The temporomandibular joint, or TMJ for short, connects your lower jaw to your skull, allowing you to chew, talk, and yawn comfortably. When something goes wrong with this joint, you may experience symptoms like a sore or stiff jaw joint, pain when you open or close your mouth, headaches, or even a locked jaw.
TMJ disorders can affect your ability to eat what you want or even disrupt your sleep, leaving you frustrated and searching for relief. At Beyond Dental and Implant Center, we want to help you enjoy better jaw health with effective TMJ treatments in Dallas, TX, to help ease your discomfort and get you back to feeling like yourself again. If you’re struggling with TMJ symptoms, our team is here to help.
A structural imbalance is another way of referring to a bad bite or malocclusion. When your upper and lower teeth do not close together properly, it strains the facial, jaw, and neck muscles. A structural imbalance can also result from a missing tooth or a poorly fit filling or crown.
Emotional imbalances that cause TMD include stress, anxiety, frustration, anger, fatigue, depression, and sadness. These emotional imbalances often involve excessive bruxism or teeth grinding. It may also lead to poor oral health habits like biting your nails or chewing on pen caps. Other habits like poor posture, eating chewy foods, yawning with your mouth wide open, and even chewing gum may also aggravate your TMJ.
Biochemical imbalances are the result of certain foods, vitamins, and minerals. Tension in the jaw can result from a hormonal response to drinks like alcohol, coffee, tea, and other caffeinated products. Certain medications can also increase your tendency to clench or grind your teeth, which can strain your jaw joints.
To ensure you get completely personalized care tailored to your unique situation, we’ll first evaluate your jaw joints to determine possible root causes of your TMJ discomfort. During the first phase of your TMJ treatment, we may recommend an orthotic, an appliance that fits over your lower teeth and slowly adjusts your bite toward a healthier, more stable position.
We may also recommend visiting your physician to rule out other medical conditions. We will give you detailed instructions for self-care, such as avoiding certain foods, resting your jaw, keeping your teeth apart when you’re not chewing or biting, and breathing and relaxation exercises. Once your symptoms improve, we’ll address your long-term jaw health with phase two of your TMJ treatment plan.
Long-term treatment may involve neuromuscular orthodontics to fix an imbalanced bite and reduce strain on your jaw joints and muscles. At Beyond Dental & Implant Center, we offer specialized expertise in this proven and predictable option.
We may also recommend adjusting the shape of your teeth or dental restorations to correct your bite. In some cases, a permanent orthotic or full single-arch reconstruction using crowns or other restorations to provide structural support. In extreme cases, we may recommend orthognathic jaw surgery to preserve the function of your jaw joints.
Living with TMJ pain can make simple things, like chewing or smiling, feel challenging. With our comprehensive TMJ treatment plans, you can find relief and rediscover the joy of a comfortable, functional smile.
We proudly offer personalized TMJ solutions to improve your quality of life and help eliminate discomfort. With less pain and better jaw function, you can enjoy everyday activities without worry. We also provide flexible financing options to make this life-changing treatment accessible because a pain-free smile is worth the investment.
