Would you like a better smile? Do you have pain or tenderness in your jaw? A bite adjustment can help both situations, whether you have one or both. Absolute smile, your dental clinic in Philadelphia PA, offers a variety of solutions for your smile. Let’s look at what a bite adjustment is and how it can serve as a TMJ treatment.

What Is TMJ?

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a kind of sliding hinge that connects your jawbone to your skull. You have this joint on each side of your face to help control how your jaw moves. TMJ disorders can cause pain in the joints and muscles.

The cause of a TMJ disorder isn’t always apparent. It can be caused by genetics, arthritis, or jaw injury. It can be caused by bruxism (teeth grinding), though not everyone who has bruxism will develop a TMJ disorder.

Symptoms of a TMJ Disorder

Typical symptoms of a TMJ disorder include,

• Pain and tenderness in the jaw
• Pain in the joint of the jaw on one or both sides
• Difficulty or pain while chewing
• Aching in or around your ear
• Facial pain
• Locking of the joint that makes it difficult to open or close your mouth

What Is a Bite Adjustment

A bite adjustment is a procedure that involves drilling or filing small areas of your tooth enamel to help your teeth come together correctly. Bite adjustments can be performed when your teeth are aligned but still uneven. If you bite down and notice that one side of your mouth touches down before the other, it’s a good indication that you need a bite adjustment.

Bite Adjustment to Treat TMJ Disorders

While some TMJ disorders are temporary and can be self-managed, others require treatments. In the most severe cases, jaw surgery may be needed, however that is usually after other treatment options have failed to produce results. If your dentist determines that your TMJ disorder is due to an uneven bite, they may recommend a bite adjustment to alleviate your TMJ disorder symptoms.

An uneven bite can put strain on your jaw. Consider what happens if you twist your ankle and walk around. As you favor your sore ankle, you may experience pain in your other leg or hip. This is because your uneven gait is placing strain on those muscles and joints that they normally wouldn’t experience.

The same thing can happen with your jaw muscles and joints if you have an uneven bite. In this situation, a bite adjustment can fix the unevenness and reduce the strain on your jaw muscles and joint. That in turn will help your jaw heal and alleviate your pain.

Are You Looking for a Dental Clinic in Philadelphia, PA?

Absolute Smile is here to meet your needs. From uneven bites to misaligned teeth, we will examine your mouth and teeth and review options with you to help you make the best choice. Contact us today to make an appointment. Take advantage of our free new patient consultation to meet our staff and choose your new family dentist.