Family Dentistry

Do you notice yourself consistently having headaches or jaw joint pain? Have you broken one or more teeth or chipped the edges off of your front teeth or crowns? These could be signs that you might be grinding your teeth while  you sleep at night. Doing so can cause significant dental concerns and health problems.

Total mouth harmony means that the entire oral system(nerves, muscles, bones,and teeth)work together to provide comfortable oral function. When the jaw joints called TMJ for temporomandibular joints, are misaligned, nerves and muscles can become fatigued. They may react at night, which causes grinding teeth, a condition known as bruxism.

A night guard is a custom-fitted appliance that you wear over your teeth to protect them from night time grinding. During sleep we have no control over grinding or clenching, and unfortunately this can cause jaw pain, muscle soreness, cracked teeth, broken crowns and severe wear on your teeth. To create a custom-fitted night guard, impressions are taken of the teeth and from those models our lab makes a night guard to fit comfortably around your teeth. Having a “cushion” between your teeth at night is a great way to preserve your natural teeth, as well as any dental work you have undergone.

TMJ dysfunction also results in headaches, earaches, jaw/face/neck/shoulder pain, popping jaw joints, and/or tingling hands and feet. By correcting your bite with a simple oral appliance or building up worn teeth with white restorations, Dr. Neely may alleviate your TMJ dysfunction symptoms and prevent future tooth wear.  Dr. Neely and her team want to help you and your family obtain a restful night’s sleep, and not wake up with painful symptoms.

With a commitment to lifelong education, innovative technology, and extreme patient comfort, Dr. Neely transforms smiles and lives. Call to schedule your TMJ consultation today if you suffer from headaches or pain associated with bite misalignment. Our office serves patients from Oklahoma City, Edmond, and surrounding areas.