TMJ Treatment

TMJ Treatment

What is TMJ?

TMJ is a disorder that affects the temporomandibular joint, a sliding connection linking your jawbone to your skull. If you find yourself suffering from constant jaw pain, frequent headaches, and/or jaw joint grinding and clicking when you chew, you may have a TMJ disorder. The good news is, your dentist has treatment options available to help get your pain and jaw instability under control.

What are the treatment options for TMJ?

Your TMJ Therapy may be as simple as using an oral appliance such as a custom-molded mouth guard or splint. Other treatment methods may involve changing the shape, location or size of particular teeth to improve the timing and impact of the bite.

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How can my frequent headaches be related to a TMJ disorder?

1 in 8 American adults complain of frequent or persistent headaches and millions are spent in over-the-counter pain relievers to get rid of them. What most people don’t realize is that 80% of headaches are caused by muscle tension and a majority of those may be caused by dental-related tension. TMJ disorders can manifest themselves as headaches. Indications that your headache may have a dental origin include:

  • Pain behind the eyes
  • Sore jaw muscles or “tired” muscles upon awakening
  • Teeth grinding, jaw clicking or popping jaw joints
  • Head and/or scalp painful to the touch

If TMJ is suspected, what happens next?

Our skilled dentists have all undergone advanced post-graduate training to effectively diagnose and treat patients through TMJ therapy. If TMJ is suspected, you’ll undergo a comprehensive evaluation that examines your mouth and jaw, including the joints, muscles and skeletal system. Aided by cutting-edge technology, your dentist will be able to precisely identify the source of instability and create a customized treatment plan for you that will relieve painful symptoms and correct problems and prevent future problems from occurring.