TMJ disorder, which is characterized by injury and inflammation at the temporomandibular joint, is an insidious problem, because it can intensify and become more debilitating over time. The good news is that there are steps that you can in order to help you avoid long-term pain and discomfort. Our Elmhurst TMJ dentists are here to tell you more about treatments for TMJ disorder.
The temporomandibular joint is the joint that holds your lower jaw to your skull. Thanks to the TMJ you are able to move your jaw up and down and side to side. The TMJ allows you to eat, drink, speak, and express yourself!
Unfortunately, some patients’ TMJs become damaged or misaligned. This can cause a number of quite serious problems, including:
· Pain at the joint site
· Swelling on the side of the face
· Popping or clicking noises when opening and closing the mouth
· Limited jaw mobility
· Headaches
· Neck/shoulder pain
In order to minimize your risk of suffering from these issues, you need to speak with your dentist about treating the underlying cause of your TMJ issues. Your dentist may recommend that you:
· Undergo treatment to improve the way that your bite comes together—this may be orthodontic treatment, or it may involve building some of your teeth up with restorations
· Wear a personalized mouthguard at night to treat bruxism—chronic dental grinding and clenching
· Eat a modified diet for a period of time in order to avoid foods that my trigger TMJ symptoms
Every TMJ case is different, so in order to get the customized recommendations and care that you need, please call our Elmhurst TMJ dentists. Once we assess your TMJ, we can give you a better idea of what types of treatments and therapies might work well for you.