Your teeth are not the only thing that can cause pain or discomfort in your face. Your teeth, mouth, and jaw create a complicated system that must work together in order to maintain health. If one part causes an issue, you may experience problems in other areas. Your jaw plays just as big of a factor in your oral health as your teeth. It is common for patients to experience dysfunction or damage to the jaw joint, causing temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. At Conde Family Dental, we can provide treatment options to help you find pain relief from TMJ disorders.
Understanding TMJ Disorders
The TMJ acts like a sliding hinge that connects the jawbone to your skull. This joint is vital for opening and closing your mouth. Whether it is due to trauma, stress, or something else, the movement of the joint can become impeded. TMJ disorders often create mild discomfort to severe pain. Other common signs of TMJ disorders include jaw pain or tenderness, especially near the ears. You may also experience clicking, popping, or grating sounds when you open or close your mouth. Some patients may even have difficulty or pain when chewing or speaking. Chronic headaches and earaches are also common.
Conde Family Dental Approach to TMJ Treatment
At Conde Family Dental, we take a comprehensive approach to treating TMJ. Our focus is to address the underlying causes of your discomfort rather than just treating the symptoms. We can relieve your pain and improve the overall function of your jaw. As a result, you should notice a significant boost to your quality of life.
Customized Plans: Much like your smile, no two TMJ cases are alike. This is why we tailor your treatment plan to your specific symptoms and needs. During your initial consultation, we will fully examine your jaw joint, muscles, and bite alignment. Dr. Conde may also include digital imaging to assess the condition of your TMJ. We can get a better view of your condition. Based on our findings, we will create a plan that might include non-invasive therapies and advanced treatments.
Non-Invasive Therapies: We can treat many TMJ disorders with conservative, non-invasive therapies. With these approaches, we focus on relieving muscle tension, reducing inflammation, and improving jaw function. For example, we can introduce lifestyle modifications to improve your jaw pain. This can include avoiding hard or chewy foods or practicing jaw exercises and stretches to improve muscle function and flexibility. Stress-reduction techniques can also contribute to alleviating TMJ symptoms.
Advanced Treatment Options: In cases where more advanced treatment is necessary, we offer a range of options to address TMJ disorders. This may include dental restorations to correct bite misalignments or orthodontic treatment to improve jaw alignment. Dr. Conde may also suggest medications to manage inflammation and pain.
Understanding your TMJ disorder is a vital part of your journey. We’ll take the time to educate you on the factors that may lead to your symptoms. Our team will guide you on self-care techniques to manage and prevent flare-ups.