TMJ Treatment and Teeth Grinding Solutions in REEDLEY, CAL

TMJ and Teeth Grinding Solutions | Mark Luzania, DDS Dentistry

We don’t just do run-of-the-mill dentistry in our REEDLEY, CAL dentist office. Our knowledgeable doctor can also help you with problems like sleep apnea and teeth grinding with our TMJ treatment in Reedley.

Chronic teeth grinding can cause headaches or even jaw problems like TMJ disorder. It can also damage your teeth.

When our doctor examines you, he’ll look for signs of bruxism – the medical term for teeth grinding or clenching. Your bite will also be examined via computerized analysis in real time. Dr. Luzania can then make an emergency guard custom made and computer analyzed to address your specific bite problem, while you’re in the dental chair, so you can get relief that night. We can then continue to relieve your pain and save your teeth by providing you with a custom-made permanent mouthguard you wear at night. It is computer analyzed and custom adjusted to address your specific bite needs. Our comprehensive, compassionate care includes follow-up visits at no additional charge.

Think you could have bruxism? Call Mark Luzania DDS at 559-638-1777 for TMJ treatment/teeth grinding solutions.

Teeth Grinding and TMJ Disorder: A Possible Connection

Your temporomandibular joint (or TMJ) is the scientific name for the joint that connects your jawbone to your skull. A number of factors, including tooth grinding, can cause a TMJ disorder (TMD). The primary symptom of a TMJ disorder is an aching jaw. But others include:

  • Difficulty or pain while chewing
  • Locking of your joint, making it difficult to open or close your mouth
  • A clicking sound or grating sensation when you open your mouth
  • Frequent Headaches
  • Tight Painful Head and Neck Muscles
  • Morning Headaches
  • Migraine Symptoms

How a Custom Mouthguard Can Help Your TMJ Disorder

Our REEDLEY, CAL dentist will examine you for signs of TMD, including a computer-assited bite evaluation in real time. The analysis helps Dr. Luzania determine what’s wrong with your bite. He can then make an emergency mouthguard to address your specific bite problem, while you’re in the dental chair, so you can get relief that night. After you’re comfortable we have you return to take impressions of your teeth and other measurements used to create a custom permanent mouthguard for you. You’ll wear the mouthguard at night. It will gently reposition your lower jaw to relieve pressure on your TMJ and prevent you from grinding or clenching your teeth. It can also eliminate TMJ-related headaches and migraines.

Repairing Dental Damage

If teeth grinding or clenching has already caused dental damage, our doctor can repair it! Our cosmetic and restorative dentistry services can restore your smile’s appearance and function. We may use:

  • Dental veneers. These thin “shells” are custom made to fit over the entire front surface of your teeth, fortifying and beautifying them. We can use them to repair minor cracks or chips, and they can make ground-down teeth look longer.
  • Dental crowns. For more severe cracks or breaks, a dental crown covers your whole tooth, protecting it from further damage.

To speak with our doctors about bruxism and/or TMJ disorder in Reedley, call Mark Luzania DDS at 559-638-1777. Or use our online form.