Comfort

Sometimes, the dental treatment you need isn’t for the teeth themselves, but for the comfort of your mouth itself. There are several reasons you may be experiencing dental discomfort, and the two most common are:

Bruxism

This is a condition in which you grind, gnash or clench your teeth. Those with bruxism may unconsciously clench their teeth together during the day, or clench or grind them at night (sleep bruxism). Sleep bruxism is considered a sleep-related movement disorder. People who clench or grind their teeth (brux) during sleep are more likely to have other sleep disorders, such as snoring and pauses in breathing (sleep apnea). Mild bruxism may not require treatment, but for some, it can be frequent and severe enough to lead to jaw disorders, headaches, damaged teeth and other problems. This can often be corrected through use of a custom mouthguard, which we can make for you.

TMJ Disorders

TMJ is the acronym for Temporomandibular Joint, which is the “hinge” process that allows us to open and close our mouths at will. It connects the lower jaw (mandible) to the temporal bone of the skull, which is immediately in front of the ear on each side of your head. The joints are flexible, allowing the jaw to move smoothly up and down and side to side and enabling us to talk, chew, and yawn. Muscles attached to and surrounding the jaw joint control the jaw’s position and movement. TMJ disorders can be brought on by bruxing, dislocation of the soft cushion or disc between the ball and socket in the joint, osteo- or rheumatoid arthritis, and stress. This can case a whole host of problems that may surprise you, including:

• Pain or tenderness in the face, jaw joint area, neck and shoulders, and in or around the ear when chewing, speaking, or opening the mouth wide
• Limited ability to open the mouth very wide
• Jaws that get "stuck" or "lock" in the open- or closed-mouth position
• Clicking, popping, or grating sounds in the jaw joint when opening or closing the mouth (which may or may not be accompanied by pain) or chewing
• A tired feeling in the face
• Difficulty chewing or a sudden uncomfortable bite -- as if the upper and lower teeth are not fitting together properly
• Swelling that may occur on one or both sides of the face
• Toothaches
• Headaches
• Neck aches
• Dizziness
• Earaches
• Hearing problems
• Upper shoulder pain
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitis)

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Office hours

 

Monday	9-8
Tuesday	9-12
Wednesday	9-5
Thursday	9-7