Uneven Jaw

If you have an uneven jaw, you may have some difficulty or pain associated with eating, sleeping, talking, or even breathing. In some cases, an uneven jaw can be treated with physical therapy, braces, retainers, but in severe cases, oral surgery may be necessary. We at Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics want to make sure that our patients live a pain-free life. Dr. Wong specializes in orthodontic treatment and can assess the severity of an uneven jaw, and recommend a course of action.

Signs that you may have an uneven jaw:

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  Temple pain

  
  


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  Jaw joint pain

  
  


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  Jaw clicking

  
  


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  Tight jaw

  
  


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  Shoulder or back pain

  
  


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  Popping in the ear

  
  

 

Some causes of an uneven jaw include jaw trauma, birth defects or teeth misalignment. For temporary relief, ice or an over-the-counter pain reliever can be used. But if you are experiencing extreme pain in your jaw, it is recommended that you see your dentist as soon as possible. Though most cases of uneven jaw can be treated with dental appliances or exercises, surgery may be required.

 

 Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics is located at 15614 S Harlem Ave. in Orland Park, IL 60462. To schedule a checkup or for more information, please visit drcynthiawong.com or call 708-444-8341.

 

 

TMJ

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) connects your jaw to your skull at the temporal bone. This joint controls everyday functions like talking and eating. It’s what allows your mouth to open and close, for chewing and swallowing. If you experience pain when doing any of these activities, you may have a temporomandibular disorder or TMD. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Cynthia Wong, D.M.D. of Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics, located in Orland Park, IL.

 

Common symptoms of TMD are:

-Pain when opening or closing the mouth

-Trouble chewing

-Jaw becoming stuck open or shut

-Headaches or ear pain

-Clicking or popping sounds when opening your mouth

-Teeth grinding

 

Although all the symptoms of TMD are problematic, teeth grinding is probably one of the most detrimental symptoms. Teeth grinding or bruxism wears down and destroys the teeth. The enamel will eventually wear away and expose the dentin. This material is more sensitive and is very susceptible to decay.

 

Pain relievers and cold/hot compresses can help manage short term symptoms. A night guard is the best way to curb teeth grinding. It prevents the top and bottom teeth from touching, keeping you from wearing away your enamel.

 

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, visit Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics in Orland Park, IL. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Cynthia Wong, D.M.D., visit our website or call 708-444-8341.

Orthodontic Assessments

Your children’s dentist will monitor their teeth for developmental issues, but they’ll likely refer them to us for a comprehensive orthodontic assessment. At Dr. Cynthia Wong’s Orland Park office, we’ve overseen many children’s orthodontic therapy, providing them with a lifetime of healthy, beautiful teeth. To help families understand the importance of orthodontic assessments, we thought it would be a good idea to describe what to expect.

We’re going to use digital x-rays to determine where a child’s adult teeth are likely to erupt. From the time they’re around seven years old, we can reasonably predict whether their wisdom teeth are at risk of being impacted and if the other teeth are becoming too crowded. However, orthodontic therapy usually does not begin at this age outside of extreme circumstances, such as breathing difficulty or facial deformity. We’ll also ask children questions about whether they have difficulty chewing, whether their jaws or teeth are often sore, and whether they feel fatigued. These questions can help us to determine whether misalignments might be a contributing factor to temporomandibular joint disorder and sleep apnea. We’ll also inspect the wear patterns of their enamel for signs of nighttime teeth grinding. After making an impression of a child’s mouth and running the x-rays through our modeling software, we’ll be able to develop a treatment plan and demonstrate to them and the parents any particular concerns we may have about the future movement of their teeth and jaws.

Cynthia Wong, DMD, operates at 15614 S Harlem #B, Orland Park, Illinois, 60462. To contact her office, call 708-444-8341 or visit Dr. Cynthia Wong and send a message.

 

TMJD and headaches

Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJD) are a frequent source of pain. Not only do they cause damage to people’s teeth, they can also cause headaches. At the orthodontic office of Dr. Cynthia Wong in Orland Park, we can assist patients by providing night guards and reducing teeth grinding.

Teeth grinding, or bruxism, puts enormous strain on the teeth and the jaw muscles. In people with obstructive sleep apnea, it results from the body’s attempt to keep airways open while lying down. It can also be caused by psychological stress or by discomfort from malocclusions or impacted teeth. Pain from clenching the teeth may not be limited to the jaw. It can spread to connected muscles in the shoulder, neck, and top of the head. Tension headaches are often confused with TMJD headaches due to their similar symptoms.

Night guards prevent teeth from rubbing against each other, reducing the teeth’s chance of cracking and relieving pressure from the jaws. This often allows people to get better sleep, reducing their fatigue. In people with severe bruxism, night guards may also be necessary to prevent damage to braces.

Cynthia Wong, DMD, operates at 15614 S Harlem #B, Orland Park, Illinois, 60462. To contact her office, call 708-444-8341 or visit Dr. Cynthia Wong and send a message.

 

TMD-Fibromyalgia Connection

At Dr. Cynthia Wong’s Orland Park orthodontic office, we provide crucial assistance to people suffering from temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD or TMJD). Characterized by painful sensations in the joint which connects the jaw to the rest of the head, TMD can radiate outward and cause the patient to grind their teeth at night. Today, we’re looking at another disorder which has a high rate of comorbidity with TMJ: fibromyalgia.

One of the more poorly understood disorders, fibromyalgia causes fatigue and pain throughout the body. It is believed to be caused by a problem in how the brain reacts to input from the nervous system and can be triggered by trauma or illness. Besides TMD and the headaches, neck aches, and shoulder aches TMD causes, fibromyalgia also is associated with migraines, menstruation difficulty, and irritable bowel syndrome and can cause cognitive and memory problems for patients. As with TMD, women are likelier to get it than men, but fibromyalgia tends to show up in middle-aged people, while TMD more often occurs in young adults.

TMD poses a threat to patients’ oral health by causing teeth grinding and jaw clenching. If a patient’s TMD is related to fibromyalgia, it is even more important for them to reduce their pain, protect their teeth, and get better rest by getting fitted at our office for a customized night guard.

Cynthia Wong, DMD, operates at 15614 S Harlem #B, Orland Park, Illinois, 60462. To contact her office, call 708-444-8341 or visit Dr. Cynthia Wong and send a message.

 

What is TMD?

The tempromandibilar joint is a hinge that connects your jaw bone (mandible) to the temporal bones in your skull, in front of each ear.  A general term for any problem or issue with this joint is temporomandibular disorder, or TMD.  Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics can help patients prevent and recover from negative effects of TMD.

Patients that grind or clench their teeth often end up with a sore jaw.  Other patients experience injuries with facial trauma that cause jaw pain or result in the patient feeling their jaw gets stuck or ‘locked’ in either an open or closed position.  A custom night guard keeps the jaw in a neutral position during sleep, and this helps many patients find relief from TMD symptoms.  For any pain, your dentist may recommend an over-the-counter painkiller or warm and cold compresses.  To prevent further discomfort, you may be assigned stretches for your jaw. 

Whatever your symptoms, you don’t have to suffer discomfort in your jaw.  To learn more about TMD and the services we provide at the practice, visit www.drcynthiawong.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics in Orland Park, IL, call 708-444-8341.

Exercises for TMJ Pain

When suffering through TMD, it can seem like you do not want to move your jaw at all. However, there are actually exercises that can help. Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics in Orland Park, IL treats patients with TMJ pain or TMD. Take some of these jaw relaxation tips.

To improve the range of motion your jaw has, gently open and close your mouth. Do this a few times every morning and every night to see improvement over time.

To stretch your jaw, close your mouth and place your right hand on the right side of your jaw. Gently push your lower jaw into your hand. Do this a few times and then switch to the other side. Another great stretching option is to apply resistance. Place your thumb under your chin and gently press up while you open your mouth halfway; creating resistance. Do this exercise ten times.

To relieve jaw tension and relax facial muscles, smile a really big smile. Smile as wide as you can while opening your jaw about two inches. While you are smiling, take in a few deep breaths and then relax. Repeat this exercise a few times.

Relieving tension and stretching muscles can not only help with existent pain but it can also help prevent future pain flare-ups.  If you have frequent jaw pain, schedule an appointment with Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics in Orland Park, IL. Our office can be reached at (708) 444-8341. Appointments can also be made through our website, www.drcynthiawong.com. 

Foods to Avoid for TMJ Pain

When dealing with TMJ, it is important to know about certain habits that can trigger pain or prolong already existing pain. Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics of Orland Park, IL wants to remind our patients suffering with TMJ of what foods to avoid. We will even let you know ways around them!

To begin, crunchy and hard foods can be very aggravating to the TMJs. Popcorn and chips should be avoided. Hard foods like raw carrots and other vegetables can also irritate the TMJs because of how much force the jaw needs to exert to bite them. However, veggies should not be avoided altogether. Since they are an important part of your diet, try cooking them so they become softer and easier to chew.

Chewy foods are another type of food that should be avoided when you have TMJ difficulty. The constant chewing motion and pressure needed to chew through these foods can cause irritation. Avoid chewing gum, sticky candies, and tougher meats and seafood. Make sure you are eating a tenderer cut of meat and if you still want to eat seafood, choose a more tender option like fish.

In addition to the types of foods you should be avoiding, also, be sure to avoid putting large pieces of food in your mouth. Overextending your mouth can cause TMJ irritation. To get around this, just cut your food into smaller pieces.

TMJ may change the way you eat, but most foods are still able to be enjoyed if they are prepared in a different form. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics in Orland Park, IL, call our office at (708) 444-8341 or visit our website, www.drcynthiawong.com.