TMJ/TMD Treatment
Relieve Jaw Pain with TMJ Treatment
TMJ stands for “Temporomandibular Joint,” the joint that controls many jaw functions. If the TMJ is not properly aligned, or if you grind or clench your teeth, you can experience pain and Temporomandibular disorder (TMD). Dr. Raquel can provide safe and effective TMJ treatment to help relieve you from your symptoms of TMD.
What Causes TMJ Disorder or TMD?
TMD affects the area where the jawbone attaches to the skull. When there is a problem with your jaw, the nerves and muscles surrounding your jaw become irritated and provoke TMJ disorder. Several factors could cause TMD, including:
Jaw misalignment
Cartilage recession
Excessive clenching or grinding
These problems can exist independently of each other or more than one can occur at a time. TMJ can be temporary or chronic. For some patients, TMJ can be a debilitating condition without TMJ treatment.
What Are Symptoms of TMJ Disorder?
There is no escaping the discomfort of a TMJ issue. Symptoms can manifest in obvious and surprising ways:
Pain when opening or closing your jaw
Trouble opening and closing the mouth
Morning headaches or chronic tension and migraine headaches
Chronic earaches
Trouble chewing
Toothaches or sore teeth
Clicking or popping sound when opening your mouth
Dizziness
Aching jaws
Gum recession
Numbness in the arms or fingers
Face, neck, or shoulder soreness, discomfort, or pain
Cracked teeth or enamel erosion
Damaged dental work
You know when something isn’t right with your oral health, whether it’s a jaw problem or not. If you are experiencing any kind of pain in your mouth, seeing your dentist to determine the cause of the problem, whether TMJ or sleep bruxism, is essential to properly treat the issue and provide you with relief.
It’s also incredibly important to address TMJ disorder and other jaw issues so you don’t damage your teeth or cosmetic dentistry or restorative dentistry. Excessive pressure of teeth on teeth can create serious cracks or breaks in the teeth, which leaves you wide open to the development of decay deep in the tooth. And this can only lead to potential problems that require a root canal, porcelain crowns, or other restorative dentistry treatments.
What Is TMJ Treatment?
Before TMJ treatment can begin, the exact cause of the disorder must be pinpointed. Treatment will depend upon the source of the TMD, but quite often therapy can occur without surgery.
FDA-approved oral appliances, such as a customized NTI night guard, can often alleviate the symptoms of TMJ immediately. Not only does the NTI appliance serves as a mouth guard, it is also a bite guard that protects your teeth from grinding and stops any clenching behavior. The NTI device triggers a nerve reflex that relaxes the muscles responsible for the forceful teeth clenching and can train your muscles to relax.
Treating TMJ
Dr. Raquel can accurately diagnose your painful jaw problem. If you are indeed suffering from TMD, targeted TMJ treatment can help relieve the symptoms and protect your oral health.
If your TMJ problem has already caused other oral health complications, Dr. Raquel can tend to these concerns to make sure your teeth and gums are healthy at the same time you receive TMJ treatment. Dr. Raquel is highly experienced in treating TMJ and other bite disorders. By combining her knowledge and experience with the most advanced dental technology and equipment, she can help patients with TMJ achieve long-term pain relief and a better quality of life.
