TMJ Bite Disorder
TMJ Bite Disorders
TMJ Treatment & Prevention
It is estimated that 15% of Americans suffer from some type of TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder), commonly referred to as TMJ. This is a misalignment of the jaw joint which can cause painful headaches, difficulty chewing, and damage to the teeth. TMJ disorders require proper diagnosis and treatment to eliminate their root cause. Here at Ellicott Mills Dental, we frequently treat patients suffering from TMJ disorders who are seeking to eliminate or reduce their symptons.
What is TMJ?
Located just in front of each ear are the temporomandibular joints. These joints act as a hinge that allow you to open and close your mouth, speak, chew, and swallow. Both joints are an integrated network of muscles, tendons and bones all working together in perfect harmony…until they don’t. Due their proximity to the ears, TMJ issues are often misdiagnosed as an earache.
Any dysfunction in the intricate system that is a TMJ can cause a painful TMJ disorder.
The most common causes are:
- arthritis
- joint dislocation
- injury/trauma
- tooth or jaw misalignment
- stress or tooth grinding
If you are experiencing pain when opening or closing your mouth, or while chewing and swallowing, see your dentist or doctor as soon as possible.
TMJ Prevention
If you are experiencing pain, popping or clicking while chewing or swallowing, you may want to use the following tips to relieve those symptoms before booking a consultation:
- eat softer foods
- avoid chewing gum or biting your nails
- treat localized pain with heat packs
- add meditation to your daily routine to alleviate stress
Still experiencing problems after a few weeks? Make an appointment to see us as soon as possible for a TMJ disorder evaluation.
Depending on a patient’s diagnosis, we recommend treatments such as jaw-strengthening exercises, over-the-counter and/or prescription medications, and overnight devices called nightguards to reduce or eliminate nighttime teeth grinding or jaw clenching.
How Your Dentist Can Help
The right diagnosis is the key to choosing the right treatment and helping patients recover quickly with minimal pain. Our diagnosis and treatment planning at Ellicott Mills Dental focuses on a speedy recovery with minimal risk of long-term problems.
Depending on a patient’s diagnosis, we recommend treatments such as jaw-strengthening exercises, over-the-counter and/or prescription medications, and overnight devices called nightguards to reduce or eliminate teeth grinding or jaw clenching.
In rare cases, we may recommend orthodontic treatment to realign an uneven bite or to reshape teeth that are causing TMJ dysfunction. Physical therapy to retrain the muscles may also be helpful. Most patients won’t require these types of interventions, but it is important to know what treatment options are available.
Schedule Your Check-Up With Us Today
Make an appointment with us today!
At Ellicott Mills Dental, we offer services from cosmetic dentistry to free screenings for sleep apnea. We do dental crowns, periodontics, sedation dentistry, implants, and so much more. We take great care of our patients and strive to give them the best care possible. Our wonderful staff aims to make people smile, and that is how we interact with our patients all day long. We are also very family-oriented. We have a playroom for our children patients while they are waiting.
If you’re looking to make some positive oral hygiene changes, you can give us a call at (410) 461-3311. Or if you prefer, you can request an appointment with us today!