4 Questions to Consider When Choosing a TMJ Dentist

TMJ is short for temporomandibular joint. These joints are located on both sides of the face and assist in various movements. When the muscles and ligaments around your jaw joints become inflamed or irritated, TMJ dysfunction occurs. There may be mild pain or severe pain associated with the condition, and the condition may be acute or chronic.

Patients with temporomandibular joint disorders can be treated by a general dentist.

A general dentist is already familiar with the way the jaw works, so he or she can provide several treatment options for TMJ pain. TMJ pain that cannot be treated by general dentistry may require referral to an orthodontist.

When patients visit Real Smile Dentistry they will have access to both general dentists and orthodontists available to address their condition depending on its severity. In order to treat TMJ pain, dentists typically use one of three frontline treatment options.

Custom dental appliances are often helpful for dental patients whose TMJ diagnosis stems from clenching or grinding their teeth. It is also known as a bite guard or a splint, and it prevents the patient’s upper teeth from coming into contact with their lower teeth.

Patients use hot packs and cold packs alternately to reduce or eliminate their pain during hot and cold therapy. It is possible to use TMJ therapy up to four times a day, which helps relax tense muscles, which are often the culprit behind TMJ problems.

The pain associated with TMJ can be reduced or even eliminated by utilizing relaxation techniques. In particular, the techniques target tense areas in the jaw muscles, which can reduce tension and reduce jaw pain.

It is often difficult to determine the actual cause of this disorder. Sometimes excessive strain is the main cause of symptoms related to chewing, swallowing, and speaking. It is possible that this strain is caused by bruxism. Essentially, this is the result when you grind or clench your teeth involuntarily and habitually. However, TMJ can be caused by trauma to the jaw, head, or neck. TMJ pain can also be caused by arthritis and disk displacement in the jaw joint. The pain of TMJ may also be aggravated or overlapped by fibromyalgia or irritable bowel syndrome.

When opening or closing the mouth, some people with TMD hear clicking, popping, or grating sounds from the TMJ. There is usually a shift in the disk inside the joint that causes this. Symptoms of TMD include clicking and pain and an inability to open or close the jaw, for example, when the jaw seems stuck. It is common to experience muscle pain in the cheeks (masseter muscles) and temples (temporalis muscles), where the two big muscles that close the jaw are located. After clenching and/or grinding your teeth at night, you may feel soreness and stiffness when you wake up in the morning. Joint pain can also frequently accompany TMJ.

Those looking for a TMJ dentist in Miami and North Miami, FL, can find one at Real Smile Dentistry. Those with severe TMJ cases may require more complex treatment, such as orthodontics, bridgework, or small injections or flushes of the joint, such as cortisone. In cases of TMJ, major surgery is rarely required. There are a wide range of conservative, reversible treatments available, and giving them time to work is crucial, since they almost always succeed. The first step for treating TMJ is an examination in our dental office. Regardless of the level of severity.

TMJ treatment is available at Real Smile Dentistry. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online. We have convenient locations in Miami Beach, FL, and North Miami, FL. We serve patients from Miami Beach FL, North Miami FL, Aventura FL, Wynwood FL, Little Haiti FL, Greater Miami FL, Midtown FL, Miami Shores FL, Dodge Island FL, Pinewood FL, and surrounding areas.