Do you often find yourself clenching or grinding your teeth? Do you experience chronic jaw pain?
You may have a TMJ disorder. TMJ, or temporomandibular joint dysfunction, is pain experienced in and around jaw joints. Dr. Ribitch is a Dawson Academy-trained dentist and has advanced training in the diagnosis and treatment of bite disorders. We provide comprehensive dental care to evaluate your needs, resolve symptoms, and stabilize your dental health. With modern restorative dentistry, we can get your smile back in the best shape.
Dr. Ribitch will work with you to identify the underlying problem affecting your bite and look for signs of tooth damage from teeth grinding. A personalized treatment plan will be designed to restore comfort and long-term dental health. This is an important aspect of lasting and stable results when treating TMJ and one of the ways that Dr. Ribitch sets himself apart from other dentists with his training and experience.
TMJ Causes and Symptoms
Several possible causes of TMJ can include:
- Stress
- Joint damage from an injury
- Malocclusion
- Cartilage damage from arthritis
- Eroding disks from misalignment
- Years of bruxism (teeth clenching and grinding)
- Any injury to the joint area caused by an accident or surgical procedure
- Any bite disorders, like an uneven bite due to fitted dentures, fillings, and dental crowns
Patients who suffer from TMJ may experience these symptoms:
- Jaw popping or clicking
- Earaches
- Facial pain
- Severe toothaches
- Difficulty chewing
- Limited or restricted jaw mobility
- Teeth clenching or grinding
- Signs of tooth wear
- Shoulder and neck pain
- Migraines or headaches
- Popping, grating, or clicking noises while chewing or during mouth movement
- Muscle pain around the jaw area
- The feeling of a stuck jaw that makes eating difficult
All of these symptoms are clear signs that you might be suffering from a TMJ disorder.
Treating TMJ in Mount Pleasant
Dr. Raymond Ribitch and his dental team offer oral appliances and restorative dentistry options to stop TMJ pain and repair teeth in more serious cases. Dr. Ribitch can create a custom mouth guard that can be worn at night to stop teeth from touching. Oral appliances reposition the jaw to help prevent further wear and tear that teeth clenching and grinding may have caused.
If teeth are worn down, broken, or damaged from TMJ, Dr. Ribitch offers dental crowns that also protect teeth and improve their appearance. Tooth bonding and porcelain veneers can also help to address damaged teeth. In the most severe cases where teeth are too worn or broken to work effectively dental implants, dental bridges or dentures may be needed.
For some patients, orthodontic treatment may be recommended to realign the bite and allow the teeth to make proper contact when biting. Dr. Ribitch is an Invisalign provider and can provide discreet treatment using clear aligners.
Call Dr. Raymond Ribitch Today
Left untreated, TMJ can have a dramatic impact on oral health over time, often damaging teeth and further affecting the alignment of the bite. If you are suffering from any of the symptoms mentioned above, or have been avoiding the dentist for some time, schedule an appointment in our Mount Pleasant, MI office. Get the TMJ treatment you need today. We can help you get back a healthy, functional, and happy smile. Call Dr. Ribitch and his dental team at 989-772-1344 today.