TMJ Treatment
Are you looking for a TMJ dentist in Mckinney? If so, we invite you to call our office or go online to schedule an appointment. During your first appointment, we will conduct a gentle exam and ask questions in order to understand the full extent of your symptoms and how they are impacting you on a daily basis. It is critical that you see a dentist that appreciates the nature of TMJ and the need for caution during dental care. Otherwise, you could further irritate your jaw and muscles, leading to further discomfort.
TMJ Symptoms
TMJ disorder will often manifest itself in ways that appear to be unconnected to the jaw. While many people attribute these symptoms to stress or issues with their spine, they are often a result of this condition and can be easily rectified. In severe cases, patients may experience a locked jaw, where they cannot open their mouth. As a TMJ dentist, we treat patients that have this condition and recommend coming in at the first sign of irritation so that you can begin treatment before it becomes severe.
Common Symptoms Include:
- Severe headaches
- Ear, neck, and face pain
- Difficulty biting or chewing
- Popping or clicking when opening mouth
- Lack of jaw mobility
- Locked Jaw
Causes of TMJ
There are several causes of TMJ with many theories yet to be proven. Some claim that posture can be responsible for TMJ as can poor diet, lack of sleep, and the cartilage disk found at the joint itself. As a TMJ dentist, we find that one of the most common causes of TMJ is clenching or grinding teeth at night. During times of high-stress, many people fail to have a restful nights sleep and take out their frustration by inadvertently clenching their jaw closed or grinding down their teeth while sleeping. This can manifest early in life, with children even being impacted by teeth grinding. When this takes place, the muscles and joints are forced to remain in a tense position, leading to pain in the joints and muscles the following morning. Call our office or schedule an appointment online right away if you feel you have any of these symptoms.
Treatment Options:
NightGuards
Next, in our TMJ dentist office, we provide a non-invasive solution for helping patients to feel better. Since TMJ is often caused by teeth grinding or clenching, preventing the upper and lower teeth from touching is a fast way to experience relief. Our team can make an impression of your teeth and use it to create a custom night guard for you to wear while sleeping. The night guard is made of a clear and comfortable plastic that surrounds your upper and lower teeth, similar to how a full retainer would function. Often, our patients report feeling better immediately and every night that you sleep without grinding your teeth, you have the opportunity to increase the quality of your rest and wake up feeling energized – a win/win scenario. Since the night guard is small, easily removed and stored, there are no clunky devices to worry about and you can take it with you when traveling.