Are you suffering from migraines, frequent headaches, jaw pain, or an aching pain in your face? These are all symptoms of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, also known as TMJ or TMD. This condition can make chewing, talking, and other daily activities painful and difficult. Our Boca Raton, FL dentist office can help screen you TMJ.
At Boca Smile Center, we have a variety of treatment options available for our patients who suffer from TMJ. Dr. Capellan provides a complete evaluation the jaw and mouth to determine the best treatment options for each individual patient. You don’t need to keep suffering with headaches and jaw pain!
What Is TMJ?
TMJ is a common abbreviation for Temporomandibular Joint, which is the joint connecting your lower jawbone to the base of your skull. There are a series of complex muscles, joint pads and tendons that help move and protect this joint while it is in motion.
Because this joint is one of the most frequently used joints in the human body, when it becomes inflamed, it can be extremely painful. Problems and pain associated with the TMJ are often referred to as simply, “TMJ” or “TMJ Disorder”.
Symptoms vary, but generally can include:
- Headaches
- Pain and tenderness around your jaw, ears, cheeks and neck
- Migraines
- Stiffness in the jaw
- Earaches
- Painful chewing
- Pain when you yawn
- Locking jaws
- Uncontrolled change of facial expression
- Changes in how the upper and lower teeth fit together
What Causes TMJ?
Many things can contribute to the development of TMJ.
Stress can be a factor, as well as anything that can cause tension in the jaw and surrounding muscle groups.
A few common causes can be:
- Grinding teeth or clenching your jaw (also referred to as bruxism)
- Injury to the neck or jaw from a trauma such as an auto accident.
- Improper bite alignment
- Arthritis
- Sleep apnea
- Dislocation or erosion of the joint
TMJ Treatment With A Night Guard
A hard, acrylic dental night guard is one of the most common ways to treat TMJ disorder. A night guard is used to realign your jaw while you sleep and remove tension from the joint causing your painful symptoms.
Dental night guards are custom-made for each patient to help treat TMJ without negatively affecting your breathing. This type of night guard is thin and molded to either the bottom or top row of teeth, providing a comfortable solution to the treatment of TMJ.
Schedule Your TMJ Treatment Consultation With Boca Smile Center Today!
If you’re suffering from the symptoms of TMJ, give our local Boca Raton office a call. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you have about TMJ treatment or any of our other dental services.
A consultation with Dr. Capellan is the perfect way to answer all of your questions and determine if TMJ treatment could be the best solution for your smile and overall wellness!
Whether you need a tooth extraction, or a more advanced treatment like a bone graft; oral surgery services at our Boca Raton, FL dentist office can help.
