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TMJ/TMD Treatment
If you experience pain in the joints of your jaw, it could be a problem with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). This joint connects your jaw to your skull and acts like a sliding hinge. Disorders affecting this joint – temporomandibular disorders (TMD) – can cause pain in the joints and muscles in the area. At All Smiles Dental Care, you can find treatment for these disorders and get relief in Hazlet, NJ.
Symptoms of TMD
Signs that you are suffering from a TMJ disorder include:
- Pain or tenderness in the jaw
- Pain in one or both of the temporomandibular joints
- Aching pain in or around the ear
- Difficulty chewing or pain while chewing
- Locking of the joint, making it difficult to open or close your mouth
You may also notice a clicking sound or grating feeling when you move your mouth to talk or chew. If there is no accompanying pain, however, there likely isn’t a need for treatment. If you are experiencing persistent pain or tenderness or have other issues with your jaw, it’s recommended that you visit your dentist at All Smiles Dental Care as soon as possible to address the problem.
Treatment
TMJ disorders may be the result of damage to the cartilage in the area or a misalignment of the disk. For many patients, however, the cause is unclear. Your dentist in Hazlet, NJ will first diagnose your condition by discussing your symptoms with you and performing an examination of your jaw. He or she will physically examine the joint by listening to and feeling the jaw as you move it and by observing your range of motion. Additional tests may also be needed, such as dental x-rays, a CT scan, or MRI.
In some cases, symptoms related to TMD go away on their own. If they persist, a common treatment provided by your dentist at All Smiles Dental Care is the use of occlusal appliances. Usually, this is a mouth guard (a soft or firm device) that is worn in the mouth for a prescribed amount of time (most often a night guard worn during sleep). If this treatment does not work, your dentist in Hazlet, NJ will continue to work with you to help you find relief.
