Are you a Belmont resident with the pain and jaw popping symptoms of TMJ? Did you know that in some cases, misaligned teeth could cause TMJ? If you live with the painful sensations of TMJ and have misaligned teeth, continue reading to discover how the dental care providers at Belmont’s Dental Restorative Group can help alleviate your TMJ pain and provide you with a better smile with a full mouth dental reconstruction.
What is TMJ?
Understanding TMJ and Jaw Pain
TMJ, which stands for the temporomandibular joint, connects your jawbones to your skull. If you are a Belmont resident with a temporomandibular disorder, which is commonly referred to as just TMJ, you are likely experiencing:
- Pain in your face;
- Pain in your jaw joint area;
- Pain in your neck and shoulders;
- Pain or tenderness in your ears when you chew, open your mouth wide, or talk;
- Difficulty opening your mouth wide;
- A popping sound when you open or close your mouth;
- A sensation of tiredness in your face;
- Difficulty chewing or a suddenly uncomfortable bite;
- A feeling that the upper and lower teeth are not fitting together; and
- Swelling on the affected side of your face.
What is a Full Mouth Dental Reconstruction?
What Is a Full Mouth Reconstruction
If misaligned teeth are causing your case of TMJ, then a full mouth dental reconstruction may help alleviate your TMJ pain and provide an added benefit of a more beautiful smile for you to show off. A full mouth dental reconstruction is when your upper and lower arches of teeth are replaced with a series of natural looking, dental prosthetics. For Belmont TMJ sufferers, the result is a less painful mouth and jaw, and a more aesthetically pleasing smile.
What Procedures Might Be Included in a Full Mouth Reconstruction?
Procedures Used in Full Mouth Reconstruction
There are several dental procedures that your Belmont dental care provider may use in a full mouth dental reconstruction to alleviate TMJ. These procedures include:
-
Dental Implants
Dental Implants and Full Mouth Reconstruction
When it comes to a full mouth dental reconstruction, dental implants are the most long lasting procedure you can receive. In fact, with proper oral hygiene, dental implants can last a lifetime! Dental implants are titanium bars that are inserted into your gums to mimic the structure of your natural root. A crown, or series of crowns, are then attached to the dental implant, giving you natural looking teeth.
When it comes to a full mouth dental reconstruction, you do not need to get a dental implant for every missing tooth. As few as four dental implants can be inserted into your jaw bone, with a series of connected crown arches secured to the dental implants, giving you a beautiful smile that you would love showing off.
-
Crowns
Crowns for Decayed or Damaged Teeth
If you have teeth that are decayed or otherwise damaged, you may need to consider getting dental crowns placed on them. Dental crowns over existing teeth are a popular part of a full mouth dental reconstruction.
-
Bridges
If you need most your teeth replaced, but still have some healthy, properly aligned teeth, you may consider bridges for your full mouth dental reconstruction. Bridges are a series of 3 or more connected crowns. The end crowns go over your healthy teeth, while the middle crowns go over your missing or extracted teeth.
How Do I Learn More About a Full Mouth Dental Reconstruction?
If you’re a Belmont resident suffering from the pain and discomfort of TMJ and think that a full mouth dental reconstruction might be the right option for you, then don’t delay calling us. Schedule an examination and consultation today by calling our Belmont offices at (617) 489-1470.
Related Reading
- The Difference Between Full Mouth Reconstruction and Smile Makeover
- What Procedures Are Included in a Full Mouth Reconstruction?
- When Your Dental Needs Are Complex, the Plan Matters as Much as the Treatment
Frequently Asked Questions
What is TMJ?
TMJ stands for the temporomandibular joint, which connects your jawbones to your skull. A temporomandibular disorder, commonly called TMJ, can cause pain and other symptoms in the jaw, face, and surrounding muscles when the joint is not working comfortably.
What are the symptoms of TMJ?
Symptoms may include pain in the face, jaw joint, neck, and shoulders, tenderness in the ears when chewing or talking, difficulty opening your mouth wide, a popping sound, facial tiredness, an uncomfortable bite, and swelling on the affected side of the face.
Can misaligned teeth cause TMJ pain?
In some cases, yes. A feeling that the upper and lower teeth are not fitting together is one of the symptoms patients report. When misaligned teeth are causing your TMJ, a full mouth dental reconstruction may help alleviate the pain.
What is a full mouth dental reconstruction?
It is treatment in which the upper and lower arches of teeth are replaced with a series of natural-looking dental prosthetics. For TMJ sufferers whose symptoms stem from misalignment, the result can be a more comfortable mouth and jaw as well as an improved smile.
What procedures are included in a full mouth reconstruction?
Treatment may combine dental implants, crowns, and bridges. Implants are titanium posts placed in the jaw to mimic a natural root, crowns cover decayed or damaged teeth, and bridges are a series of three or more connected crowns spanning missing teeth.
How many implants are needed for a full arch of teeth?
You do not need a dental implant for every missing tooth. As few as four implants can be inserted into the jawbone, with a series of connected crown arches secured to them, to restore a full arch of natural-looking teeth.
