Temporomandibular Joint
and Clenching and Bruxism of the Jaw
Some patients just want to know more about their jaw joint. We have quite a bit of information for you below. Hope you can be better informed so you can feel better.
Symptoms of temporomandibular-joint can range from jaw pain, head and neck aches, tmj popping, grating or clicking. At Eternal Smiles we use treatments that can range from night guards to muscle relaxers.
Dr Singh has been trained to understand the temporomandibular-joint problems after studying in Florida, America. A thorough joint examination reveals the problem.
Evaluation of bruxism problems.
If you have any signs, your dentist looks for changes in your teeth and mouth over the next several visits to see if the process is progressive and to determine whether you need treatment.
Determining the cause
If your dentist suspects that you have bruxism, he or she tries to determine its cause by asking questions about your general dental health, medications, daily routines and sleep habits.
To evaluate the extent of bruxism, your dentist may check for:
- Tenderness in your jaw muscles
- Obvious dental abnormalities, such as broken or missing teeth
- Other damage to your teeth, the underlying bone and the inside of your cheeks, usually with the help of X-rays
A dental exam may detect other disorders that can cause similar jaw or ear pain, such as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, other dental problems or health conditions.
Types of bruxism
Sleep bruxism is considered a sleep-related movement disorder. People who clench or grind their teeth (brux) during sleep are more likely to have other sleep disorders, such as snoring and pauses in breathing (sleep apnea).
Mild bruxism may not require treatment. However, in some people, bruxism can be frequent and severe enough to lead to jaw disorders, headaches, damaged teeth and other problems.
Because you may have sleep bruxism and be unaware of it until complications develop, it’s important to know the signs and symptoms of bruxism and to seek regular dental care.
How is it treated.
Dr Singh is fully trained to diagnose these bite problems and treat them. He uses ‘Bite therapy’ and bite adjustment. Not many dentist know how to to do this properly. And if not done using certain indicators then many patients have seen further problems with their condition. Dr Singh has not had one patient say their jaw has got worse.
The therapy involves wearing a specialised (Hard Night guard) stabilisation splint. This is carefully fabricated and adjusted to relax the chewing muscles and place the jaw joint in a comfortable position to allow it to heal properly.
Certain restorative treatment may be required to correct the bite and make the teeth longer.
We have helped hundreds of patients. Ring Today to get specialised treatment.
“I had worn teeth which were sore. Dr Singh said it was due to the enamel being worn away and nerve dentine being exposed. He built my teeth up using bonding and crowns and then made a night guard. It has helped stop the sensitvity and discomfort in my teeth. And they look like notmal teeth.” John