TMJ Treatment

Having TMJ disorder isn’t something that’s always obvious. In fact, many people who have it and suffer from its symptoms don’t know that TMJ disorder is the cause of them. This can be due to many reasons, such as the fact that the symptoms of TMJ disorder aren’t always the same for everyone. Some symptoms may not even seem directly related to your jaw or oral health, making it even more challenging to identify their cause. Today, we look at a few ways in which you can know if you might have TMJ disorder, and the types of symptoms that it might be responsible for.

The aching and discomfort

TMJ disorder describes damage, misalignment, dysfunction, or other types of problems with your jaw joints (which are known as temporomandibular joints, or TMJs). This damage can come from a variety of sources, such as an injury or exposure to excessive, uneven bite pressure. When it occurs, TMJ disorder can negatively impact your oral health and bite function in a variety of ways, including causing various forms of aches and pains throughout your head, neck, and face. These can include chronic headaches and migraines, as well as jaw pain, earaches, and more.

The difficulty biting and chewing

When your TMJs have difficulty moving together, they can make it more difficult and/or painful to bite and chew with them. This is due to the joints’ inability to open, close, and move in tandem, which can force your jawbone and oral structures to compensate and struggle to keep your bite straight. You might also experience popping or clicking sensations in your TMJs when you open and close your jaw, and the discomfort can continue to grow worse the longer your TMJ disorder remains untreated.

The results of your dental exam

Because TMJ disorder can lead to such a wide variety of symptoms, some patients may have trouble identifying theirs even if they know what TMJ disorder is. Fortunately, sticking a routine schedule of preventive dental exams and cleanings, you have a better chance of detecting the problem and treating it early. During each preventive visit, your dentist will thoroughly inspect your teeth, oral tissues, and oral structures for signs of trouble. These may include signs that your bite isn’t function properly, and whether TMJ disorder is the likely reason why.

Find out if you have TMJ disorder

TMJ disorder isn’t always to identify, even when one or more of its symptoms become severe. To learn more, schedule a consultation by calling Modern Smile in North Hollywood, CA, today at 818-763-9353. We also proudly serve patients who live in Burbank, Toluca Lake, and all surrounding communities.

One of the most challenging things about dealing with TMJ disorder is the fact that it isn’t always the same for everyone. Unlike more common oral health concerns, the dysfunction of your jaw joints, or TMJs, can lead to a wide and varying range of aches, pains, and other discomforts. Because of this, dealing with your TMJ disorder in a way that provides lasting relief will require a professional examination and diagnosis from your dentist. Fortunately, once the condition is diagnosed, you may able to address it and alleviate the pain with comfortable, minimally invasive treatment. (more…)

For many people who have untreated TMJ disorder, the problem isn’t that their condition is difficult to treat. On the contrary, many people fail to address the disorder because they don’t realize they have it. Unlike many other oral health concerns, TMJ disorder can have an incredibly wide variety of symptoms and consequences for your oral health, depending on a large number of personal factors. Fortunately, however, there are some signs that can be more consistent than others among people who suffer from a TMJ disorder. Today, we take a closer look at TMJ disorder and some of the common symptoms that could develop because of it.

What are temporomandibular joints?

TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, which is the name of the joint on either side of your jaw that allows for your mandible’s (lower jaw’s) range of movement. Each of your two TMJs should move and function together, in the same direction, at the same time, and to the same degree. This proper and balanced function relies on several different factors, including the alignment of your teeth, the symmetry of your jawbone, and much more. If any one of these factors is off, then the consequences could include damage to one or both TMJs, and a range of symptoms specific to the unique problem with your jaw joints.

What TMJ damage and dysfunction mean

One of the main reasons why TMJ disorder can cause a wide range of differing symptoms between patients is because the disorder itself can be different. For example, you may experience damage to the joint tissue in one of your TMJs, or a misalignment that causes of them to move differently than its counterpart. It might also include inflammation, arthritis, and more, but in each case, the development of the disorder means that your jaw can no longer function as comfortably and efficiently as it’s meant to. This dysfunction is the key to the varying symptoms and consequences the disorder can manifest.

What kind of symptoms can you experience?

While many symptoms of TMJ are highly specific and unique to your condition, there are several impacts that result from your bite’s inability to function properly, and can result from several different types of TMJ disorders. For example, because the condition affects the joints that control your jaw’s movement, you may experience:

• Popping and clicking when you bite and chew
• Pain and soreness in your jaw and facial muscles
• Your jawbone shifting to the side when you open and close it
• Increasingly more frequent headaches and/or migraines
• An increasingly more frequent tendency to grind your teeth
• And much more

Learn if your TMJs are damaged or dysfunctional

If your TMJs become damaged or cease to function properly for some reason, the symptoms of the disorder could include a wide variety of aches and pains. To learn more about treating it early, schedule a consultation by calling Modern Smile in North Hollywood, CA, today at 818-763-9353. We also proudly serve patients who live in Burbank, Toluca Lake, and all surrounding communities.

When you start to experience TMJ problems, you can be surprised – and alarmed – by how often this discomfort intrudes on your typical day. The issue can interfere with your meals, as it can become difficult to bite and chew. It can also create problems for you whenever you speak or laugh. There are several issues that can lead to problems with the joints and muscles that you rely on for jaw movement. If you have a tendency to grind your teeth, particularly if you are grinding or clenching at night, you can start to struggle with this difficulty while also developing problems with dental wear and tear. At our North Hollywood, CA dentist’s office, we can work with you to ease the pain you experience throughout the day due to your TMJ problems. We are also able to evaluate your smile and recommend different treatments for dental wear and tear that may have affected your smile. (more…)

When you have a toothache or notice that your gums look troubled, it may be clear that you should visit your dentist to deal with the issue. However, the problem with TMJ disorder (or temporomandibular joint disorder) is that they symptoms aren’t always the same for everyone. In fact, the disorder itself can mean different things for everyone who experiences it, which means treatment for it has to be highly personalized. It also means that treating your condition and finding relief from its symptoms will require understanding as much as you can about your specific TMJ disorder.

Why it can be different for everyone

Your temporomandibular joints are among the most complex joints throughout your entire body. Both of your TMJs, which are located on either side of your jaw, are meant to work together and move at the same time as you open and close your bite. TMJ disorder can describe one of a wide range of issues that inhibit this function for one or both of your jaw’s joints. This might mean the joint is damaged, misaligned, suffers from chronic inflammation, or is compromised in another potentially serious way. The nature of the damage to your TMJs may not be the same as other patients with TMJ disorder, and both the symptoms and appropriate solutions can also vary greatly.

Are there risk factors to developing TMJ disorder?

For more common conditions like tooth decay and gum disease, the risk factors for developing them are fairly straightforward. For example, inadequate dental hygiene practices, inconsistent preventive dental visits, and unhealthy eating and snacking habits can all increase your risks of oral bacteria overwhelming your teeth and/or gums. However, the risk factors for developing TMJ disorder can sometimes be less straightforward. Seemingly minor things like a teeth-grinding habit, a slight misalignment in your teeth, or more can place excessive pressure on one or both of your TMJs. Determining your specific risk factors, or diagnosing the specific cause of your TMJ disorder, requires a comprehensive examination of your oral health by an experienced dentist.

How to tell if your TMJs need correction

While the causes and symptoms of TMJ disorder can vary widely, the fact that the disorder impacts your bite’s ability to function can sometimes be a clear sign that you have it. For instance, if you notice yourself grinding your teeth often, feel your TMJs popping or clicking when they move, or experience chronic pain in your jaws, then you should speak to your dentist about your symptoms. If you have TMJ disorder, then diagnosing and treating it as soon as possible will be the best way to avoid or alleviate the different symptoms you experience because of it.

Learn more about dealing with TMJ disorder

Having TMJ disorder can sometimes be confusing, especially if you don’t understand the factors behind it or the various symptoms that could hint at it. For more information, schedule a consultation by calling Modern Smile in North Hollywood, CA, today at 818-763-9353. We also proudly serve patients who live in Burbank, Toluca Lake, and all surrounding communities.

The point of seeking treatment for an oral health concern is often to stop the concern from getting worse. However, many such conditions come with a host of different signs and symptoms, and treating them is also meant to help you find relief from these symptoms as soon as possible. With TMJ disorder, these symptoms can cover a wider range of aches and pains than other concerns. Fortunately, finding relief from them isn’t always complicated, and a custom TMJ appliance may be a highly convenient and effective solution for you, too. (more…)

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder can be the cause of numerous chronic aches and pains. For instance, because your jaw function relies on these joints, it’s common for patients with TMJ disorder to have trouble biting and chewing without their jaw joints popping or shifting painfully. For many patients in North Hollywood, TMJ disorder can also be the cause of symptoms that aren’t obviously related to their dental health. That includes chronic headaches and migraines that result from the constant stress on your jaw joints and nerves.

Understanding TMJ Disorder

The problem with TMJ disorder is that it can mean something different for everyone. In some cases, one or both of your jaw’s joints may be excessively inflamed or damaged. In others, the joints can lose their full range of motion due to traumatic injury or rheumatoid arthritis. In most common cases, it results from a bite imbalance that forces the joints to work overtime just to keep your jaw and teeth even. This excessive strain can damage one or both joints or irritate them enough to disrupt their proper function.

The Connection to Headaches and Migraines

While some symptoms, like aches and pains in your jaw muscles, can be obvious, TMJ disorders can also cause various other forms of discomfort, as well. When one or both of the joints become damaged, they can aggravate the large nerve that rests near them, known as your trigeminal nerve. Together, the three branches of this nerve group innervate most of your head, neck, and face. When any part of the group is disturbed, the discomfort can radiate throughout the other branches, leading to increasingly worse headaches and migraines. Other symptoms may also include:

• Pain and ringing in your ears (tinnitus)
• Sore, painful muscles in the neck and back
• Uncontrollable teeth-grinding (bruxism)
• Diminishing bite function (inability to open and close your jaw)
• And more

Find Out if TMJ Treatment Can Ease Your Migraines

If you suffer from chronic headaches and migraines, then ask us if TMJ disorder may be the cause behind them. For more information, schedule a consultation by calling Modern Smile in North Hollywood, CA, today at 818-763-9353. We also proudly serve patients who live in Burbank, Toluca Lake, and all surrounding communities.

A Few Signs that You Probably Have TMJ DisorderSome types of aches and pains can be immediately traced to a single cause that your dentist can easily address. For instance, a toothache often indicates a cavity, which your dentist can restore with the help of a tooth-colored filling. Other types of discomfort, however, are more complex to diagnose despite their sometimes severe intensity. For example, patients in North Hollywood who experience aches, pains, decreased function, and more in and around their jaws may not immediately realize that their discomfort is caused by TMJ disorder.

Popping and/or clicking TMJs

When you open and close your jaws, your temporomandibular joints (TMJs) should allow your jaw to move smoothly. However, when TMJ disorder develops, the joints can’t move as smoothly as they should. This can often lead to your TMJs popping and/or clicking every time they move, which could become increasingly more painful the longer your TMJ disorder is left untreated.

Uneven movement when you bite and chew

Another contributing reason to popping and clicking TMJs is the fact that some patients may have uneven jawbones or their TMJs may be out of alignment. This misalignment can force your jaw to move unevenly every time you bite and chew. Though you may not feel it, you may be able to see it by standing in front of a mirror and watching as you carefully open and close your jaw.

Chronic teeth-grinding (especially at night)

When your jaw can’t operate or rest comfortably, your TMJs and jaw muscles can become overactive, especially at night. This results in chronic teeth-grinding – a condition known as bruxism – which may occur more frequently as you sleep and cannot control the movement. If your teeth are increasingly sensitive and you notice that their surfaces seem to be smoothing out, then you may be grinding your teeth as a result of TMJ disorder.

Learn if TMJ Treatment Can Help

If you exhibit these or any other signs of TMJ disorder, then seeking treatment as soon as possible could help you alleviate the discomfort and dysfunction resulting from it. For more information, schedule a consultation by calling Modern Smile in North Hollywood, CA, today at 818-763-9353. We also proudly serve patients who live in Burbank, Toluca Lake, and all surrounding communities.

Patients who suffer chronic jaw pain, headaches, earaches, and more can often attribute their symptoms to some form of TMJ disorder. The dysfunction, which is named after the two large joints that control your jaw movement (TMJs), can lead to a host of symptoms that differ from patient to patient. Many such symptoms may not even seem directly related to your dental health. To alleviate them, your dentist can address your TMJ disorder with a customized treatment plan, which will be based off of whatever is causing your TMJ disorder in the first place.

Your bite isn’t aligned properly

The main function of your temporomandibular joints (TMJs) is to allow your lower jaw to open and close properly whenever you bite, chew, and speak. If your bite isn’t aligned correctly (i.e., your teeth are crooked or your jawbone is asymmetrical), then your TMJs won’t be able to move as smoothly as they’re meant to. The undue pressure can damage your jaw joints and lead to the development of TMJ disorder.

You’re under extreme stress

There are many different manifestations of excessive stress, and constantly tensed-up muscles is one of the more common ones. When you constantly tense your jaw muscles and clench or grind your teeth (a condition known as bruxism), the tension can gradually wear down, damage, or push your TMJs out of alignment.

You have arthritis in one or both TMJs

Arthritis, especially inflammatory (rheumatoid) forms of it, may affect one or both of your TMJs. Even if your bite is balanced and you aren’t particularly over-stressed, the presence of arthritis can be a direct cause of TMJ disorder and the long list of symptoms that accompany it.

Treat the Cause of Your TMJ Disorder to Relieve It

TMJ disorder can develop for a number of different reasons. To find relief from yours, your dentist will first have to diagnose the underlying issue. For more information, schedule a consultation by calling Modern Smile in North Hollywood, CA, today at 818-763-9353.

You can find a home remedy for almost anything these days, and sometimes, you can find good advice. For instance, there are a few ways in which you can relieve the jaw pain and other symptoms resulting from TMJ disorder. However, like any other dental health issue, the pain will return eventually, even after the most effective home remedies. That’s because the underlying cause of the pain still exists. If you experience TMJ disorder, you may be able to mitigate your discomfort with these few tips, though we advise scheduling a dental appointment as soon as possible to address your jaw dysfunction.

Tips for Jaw and TMJ Aches

• Relax your jaw joints and muscles – While there are many different causes of TMJ disorder, most forms of it involve overly tense muscles and joints in your jaw. Try to relax them by gently massaging each side of your jaw with the tips of your fingers.
• Avoid grinding your teeth – If you have TMJ disorder, then you may also suffer from bruxism, or chronic teeth-grinding. Try to pay attention and catch yourself if you unconsciously start grinding your teeth to avoid putting even more pressure on your aching TMJs.
• Wear your oral appliance – If you’ve already been diagnosed with TMJ disorder, then you may have already been prescribed with a nighttime oral appliance to help your jaws rest more comfortably. If you experience jaw pain during the day, then try wearing the appliance for a while to help alleviate it.

Relieve Your Jaw Pain Permanently with TMJ Treatment

The pain resulting from TMJ disorder might be temporarily relieved with these or other home remedies, but the only way to cure it for good is with customized treatment for the dysfunction. To learn more, schedule a consultation by calling Modern Smile in North Hollywood, CA, today at 818-763-9353. We also proudly serve patients who live in Burbank, Toluca Lake, and all surrounding communities.