TMJ

Relief from TMJ disorder pain could be a phone call away!

If you’re experiencing frequent headaches, back and neck pain, dull aching facial pain, or popping in your jaw you are not alone. Approximately 35 million people in the United States suffer from TMJ problems. Many believe stress or a busy lifestyle is to blame but do not realize that these symptoms are often related to their jaw muscles and their jaw joint (known as the temporomandibular joint or TMJ).

Your bite can be a factor in many types of pain or functional problems, but you don’t have to live with the discomfort! We offer a number of treatment options to help correct TMJ issues. 

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Are You Having Trouble With Your Jaw?

TMJ disorders develop for many reasons. You might clench or grind your teeth, tightening your jaw muscles and stressing your TM joint. You may have a damaged jaw joint due to injury or disease. Injuries and arthritis can damage the joint directly or stretch or tear the muscle ligaments. As a result, the disk, which is made of cartilage and functions as the cushion of the jaw joint, can slip out of position. Whatever the cause, the results may include a misaligned bite, pain, clicking or grating noise when you open your mouth or trouble opening your mouth wide.

Do you suffer from any of the following?

Hover over the spots

Jaw Problems 
1. Clicking, popping jaws joints
2. Grating sounds 
3. Pain in cheek muscles
4. Uncontrollable jaw and/ or tongue movements.  

Ear Problems 
1. Hissing, buzzing or ringing
2. Decreased hearing 
3. Ear pain, ear ache, no infection
4. Clogged, "itchy" ears
5. Vertigo, dizziness 

Eyes
1. Pain behind eyes 
2. Bloodshot eyes 
3. May bulge out 
4. Sensitive to sunlight 

Mouth
1. Discomfort 
2. Limited opening of mouth
3. Inability to open smoothly 
4. Jaw deviates to one side when opening 
5. Locks shut or open 
6. Can't find bite 

Teeth 
1. Clenching, grinding at night
2. Looseness and soreness of back teeth

Throat 
1. Swallowing difficulties 
2. Laryngitis 
3. Sore throat with no infection
4. Voice irregularities or changes 
5. Frequent coughing or constant clearing of throat 
6. Feeling of foreign objects in throat constantly 

Neck Problems 
1. Lack of mobility, stiffness 
2. Neck pain 
3. Tired, sore muscles 
4. Shoulders aches and backaches 
5. Arm and finger numbness or pain

Head pain, headache 
1. Forehead 
2. Temples
3. "Migraine" type 
4. Sinus type 
5. Shooting pain up back of head 
6. Hair and/or scalp painful touch 

Treatment for TMJ Disorders

Because TMJ can be caused by tooth & jaw alignment problems, your dentist is often uniquely qualified to help! 

We encourage you to schedule a consultation with our office to receive an evaluation and explore your treatment options.
Some of the ways we can help correct TMJ issues include:

  • Bite guards
  • Orthodontics
  • Custom dental appliances

Self-care treatments can often be effective in addition to doctor-guided care, and include:

  • Resting your jaw
  • Keeping your teeth apart when you are not swallowing or eating
  • Eating soft foods
  • Applying ice and heat
  • Exercising your jaw
  • Practicing good posture.
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