TMJ Treatment

At Duggan Dental, we are not only interested in preserving the health of your teeth, but the functions of your face, mouth and jaw are important to us as well. Your temporomandibular (TMJ) join is important for everyday activities like talking chewing and yawning, so if you are experiencing pain or discomfort, we want to help. If you are experiencing pain in your TMJ joint, contact Duggan Dental today to learn more. Contact Us…

 

What Causes TMJ Pain?

Dentists generally believe that the symptoms of TMJ disorder arise from problems within the muscles and joints of the face. Some of the main causes include:

• An injury to your jaw or joint
• Injury to the muscles of the head or neck
• Grinding or clenching your teeth
• Movement of the disc between the ball and socket of the TMJ joint
• Arthritis in the join
• Stress – which causes tightening and clenching of the jaw muscles

If you experience any of the above problems, your dentist will work with you to come up with the best possible solution. This might include a mouth or bite guard or a recommendation to reduce stress.

 

Symptoms of TMJ Disorder

Generally, TMJ disorder manifests in the form of pain and discomfort. This pain and discomfort may be only temporary, or it can last months or years. Either way, we want to help you identify and manage your TMJ disorder symptoms. The following are common symptoms:

• Pain or tenderness in the face, jaw joint area, neck, shoulders, or around the ear when eating, or speaking
• Pain when opening and closing the mouth
• Lock-jaw
• Clicking or popping in the jaw joint (with or without pain)
• A “tired” feeling in the face
• Uneven bite
• Swelling in the face
• Headaches and earaches
  
  

Most Common Treatments for TMJ

There are many things your dentist can do to help relieve you of your TMJ symptoms. The following are some of the most common treatments:

• Medication – your dentist may prescribe certain medications and muscle relaxants that help reduce the pain and swelling of your jaw
• Mouth guard or night guard – in many cases, grinding and clenching can cause or exacerbate the symptoms of TMJ. Your dentist may fit you with a night guard or mouth guard to prevent grinding and clenching and ultimately reduce your pain and discomfort.
• Dental Work – in some cases, TMJ can be caused by a bite problem, in which case dental work will be utilized to fix or help the issue.
  
  

If you experience pain and discomfort associated with TMJ disorder, Duggan Dental is here to help! Contact us today to be evaluated by a member of our team. Schedule your consultation….