TMJ or temporomandibular joint connects your jaw to your skull, next to your ear. The joint allows you to move your jaw up and down. Every time you chew, talk or yawn, you are utilizing your temporomandibular joint. When you start experiencing problems with TMJ, you are affected by what is called a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD).
Symptoms of TMD/TMJ
- Pain in your jaw area, neck or shoulder
- A discernible pain when you talk, chew or open your mouth
- Jaw gets locked
- Clicking, grating or popping sound from you when you move it
Downtown Dental Treatment for TMD/TMJ
When you approach Downtown Dental to treat TMD, the first action taken by our dental expert is to examine your dental health. We identify and diagnose whether you are affected by TMD. Once that is done, we offer several treatment options depending on the severity of the condition.
- Mouth Guard
A mouth guard is a recommend option. It covers your upper and lower teeth so they don’t touch. This automatically reduces the effects of clenching or grinding your teeth. At Downtown Dental, we create custom mouth guards for our customers. We take a mold of your teeth to ensure an accurate fit. - Oral Splint
Oral splints are made of hard dental acrylic and do a much firmer job of preventing TMD. They provide better support, letting your muscles relax and, easing the pressure off your TMJ. - Dental Work
TMD can occur due to an uneven and imbalanced teeth surface. In such a case, there are several treatments such as crowns, bridges or braces to solve an uneven dental surface. Upon examination, we recommend the best choice.
If you suspect you have TMD, contact the dentists at Downtown Dental.