist and something that should be looked into and managed always with any dental care that you get.
- Your jaws, ear, neck, or shoulders ache
- You wake up in the morning with headaches or migraines
- You’ve been diagnosed with arthritis
- You hear clicking or popping noises when you open your mouth
Find relief at Cosmetic Dental Associates in San Antonio, TX by scheduling an appointment at 210-951-4444. We understand it might be necessary for you to travel to our city to benefit from Dr. John Moore’s expertise. If so, please let one of our friendly team members know if there’s anything we can do to accommodate you during your visit.
TMJ Disorder Treatment
Dr. John Moore is a TMJ specialist. There are many ways for him to treat your TMJ disorder and alleviate your symptoms, so you can get back to living a pain-free life.
- Custom splints and mouthguards to realign your jaw. This will allow your muscles to relax while you sleep and protect your teeth from the effects of teeth grinding, which sometimes cause TMJ disorder or can be a symptom of TMJ disorder. We also have night guards for treating sleep apnea.
- Occlusal adjustments and orthodontic work to bring your bite in proper alignment. A bad bite can lead to TMJ disorder because your jaw must regularly shift out of position when you chew. This same strain repeated several times a day could be at the root of your TMJ pain.
TMJ Disorder Explained
Open and close your mouth. You will feel motion in your temporomandibular joint where your jawbone meets your cheekbone. This joint acts as a hinge every time you speak, chew food, or even yawn.
It’s not uncommon for this joint to become misaligned or irritated, or for you to strain the surrounding muscles. More than 10 million Americans are thought to suffer from TMJ disorder, which can include debilitating pain from headaches and migraines.
Don’t let your TMJ disorder drag on. Symptoms can last days, months, or even years. Call Cosmetic Dental Associates San Antonio, TX dentist office at 210-951-4444 to schedule your tmj treatment San Antonio, TX area appointment today, or use our easy online form. We’re here to help.
