TMJ Disorder
Do you wake up with jaw pain, headaches, and facial pain? If so, you might be suffering from TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder) which is often mistakenly called “TMJ” because these disorders or dysfunctions involve the temporomandibular (TM) joints.
The TM joints are located on each side of your head and work with your muscles, ligaments, discs and bones enabling you to speak, chew and yawn. TMD occurs when your TM joints aren’t working properly. And because your TM joints impact all areas of your face, any dysfunction in the joint can cause a great deal of pain and other issues.
Do You Wake Up With Jaw Pain?
Dental Guard For TMD
When recommended by a dentist, SmartGuard® Night Guard is FDA cleared for the following:
- Protection of teeth grinding, bruxism, and jaw clenching.
- Protection of restorations from injury due to bruxism or clenching.
- Relief of bruxism related headaches and pains.
- Short-term pain relief from muscle spasm due to occlusal interference; for the prevention of chronic tension and temporal mandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome that is caused by chronic jaw clenching of the mandibular and maxillary teeth by the temporalis muscle.
- Temporary treatment of Temporal Mandibular Disorder (TMD) along with the relief of associated headaches and pains.
Do I Have TMD?
To diagnose TMD, your dentist will check your TM joints for tenderness or pain, look for a limited range of motion or locking of your jaw and examine your bite. He or she will listen for clicking or popping sounds as you move your mouth. And you may need to have panoramic x-rays taken. In some cases, your dentist may refer you to an oral surgeon (maxillofacial surgeon) for treatment.
Common TMD Symptoms
- Chronic facial pain
- Jaw pain
- Headaches
- Earaches
What Causes TMD?
The cause of TMD is unclear, but dentists believe the symptoms stem from problems associated with the muscles of the jaw or with parts of the joint itself. These problems can be attributed to:
- Injury to your jaw, neck or head
- Stress
- Clenching and grinding your teeth
- Dislocating the soft cushion or disc between the ball and socket
- Rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis in the TM joints
TMD Treatment Options
If you are diagnosed with TMD, your dentist or oral surgeon may recommend using a splint or night guard, corrective treatment of your teeth, trigger-point injections or other forms of treatment.
Because surgery is irreversible, it should be your last resort, and you should get 2 or 3 professional opinions before doing it.
SmartGuard® Night Guard is an over-the-counter custom molded dental guard for individuals suffering from night-time clenching and grinding.
Designed by a TMJ dentist, SmartGuard is an affordable and effective solution designed with patient comfort in mind. SmartGuard protects teeth and helps alleviate headaches and other symptoms associated with night-time grinding.
