TMD, could be joint or muscle related. If it is joint related, the reason behind it could be trauma or medical issues like arthritis or degenerative joint disease. If muscle related, it could be due to some medical issues or bite issue (occlusal disease).
The most common TMD issue is muscle related which the major cause of it is occlusal disease or having a wrong bite.
Occlusal disease is a destructive process that can result from a bite in which the teeth are not properly aligned so the bite is unstable. This imbalance can cause problems with the teeth, bone, muscles, jaw joints or a combination of all four. Occlusal Disease usually starts with the weakest of the link.
Occlusal disease is the #1 most common dental disorder and at the same time the most undiagnosed dental disorder
Occlusal disease symptoms:
- Wear on the biting surface of teeth
- Abfractions (chipped enamel on the gum lines)
- Teeth can become loose and move
- Teeth can become sensitive oftentimes to thermal changes such as hot and cold
- Teeth can become sore to biting
- Teeth are more susceptible to fracture
- The muscles, which work the jaws, can become sore and painful. Headaches are a common complaint
- Popping and clicking in the TMJ
Occlusal disease treatments:
- Splint therapy
- Medications
- Complete Bite adjustment
- Orthodontics with or without Orthognathic surgery
- Restorative
For more information, please contact the office to make an appointment with Dr. H.
