Dentists offer dental services for more than your teeth and gums. While they are very important, the health of your temporomandibular joints is also important for proper oral function. The temporomandibular joints, or TMJ for short, help you eat food and speak. If they become injured or sore, your oral function will suffer greatly. You can potentially develop a temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMD, over time. Allen Dental Center offers TMJ treatment in Allen, TX, for patients who experience jaw pain or difficulty moving their jaw.
What is the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)?
The temporomandibular joint connects the jawbone to the base of the skull. It is on both sides of the head, just in front of the ears. The joint is responsible for the smooth movement of the lower jaw. This is how you can bite into food, chew food, speak, and yawn.
What is a TMJ Disorder?
A TMJ disorder, also known as TMD, refers to a group of conditions that can affect the function of the TMJ and associated structures. When the TMJ cannot function properly, this leads to pain, discomfort, and restricted jaw movement.
It is very hard to know what exactly causes TMD. However, it is most likely caused by facial injuries, stress, teeth grinding, misaligned jaw, misaligned teeth, arthritis, or muscle tension. TMD can affect people differently, and the symptoms and damage it can create vary from patient to patient.
TMJ Symptoms
TMD can present a range of symptoms, including:
- Jaw pain or tenderness
- Clicking, popping, or grinding sounds when moving the jaw
- Difficulty opening or closing the mouth fully
- Locked jaw
- Facial pain or headaches
- Earache or ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Teeth sensitivity or toothaches
Please get in touch with our office if you notice any of these symptoms. We will work with you to find the best treatment options to address your symptoms.
TMJ Treatment in Allen, TX
TMJ treatment aims to alleviate symptoms and pain and return jaw functionality to normal. As a leading local dentist office, Allen Dental Center will also check to see if the underlying cause of your TMD is related to dental issues. Each patient will receive a personalized approach to their TMJ treatment in Allen, TX.
Custom Mouthguards
A custom mouthguard is frequently used to manage TMJ disorders. Your dentist can create one that will fit perfectly over your upper and lower teeth. The purpose of a TMJ mouthguard is to provide a barrier so your teeth can no longer make contact when you grind or clench your jaw while sleeping. This will help reduce strain on the TMJ and surrounding muscles and protect the teeth.
A TMJ mouthguard will help patients find relief from their jaw pain, improve jaw functionality, and prevent wear and damage to the teeth caused by grinding or clenching.
Dental Treatments
We may need to recommend dental services if there is an underlying cause contributing to your TMD or if it has led to damage to your teeth. Dental interventions such as orthodontic treatments can correct bite misalignment issues. We offer Invisalign, which can properly align the position of your teeth and jaw to help reduce your TMJ symptoms.
You may also require restorative dentistry work to fix any damage caused by the teeth grinding. Worn-down teeth, chipped teeth, or cracked teeth may require dental crowns or teeth bonding.
Botox
Patients who suffer from headaches and facial pain from TMJ disorders benefit from Botox treatment. Botox is typically used for patients who want to address facial wrinkles like crow’s feet or lipstick lines. However, Botox can also alleviate orofacial pain, or pain patients feel in the face, jaw, neck, head, and mouth due to TMD. TMD patients can experience tense jaw muscles, facial pain, migraines, and headaches.
Botox is a neurotoxin that blocks nerve signals in the muscles, temporarily relaxing them. When we inject Botox into key areas of the face, it temporarily freezes the muscle, relieving pain and tension. Before we provide Botox treatment for TMD patients, we will numb the treated areas so patients will not feel pain during treatment. Then, we will inject Botox into the muscles in the face that require care. This treatment is quick and completed in just one visit to our office.
Following Botox treatment, avoid touching your face for about 24 hours. Remain upright and do not put pressure on your face, as Botox can spread to other muscles or parts of your face. You can gently exercise your facial muscles to help ensure that Botox penetrates your treated muscles. After several days to a week, you will notice a change in your facial muscles.
Botox results typically last 3 to 6 months. You can also visit our office for retreatment. We will recommend Botox in addition to treatments like physical therapy or nightguards for TMD patients.
Other Treatments
There are many other things you can do to help with TMD. Incorporating ways to reduce stress in your life can help. Practicing yoga, exercising, and seeking counseling are examples. If you are suffering from TMD, you should avoid chewing hard foods and candy to reduce the strain on the joints.
Over-the-counter pain relievers, muscle relaxants, and anti-inflammatory drugs may help manage pain and reduce inflammation. If you suffer from a severe TMJ disorder, you may require physical therapy or even surgery. We will evaluate your symptoms and any damage to your TMJ or muscles and may refer you to surgeons if you have complex TMJ needs.
Your treatment options for TMD will depend on the severity of your case and can range from self-care and lifestyle changes to dental treatments. If you think you have a TMJ disorder, please get in touch with Allen Dental Center. We offer TMJ treatment in Allen, TX, for patients who need relief from symptoms like headaches, jaw pain, and teeth grinding.
Please call our dental office for TMJ treatment today at 972.640.7564 to book an appointment. You can also request a TMJ appointment online by filling out our form.