TMJ/TMD Dentistry
Gentle, corrective TMJ treatment
TMJ (temporomandibular joint) and TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder) problems are painful and wide-ranging: headaches, jaw stiffness, worn broken down teeth – the list goes on and on. We want to help you get back to living comfortably and symptom-free.
We work with patients to better understand and fully explain exactly what is causing their discomfort.
Common TMD causes include arthritis, stress, and jaw misalignment. We’ll also look for signs of bruxism — or clenching and/or grinding of the teeth — another contributing factor to TMD. Patients frequently do this without even knowing it, oftentimes in their sleep, and stress is usually to blame. This hidden habit doesn’t go unnoticed. Besides TMJ discomfort, we will look for symptoms of bruxism such as worn, broken, and cracked teeth.
From facial pain and headaches to toothaches and earaches, TMD is often be to blame.
There are a number of effective, corrective treatments we can assess and employ based on a patient’s individual case. “Bite splints” are commonly used and can hold your jaw in a therapeutic position. Depending on the nature of your misalignment and the type of discomfort you’re experiencing, the splint may protect your teeth against potential grinding, relieve tension from a clenched jaw, and/or hold your mouth in a way that repositions your bite appropriately.
If you or a loved one is experiencing any of these or other painful symptoms, ask us about setting up an appointment to evaluate the extent of your TMJ condition so we can start corrective treatment.
TMJ doesn’t just affect your jaw
It can also cause pain in the neck, face or shoulders. If you’ve been experiencing “mystery pain” like this, it’s time to find out if TMJ is the source. Contact us today to book an appointment for evaluation.