TMJ Therapy – Covington, GA
Find Relief from Persistent Jaw Pain
Are you suffering from a persistent ache in your jaw? It is possible that you have TMJ dysfunction, which is also known as TMJ disorder or TMD. This persistent condition can negatively affect your quality of life and may signal an underlying problem. What can you do to find relief? The answer may be as simple as scheduling a consultation with Dr. Stephen Dean. He has completed specialized training in TMJ therapy in Covington and would be pleased to help you conquer TMD.
Why Choose Dean Dental Care for TMJ Therapy?
- Dentist with Specialized Training in TMJ/TMD
- Gentle, Personalized Care
- Find Long-Lasting Relief from Jaw Pain
What Are the TMJ and TMD?
TMJ is an acronym that stands for “temporomandibular joint.” It connects your lower jaw to the rest of your skull, and it is located in front of each of your ears. TMD can refer to any number of problems that affect how the TMJ functions and feels. According to some estimates, more than 10 million people in the United States suffer from TMD. It is most common in women of childbearing age, but it can afflict individuals of any age or gender.
There are many possible causes of TMD, including:
- Injury to the joint
- A misaligned bite
- A stressful lifestyle
- Teeth grinding and clenching (also called bruxism)
- Poor posture
- Arthritis
Symptoms of TMD
There are a broad range of symptoms that may indicate TMD, including but not limited to:
- Jaw pain
- A locking or popping sensation in the jaw
- Difficulty chewing
- Headaches
- Migraines (these may not be directly caused by TMD, but research indicates that TMD can make them more severe and more frequent)
- Neck, shoulder, and back pain
- Ringing in the ears or temporary hearing loss
- Dizziness
- Bruxism
Treatment Options
Some individuals find that their TMJ pain goes away on its own after a while or with the use of home remedies. While home remedies, such as facial massage and stress relief techniques, may be quite helpful, they do not always address the root cause of TMD. That is why, instead of waiting for your TMD to disappear, you should seek professional treatment. After Dr. Dean evaluates your situation, he may recommend one of the following treatments.
Equilibration/Occlusal Adjustments
If a misaligned bite is to blame for your TMD, Dr. Dean may be able to help by slightly altering the way your teeth fit together. This might involve modifying any crowns or bridges you have, adjusting the shape of your dental enamel, or other techniques.
Occlusal Splints
An occlusal splint is a custom oral device that resembles a mouthguard. It slightly repositions the jaw, helping the TMJ joint to relax and thereby relieving strain on both it and the nearby muscles. For many patients, an occlusal splint can provide long-term TMD relief.
Do you suspect that you have TMD? Contact Dean Dental Care today to schedule your consultation. It may not be long before your smile is once again functioning and feeling its best.
TruDenta®
We often use the TruDenta system as part of a patient’s overall TMD treatment plan. TruDenta is an FDA-approved system that uses advanced technology to identify problems with the TMJ and relieve pressure on painful trigger points. It is usually used in conjunction with occlusal splints. It is a customized approach to TMD that takes each patient’s unique needs into account.
Advanced Diagnostics
TruDenta treatments starts with a detailed and advanced diagnostic process, which can involve several different steps:
- We will learn about your history with TMJ problems, as well as your history of migraines, headaches, and other issues that are often related to the function of the TMJ.
- We will scan your mouth and examine your bite, perhaps including a force and range of motion analysis. This is a critical step because more often than not, TMD stems from malocclusion (a bad bite).
- We will examine the muscles around your TMJ.
The Treatment Process
After the thorough diagnostic process, we will be ready to start your treatment plan. Treatment with TruDenta may involve:
- Ultrasound
- Massage
- Photobiomodulation (which is popularly known as cold laser therapy)
These therapies are noninvasive, and most patients find them to be quite comfortable. Your treatment plan might require multiple visits to our office. Each visit may last about one hour or so. The number of sessions you require will depend on the nature and severity of your TMD symptoms. Some patients require just a few visits, while others should visit us weekly for up to 8 weeks or longer.
TMJ Treatment FAQs
Can TMJ Be Cured Permanently?
In some cases, the discomfort felt from TMJ disorder can occasionally go away by itself after some time. That said, if your condition starts to negatively affect your daily routine, then you’ll want to go visit a professional for treatment sooner rather than later. Many of the TMJ treatment options can help alleviate pain and discomfort, such as TruDenta, but it’s important to know that the results won’t typically be permanent. On the other hand, options like occlusal splints and equilibration/occlusal adjustments are specifically designed to permanently treat jaw tension, misalignment, and other underlying complications of TMD to offer long-lasting relief.
How Long Does TMJ Treatment Take?
Some at-home jaw exercises can provide temporary relief right away whereas long-term relief will generally require treatment from a medical professional. The timeframe will typically depend on the specific treatment needed, which is usually based on the root cause or severity of the problem. Dr. Dean will discuss your potential treatment timeline during your consultation. Occlusal splints, if worn every night for several weeks to a few months, can provide relief for a lifetime. Equilibration/occlusal adjustments can differ in how soon you can expect relief due to the unique changes that might need to be made. That said, once your bite/teeth are perfectly aligned, most people experience pain relief soon after.
Is TMJ Treatment Safe?
So long as you receive TMJ treatment from a qualified professional, you can expect your process to be entirely safe for you and your smile. Dr. Dean has undergone a wide range of specialty training courses, including TMJ/TMD so that his patients can get the effective care necessary to relieve their jaw tension or discomfort. According to the National Institutes of Health, it’s typically recommended that those with TMD undergo minimally invasive and conservative methods to address the situation, which is why your dentist will often suggest options that help avoid the need for surgery.
How Long Does It Take for a TMJ Splint to Work?
This treatment method is designed for you to wear the occlusal splint to bed every night. In some cases, patients might discover that their symptoms begin to vanish rather quickly once they start the treatment. However, your condition won’t go away all at once. Your TMJs and other areas around your jaw will need some time to adjust to their new positions. After six weeks, you might notice the majority of your symptoms have been alleviated, but not completely. It might take around three to six months for splints to treat your TMD discomfort.