How Temporomandibular Joint Disorder Can Cause Tooth Shifting

If you are beginning to notice that your teeth are shifting out of alignment or your jaws aren’t fitting together the way they used to, this could point to a problem with your temporomandibular joint. Any condition affecting the temporomandibular joint is known as temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMD.

The temporomandibular joint, which is often shortened to TMJ, is the hinge that connects your lower jaw to the rest of your skull. If this joint becomes damaged or inflamed, it can result in headaches, jaw aches, or a clicking or popping sound when opening and closing the mouth. TMD usually occurs on both sides of the jaw at the same time.

TMD & Shifting Teeth

When the ball and socket joints of your TMJ are no longer in alignment, the teeth and jaws may no longer line up correctly. As a result, the joint will become more inflamed, leading to more shifting. In order to keep this vicious cycle from repeating itself, a lower jaw splint may be used to correct the problem.

TMD is a painful disorder and can cause disruption to your daily life as well as the possible need for orthodontic treatment to fix the problem. If you’re noticing that your teeth are no longer fitting together properly, please contact Lockett Orthodontics. Our office is located here in beautiful Colorado Springs, Colorado.