Burke, Fairfax and Fairfax Station, VA

Bruxism, the clinical term for teeth grinding, affects millions of Americans. Left undiagnosed or untreated, the excess forces that bruxism exerts on your teeth can devastate your smile. Most dental practitioners opt to treat this condition with a night guard. However, Pamela Marzban, DDS, believes that a TMJ appliance is the better choice. Read on, as your neuromuscular dentist in Burke explores 5 reasons why you should choose a TMJ appliance to treat your bruxism.

Reason 1: Night guards wear down over time

Even a custom-made night guard provided by a dentist is going to need to be replaced eventually. If you are using a store-bought guard, that deterioration is going to be more rapid. That exposes your teeth to additional potential damage.

Reason 2: Night guards are not right for everyone

The thick sturdy material used to make a night guard is designed to protect your teeth from damage when you grind them. However, some of the issues that are associated with bruxism – such as sore jaw muscles and waking up with painful headaches – are not addressed by a night guard. These issues also may worsen.

Reason 3: Bruxism is a symptom of TMJ disorder

So are the previously mentioned aching jaws and morning headaches. Symptoms also may include vertigo, ear pain, ringing in the ears, clicking or popping sounds from the jaws when they open and close, neck pain or even tingling in the extremities. These symptoms of temporomandibular joint disorder can vary widely from person to person.

Reason 4: A TMJ appliance resolves all symptoms associated with the disorder

Often, a patient with TMJ disorder does not end up seeing a neuromuscular dentist until they have seen other medical practitioners and seemingly exhausted their areas of expertise. Dr. Marzban crafts each TMJ appliance using cone beam computerized tomography (CBCT), in combination with electromyography (EMG) technology. This means that, not only is your oral appliance constructed to the precise dimensions of your teeth and mouth, it also restores balance to the temporomandibular joints and surrounding musculature. When worn, this TMJ appliance alleviates whatever is aggravating or decompressing the temporomandibular joints, restoring balance and resolving any related symptoms you may be experiencing.

Reason 5: A TMJ appliance is versatile

We have told you how a TMJ appliance not only treats TMJ disorder but also bruxism. This oral appliance also can resolve a sleep breathing disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea. There is a direct correlation between grinding your teeth at night and experiencing the airway blockages that lead to sleep apnea. A thick night guard constructed for bruxism may magnify or worsen any existing airway issues. Our TMJ appliance is more sleek, helping to encourage an open airway and prevent future apneic events.

Appliance therapy for TMJ disorder in Burke, Virginia

The solution to your issues may be simpler, and more accessible, than you realize. It all starts by receiving a proper diagnosis. Pamela Marzban, DDS, has the advanced training and significant experience to correctly identify cases of bruxism, TMJ disorder and sleep apnea. Find out for yourself why her office is considered the Center for Beauty, Balance, Breath. Schedule a consultation at our facility in Burke today by calling (703) 323-8200 or by completing our contact form online.