Dr. Ron Ranson and Dr. Leticia Fernandez-Ranson provide treatment for bruxism and TMJ to improve your oral health and quality of life. TMJ and bruxism can cause significant discomfort and impact your ability to perform many daily functions with ease, including chewing, speaking and yawning. Call Ranson Family Dental today at 309-866-3026 to make your appointment with our dentist and learn more about TMJ and bruxism treatment in Morton, Illinois.
Bruxism is more commonly known as teeth grinding. While it can occur at any time, it is much more common at night. Untreated bruxism causes a number of problems, including:
- Broken, chipped, flattened, and worn teeth
- Broken oral appliances
- Headaches and migraines
- Earaches and ear ringing
- Sore jaw joints, leading to TMJ problems
- Tension and pain in the head, neck, and shoulders
- Pain and tightness in jaw muscles
TMJ disorders may occur as a result of bruxism or as a result of an unrelated problem. TMJ stands for “temporomandibular joint,” which is the joint connecting the lower jaw to the rest of the head. This condition develops when the jaw joint becomes stressed, injured, or misaligned. Some common signs of TMJ disorders include:
- Grinding, clicking or popping sounds when moving the jaw
- An inability to open your mouth wide to speak, yawn or chew
- Locked or stuck jaws
- Pain when chewing and biting
- Frequent headaches
- Pain in the neck, shoulders or ears
When you visit our office, our dentist will work with you to determine the cause of your bruxism and TMJ and create a customized treatment plan that meets your needs. Your treatment may involve custom mouth guards, jaw and facial relaxation exercises or restorative treatments. In more extreme cases, we may recommend oral surgery to correct the problems.
If you have any questions or to schedule an appointment with our dentist, please call our office today!