Here at Ponderosa Dental Group, we are dedicated to providing you and your loved ones with healthy and happy smiles but also treatments that improve your quality of life. That is why our staff is highly trained in all problems in the mouth, and our office is equipped to resolve conditions that contribute to long-term dental discomfort like temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJ/TMD).
Tension headaches, chronic migraines, and even lockjaw are symptoms of TMJ which can negatively and often drastically impact the quality of your life. But that doesn’t need to be the case when relief is just a call or click away!
Improve your oral health and get rid of your dental discomfort by contacting our office today and scheduling your TMJ consultation today.
What Is TMJ/TMD?
TMJ stands for the temporomandibular joint. Your TMJ connects your lower and upper jaws and is responsible for your ability to open and close your mouth. As you can imagine, this is an incredibly important part of our bodies as it helps us with vital, daily tasks like chewing, speaking, and even smiling.
Because these joints help us so much day in and day out, they are under a lot of stress. This can make them prone to wear and tear, injuries, and arthritis. If these conditions hinder their functions, we call this temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).
Signs You May Have TMD
All joints in our bodies play a crucial role while needing to be a special blend of tough yet flexible. This can cause them to ache occasionally, especially as we age (colloquially called “flare-ups”). The joints along our jaw are no different.
However, TMJ disorders are different as the condition is chronic; the symptoms will not go away on their own due to a number of contributing factors. Here are some of the most common signs that you should have your jaw examined for TMD:
- Headaches: Headaches are a common sign of TMD. The pain usually radiates up from your TMJ and shows up like a tension headache. In some cases, you may experience migraines as well.
- Teeth Grinding: You may grind your teeth in your sleep or throughout the day. Teeth grinding is often caused by tension in your body. As you grind your teeth, it aggravates your TMJ.
- Clicking: You may hear/feel a clicking when you open and close your mouth, coming from your jaw joints.
- Sore/Fatigued Jaw: It is common to experience soreness due to the teeth grinding often associated with TMD. This soreness and constant tension can also leave your jaw fatigued. You notice it most when you are chewing and your jaw gets tired.
- Sore Throat: The tension in your jaw can radiate to your throat and leave you sore or with trouble swallowing.
- Ear Ringing: A very common sign is ringing in your ears and/or ear aches.
Treatment Options for TMJ/TMD
With so many symptoms negatively impacting your quality of life due to TMJ dysfunction, just what is the solution? Well, you may be amazed at how straightforward and simplistic it is: an orthodontic appliance!
Incredible, isn’t it? Using our digital X-rays and precision imaging technology, we can create a comfortable, customized mouthguard for you to wear at night that positions your jaw to ease tension from your jaw and relieve TMD symptoms.
It’s just that easy!
Interested in Immediate Relief?
If you suffer from chronic migraines, muscle tension, or pain related to bruxism or TMJ/TMD and are looking for immediate relief, we understand. Our office is licensed to provide Botox treatments that relax muscles, alleviating the worst symptoms as quickly as possible. Learn more by clicking here.
The Many Benefits of Treating TMD
- Relieve Jaw Aches, Headaches, and Earaches
- Bite Down Without Soreness/Fatigue
- Eat Meals Without Discomfort
- Sleep Better
- Improve Your Mood
- Improve Your Quality of Life
How Do I Start Getting Relief?
Call for your appointment. We will examine you and determine which treatment is best for you. We will take impressions of your teeth and send those out to create your night guard or oral appliance.
Regain Your Smile and Lose the Aches!
At Ponderosa Dental Group, we understand the impact untreated TMJ disorders can have. We want to use our years of experience to improve your symptoms and alleviate your discomfort. Don’t wait. Call today!