|
In Part 1 we learned the
first three steps towards
ideal oral health – finding
a dental office you feel
comfortable with, dealing
with any urgent problems,
and then eliminating any
problems with the teeth or
gums. Evaluating the bite
and jaw joints for any
problems is the next step in
this journey.
Once the teeth and gums are
healthy it is time to
evaluate the bite alignment
and the jaw joint (or TMJ).
A balanced bite is essential
for the long term health of
the mouth, as any
misalignment can lead to
grinding of the teeth (bruxism),
muscle pain, headaches,
excessive tooth wear or
fracture, bone loss, loose
teeth, or TMJ problems. The
good news is that bite
problems can be corrected
with a variety of
orthodontic treatments,
depending on the complexity
of the problem and
preferences of the dentist
and patient.
Temporomandibular
dysfunction (TMD) is a
category of disorders
involving the TMJ and
related structures. Symptoms
may include any of the
following: clicking or
popping in the joints,
inability to open or close
the jaw easily, muscle pain,
tired muscles, headaches, or
generalized head and neck
pain. Treatment is best
sought from a dentist with
specific training in this
area due to the wide variety
of causes and treatments for
TMD syndrome.
Treatment of bite alignment
and TMJ problems is a key
part of the process of
achieving lifelong ideal
oral health. If you have any
questions on this topic ask
your dentist, or call my
office at 724-537-5505 for a
FREE CONSULT on how you can
have a healthy smile that
lasts a lifetime.
–By Dr Scott Hudimac
|
