A TMJ dentist Can Limit Your Discomfort

If you experience discomfort due to TMJ disorders, a TMJ dentist can limit your pain. Visit us for safe and effective treatment options that will alleviate some of the symptoms you are experiencing due to TMJ disorders.

What is TMJ?

TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint. TMJ is often said to describe joint and muscle disorders associated with this area. These disorders are painful conditions that aggravate the jaw joint and muscles around it, leading to less control of jaw movements or discomfort when you move your jaw. Most TMJ disorders are a result of an injury, but sometimes the symptoms occur with no known cause.

Fortunately, for most patients, TMJ disorders are not permanent and do not remain a serious issue. The discomfort experienced with TMJ disorders is typically temporary and only occurs on seldom occasions. If you have noticed that your symptoms have persisted for some time, a TMJ dentist may be able to limit your discomfort.

Most patients with TMJ disorders experience headaches, neck and shoulder discomfort, ear aches, sensitive teeth, and jaw grinding and locking. If this sounds like something that one is struggling with, continue reading to learn more about treatment options.

Can a TMJ dentist limit my discomfort?

Scientists are still looking for a common denominator among TMJ disorders patients that could indicate a cause. Until we learn more about TMJ disorders and its causes, we like to keep our treatments minimally invasive. Visit our Visalia office before one undergoes any suggested irreversible treatments for TMJ disorders. We can provide the patient with safer options that will help alleviate any discomfort.

Before we begin treatments, we will examine your teeth and jawbone and suggest self-care practices you should try. Eating softer foods can limit flare-ups of discomfort, and using an ice pack or heating elements can help with pain. Try to avoid using your jaw joint unnecessarily when you are feeling discomfort. Limit yawning when possible and do not chew gum. Try over-the-counter pain relievers and anti-inflammatory medications to see if they help before you seek out other treatments.

When these suggestions do not work, we can provide patients with a safe appliance that they can wear that may limit causes of aggravation during sleep like teeth grinding. Since the oral appliance that we use at our Visalia office is reversible, we believe it is a safe and effective option for patients to consider. We will create the appliance specifically for the patient’s dental structure, so it will work gently to limit discomfort.

We can also potentially provide you with prescription pain relievers, muscle relaxers, and anti-inflammatory medications to help with your symptoms if we determine they are necessary.

A TMJ dentist can limit your discomfort and help if you have not had success practicing at-home techniques and cannot get rid of your TMJ disorders symptoms. Visit our Visalia office to learn more about safe ways to treat this condition.