Anyone who has TMD, also known as temporomandibular joint disorder, can attest to its potential for pain. Expensive tools or even surgical procedures are frequently used as TMD treatments to realign your bite.
Fortunately, occlusal equilibration, made possible by modern technology, offers a more straightforward approach. Occlusal equilibration is the process of carefully reshaping teeth to correct the alignment of your bite. After an occlusal adjustment, all of your teeth should make contact at once, reducing stress on specific mouth areas. Dr. Goodridge, our Dentist In Chapel Hill NC, can help you decide if occlusal equilibration is the right treatment for you.
Symptoms of TMD
Disorder of the temporomandibular joint is also referred to as TMJ or TMD. It is a condition where the jaw is out of place, resulting in discomfort and other bite-related oral health issues. When you first wake up in the morning or right after eating, you might experience the most symptoms. Some signs of TMD include:
- jaw or neck ache or stiffness
- discomfort or pain while chewing
- Teeth grinding, or bruxism, is a condition.
- jaw clenching or locking
- uneven tooth enamel deterioration
- teeth that are brittle, broken, or chipped
- gums that are receding
- Missing teeth
- Difficulty opening your mouth
Untreated TMJ can eventually result in other oral health problems, such as broken or missing teeth. If you experience any of these signs and have been given a TMJ diagnosis, we advise that you make an appointment with our Chapel Hill TMJ dentist to determine whether occlusal equilibration will be a successful course of treatment for you. Even though your jaw pain may not initially be severe, the sooner you visit our office, the easier it will be to prevent the need for other, more expensive treatments when it becomes more severe.
Process of Occlusal Equilibration
Occlusal equilibration can help when a misaligned bite is the root of your TMD. Getting a TMD diagnosis from your doctor is the first step. Knowing what is causing your jaw pain is essential because it can be a sign of many different illnesses. Our office can assist you after a formal diagnosis has been made.
The first thing Dr. Goodridge will do is make note of where your teeth are out of alignment. He will mark the places where your teeth’s biting surfaces protrude and lead to the misalignment, and he will file those spots using precise technology. Dr. Goodridge uses a tiny dental drill to work on the precise areas of your teeth without removing an excessive amount of enamel. Your teeth will fit together naturally after the procedure, relieving some of the pressure on your jaw.
Benefits of Occlusal Equilibration
In most cases, occlusal equilibration is painless and does not call for anaesthesia. It takes much less time and money than orthodontics because there is no need to move your teeth. After a few days, your smile should appear the same and feel entirely normal. These small adjustments will ensure that your jaw maintains its ideal alignment both when you’re chewing and when you’re just relaxing.
Occlusal equilibration may be the treatment that alters your bite if you have been diagnosed with TMJ or TMD. Call Goodridge Family Dentistry at 919-968-9806 to make an appointment.