TMJ refers to issues with the temporomandibular joint. This joint is the jaw movement. Inflammation of these joints can lead to pain/soreness around the jaw, face, neck, or shoulders. It is also often accompanied by popping/clicking sounds, restricted movement, and headaches or migraines. TMJ can also cause ringing in the ears, impact the alignment of your teeth, and even cause issues with dizziness and vertigo.
TMJ has many causes as well, including stress, arthritis, dental issues, sudden injury/trauma, tooth grinding (bruxism), or can be brought on by repetitive motions like chewing gum or resting your jaw on your hand. Here at Dr. Emma Wu and Associates we provide a variety of treatment options to help address both your TMJ symptoms and the root causes.
TMJ should not be self-diagnosed. Many of the symptoms of TMJ are shared with other oral and health problems. Seeing a TMJ dental specialist can help you discover if you have TMJ and get you started on the road to recovery. If you have any of the following symptoms, you should consider scheduling a consultation.
In order to effectively help patients with their TMJ, we need to fully understand its root causes. Treatments are designed to both help alleviate the symptoms of TMJ and prevent the issue from progressing. Some treatment options include:
If TMJ is caused by teeth grinding or clenching we may recommend a custom-made mouthguard or splint. These are often worn at night but can also be made for the daytime to protect your teeth whenever you clench or grind them. Similar to a sports guard, these guards form a barrier between your top and bottom teeth. They are custom-made for your teeth, so they fit perfectly and can prevent the symptoms related to Bruxism, including TMJ.
For some patients, there is a vicious cycle of misaligned teeth causing the jaw to have alignment problems, which in turn causes more misalignment. Orthodontic treatments, including Invisalign clear aligners, can help end this cycle. By aligning your teeth, we can lessen the jaw pain caused by TMJ.
In some cases, bit alignment issues are caused by extremely small differences in the sizes of your teeth. Only a few millimeters of difference can cause one side of your jaw to connect before the other. While orthodontics can help push your teeth into position, occlusal adjustments can help by strategically removing small amounts of tooth, so your bite is more even.
Jaw pain and TMJ don’t need to be part of your daily life. With our TMJ treatments, we can help handle symptoms and the root causes of your pain, leading to benefits including:
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