TMJ is a term that we’ll have patients use and it just stands for your Temporomandibular Joint, but what we find is people have TMJ symptoms when they have sore, painful joints or pain in their face. That often is caused from a variety of things. One big one is from grinding our teeth, so I have patients who have what we call bruxism, but it’s just tooth grinding. They may do it in their sleep, or during the day, or both, but what can cause the muscles in the joint to have some pain and inflammation. We treat that. There’s a variety of ways, but with a thorough assessment to determine what’s the cause. If we determine the cause is truly the grinding, a bite guard is made, special custom, small device, easy to wear, that you wear at nighttime, and can alleviate a lot of those symptoms.
If there’s someone that’s suffering from more complicated TMJ issues, sometimes there’s issues inside the joint itself. We also treat that here at Houston Uptown Dentist. There are different therapies for that and that can include laser therapy or split therapies depending on the need. Sometimes it’s a day and a nighttime split combination to help minimize the inflammation of the joint. It’s very debilitating to have jaw joint pain. It’s hard to chew and eat well. Some patients even have a hard time speaking or have pain in their ears. To alleviate that, it’s a life changing event for a patient. We can work with patients who are having these symptoms and find a good result.
Benefit From Your Dentist’s TMJ Expertise
TMJ, short for temporomandibular joint, is another term for your jaw joints. Because the symptoms of TMJ disorder (TMD) overlap with other afflictions, you should see a TMD-trained dentist like Dr. Juarez for a professional evaluation and diagnosis. A member of the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain, she completed a 160-hour continuing education continuum that included training specifically on TMD.
Dr. Juarez will thoroughly examine your mouth and jaw before recommending a solution for your case of TMD or teeth grinding. One option is a custom-made oral appliance. You will wear it at night while you sleep. It will:
- Stop your teeth from grinding
- Prevent grinding-related damage to your teeth
- Take stress off your TMJ so it can heal
- Allow you to get a good night’s rest and awaken without pain
We may also recommend placing dental crowns to adjust your bite.
Recognize the Symptoms of a TMJ Disorder
Teeth grinding can be a symptom or risk factor of TMD, but it can also be caused by stress, an improper bite, misaligned teeth, or sleep apnea. Here are some of the most common symptoms of TMD that your custom appliance can treat:
- Clicking or popping sounds while opening and closing your mouth
- A jaw that gets “stuck” when you open wide
- Frequent headaches and migraines
- Facial, neck, and/or shoulder pain
Call Houston Uptown Dentists today at 832-463-1021 for Houston TMJ treatment. Don’t put up with jaw pain and other symptoms any longer! You can also make an appointment online.