Signs & SymptomsJAW OR JOINT PAIN, LOCKING JAW, |
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Usually indicates either clenching or grinding of teeth. This usually happens at night while sleeping People handle stress in their lives differently. Stomach problems, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, alcoholism, drugs, behavioral problems…all have stress related component Stress is often internalized, and the mouth is often the target organ. "Squeezing" the teeth together dissipates stress. Teeth are able to generate a squeezing pressure of up to 100,000 pounds per square inch. This squeezing of your teeth is called "clenching" and is sometimes associated with lateral jaw movement at the same time, " bruxism". These habits usually occur at nighttime (nocturnal). These habits with these pressures eventually will cause bread down of the teeth, jaw joint, and supporting muscles groups Immediate preventive treatment consist of making a heat processed, hard, acrylic night guard. This night guard is worn at night while sleeping and in severe cases, during the day as well. In advance cases where the jaw has actually " locked up", x-rays of the jaw joint are needed to determine if damage has occurred. Advance cases may need further treatment that consists of: orthodontics, crowns, or jaw surgery.
©1998, Jeffrey Kohlhardt DDS, 1204 Cottonwood Street, Suite 4
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32. JAW OR JOINT PAIN, LOCKING JAW,
TEMORAL - HEADACHES, JAW STIFFNESS 