TMJ Treatment

What is TMJ

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), more than 15 percent of American adults suffer from chronic facial pain, such as jaw pain, headaches, or earaches. The source of these aches and pains may be related to one or both of the temporomandibular (TM) joints. Temporomandibular joint and muscle disorders, commonly called “TMJ,” are a group of conditions that cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint and the muscles that control jaw movement. The condition appears to be more common in women than men. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) states that more than 10 million people in the United States suffer from TMJ problems at any given time. Don’t live with pain. Discover TMJ Treatment in  Southlake, TX with the doctors at DaVinci Dentistry.

Located on each side of the head, these joints work together with a complex system of muscles, ligaments, discs, and bones to make different movements for chewing and speaking. TMJ disorders (TMD) can cause pain in your jaw joint and in the muscles that control jaw movement.

Causes & Symptoms of TMJ

The exact cause of a person’s TMJ disorder (also referred to as TMD) is often challenging to determine. Your pain may be due to a combination of problems such as arthritis or jaw injury. Some people who have jaw pain also tend to clench or grind their teeth. Some people may have other health problems that co-exist with TMJ disorders, such as chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep disturbances, or fibromyalgia.

If you have a TMJ disorder (TMD) you may experience:

• radiating pain or tenderness of your jaw, neck, and in and around your ear;
• jaw muscle stiffness;
• limited movement or locking of the jaw;
• difficulty chewing or discomfort while chewing;
• painful clicking, popping, or grating in the jaw joint when opening or closing the mouth;
• or a combination of these symptoms.

TMJ Treatment

Many patients can benefit from a customized mouthguard to treat their TMJ disorder. The mouthguard is worn at night and keeps your jaw in a comfortable position. We might also recommend Invisalign to realign crooked or misaligned teeth. Our team can even help with TMJ pain and inflammation by administering a small amount of BOTOX into the masseter muscle to help them relax.

TMJ Disorders (TMD) can diminish the quality of your life and create unneeded stress and discomfort. You don’t have to live with this condition. Call our office to schedule a consultation for TMJ Treatment in Southlake, TX today.