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TMJ/TMD Treatment
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You might hear terms at a dentist’s office like “TMD” and “TMJ.” The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is the joint that attaches your lower jaw to your upper jaw. It is a complex area of specialized tissues close to each ear.
An accident, stress can damage the TMJ or other factors we’ve seen at our dental practice. When a significant issue develops, it is called TMD, or temporomandibular disorder.
What Causes TMD?
The TMJ is very complex, and the causes of TMD are sometimes challenging to find. But we can often see in the dentist’s office that the TMJ has been damaged somehow, and the muscles and other tissues around need relief. The original cause of the TMD might include:
- An accident or other source of trauma.
- A degenerative joint disease, like arthritis.
- Stress, anxiety, or depression.
- Teeth grinding, either while awake or asleep.
As humans, we can hardly function without our smiles, teeth, and jaw joints, which are needed in social interactions, eating, and much more. Pain coming from the jaw joints is very important to manage in order to increase your quality of life and productivity—in partnership with your TMJ dentist.
Signs and Symptoms of TMJ and TMD
TMD and TMJ issues may present with one or more of the following symptoms:
- TMJ pain.
- TMJ headaches.
- Tenderness or pain around the joint.
- Clicking of the TMJ joint when opening and closing your mouth.
- Cannot open your mouth as wide as you could before.
- Lockjaw—when your joint is locked in place, you can’t open or close your mouth.
- Pain that radiates from your joint.
- Chronic migraines or headaches.
- Muscles around your jaw joints are sore and tight.
- Changes in bite: your bite or the way your upper and lower teeth fit together can change.
- Constant pain around the neck or head.
TMD and TMJ pain can occur in one or both joints
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Treatments For TMD/TMJ Disorders
Treatment recommendations for TMD can include one or more of the following:
- Physical Therapy. This can include jaw exercises to loosen your TMJ, hot/cold therapy, or laser therapy to decrease pain.
- Diet and Habit Change. Changes in your diet, avoiding chewing gum, and reducing stress can also help.
- Botox. Injecting Botox in the muscles around the TMJ can help relieve pain and stiffness in the jaw.
- Custom Splints and Bite Guards. We can design a custom splint to relieve the pressure off your joints, which can help muscles and join to heal
- Oral Surgery. In extreme cases, oral surgery can repair the damage and can help reduce TMJ symptoms.
We evaluate your symptoms and consider your general health before recommending any treatment. Sometimes pain can be relieved by using anti-inflammatory medication or muscle relaxants combined with a dental splint.
Call Issaquah Dentist Dr. Vanama for Compassionate TMJ Care
Do you suffer from aches and pains in your face, head, jaw, neck, or shoulders?
In some cases, your TMJ pain may be relieved—and jaw joints healed—through a small dental appliance. Call Discovery Dental, our dentist office in Issaquah, now for an affordable TMJ consultation, along with a full oral health checkup, dental cleanings, and other services.
