If you’ve been waking in the morning with a headache and notice that your jaw has been feeling particularly stiff, you could be suffering from a temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. This painful condition can progress to the point that you get a locked jaw and can’t open your mouth to eat or speak, so it’s important to get professional help to address it. Treatments vary and can involve physical therapy or oral devices provided by your orthodontist. Many patients in this predicament wonder whether Invisalign can alleviate their symptoms. If you’re curious, keep reading to find out!
What Exactly is a TMJ Disorder?
Your jaw connects to your skull via the TMJ, which is a sliding disc joint just below your ear on either side of your face. When all is well, it gives your mouth a full range of motion. You’re able to open and close it and slide your jawbone side to side with ease, for example. Sometimes the muscles and tissues surrounding this hinge become achingly inflamed so that it can’t function properly. This is known as a temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMD.
What Caused My TMD?
Only a professional can help you determine the root problem that led to this frustrating outcome, but often it’s due to one of two issues. Firstly, many individuals subconsciously grind their teeth in a condition known as bruxism. Others have a misaligned bite, like an underbite or overbite. All of these put excessive force on your TMJ and result in the symptoms you’ve been experiencing.
Can Invisalign Fix My TMD?
In many instances, oral appliances provided by your orthodontist can alleviate your discomfort. Though it’s intended to be an alternative to traditional braces, Invisalign could potentially be helpful. It consists of clear plastic aligner trays that are customized to fit over your teeth like a glove to shift them to their ideal placements. Your orthodontist examines your bite alignment and other factors when building Invisalign, so many patients wonder if this can also improve their TMD.
In many cases, having the extra cushion over your teeth is enough to prevent them from grinding together. This can give your TMJ enough of a reprieve to begin to heal, providing you with some much-needed relief. Also, depending on your circumstances, Invisalign can correct your bite issue so that you’re no longer putting unnecessary pressure on the joint.
If you’re looking for relief from jaw tension, Invisalign is one of several potential solutions your orthodontist might recommend. Call them today and you’ll be on your way to feeling blissfully pain-free!
About the Practice
At Willow Bend Orthodontics of Plano, you and the entire family benefit from a team of experts who provide a full array of orthodontic services, including Invisalign and TMJ therapies. They’re happy to examine you to determine the cause of your TMD and recommend solutions that work best for you. They rely on oral appliances in combination with home remedies like massaging and stretching to provide you with the long-term pain relief you deserve. You’re welcome to request an appointment on the website or by calling (972) 732-1400.