WHAT IS TMJ DISORDER?
TMJ Disorders, TMJ dysfunction and TMJ parafunction are different medical terms used to describe TMJ with an abnormal function.
‘TMJ’, short for Temporo-Mandibular-Joint which is the name of the jaw joint. Nightly teeth grinding is common and most of us will do it in our deep REM sleep. However, when it is excessive, it is called ‘bruxism’ 😬 and causes certain signs of abnormality. Grinding in our deep sleep has been shown to exert 14 times 💥 more force than during the day. That is a massive amount! This can cause a number of signs and symptoms:
- Removable retainers getting crushed and split 😣.
- Bonded retainers breaking down, with flaking resin.
- Rapid tooth wear.
- Joint clicking or popping.
- Limited jaw opening, below 40mm.
- Muscle aches in the jaw, temples, neck, shoulders, and back, impacting sleep and comfort.
- Jaw locking 🤐.
- Headaches.
- Gum recession and increased tooth mobility, not just regular gum issues.
- ‘Crack tooth’ syndrome.
- Abfraction cavities near the gums due to teeth flexing from grinding.
Biteguard and SCI (Sleep Clench Inhibitor) are your allies against these challenges. Regularly using a Biteguard can significantly lessen these symptoms. SCI is your key to preserving dental and jaw health 🌈👍.
Excessive Teeth Wear
🌟 Understanding Bruxism and Your Teeth 🌟
Your teeth are built to last a lifetime with minimal wear. Typical daily eating habits do not contribute to significant wear or damage. This is because our teeth only make contact for less than 20 minutes a day with relatively gentle forces during normal chewing. However, for those dealing with bruxism, the scenario is quite different. 🌙 At night, without the brain’s usual feedback mechanism to alert us to excessive pressure, individuals with bruxism can exert up to 14 times more pressure on their teeth compared to when they’re awake. This substantial pressure can lead to considerable damage over time.
Moderate incisor wear in a young patient
Severe advanced wear treatment
🌟 Smile Makeover with Bonding 🌟
When teeth show signs of serious wear, a swift and effective solution is composite bonding. This one-step procedure works wonders to rebuild lost tooth structure and even boosts facial height. To keep that new smile safe, the use os a well designed sleep clench inhibitor is essential.
Excessive Wear and tear of Plastic Retainers
🌟 Keep Your Retainers in Check! 🌟
Have you noticed your retainers wearing out too fast? It could be a sign of TMJ parafunction. Orthodontists often spot this when retainers show significant wear and tear, even if they’re only used a few nights a week. Just look at these examples of retainers worn for a year – they really tell a story! To tackle this, we dive deep, checking out how fast your teeth are wearing down, peeking at your gum health, checking for wobbly teeth, and giving your jaw joints a once-over. 🕵️♂️
Your teeth are champs, designed to last with just minimal wear. We might think chowing down on food is tough on them, but in reality, our daily munching for less than 20 minutes barely makes an impact. The true challenge comes with bruxism – that’s when teeth and gums face the pressure test. 😴 Without our brain keeping tabs during sleep, our teeth can face up to 14 times the pressure they do when we’re awake. No wonder they can show some battle scars over time!
It’s all about keeping an eye on those retainers and getting the right advice to protect your smile. 🌟✨
Management of TMJ Dysfunction – The SCI – Sleep Clenching Inhibitor
🌟 Real Smiles, Real Relief at FIRST Ortho 🌟
“So delighted with the results from my treatment with FIRST Ortho. I no longer suffer with headaches due to the treatment I received. Would recommend the team 100%” – Mandy 😁
“This treatment changed my world,” says Dr. … 🌍
At FIRST Ortho, our tailored approach aims for big results, reducing jaw muscle activity by an average of 85%. That’s a lot of relaxation for those hard-working muscles, giving wayward discs a chance to slip back into place. With multiple opinions on bruxism and TMJ dysfunction, we navigate towards management, while not stopping grinding completely, effectively keep it in check.
In the early stages, a click in the jaw might pop up when a disc takes an unscheduled detour. It’s like your joint hitting a little speed bump on the road. To help things along, take it easy with limited jaw gymnastics (think small yawns) and stick to a soft-food diet for a bit of TLC.
If you are spotting signs of TMJ disorder, a bite guard is a wise choice 😁🛡️. BUT it needs to be the right type. At FIRST Ortho, you have two top-notch options:
- The thin, sleek vacuum-formed retainer 👌 for mild signs and symptoms.
- The SCI (Sleep Clench Inhibitor) for more feisty symptoms like clicks, a stuck jaw, or heavy wear. Clinically proven and FDA-approved.
Choose your armour and protect your smile with FIRST Ortho!
The SCI has 3 Key components
The Pencil Test
Did you know wearing an SCI can slash muscle pressure by a whopping 85%?
Here’s a cool trick to try: Place a pencil between your back teeth (molars or canines) and press. Now, touch your temple and feel the muscle pop! Then, move the pencil to your front teeth (incisors) and press again. Touch the temple—notice that the muscle relax a bit? 😌 That’s what an SCI does; it helps those temple muscles take a breather!
So, keep your jaw muscles relaxed and give an SCI a go! 🌟🛌
TMJ & Headaches
🌟 Let’s chat about our jaw muscles and that brainy nerve.
So, there’s this super-smart nerve called the fifth cranial nerve that keeps all 28 jaw muscles in check! 🤓But if even one muscle throws a tantrum, it’s like a domino effect—others start acting up, leading to a jaw that can’t decide if it’s coming or going! 😬
This nerve network is so complex it can be the secret troublemaker behind various headaches, jaw aches, and that pesky pain that pretends to be a migraine🤕. Getting a handle on these issues can be like hitting the jackpot for your well-being—total game-changer!
TMJ Assessment
We are like detectives with your jaw joint, muscles, and the jaw joints. We dive deep to figure out what’s going on.
Our goal? To dial down or say ‘bye’ to that nagging head and neck pain that comes from grinding your teeth. Trust us to get to the bottom of it and help you kick that grind to the curb!
So let’s get you that comfort you deserve! Your smile (and your head) will thank you! 😁🎉
Grinding of the teeth produces huge pressures
When we hit deep sleep and wander into dreamland 😴💤, our teeth are sometimes up to a workout of their own—grinding away with some serious gym-level pressure!
Funny thing, we don’t even know they’re pumping iron unless our jaw starts clicking or aching the next day. 😲 And if you’ve ever tried grinding your teeth while awake, it’s pretty tough and close to impossible for most of us!
Here’s a jaw-dropping fact: The force of teeth grinding in REM sleep can be 14 times stronger than during the day. That’s like comparing music on a mobile to a live rock concert! 🤘🎸 These mega-pressures can shake up the joint’s architecture, leading to issues that are more difficult to fix later. 😓🔧
That’s why at FIRST Ortho, we say ‘the earlier, the better’ when it comes to managing this nightly workout. Plus, we’ve seen first hand how it wears down teeth—it’s not a pretty sight. 😬🔍
So, let’s keep those pearly whites in shape and your sleep as peaceful as a quiet night’s sky! 🌙✨
Book an appointment today for your comprehensive assessment.
