TMJ Treatment

Do you experience pain in the joints of the mouth when you move the jaws? This could be due to highly stressed and strained Temporomandibular joints (TMJ) on either side of the head. It is essential that you get the condition treated at the earliest so that you can move the jaw without a hassle. If not, it can lead to many severe symptoms that affect the basic oral movement.

What is TMJ?

The TMJ are joints that are present on either side of the face, right under the ears. They connect the lower jaw to the skull and are responsible for every single jaw movement, such as biting and chewing food, talking, yawning, etc. Sometimes, the jaw movement may seem very painful, but you wouldn’t know its cause. This could be due to TMJ disorder, and getting diagnosed by a professional dentist will be the best way to get relief from it.

Symptoms of TMJ disorder

• Popping or clicking sound near the TMJ when you move the jaw
• Limited movement of the jaws
• Early morning headaches
• Low tolerance levels
• Pain in the TMJ when you talk, bite, chew, etc.
• Swelling near the TMJ

What causes TMJ disorder and how can it be treated?

TMD is caused when the tissues and muscles around the TMJ are stressed too much. This happens when you clench the jaw excessively, snack on food or chew gum frequently, take a hard blow to the TMJ due to external trauma, or simply due to persistent jaw movement. The best way to treat TMD is by relieving the muscles of the stress and avoiding habits that could strain the muscles around them.

When you visit the dentist, a thorough diagnosis will be conducted to understand the cause behind the condition. Based on the observations made, suitable treatment will be suggested. Some of the prominent ones that are known to provide relief are massage therapy, physiotherapy, botox treatment, medication, etc. Along with the procedure suggested by the dentist, patients can massage the muscles near the TMJ to relieve them of the stress. Also, avoid chewing gum, frequent snacking, clenching the jaws, grinding your teeth, etc. as they reduce the severity of TMD. If these methods do not prove effective, the dentist may recommend surgery as the last resort treatment option.

To have a consultation with our dentists, please schedule an online appointment or call us at (773) 880-5080, and we will be happy to help.