Jaw pain is an annoyance that can interfere with your daily life by making talking and chewing difficult. Depending on the extent of your pain, even concentrating can become a demanding task.
TMJ (Temporomandibular joint disorder) is the most common cause of jaw pain. TMJ encompasses problems affecting the temporomandibular joint, which connects your jaw and your skull.
Jaw pain can be caused by a variety of other factors, like dental conditions, unconsciously developed oral habits, and unforeseen traumatic incidents. Because of jaw pain’s many origins, it is a common issue experienced by people of all ages and health backgrounds.
Don’t accept jaw pain as an annoyance that can’t be remedied. There are different ways we at Hamptons Dental can help alleviate the jaw pain you are experiencing.
We Can Get You a Night Guard
Jaw pain is common in those who engage in habits like teeth grinding and clenching. These habits are often done unconsciously at night when you have no control over them. In addition to damaging your teeth, these behaviours can lead to chronic jaw pain if they persist without intervention.
Your dentist can make a night guard for you to wear while you sleep. A night guard is a thin device that is usually worn over the biting surface of the top row of your teeth, although sometimes both a top and bottom tray are worn. Night guards act as a barrier between the teeth to relieve tension that results from clenching and absorb the force of a tense bite.
To maximize comfort, your night guard will be custom-made to fit your mouth. A night guard made by your dentist will reduce jaw pain and leave you with a more peaceful and pain-free night’s sleep.
Alternatively, there are splints available that patients can wear all day. These serve the same functions as night guards but are ideal for those who experience severe impairment caused by Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) disorders. Splints provide additional support to the TMJ and the muscles that are used for talking and chewing.
We Perform Cosmetic Procedures
Have you lost a tooth (or multiple teeth) due to smoking, gum disease, a traumatic blow, or overall poor oral hygiene? Missing teeth can lead to the development of an unbalanced bite and uneven pressure placed on your teeth. This can result in severe jaw pain.
Have your dentist replace your missing tooth or repair a worn down tooth through restorative methods like dental implants, bridges, or crowns. These techniques will give you a more complete smile, improve your bite, and alleviate jaw pain.
Misaligned teeth can worsen your bite in the same way that missing or chipped teeth can. Dentists offer treatments like traditional braces to straighten your teeth and perfect your bite to diminish jaw pain.
Alternative teeth straightening options, like Invisalign and lingual braces, are available to those who don’t like the look of braces. These types of teeth straightening devices are just as effective in fixing your bite to minimize discomfort.
We Do Tooth Extractions
Sometimes, teeth need to be removed for a variety of reasons. For example, the presence of unhealthy bacteria, poor brushing, and the excessive consumption of acidic foods and beverages can result in decayed and abscessed teeth. Because the roots of our teeth are embedded in the jaw, unhealthy teeth can cause jaw pain.
Occasionally, root canals and fillings won’t sufficiently repair these issues. We can remove these severely damaged teeth by performing simple tooth extractions under local anaesthesia.
Don’t settle for life with jaw pain. Even if you are only experiencing mild discomfort, contact our team at Hamptons Dental and let us help you live a life free from jaw pain!
