Living a Pain-free Life with Conservative TMJ Pain Treatments
Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) is a painful condition affecting the two hinge-like joints on either side of the head, just in front of your ears. The TMJs are crucial in everyday activities like chewing, talking, yawning, etc. However, when the jaw joints are inflamed, injured, or strained, you will experience numerous undesirable symptoms, including headaches, jaw soreness, facial pain, etc.
At Kelli Brady DDS, we understand the burden of living with TMJ disorder. If you suspect TMJ pain, schedule an appointment today with Dr. Kelli Brady for TMD treatment. Soon, you’ll get back to feeling your best.
Symptoms of TMJ disorder
Your jaw joint is very complex, and so many things can go amiss in this area. When your jaw joints are working well, you rarely notice their presence. However, when they malfunction, jaw joints may cause numerous unpleasant symptoms.
Some include:
- Chronic headaches
- Locked jaws/jaw stiffness or tightness
- Jaw pain or soreness
- Clicking sounds when opening and closing your jaws
- Painful or difficulty chewing food
- Pain when opening and closing your mouth
- Pain in the face, shoulders, and upper back
- Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
- Uneven tooth wear
Several factors can cause TMJ pain, but the most common is bruxism or chronic teeth grinding. Constant teeth grinding overworks your jaw muscles and joints, causing tension and gradual wear and tear. The other common causes of TMJ pain include stress, jaw trauma, arthritis, misaligned bite, etc.
TMJ pain treatment
When you have constant headaches and jaw pain, the last place you expect to find relief is from a dentist. However, as it turns out, a TMJ dentist may be your best shot to end your suffering if you suffer from TMJ pain. Best of all, TMJ dentists treat jaw pain without invasive treatments like surgery.
Our first line of treatment for TMD is a customized nightguard. A dental splint protects your jaw muscles from the effects of clenching and grinding. As you continue wearing a nightguard, your jaw joints and muscles can relax and heal. With time, you’ll experience reduced headaches, jaw joint pain, and other undesirable symptoms.
A TMJ nightguard is all you need, but sometimes, we may complement it with therapeutic Botox, which reduces muscle activity. Other treatments for TMJ pain—depending on the cause—may include jaw rehabilitation exercises, orthodontics, and stress management techniques.
TMJ specialist near me
Has TMJ pain gotten the better of you? Enough is enough! Schedule an appointment with the Kelli Brady DDS team for TMJ pain treatment. Call any of our offices in Norwood, NJ (201) 806-6866 or New York, NY (646) 692-0227, and soon you’ll live a painless lifestyle.
