Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) can cause persistent jaw pain, headaches, and difficulty chewing.
Evidence-based temporomandibular joint therapy in Chicago, IL, that’s tailored to your needs can provide much-needed TMJ pain relief. Early TMJ treatment at Centennial Dental Group can restore comfort, improve your jaw function, and prevent long-term complications.
Located on each side, the temporomandibular joints connect your lower jaw to your skull, allowing your upper and lower jaw to open and close, while facilitating chewing and speaking. TMD affects both the joints and surrounding muscles, causing pain, stiffness, or difficulty opening and closing your mouth.
After a confirmed diagnosis is made at Centennial Dental Group, initial goals focus on resolving your pain and dysfunction. In addition to specific treatments, adjunctive measures that can help include jaw rest, soft diet, moist warm compresses, and passive stretching exercises.
By carefully injecting BOTOX into the jaw muscles, the nerve signals responsible for muscle contractions and tension are temporarily blocked. This causes overactive muscles to relax, alleviating chronic jaw pain, reducing involuntary grinding, and easing tension headaches.
The use of customized, well-fitting occlusal splints or oral appliances is thought to alleviate or prevent degenerative forces placed on the TMJs. These devices are especially helpful if you suffer from severe bruxism and nocturnal tooth clenching.
Orthodontics or clear aligners can help alleviate TMJ disorder by realigning misaligned teeth and correcting bite issues (malocclusion) that put excessive strain on the jaw joints. Restoring a more balanced bite reduces uneven pressure and allows jaw muscles to function more naturally
While the best path to a confirmed TMD diagnosis is an evaluation at Centennial Dental Group, the following self-screening tips can provide clues about this condition.
Try placing your index, middle, and ring fingers vertically into your open mouth up to the second knuckle. Difficulty or pain may signal limited jaw movement.
Place a finger on the joint in front of your ear and slowly open your mouth. Any clicking, popping, or pain could indicate a TMJ issue.
Open your mouth slowly in front of a mirror. If your jaw shifts, deviates, or moves in a zigzag pattern, this may indicate TMJ problems.
Press gently around your jaw and under the cheekbones. Tenderness could signal jaw muscle strain or TMJ dysfunction.
Examine whether your upper front teeth align properly over your bottom teeth. Uneven wear or misalignment may indicate a bite problem affecting your TMJs.
If TMJ disorder isn’t treated, jaw pain and stiffness can worsen, making everyday activities like chewing or speaking highly challenging.
This can negatively impact both your physical health and emotional well-being. Furthermore, untreated TMJ issues can cause permanent joint damage, uneven tooth wear, painful malocclusion, and even require arthroscopic surgery.
