TMJ-TMD Bruxism
The temporomandibular joint or TMJ acts like a sliding hinge, connecting your jawbone to your skull. TMJ syndrome or TMD (temporomandibular disorder) is a medical problem related to a malfunction of that jaw joint. The symptoms are most often a popping, clicking, or crackling in the jaw joint. It can be accompanied by aliments, such as headaches, jaw joint or muscle pain, a jaw that is difficult to open or locks in place, ringing in the ears, and sometimes even numbness in the face and fingertips. Bruxism is a condition when you grind, gnash, or clench your teeth, most often at night. If you believe you may have either of these disorders, refrain from diagnosing it yourself. Make an appointment at Dr. Crystal Dental to receive an appropriate evaluation before proceeding with proper treatment. These two conditions can have similar symptoms, making it easy to confuse one from the other.
The entire team at Dr. Crystal Dental radiates compassion and enthusiasm. Every member embraces your individual comfort and dental needs. We seek balance in our practice, our procedures, and your health. You will find your entire dental experience with us comforting from start to finish. We balance exceptional, personalized dental care with state-of-the-art equipment and technology. Call us today at 440-974-4449 to schedule your appointment for an evaluation regarding the possibility of you suffering from TMJ-TMD and Bruxism. You can conveniently find us at 7223 Center Street, Mentor, Ohio, 44060.
Dr. Crystal
Dr. Crystal is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University, School of Dental Medicine and went on to receive training at one of the most prestigious dental residencies in the nation, The Audie L. Murphy VA Hospital Advanced Education in General Dentistry in San Antonio, TX.
Inform & Educate
We empower you to make wise, well-informed decisions for your oral health through patient education and individual consultation. We do this through the modern technology we offer. Our digital x-rays are equipped with special cavity-detecting software, and we also utilize an intraoral camera to show you what we see in your mouth. We also make sure to stay up-to-date on your medical history, current medications and any other factors that might affect your dental health and treatment.
Insurance & Billing
We are an insurance-friendly office, so please call us about your plan. We will do our best to assist you in maximizing your benefits. At your first visit to our Mentor dental practice, we will ask you for your current insurance information. We may ask you to confirm this information at subsequent visits so we can stay up-to-date and fully informed to serve you. As a courtesy to you, we file all claim forms electronically, provide postage for special claims, and we track claims for you.
The Causes and Symptoms of TMJ-TMD
TMJ-TMD is a malfunction of the temporomandibular joint. Every time you open or close your mouth, you are using this joint. Since this is such a frequently used joint, severe TMJ-TMD can have an impact on your quality of living. A dysfunction in this joint can be caused by several issues:
- Grinding or clenching your teeth, which puts a lot of pressure on the joint.
- Movement of the soft cushion or disc between the ball and socket of the joint.
- Arthritis in the joint.
- Stress, which can cause you to tighten facial and jaw muscles or clench the teeth.
- Habits that promote overuse of the jaw joint, such as excessive gum chewing and nail biting.
These are some of the suspected causes, and it is often difficult to determine the exact cause of TMJ-TMD. If you develop a dysfunction in your temporomandibular joint, you may experience some of the following symptoms:
- Frequent headaches.
- Pain or tenderness in your face, jaw joint area, neck, and shoulders, and in or around the ear when you chew, speak, or open your mouth wide.
- Problems when you try to open your mouth wide.
- Jaws that get "stuck" or "lock" in the open- or closed-mouth position.
- Clicking, popping, or grating sounds in the jaw joint when you open or close your mouth or chew. This may or may not be painful.
- A tired feeling in your face.
- Trouble chewing or a sudden uncomfortable bite -- as if the upper and lower teeth are not fitting together properly.
- Swelling on the side of your face.
The Causes and Symptoms of Bruxism
Bruxism is the grinding or the clenching of your teeth, most often at night, but you might clench and grind your teeth during the daytime hours as well. Daytime bruxism is called awake bruxism and nighttime bruxism is called sleep bruxism.
Just like TMJ-TMD, it is often difficult to determine the cause of bruxism. Some of the most common causes include:
- An increase in your stress, anxiety, anger, pain, or frustration.
- The misalignment of your jaw.
- You have developed sleep apnea or other sleep disordered breathing.
- You are reacting to certain medications.
- It is the result of excessive drug, alcohol, and tobacco use.
Regardless of the specific cause of your bruxism, you may experience one of these symptoms:
- You are experiencing consistent headaches.
- You experience jaw or face pain.
- Regular earaches.
- Your jaw is sore.
- There is increased tooth sensitivity and toothaches.
- We discover broken, chipped, or cracked teeth.
- Your teeth are becoming worn or flattened.
- You have a consistent disrupted sleep pattern.
Diagnosis of TMD-TMJ and Bruxism
TMJ and Bruxism problems are diagnosed with a detailed examination by Dr. Crystal Dental. We will thoroughly exam you for any evidence of TMJ-TMD and Bruxism with your teeth, mouth, gums, and tongue. We will meticulously and deliberately palpate the muscles of your head, neck, and shoulders to determine your level of tenderness, measure the range of motion in your lower jaw, conduct a scan of your jaw joints using a doppler and may include further diagnostic imaging (MRI or cone-beam x-rays).
Comprehensive Dentistry
Comprehensive dentistry with Dr. Crystal Schneider, involves the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the teeth, gums and jaw. She believes that preventive care is the most important aspect of comprehensive dentistry. Dr. Schneider aims to identify and treat problems while they’re still small, which can save you time, money and more extensive dental treatment.
Cosmetic Dentistry
An attractive smile can boost your confidence, help you make better first impressions on others, and improve your personal and professional life. We provide several cosmetic dental treatments that can subtly enhance your smile, and there are many other more dramatic treatments, often called “smile makeovers,” that can give you the smile of your dreams.
Specialized Dentistry
Missing teeth can take the joy out of the everyday things we love, from smiling and talking with confidence to eating our favorite foods. All of these things can become easier again with specialized dental care. Dr. Schneider offers advanced treatments that will not just restore your smile to its former health – they’ll make it look and feel even better than before!
Our Devotion to Family Dentistry is Unparalleled
Our attention to detail is second to none. Either when it comes to your personalized dental care or the array of amenities in the relaxing comfort of our office. The entire team at Dr. Crystal Dental goes the extra mile in providing communication and consultation, realizing that we collectively are committed to developing long lasting relationships with every patient. We find gratification in life changing healthy smiles. Call us now at 440-974-4449 to make an appointment to evaluate the possibility of you suffering from TMJ-TMD or Bruxism. Our office is located at 7223 Center Street, Mentor, Ohio, 44060.