Category: tmj treatment

If you are suffering from jaw pain it is possible that you are affected by a TMJ disorder and will need to get it treated from a doctor or a dentist offering TMJ treatment near you. You may have difficulties understanding the pain you are experiencing but the precise reasons for this disorder are often difficult to determine. The pain you are suffering from could be due to many factors including arthritis or injury to the jaw, genetics, and bruxism.

The pain and discomfort associated with TMJ disorders are often temporary and can be managed by self-care and nonsurgical treatments. Surgery is considered a last resort after the failure of conservative methods that may be used. However, you must consider getting treatment for the disorder if you want relief from the discomfort you are experiencing.

What Is a TMJ Disorder?

The TMJ (temporomandibular joint) a similar to a link that connects your jawbone to the skull. One joint exists on both sides of the jaw. TMJ disorders cause pain in the jaw joint and the muscles that control the movement of the jaw. Some of the signs and symptoms of TMJ disorders are the following:

• Tenderness or pain in the jaw.
• Difficulty or pain when chewing.
• Aching facial pain.
• Locking of the TMJ joint making it difficult for you to open or close your mouth.

TMJ disorders also cause a clicking or grating sensations when opening your mouth for chewing. However, if you don’t feel any pain or are limited in your movements you probably don’t need to rush finding TMJ treatment near you.

When You Should Consider Treatment for TMJ Disorder?

If you are suffering from persistent pain or tenderness in the jaw you must be seeking treatment from Cambell & Williams Family Dental that can offer you TMJ treatment in Highland Village, TX. The dentist at this facility will be discussing your symptoms and examining your jaw to determine whether you are suffering from TMJ disorder. He or she will be listening to and feeling your jaw by asking you to open and close your mouth, press on spots around your jaw to identify sites causing pain and discomfort, and observing the range of motion of your jaw.

If the dentist suspects you are a victim of this disorder you will be recommended to have dental x-rays taken for examining your teeth and jaw, provide a CT scan to view detailed pictures of the bones in the joint, or even an MRI to determine problems with the disk of the joint and the surrounding tissues.

TMJ treatment in Highland Village may also decide to use TMJ arthroscopy to diagnose the disorder. A thin tube will be inserted by the dentist into the space of the joint along with an arthroscope to view the area and confirm a diagnosis.

TMJ disorders despite affecting many often go away by themselves without any treatment. However, if you have persistent symptoms you may be recommended different treatment options with more than one combined together for effective results.

Types of TMJ Treatments Presently Being Offered

Among the nonsurgical treatments that are offered for TMJ disorders that can help to relieve the pain and discomfort include:

Tricyclic antidepressants, pain relievers, and anti-inflammatories. If you are unable to find relief from over-the-counter pain medications you may receive prescriptions from the dentist for stronger pain relievers. You may also be offered muscle relaxants to be used for a few days or weeks to find relief from the discomfort caused by TMJ disorders.

Occlusal appliances may also be suggested by dentists who are the pioneers of these appliances that have proven beneficial for people suffering from bruxism and sleep apnea. These appliances can be worn over the teeth even though no information is available on how these appliances are proving beneficial.

Counseling is also offered as TMJ treatment from dentist near you in Highland Village, TX because it can help you to understand the behavior and factors that could be aggravating your pain. The intention of the counseling is to ensure you avoid the habits and get over the discomfort you are experiencing from TMJ disorders.

You can also benefit from lifestyle changes and home remedies by becoming aware of habits you are regularly indulging in when stressed. Stretching exercises and massages can prove beneficial along with applying heat or ice to the affected area. Treatment for TMJ disorders is available from dentists and medical professionals although in many cases you may find relief by making simple changes to your lifestyle.

People think that cavities and gum disease are the only dental issue that can irritate them but a patient may also suffer from TMJ disorder. When you feel pain or stress in your jaw joints, it is time to consult an expert dentist for relevant solution.

Watch For These Problems

To obtain relevant solution, identifying TMJ symptoms is essential. Some of the common symptoms of jaw disorder can be:

• One may feel excess pain in their jaw and joints.
• A patient may experience discomfort in the jaw area while eating or chewing.
• This may also include ear pain, facial pain, and headaches.

Get Rid Of Jaw Pain & Discomfort

Patients often wonder how jaw pain issues are to be eliminated. To identify the right solution, it is often important to find out the actual cause. Many dentists believe that jaw pain may occur because of stress. Even though no research claims this but when muscles tighten up to create excess stress and anxiety it may lead to pain in your jaw joints. This is because jaw joints are connected to muscles and when they tense up, the joints tense as well. TMJ cannot heal on their own and thus relevant treatment must be obtained without any delay.

There are several TMJ treatment options that actually help fight TMJ disorder symptoms. Treatments can be:

• Dentist may suggest bite splints because excess stress on jaw joints can be avoided by this while teeth come together when you bite.
• Occlusal guards can also be an effective way to cover teeth so that your jaw joints remain to be relaxed and healthy naturally.
• Snore guards are also suggested in TMJ treatment because it acts as guards that can help the patient to stop snoring at night.
• NTI-tss devices are specifically used to treat headaches and migraines caused due to strain in your jaw joints.

When you observe any of the early symptoms of TMJ, you must immediately visit a dentist to find out necessary treatments.

Patients always wonder what can be the reason behind jaw pain. Many a times they experience tightness, soreness, or popping and clicking in the jaw. However, they are seldom able to figure out the source of the pain.

Moving of the jaw is enabled by the jaw joint known as temporomandibular joint or TMJ. When there is something wrong with your TMJ, it is known as temporomandibular joint dysfunction or TMD.

Determining the cause of jaw pain is first step in fixing your problem. When the cause of issue is figured out, the treatment can be easily determined. For this, you need to have a thorough discussion with your dentist in Highland Village, TX and let him known the symptoms you are experiencing. This will help him in analyzing the underlying cause of your TMD and resulting jaw pain.

• Clenching or Grinding Teeth

Teeth grinding is common in people and it happens in sleep at night. People are not even aware of it as it happens in sleep. Usually a partner is able to find out about it. When teeth grinding happens regularly, it can put pressure on your TMJ and teeth. However, the solution to the teeth grinding issue is getting a customized night guard from the dentist along with focusing on stress and anxiety reduction.

• Malocclusion

When the teeth are misaligned, the jaw is forced to move in an unnatural way every time you chew or speak. Over the period of time, this can cause wear and tear of the jaw joint causing jaw pain. The most common and effective way of fixing a bad or misaligned bite is to go for orthodontic treatment.

• Trauma

The jaw joint can be damaged if you experience any type of trauma to the shoulders, neck, head, or face. Often the trauma will throw the jaw out of proper alignment and cause you to experience some pain when speaking and biting.

Any type of TMD can cause significant interruption in one’s daily lifestyle as the joint is used so frequently. So treatment of TMJ is a must.