Teeth Damage - The Costly Consequence of Leaving TMJ Untreated

The teeth damage that can occur thanks to Temporomandibular Joint Disorder can be severe when the condition is left untreated for a long period of time. For this reason, getting early treatment can be the best option for your condition. Here’s what you might be facing in terms of potential damage.

Jaw Changes & Teeth Movement

While you might think of your jaw joint as merely controlling the opening and closing of your mouth, when that joint becomes un-aligned, it can have serious consequences for your teeth. The change can cause your teeth to literally move in your mouth. They can end up getting pushed together too tightly which cause overlapping. The movement can also cause some of your teeth to loosen. Not only does this movement increase the level of pain you’re likely to feel from the TMJ disorder but it can be expensive to repair.

Teeth Abrasion

Another consequence of leaving the condition untreated is that some of the teeth may end up in positions to be worn down at a faster rate than others. This can be a serious problem because worn down teeth are not going to work as effectively and can cause greater pain. The cost for correcting this type of problem can be as much as $3,000 per tooth. And this teeth damage is not going to improve by itself even if you do take care of the joint misalignment.

Other Teeth Damage Possible

Unfortunately, depending on the type of jaw joint problem you are facing, there could be a wide range of teeth problems you could experience. The teeth grinding that may have contributed to the problem can cause further wear and tear on your teeth, for example. You can also have unexplained bone loss in your gums, problems biting or chewing because the top and bottom teeth do not line up properly, and gaping spaces between your teeth caused by movement. All of these problems must be fixed by a TMJ dentist and the longer the condition goes on the worse the damage is going to be.

Correcting the Problem

The good news is that treatments are available for this joint problem, but the first step is getting an accurate diagnosis for the cause of your teeth damage. If you suspect, you may have TMJ problems, you should contact a dentist or doctor who specializes in working with these cases. He or she will know the best way to proceed with your treatment once the diagnosis has been confirmed.

There are a number of approaches that can be tried but most dentists will want to fix the jaw issues before touching any teeth damage. Just realize that the treatment for both aspects of the condition is going to be costly. Your health insurance may pay for the TMJ treatments if it affects your health in other ways, such as headaches or back pain. But dental repair costs are likely to be owed out-of-pocket unless you are one of the few who have dental insurance.