Local Dental Care - Tmj Braces Libertyville, IL

New Responses to TMJ Disorder and Jaw Pain

Some 10 million people suffer from some form of TMJ Disorder: from jaw clicking or jaw popping whenever they yawn to intense migraine-like pain in the area around their ears. The temporomandibular joint is the hinge between your jaw and skull. The bone and muscles permit your jaw to move—not just up and down, but left and right, in and out. This kind of complexity is what makes TMJ Syndrome so common, and often so difficult to diagnose.

Helping You Solve the Problem

Modern dentistry has a whole array of TMJ Disorder responses—so your first response should be to make an appointment.

For some people, the answer may be a custom-fitted mouth guard to keep them from teeth grinding in their sleep. There’s even a battery-powered miniature sensing device, worn at night, to alert you when grinding occurs. Another plug-in device helps eliminate spasms and jaw pain by applying moist heat to the source of the pain for several minutes at a time.

If the problem stems from tooth alignment, orthodontic treatment can relieve the stress. Physical therapy, anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants and stress management are all possibilities. The key, as always, is identifying the problem and then finding the response that works best for you.

Possible causes of TMJ Disorder

• Nightly teeth grinding (bruxism)
• Poor head/shoulder posture, causing tension in neck and jaw muscles
• Arthritis in the joint
• Damaged jawbone/joint structure
• Nerves being pinched by ball of jaw

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

TMJ Treatment

There are a range of TMJ treatment available for people suffering from jaw pain caused by TMJ disorder. TMJ dentists recommend starting with the simplest treatment options first.

TMJ pain can often be relieved with some simple TMJ exercises to stretch and loosen the jaw muscles. Other things that can help include anti-inflammatory medicines (like Tylenol or Advil), moist heat packs, avoiding hard or chewy foods, or physical therapy.

Treatment for TMJ disorders may include a TMJ mouth guard (also known as a night guard or bite plate) or a TMJ splint. These dental appliances fit into your mouth like an orthodontic retainer or athletic mouth guard, and they hold your teeth apart while you sleep to relieve stress and tension.

A bad bite can cause TMJ pain. If you have crooked teeth, your dentist may recommend orthodontic braces to straighten your teeth and improve your bite. Worn-down teeth or dental work may require some reconstructive dentistry.

TMJ surgery is the jaw treatment of last resort. Your TMJ dentist or TMJ physician can refer you to a TMJ specialist, like an oral surgeon experienced in jaw surgery. There are different TMJ surgeries available; a TMJ surgeon can help you decide if one might be right for you. However, it's essential that you try less invasive, reversible treatments for TMJ first!

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.