A Dental Crown Could Help Provide TMD Relief
Posted on 5/10/2021 by Dr. Castellon |
 The temporomandibular joints (TMJ) connect the jaw to the skull, enabling you to speak, yawn, smile, or chew with ease. When these joints become strained or damaged, it will be difficult for you to perform these activities, a condition called temporomandibular disorder, TMD. Since this condition has many causes, you should visit us for diagnosis if you suspect it.
Diagnosis of TMD
Usually, we will screen your mouth and jaws during your regular dental visits to check for TMD warning signs. If you have sharp pain when moving your jaw to speak, chew, yawn or smile, it could be TMD. Some of the other symptoms we will look out for include limited jaw mobility, clicking noises when you open or close your jaw, and dull pain on your neck, ear, and head, especially in the morning. After examining the symptoms, we will proceed with a physical exam to check your teeth status. This is because your TMD could result from a neuromuscular condition, or it could be a problem with your bite.
Treating TMD With Crowns
Crowns are an ideal treatment where TMD results from an imbalanced bite. Such a bite causes tension and pain in the muscles surrounding the jaw. Over time, the jaw cartilage gets displaced and, if untreated, may deteriorate, causing the jawbone to grind against the skull. By aligning your bite, your jaws will balance, relieving you of the pain and inflammation from this condition. For this procedure, we start by taking an X-ray of your teeth to determine the amount of filing. We will then administer anesthesia to ease discomfort during the procedure. Afterward, we will file down your tooth, make an impression of the tooth and send it to the lab to create your crown. We will cover your tooth with a temporary crown until the next visit. We will remove the temporary crown during your next appointment and fit the permanent one using dental cement. For more details on TMD treatment, contact our office today.
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