Bruxism and TMJ treatment in Clairemont Mesa, California
Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, commonly known as “TMJ,” is a disease that can cause pain, difficulty opening and closing, tooth wear, and even tooth fracture in extreme cases. Many patients are surprised to find out they have TMJ, because grinding most often occurs when you’re sleeping and are unaware that it’s happening.
TMJ is usually caused by tooth grinding, also known as “Bruxism.” In order to prevent Bruxism from ruining your teeth, a dentist will often prescribe a “night guard,” which is a custom-made guard to wear during sleep that protects your teeth from being ground down into nothing.
A pre-made guard from the store is used for sports, and is not recommended to protect your bite during sleep, as it is not calibrated to your bite and joint, and can often make TMJ worse. If you have early signs of TMJ or Bruxism, Dr. Ali will recommend a custom nightguard calibrated to your bite.
TMJ is easier to prevent than it is to fix, and the longer you wait, the more likely you are to break or lose teeth, which makes treatment much harder and more expensive. An ounce of prevention is always worth a pound of cure!