TMJ pain can be a harsh reality for anyone who wakes up with jaw soreness and frequent headaches. The discomfort is often exacerbated by stress, teeth grinding, and even bite misalignment. But what if there were a way to address a poorly aligned smile so that a person’s bite improves and jaw pain goes away? There is – Smile Shapers! Discover how this clear aligner treatment can be beneficial when addressing misalignment and TMJ at the same time.
What Can Cause TMJ Disorders?
Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs) form when inflammation or injury impacts your jaw joints, both of which are located on either side of your face and connect to the base of your skull.
While stress, teeth grinding (bruxism), and facial trauma can certainly cause significant jaw pain, one of the most common reasons these disorders occur is bite misalignment.
If you have an overbite, underbite, crossbite, open bite, or any other form of malocclusion that causes your teeth not to line up correctly when closing your mouth, TMD can be a potential side effect. Why? Because this misalignment can place pressure on the jaw joints each time you bite down or chew. Over time, this consistent practice can lead to inflammation and increased pain.
How Can You Treat Bite Misalignment & TMJ Disorders?
While you can pursue many different TMJ treatment methods that can be customized based on the type of bite you have, there is an option that is often left out – orthodontics.
Smile Shapers is a clear aligner system that uses transparent trays to shift teeth into alignment. Instead of your dentist having to reshape your teeth to align your bite or provide an appliance that is only useful when being worn, these trays address the root cause of your oral pain – tooth or bite misalignment – while also enhancing your aesthetics.
While dentists often recommend this to address crooked or gapped teeth as well as overcrowding, they can also be used to change your bite so that it comes together properly. This change in position ultimately reduces tension placed on your jaw joints, so when opening your mouth, chewing is no longer an uncomfortable task.
How Do Smile Shapers Work?
Smile Shapers work just like other clear aligner treatments, using customized trays crafted from impressions taken of your mouth. Depending on the severity of your bite misalignment, you will receive a series of aligners that will force your smile to change over time.
Each set is to be worn 20-22 hours a day for two weeks at a time. You will then need to change them out for the next pair of aligners so that your teeth continue to move with the help of gentle, continuous pressure.
While the average treatment timeline is 12-18 months, each patient is different, so yours could be longer or shorter. No matter the duration, though, the reality is that when you are finished with Smile Shapers, you will notice an improvement in how your bite and jaw feel – reducing your symptoms and discomfort.
Jaw pain doesn’t have to be a daily occurrence anymore when you start treatment with Smile Shapers. Don’t hesitate to ask your dentist about this alternative solution that addresses the root of the problem from the start.
About the Author
Dr. Joseph Hickey has spent more than a decade at Granger Dental Group serving patients with a wide range of oral health problems. Providing comprehensive dentistry that includes everything from preventive and restorative care to cosmetic treatment and orthodontics, he offers clear aligner therapy to those who want a more pleasing aesthetic, better oral health, and even relief from TMJ. If you are curious whether Smile Shapers can address the underlying cause of your jaw pain, contact us at (574) 277-4235.