Treating TMJ
- Posted on: Dec 30 2018
Temporomandibular joint disorder can be a mysterious condition. Many dentists and doctors have little background with the condition and often overlook its symptoms and then attribute the patient’s chronic pain to other factors.
Dr. Walk has specialized training with temporomandibular joint disorder and can effectively diagnose and treat it. Here’s some more information on the condition.
What is the temporomandibular joint disorder?
The temporomandibular joint is the hinge joint between the temporal bone and the lower jaw. It acts as a sliding hinge, connecting our jawbone to our skull. The temporomandibular joint enables us to move our jaw up and down and side to side, allowing us to talk, chew, and yawn.
Sometimes this joint becomes misaligned and doesn’t move as it should. Now the patient has temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). Because the joint is continually trying to move, but it is out of position, this creates stress all through the head, jaw, mouth, and neck. Unfortunately, without training, many doctors and dentists mistakenly diagnose TMJ symptoms as stress and fail to treat or correct the problem.
What are common symptoms of TMJ?
Clenching the teeth puts pressure on the muscles, tissues, and other structures around the jaw.
These are some symptoms:
- Broken teeth
- Damaged veneers
- Headaches
- Jaw soreness, especially in the morning
- Hot, cold, sweet sensitivity in the teeth
- Insomnia
- Tinnitus
- Earaches
- Eating disorders
- Enlarged facial muscles
Treating TMJ
Dr. Walk uses a variety of treatments for his TMJ patients. Botox injections can be very effective, as they relax overactive muscles. He may use a TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) machine that delivers electric pulses to relax TMJ muscles. Custom splints/mouth guards can protect the teeth from grinding, and they can also position the lower jaw in a more relaxed position.
If you have the symptoms of TMJ, please contact us at Cosmetic Dentistry Center, (617) 965-7673, and make an appointment to see Dr. Walk.
Posted in: TMJ