TMJ Treatment – Acworth, GA
Say Good-Bye to Jaw Pain and Headaches
Without the temporomandibular joints (TMJ) that connect your lower jaw to your skull, you wouldn’t be able to chew, speak, or perform other simple oral tasks. If there’s a problem with your TMJ, you may experience significant pain and other potentially debilitating symptoms. Here at Biologic Dentistry, Dr. Hamel and Dr. Vita can diagnose and treat TMJ disorders, relieving your discomfort and restoring the function of your jaw. Call today to schedule a consultation with us and learn more about our options for TMJ therapy.
What Is TMJ Disorder?
A TMJ disorder can describe a wide range of issues with your jaw joint, such as a disc that moved out of alignment or cartilage that has been damaged by arthritis or trauma. The underlying cause isn’t always clear, and it could be a combination of several factors, such as genetics and habitually grinding your teeth.
While a TMJ disorder can start as a mild dental problem, ignoring it will allow your symptoms to grow worse. To put a stop to your pain, it’s best to seek professional treatment as soon as you can.
Symptoms of TMJ Disorder
The symptoms you experience will depend on the underlying cause of the disorder and often include:
- Chronic pain in your jaw, head, neck, and various other areas.
- Having trouble moving your jaw.
- Experiencing pain while chewing.
- A clicking or popping sound when you move your jaw joints.
- Frequently hearing a ringing in your ears.
Note that many of these symptoms can have multiple explanations. In particular, a clicking sound when you move your jaw may not even be an issue you need to worry about if it only happens every once in a while and isn’t accompanied by other symptoms. That said, it’s generally better to be safe than sorry when it comes to oral health issues, and TMJ disorder is no exception. If you notice any of the warning signs listed above, we encourage you to call our office to set up an appointment so that we can properly diagnose your disorder.
Types of TMJ Treatment
There are a variety of possible solutions available for TMJ disorder. To put together a treatment plan for you, we’ll need to examine your jaw carefully and figure out the underlying issues. Once we understand your specific situation, we can make a recommendation.
Occlusal Splint
In many cases, we provide our TMJ patients with a simple oral appliance called an occlusal splint. Some splints are designed to reposition the lower jaw so that it doesn’t place as much pressure on your TMJ when at rest. Others act as a mouthguard that protects both rows of teeth from unconscious clenching and grinding, which are major risk factors for TMJ disorder. Depending on your situation, you may need to wear your occlusal splint for anywhere between 12 and 24 months; we can give you a more specific estimate after examining your jaw.