If you have temporomandibular joint disorder, the pain and stiffness it can create in your joints may make it seem like having your teeth straightened is impossible. You may be glad to know that there is a way to improve the appearance of your teeth without worsening your jaw condition. This guide will explain how invisible braces can straighten your teeth without impacting your jaw at all.

The Problem With Regular Braces

Regular braces a do a fantastic job of not only straightening teeth, but realigning your jaw to give you a more even bite. However, the movement of the jaw that normally fixes an under or overbite can also work against people with TMD. TMD sufferers tend to have high levels of stress and stiffness in the joint, and any kind of added pressure can make it worse. If you've had splint therapy or surgery to improve your TMD condition, it's even more important to not get traditional braces, as they can reverse the work that has been done.

The Difference With Invisible Braces

Invisible braces are often recommended for adults and teens because they focus more on aligning individual teeth, rather than the entire jaw. While this means that invisible braces may not be the best choice for people with severe under or overbites, it makes them a perfect choice for TMD sufferers with crooked or crowded teeth, because they don't move your jaw or put any pressure on it at all.

Invisible Braces Work With the Space You Have

Invisible braces work with the space your jawline naturally has. This means that if your teeth are crooked or crowded, the invisible braces will gently move them into a more normal alignment. Even if your jaw is relatively small, invisible braces can be used to more evenly distribute space between each tooth, giving your smile a more attractive appearance.

Using Your Splint

Invisible braces not only don't add pressure to they jaw; they can also be used to straighten your teeth while you continue to use a TMD stabilization splint. While orthodontists generally suggest that you wear your invisible braces for as long as possible, TMD sufferers can wear their splints at night to maintain or improve their jaw's alignment and wear invisible braces during the day. While this may slightly lengthen the time it takes to straighten your teeth, this versatility is impossible with normal braces, so it's a great extra perk.

Straightening your teeth when you have TMD is possible with the invention of invisible braces. If you're interested in improving the look of your smile without adding extra stress to your jaw, talk to an orthodontist about invisible braces.

For more information, contact Wright Center For Orthodontics or a similar location.