November Is TMJ Awareness Month

Parker & Pennington Dentistry, TMD

As many of our patients prepare for Thanksgiving and the upcoming holiday season, November is also a time to recognize TMJ Awareness Month. This month is dedicated to raising awareness about the TMJ (temporomandibular joint) and TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder). The temporomandibular joint is the ball-and-socket joint that connects the lower jaw to the base of the skull. You can feel this joint by placing your fingers in front of your earlobes and opening your mouth. TMJ and TMD are often used interchangeably, even though TMD specifically refers to disorders of the temporomandibular joint.

Do You Grind When You’re Stressed?

Parker & Pennington Dentistry

Have you recently learned that you grind your teeth while sleeping or during times of stress? This harmful habit can cause your teeth to show signs of premature wear and can eventually lead to issues such as cracked teeth. We would hate for our patients with perfectly healthy teeth to experience discomfort and need costly treatments that could have been easily prevented. We offer a customized device that can help eliminate the wearing of teeth due to grinding. Read on to learn about this helpful device.