Patients who have a temporomandibular disorder (TMD), commonly called TMJ, may notice that during stressful situations, they experience an increase in their symptoms: headaches, jaw pain or difficulty chewing. In may cases, these symptoms are the result of teeth grinding or teeth clenching. Although this typically occurs at night during sleep, patients may grind their teeth and clench their jaw during the day as a response to added stress- something that many people feel during the busy holiday season!
At Dental Distinction in Chester Springs, Dr. Jason Petkevis sees many dental patients who suffer with TMJ and he offers a variety of treatment options to both treat the imbalance in the bite that is the underlying cause of TMJ and alleviate the symptoms patients experience. As a graduate of the prestigious Dawson Academy, Dr. Petkevis has dedicated many hours to post graduate training in bite disorders to offer his dental patients high quality dental care using the latest techniques.
Teeth grinding, also known as Bruxism, can lead to additional dental health problems if left untreated: gum disease, broken teeth and damage to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). In many cases, Dr. Petkevis can effectively treat bruxism with a mouth guard that is to be worn at night to prevent teeth grinding.
For patients who have sustained damage to the teeth from TMJ, or who have an imbalance in their bite that is causing the teeth grinding, Dr. Petkevis may recommend a restorative procedure to restore balance and repair teeth. The restorative treatment, which can range from tooth bonding to dental crowns, will reshape the teeth and realign a patient’s bite. Dr. Petkevis may also suggest orthodontic treatment with Invisalign braces to realign the teeth in some cases.
TMJ and its accompanying symptoms are both disruptive and detrimental to your oral health- schedule an appointment with Dr. Petkevis at his Chester Springs dental office if you are experiencing new or recurring TMJ symptoms.
