If you frequently wake up with painful jaw or tension headaches, you may be grinding or clenching your teeth at night, which is known as TMJ condition. Sleep bruxism can result in damaged enamel, broken teeth, and gum recession. Furthermore, your temporomandibular joint pains and your face muscles become sore.
TMJ dysfunction is frequently caused by jaw misalignment. Both Invisalign and traditional metal braces can be used to appropriately realign the lower jaw in respect to the upper jaw, alleviating TMJ issues and providing you with a beautiful, straightened smile.
TMJ issues can be alleviated with Invisalign treatments. Pain and soreness in the jaw or around the ear, which makes chewing or swallowing difficult, are common symptoms. Opening and shutting the mouth may be painful, and patients may hear a cracking or clicking sound while moving their jaw. Some people’s jaws may totally freeze up. Ringing in the ears is a less prevalent but nonetheless uncomfortable symptom.
What is TMJ?
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) acts like a sliding hinge, linking your jawbone to your skull. TMJ is present on both sides of your jaw. TMJ Disorders are typically caused by arthritis, a jaw injury, or an issue with jaw alignment. When you clench or grind your teeth often, it might worsen TMJ symptoms. Women, particularly during their reproductive years, are more vulnerable to TMJ issues due to magnesium insufficiency.
How to deal with a TMJ problem?
TMJ disorder is uncomfortable, but this disease, also known as sleep bruxism, has other detrimental impacts on your general oral health, such as fractured teeth, enamel erosion, gum recession, and damaged dental work.
Teeth grinding occurs on a regular basis for certain people, most typically during times of stress. For some, particularly adults, a TMJ issue is a persistent ailment that needs treatment to alleviate and rectify. There are a few options for preventing teeth grinding, but the most frequent is a nightguard or braces.
Certain full-coverage night guards keep your teeth from being damaged as you grind. Other devices prevent clenching by relaxing the muscles involved for the unaware clenching. The molars do not come into contact, and you may be able to train your mouth and jaw to quit grinding and clenching.
Jaw misalignment, on the other hand, is one of the most prevalent causes of TMJ disease. Braces are the most reasonable and practical answer to this problem. The lower and upper jaws are appropriately realigned with Invisalign to straighten your smile, not only making it seem better but also eliminating pain and suffering.
Why Invisalign is considered effective for TMJ treatment?
TMJ is more likely in those who have had a jaw injury, who have arthritis, or who have an issue with their jaw placement. People who have established habits of clenching or grinding their teeth are more likely to develop TMJ disorders. Women frequently lose magnesium throughout their reproductive years, putting them at risk for several illnesses. While some people try to self-medicate or employ self-care measures to ease pain and discomfort, dentists may advocate the use of clear aligners to treat TMJ symptoms.
Given the link between tooth and jaw location and jaw discomfort, therapies that address bite abnormalities or shift teeth into alignment frequently relieve jaw strain and pain. The Invisalign® method is one of the most effective clear aligner systems on the market, based on two decades of development to improve patient outcomes. The plastic trays are inserted into the mouth and gradually move teeth into position throughout the period of the treatment plan. As teeth start to shift, the trays are replaced every few weeks.
How Invisalign can remove TMJ problems?
Invisalign braces necessitate wearing it 20 to 22 hours per day, which means the aligners are worn while you sleep. During the night, the appliances serve as a deterrent between your top and bottom jaws, preventing teeth from rubbing against each other and reducing discomfort and joint damage.
The grinding will stop over time, not because of the Invisalign, but because Invisalign is correcting up your bite so it is healthy and in line. You’ll notice that the discomfort in your face and neck is lessening as well. The aligners aid in the reprogramming of the muscles involved for teeth grinding, hence alleviating the symptoms of TMJ dysfunction.
When the teeth are properly aligned, the temporomandibular joint readily opens and shuts without discomfort or irritation. When teeth are misaligned, the joint does not function properly, causing discomfort and irritation. Invisalign braces relieve stress while also providing you with attractive, straight teeth.
Whatever method you choose to treat your TMJ, it is critical to conduct research and visit with a few orthodontists prior to making any final decisions. Cost, length of therapy, and the number of limitations can be major factors.
Do ensure that you don’t implement the process until your health has worsened significantly. Aside from the TMJ worsening, you will be more prone to cavities and gum disease since it will be tougher to learn appropriate dental hygiene when you are facing discomfort.
If you decide to use Invisalign, keep in mind that the orthodontist’s Invisalign designation is important while selecting an orthodontist. It is a known fact that if you perform anything on a consistent basis, you will become proficient at it. The same is true for orthodontic treatment. Those orthodontists who give Invisalign treatment to their patients on a regular basis will have an advantage over their peers who operate mostly with metal braces.
While the certification of an Invisalign provider is significant, it is only one facet of the orthodontic office that you should examine when deciding where to go. The way they handle their patients, the cost of their services, and how at ease you are in your surroundings should all play a factor in your selection.
What type of outcomes can be anticipated?
The ultimate objective of any treatment strategy for persons suffering from TMJ discomfort is to decrease any symptoms that impair their wellbeing. The effectiveness of treatment will be influenced by the frequency with which clear aligners are used by persons who opt to use them. A dentist may offer pain relief therapies in combination with the remedial procedures that aligners might give. These may include:
- Including extra soft meals in the diet
- Exercises for massaging and securing the jaw muscles
- Compressing the side of the face with hot or cold compresses
Exceptions to predicted outcomes
Not all TMJ disorders may be treated with aligners or braces. Individuals with severe jaw arthritis are not suitable candidates for this therapy. Those who suffer from TMJ due to a bite or alignment issue are less likely to get the same effects as those who suffer from TMJ due to a hormone imbalance. In these circumstances, a dentist will establish the underlying cause of the illness and provide alternate treatments.
Why Invisalign is better for TMJ than night guard?
Clenching your teeth while sleeping at night is a debilitating chronic illness. To preserve your teeth from themselves, your dentist may recommend that you wear a nightguard. When you explore the benefits of Invisalign, you might possibly protect your smile from sleep bruxism while also aligning it.
Invisalign aligners must be worn 20 to 22 hours each day, which means they will stay in your mouth all night. The aligners form a barrier between the teeth, preventing them from scraping against one other and causing joint damage and pain. Patients suffering from TMJ condition benefit from having a healthier bite, and Invisalign makes that feasible while also relieving teeth grinding adverse effects.
Wrapping up
Seeing the dentist may provide some relief to folks who are wary of the stiffness and irritation produced by eating and jaw motions. A TMJ diagnosis allows a person to determine whether an Invisalign treatment plan would be an appropriate method to relieve their discomfort.