Do you often find yourself clenching your jaw in stressful situations? Does it sometimes hurt your jaw to eat hard or crunchy foods? You may be developing a TMJ disorder. Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) occur when there is an injury or stress to the joints that help you speak and chew. It is important to know the signs of TMD and contact a dentist for treatment as soon as possible. Our dental team can expertly treat TMJ disorders in Chicago, IL, and help patients address painful symptoms.
What Are Common Signs of TMD?
There are many symptoms of TMJ disorders to look out for:
- Teeth clenching and grinding (bruxism)
- Chronic headaches and migraines
- Jaw popping and clicking
- Pain in the jaw when eating, speaking, or yawning
Chronic sinus pain, migraines, or cluster headaches may all seem like TMD. Although TMD can cause headaches or migraines, it is more likely that you will feel multiple symptoms if you have a TMJ disorder. Please contact our office if you suspect that your multiple symptoms indicate TMD. We will examine your smile and take your symptoms into account to determine the right treatments for your needs.
How to Treat TMJ Disorders in Chicago, IL
Our treatment options for TMD patients include nightguards or orthodontic care. Nightguards are oral appliances custom-made to fit the upper or lower teeth. TMD nightguards are typically acrylic. Acrylic is a hard substance that prevents patients from chewing on their nightguard. Wearing the nightguard during sleep prevents further wear to the teeth and also stops the teeth from grinding together. Over time, wearing a nightguard can help lessen headaches and jaw pain from TMD.
If you do not experience teeth clenching and grinding, we will recommend Invisalign treatment. Invisalign uses clear aligners to straighten the smile gradually. Oftentimes, crooked teeth can exacerbate TMJ disorders. Fixing crooked teeth or an imbalanced bite can minimize TMD symptoms. We do not recommend Invisalign treatment for patients who experience bruxism because they can clench or grind their teeth which can damage the aligners.
Do you think you may have a TMJ disorder? Are you interested in learning more about your symptoms? Dr. Paul Gayed and his team offer complete treatment for TMD patients. Call Gayed Dental for care today at (773) 549-2881 or request a dental appointment with Dr. Gayed on our website. We’re here to help you on your journey to create a more comfortable, functional smile.