TMJ Treatment
The connects your jawbone to your skull on both sides. TMD (TMJ disorders) occurs when there is pain associated with the movement of your jaw, thus requiring treatment from our Ann Arbor, MI, dentists to manage discomfort.
Acting as sliding hinges, both of your temporomandibular joints allow for your jaw to move up and down as well as side to side when you are talking or eating. As you age, pain and dysfunction of the TMJ and or the surrounding muscles can happen resulting in a possible TMD diagnosis.
If you’ve noticed any pain of this nature, we can help by recommending TMJ treatment for you.
Causes of TMD
The exact cause of a person’s TMD can be difficult to determine. Fortunately, with certain remedies performed at home, most cases resolve themselves.
Before moving forward with a more invasive or irreversible procedure, it is important to exhaust all forms of self-treatment. Should you need more intensive intervention, our dentists are able to suggest a treatment plan that’s right for you.
TMJ disorders can be caused by:
- Genetics or family history of TMD
- Increased physical or psychological stress
- Fibromyalgia
- Inflammation of the temporomandibular joint
- Gender; women are more prone to TMD
- Age; common among people between the ages of 20 and 40
Signs and Symptoms of TMD
Generally, disorders of this type are categorized by aching pain felt in the jaw area or facial muscles. If severe enough, TMD can last for years and affect one or both sides of your face.
Common symptoms associated with TMD are:
- Pain or tenderness in your jaw
- Aching pain in or around your ear
- Difficulty chewing or pain while chewing
- Clicking sounds heard coming from jaw
- Muscle pain felt in the cheeks or temples
- Locking of the joint thus making it hard to open or close your mouth
If you have felt one or more of the above symptoms, please consult our dentists. We can sit down with you and assess your condition more closely.
Treatment Options
Home remedies often include over-the-counter pain medications, the use of a heating pad, the consumption of soft foods, and more. If home solutions are not working, our dentists may recommend orthodontics or dental restorations like bridgework.
TMJ treatment differs for every individual which is why it’s so important for our dentists to fully evaluate your condition before choosing a treatment method.
Call Today
No one should have to put off treatment for TMD and suffer the pain associated with it. Our TMJ treatment dentists in Ann Arbor, MI, are here to alleviate your discomfort and get you back to feeling like yourself again. Schedule an appointment with Excel Dental online or call us today at (734) 929-9999.