If you struggle with TMJ problems, it is important that you consider straightening your teeth. While that may be a slightly different approach to relief, it is actually quite helpful. By properly aligning your teeth, jaw, and bite, many TMJ problems decrease or go away on their own.
Braces Adjust More Than Just Your Teeth
The biggest thing people know about braces is that they are used to straighten your teeth. However, there is more to them than that. While your teeth are getting straightened out, your jaw is changing, too. This changes the jaw at the bony level and makes it shift. As your teeth and jaw shift, this often reduces pressure on the TMJ, allowing you to experience relief where you used to experience pain. When your teeth are aligned, it lets your jaw open and close straight, which can do a lot towards reducing pain with simple tasks like speaking and chewing.
Simply having your teeth aligned can go a long way towards relief. However, it doesn’t always do everything you need to become pain-free. You may have other treatment options become available once the straightening process is complete, which may be what you need to finally get the relief you were hoping for.
Contact our office about problems you may have with your TMJ, and we can help you determine if braces are the best next steps to treat your TMJ pain.
Thurston Oaks Dental, 4305 NE Thurston Way, Suite A, Vancouver, WA 98662 / (360) 514-9212 / vancouverdds.com / 11/4/2024 / Associated Words: dentist Vancouver WA /