Overcome Headaches, Jaw Soreness, and Other Discomforts with TMJ Pain Treatment
Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) is a painful oral condition that affects the jaw joints, causing numerous unpleasant symptoms. TMJ disorder can cause pain when speaking, chewing, yawning, etc. Don’t let TMJ pain diminish your quality of life. Instead, schedule an appointment with Pearls of Dentistry for effective TMJ disorder treatment in Poway, California.
Drs. Lynne Thomas and Juergen Langenbach have an extensive understanding of how the jaw joint system functions, providing exceptional TMJ pain evaluation and treatment services. Visit our team today as the first step towards a painless lifestyle.
What is TMJ pain?
Everyone has two joints (TMJs) located on either side of the face. TMJs are hinge-like joints, similar to other joints in the body, that connect the lower jaw to the skull and allow the mouth to move in almost every direction when smiling, talking, chewing, yawning, etc. Healthy TMJs support your oral function seamlessly, and you rarely notice their presence.
Unfortunately, when your TMJs are inflamed, injured, or strained, you’ll likely experience several undesirable symptoms.
Some include:
- Jaw locking open or closed
- Tension headaches
- Jaw soreness or pain
- Ringing in the ears
- Clicking or popping sounds when closing or opening your jaws
- Neck, shoulder, or upper back pain
- Difficulty opening the mouth
- Painful chewing or swallowing
TMJ pain is often caused by stress, airway impingement, trauma, genetics, hormonal imbalances, and arthritis. Patients with mild TMJ pain symptoms don’t always need treatment. However, if your pain affects your day-to-day activities, including speaking, sleeping, and eating, you should see a TMJ doctor immediately. Our office uses minimally invasive but effective treatments to treat TMJ pain.
How is TMJ pain diagnosed?
TMJ pain manifests with numerous symptoms, making diagnoses challenging. Often, this leads to many patients not getting proper treatment for long-lasting relief. TMJ discomfort or pain can be diagnosed with proper imaging of the alveolar bone and soft tissues, a thorough history and evaluation of the dentition. Our office has the tools and expertise to diagnose the source of your TMJ pain.
The dentist starts your diagnosis with a comprehensive exam of your teeth, bite, and jaws. We’ll ask you to open and close your mouth to examine your occlusion. We’ll also apply pressure to specific areas on the jaw to explore the function of your jaw system.
We use digital X-rays and scans of your smile to see the resting position of your jaw structures. We may also use the revolutionary Tekscan or T-Scan to identify interferences in your bite. For this test, you’ll bite on a micro-thin digital sensor, which detects your biting force and time to establish the stability of your bite.
Once we have all the information from our diagnostics, we’ll determine the cause of your TMJ pain and discuss what treatment options fit best into your lifestyle.
How is TMJ pain treated?
Treating TMJ pain can involve surgery. Your dentist may recommend a custom-fitted oral device to help your jaw joints relax and heal over time. An orthotic is effective if your jaw pain is caused by chronic teeth grinding (bruxism). It prevents tooth-to-tooth contact, reducing tension, creating balance at the jaw joint level and tooth level. Some appliances also realign the jaws to rest in an optimal position.
There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for TMJ pain. Depending on the cause, the doctor may recommend Botox to reduce muscle hyperactivity, orthodontics to improve alignment, jaw rehabilitation, and medication to complement oral appliance therapy. We’ll personalize your treatment plan to suit your unique needs.
Ready for effective TMJ relief solutions in Poway, California?
No one deserves to live in pain. If you have TMJ pain, it can significantly impact your daily life, making it difficult to eat, speak, and even sleep. Good news! You can get TMJ pain relief at Pearls of Dentistry. Call (858) 451-3110 to book your appointment now!
