Does Invisalign Help TMJ?
Have you heard your friends and colleagues complain about discomfort with the jaw associated with the temporomandibular joint? You may find it relieving to realize you don’t have the pain. However, are you aware everyone has a temporomandibular joint? If not, we suggest you continue reading this article to understand how the joint can affect you.
If you suffer from frequent jaw pain, you may have a temporomandibular joint disorder, also called TMD. The condition affects the joint connecting your lower jaw to your skull. While the most optimal treatment for TMD relies on several factors fixing your temporomandibular joint with Invisalign is a reality. This article will discuss how correcting the orthodontic issues affecting you with Invisalign might alleviate or even help you get rid of a TMJ disorder.
Misaligned Teeth and TMJ Disorders
Misaligned teeth are often significant contributors to TMJ disorders. When your teeth are incorrectly aligned, the temporomandibular joint is stressed and can become painfully inflamed. Invisalign is a treatment with dental-grade plastic aligners that help correct most mild to moderate orthodontic issues like overbites, underbites, and crossbites. The clear aligners help shift your teeth gradually into their proper positions to lower the stress on the TMJ and significantly alleviate the symptoms of TMJ disorders.
Invisalign does not offer you an overnight treatment for TMJ disorders. The treatment is lengthy, requiring 12 to 18 months before you complete the treatment. Invisalign is a treatment beneficial for correcting orthodontic problems and wasn’t designed for treating TMJ disorders. Therefore if you have orthodontic issues and are a candidate for Invisalign braces, you might need to discuss other treatment modalities to address the TMJ disorder before Invisalign corrects your bite.
The Difference between TMJ and TMD
Do you think a TMJ disorder is a medical condition? Unfortunately, you are mistaken in your assumption because the TMJ is just an acronym for the temporomandibular joint, a synovial joint with a disc located between your lower jaw and your skull.
Your temporomandibular joint can become irritated for several reasons resulting in a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). For example, you may have a misaligned jaw, problems with bruxism, and be accustomed to having chewy foods or biting on complex subjects. The list of things causing your TMJ to become irritated is endless. If you are affected by a TMJ disorder, the problem can cause pain in the TMJ joint and facial muscles. You may also suffer from tension headaches and face challenges opening and closing your mouth.
How Does Invisalign Help with TMJ Disorders?
If you suffer from a TMJ disorder, you become desperate to find relief from the problem. Fortunately, Invisalign in Weston, ON, can help relieve the symptoms associated with TMJ disorders. Invisalign, a treatment using clear aligners to gradually reposition your teeth over time, help alleviate the symptoms of TMJ disorders.
Before you approach the specialist in Weston, you must have realistic expectations. While sufficient anecdotal evidence is available to support that Invisalign is a technique to relieve TMJ disorders, extensive scientific research on the subject is not available. TMJ disorders are complicated, and the treatment for the condition is also complex. You must communicate your symptoms and the specialist to help them recommend the best course of action customized for your specific needs.
If you qualify for Invisalign treatment to straighten teeth and the TMJ disorder, you must wear the clear braces over your teeth for 20 to 22 hours every day, including when sleeping. While the aligners are in your mouth, they act as a cushion between your upper and lower teeth to protect you from the symptoms of TMJ disorders.
Having a correctly aligned bite after undergoing Invisalign treatment helps minimize TMJ disorder symptoms. The therapy from the dentist also re-programs your jaw muscles to reduce the symptoms of bruxism if you are affected by the problem. The Invisalign treatment also conditions your jaw muscles to become efficient and reduce wear besides the discomfort associated with TMJ disorders.
Invisalign Helps in More Ways Than Straighten Your Teeth
If you think Invisalign is merely a discreet revolutionary treatment as an alternative for traditional braces to straighten your teeth, you might have to think differently because Invisalign undoubtedly has more benefits than merely straightening your teeth. When aligning your teeth, Invisalign reduces stress on your temporomandibular joint to lessen the pain from TMJ disorders.
If you suffer from TMJ disorders, you will realize how debilitating the condition can be. However, a visit to King and Weston Dental can help improve the appearance of your teeth and smile while providing relief from the symptoms of TMJ disorders in one treatment.