Can a TMJ Mouth Guard Help?

For those who have just been told they have TMJ disorder or perhaps you have been experiencing pain and discomfort while simply eating, speaking, yawning or whenever you are moving your jaw so you think TMJ could be the reason.   You might be curious about what your options are for treatment. TMJ disorder is a problem that affects the Temporomandibular joint, which attaches the jaw to your head. This specific disorder is commonly associated with higher stress levels, it also causes persistent headaches, eyesight changes, hearing difficulties, and surface tooth deterioration. If not treated accurately and quickly, it is going to worsen. This is why it is crucial that you deal with the symptoms and take care of the issue before your problems turn into intense and persistent pain, and further damage your bite, teeth and jaw. In severe instances, sufferers risk turning to surgical treatment to fix the bite and realign the jaw; TMJ surgery can be uncertain, risky and costly. Most TMJ professionals advise trying non-surgical methods initially, for instance mouth guards. You may ask how a TMJ mouth guard helps reduce further trauma and alleviate pain of your TMJ disorder?

TMJ mouth guards, which include night guards and orthotics devices or “bite splints,” are non-invasive plastic appliances that work well to alleviate discomfort, suppress harmful behaviors, such as teeth grinding, nail biting, etc.,  and carefully fix the misaligned bite over time and continuous wear. There are two primary kinds of mouth guards used in treating TMJ: Night guards and splints. Night guards are dental appliances made from soft plastic material that fit over some or all of the teeth and are used only while sleeping to stop teeth grinding, guard the teeth from deterioration and relax the jaw. These night guards are readily available in a wide array of costs, from the very inexpensive model which can be bought at a pharmacy or drug store to the custom-made type designed to fit your own teeth precisely.   Obviously, the custom-fit night guards tend to be far more effective in treating TMJ symptoms when compared with the less expensive over-the-counter guards. Also they are much more comfortable, which encourages more frequent use.

Splint therapy uses mouth guards to correct the bite, instead of merely protecting against additional damage or reducing pain. This kind of therapy is a superb treatment alternative for sufferers with more advanced cases of TMJ, or anyone who has problems with the bite and not with grinding their teeth while sleeping. A distinction between splint therapy and night guards is with splint therapy, the guards are worn 24/7, as opposed to only during the night. With any type of TMJ mouth guard, you will find many types of bite splints to choose from, such as partial splints, full coverage splits, directive splints and permissive splints. Most patients in full-time splint therapy elect to use a partial splint on their lower teeth only, as it less intrusive, allowing more comfort and making it easier to talk. Even so, you need to seek advice from a professional TMJ dentist to decide which kind of TMJ mouth guard is appropriate best for you.

For the majority of People with TMJ disorder, TMJ mouth guards are a tremendously beneficial treatment choice. They provide comfort and relief without prescription pain medication, and can actually permanently repair the bite without having surgery. Dr. Eddie Siman of TMJBeverlyHills.com is a highly regarded TMJ dentist who specializes in the use of orthotics, or splint therapy, for treatment of TMJ. Contact TMJBeverlyHills.com today to schedule your appointment and escape from your pain and discomfort of TMJ disorder once and for all.