Are you suffering from chronic headaches, jaw pain, neck pain, or embarrassing clicking and popping sounds when you eat? If so, you may have TMD. Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) is an increasingly common and degenerative (but rarely properly diagnosed) affliction. TMD can cause chronic migraines and severe jaw pain, and it may even significantly reduce your overall quality of life. TMD requires treatment and won’t get better on its own. You don’t have to deal with the pain or discomfort of TMD any longer.
Why choose Kincheloe and Tonso Family Dentistry to treat TMD?
- Advanced training at the prestigious Dawson Academy ( What is Dawson dentist?)
- Able to relieve persistent headaches & migraines
- Custom-made appliances that treat you while you sleep
What Causes TMD?
While the exact cause of TMD is often unknown, researchers have found that it is more likely to occur in patients who:
- Have injured the jaw, the joint, or the muscles of the head and neck
- Grind or clench their teeth
- Experience movement of the disc between the ball and socket of the joint
- Suffer from arthritis
- Have stress-induced jaw tightening
How is TMD Treated?
TMD therapy can involve the use of a custom nightguard, intraoral splint, orthodontic treatment, or other non-dental interventions like stress management and dietary changes. The first step in your TMD therapy from Kincheloe and Tonso Family Dentistry will involve a complete assessment to discover the right combination of treatment options for you. If you grind your teeth at night, we might fit you for a custom nightguard. Alternatively, if slight misalignments in your jaw joint are causing the problem, a custom splint can bring your jaw into the correct position and alleviate the strain.
What Are the Symptoms of TMD?
If you have been experiencing any combination of the following symptoms, you should seek TMD therapy immediately:
- Pain or tenderness in your face, jaw joint area, neck, shoulders, or around the ear when you chew, speak, or open your mouth wide
- Problems with opening your mouth wide
- Jaws that lock in the open or closed position
- Clicking or popping noises in the jaw joint when you open or close your mouth
- Difficulty chewing or an uncomfortable bite (as if the upper and lower teeth are not fitting together properly)
- Swelling on one side of your face
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, contact us to schedule an appointment.