How Can A Dentist Help Treat TMJ?

What Is TMJ Disorder?

The TMJ or temporomandibular joints connect the skull and the lower jawbone. You can find the joint on both sides of your head. The TMJ controls the whole movement like chewing, biting and talking. As every movement depends upon the joints it causes pain when the TMJ does not function accurately. The TMJ can impact the surrounding muscle group, blood vessels and nerves and cause tinnitus, headache, neck pain, vertigo, upper back pain and numbness. You need to ask for TMJ treatment when you encounter such symptoms.

The Reasons behind TMJ

In most cases, different reasons such as health conditions play an important role in the development of TMJD. The other reasons are

• Corrosion of the joint

• Arthritis

• Jaw problem

• Habitual granulating of the teeth.

The Symptoms

• Pain in jaw

• Facial pain

• Headaches

• bruxism

• Shoulder pain

• The popping of the jaw

• Earaches

• You may face stiffness in the jaw

How to Treat TMJ Pain?

You can face TMJD because of numerous causes and to treat it accurately, at first, the dentist examines your teeth and evaluates all of your symptoms. After doing that, the dentist treats the disorder with one of the following treatments. The following are,

• Trigger point injections

• Spray and stretch

• TENS therapy

• SPG block

• hot/cold pack

• Muscle relaxer medication

• Pain relief appliance

• Anti-inflammatory medication

Therapies

Step-1

1. TMJ orthotic

2. Various pain relief therapy such as tens, laser and trigger point

3. Various oral sleep devices for jaw pain and oxygen

4. Infection and decay removal

Step-2

1. TMJ orthodontics

2. TMJ bite rehabilitation

3. TMJ dentures

Home Remedies to Treat TMJD

1. You have to eat soft foods such as yogurt, soup, cottage cheese, egg, fish.

2. You must avoid chewing gum.

3. You can use ice for reducing swelling

4. You should do jaw stretching exercises to improve the jaw movements

5. You should keep the teeth apart.

Apart from these, you should avoid excessive movements of the jaw such as singing or yelling. You should avoid holding the phone between the ear and shoulder and practice postures which are good to reduce facial and neck pain Where to Go for Treatment?

If you face any problems while chewing, speaking and eating and notice that you face other symptoms, contact any TMJ treatment service in OKC. Here at TMJ & Sleep Therapy Centre of Oklahoma City, we vouch to provide you with the solution to TMJ disorder. Pay a visit to our office and talk to our experts. Learn more about our services such as TMD and TMJ, sleep apnea and many more from us.

**Disclaimer: This content is not a professional dental or medical advice and does not imply a relationship between patient and care provider or the doctors.