Temporomandibular joint disorder, commonly referred to as just TMJ, occurs when the joints of your jaw become uncomfortable and tight. It can cause a variety of symptoms and lead to other conditions that will deteriorate your dental health over time. You may want to get in touch with a dental specialist who can offer different treatment plants to reduce TMJ pain as quickly as possible. So how can a dentist help with TMJ disorders.
How a Dentist Can Help with TMJ Disorders
Below, your trusted dentist in Mission Viejo will talk to you about how a dentist can help with TMJ disorders by offering effective diagnosis and treatment procedures. Keep reading to find out how you can get help for mild or serious TMJ symptoms right away.
About TMJ
TMJ disorders (sometimes called TMD) refer to the temporomandibular joint, which is just in front of your ears. This is the joint that connects your upper and lower jaws, including the ligaments, bones, and muscles in your face. Arthritis, injury, constant grinding, and other unknown causes can create inflammation in this joint, leading to TMJ. Discomfort that comes from a TMJ disorder can be mild or severe, but it will definitely worsen over time without proper dental care.
What Causes TMJ?
TMJ can be caused by many different things, and it usually does not have one singular common source. Some people experience TMJ after a severe injury to the head or a dislocation of the jaw. For others, the development of TMJ may be more subtle, as it is something that can come along with arthritis or as a result of misaligned teeth.
Regardless of how your TMJ was caused, it’s important to find a treatment plan to help you out right away. Diagnosing TMJ is the next step to finding an effective solution.
What Are the Symptoms of TMJ?
Everyone may experience TMJ a bit differently, but there are a few universal symptoms that make your condition undeniably a form of TMJ. Some of the most well-known symptoms of TMJ disorder include:
- Pain when trying to open your mouth all the way
- Your jaw joints click, pop, or lock up when you open or close your mouth
- The muscles surrounding your jaw feel very tender
- You have frequent tension headaches or earaches based on the tightness in your jaw
- Your jaw is tight as a result of grinding your teeth
The severity of your symptoms can determine the best type of treatment for long-term TMJ care. There are several ways to maintain healthy and strong jaws, whether through physical therapy or increased dental health appointments.
How Your Dentist Can Help
A lot of people wonder why it’s better to visit a dentist for TMJ rather than a doctor. Some dentists are also TMJ specialists who can prescribe the best type of treatment for this specific condition. For example, if your TMJ is developing as a result of constant grinding, a night guard may be prescribed. This is a rubber device you wear on your teeth at night that can prevent the harsh pressure of grinding while you sleep.
Further diagnosis can reveal other effective methods of treatment. If your teeth are greatly misaligned and it is causing you pain and headaches, an orthodontic treatment like braces might be the best choice for you. Our goal at Dentist Mission Viejo is to relieve symptoms and increase your oral health and wellness in every possible way.
Get the Best TMJ Care Today
Get your hands on the best TMJ treatment in Mission Viejo when you get in touch with our certified team of experts today. We want to help relieve symptoms of pain, tightness, popping, and other uncomfortable feelings. TMJ is something that can worsen over time, causing you grief and a slew of oral health problems. You can avoid all of that by taking proactive measures with our pros ASAP.