What Can a Dentist Do for TMJ?

You might be relaxing, then you start feeling dizzy, nauseous, and headache, or you can’t move your jaw properly. You might need to be made aware of what is causing it. Well, it can be an imbalance in your temporomandibular joint.

If you develop a TMJ disorder, you wonder which provider to contact for treatment. Contact or visit us at KC Dental in Ajax for the best treatment services. Learn more about TMJ. Read on.

What is Temporomandibular Joint?

The joint connects the lower jaw to the temporal bone at each side of the head. It is felt in front of the ears when one opens their mouth. The joints are flexible; hence you can move your jaw smoothly from side to side and up and down without any difficulties. It enables us to chew, talk and even yawn. Its movement is controlled by the muscles attached to it. There are rounded ends of the lower jaw that glides along with the joining socket when we open our mouths.

When the mouth is closed, the rounded ends return to their original position. A disc between the condyle and the temporal bone absorbs shock from movements in the mouth for smooth motion.

What does TMJ Disorder feel like?

It’s a pain in the jaw and compromised movement of the jaw joint and the muscles surrounding it. The disorder falls into these categories:

• Internal derangement of the joint: The disc is displaced, and the jaw is dislocated. Also, the condyle is injured
• Myofascial pain: you feel pain and discomfort in the muscles that control the function of the jaw
• Degenerative joint disease: The jaw joint is affected by rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis

Causes of TMJ Disorder

You can have painful TMJ disorders when:

• You experience direct trauma in the face. The jaw often breaks along the condyles.
• The cartilage of the joint is damaged by arthritis
• The disc between the ball and the sockets joint dislocates
• You have an improper bite
• Dealing with stress
• Grinding and clenching the teeth

Symptoms of a TMJ Disorder

If you experience some of the signs and symptoms listed below, please visit a TMJ specialist near you for treatment. They include:

• Granting sensation and clicking sound accompanied by pain and limitation of jaw movement when you open your mouth
• Feeling pain in the temporomandibular joints
• When you experience pain or tenderness in your jaw
• Having difficulty and pain while chewing
• Aching pain around the ear
• Joints are locked, leading to difficulties when opening and closing your mouth
• Experiencing facial pain

What can a Dentist do for TMJ?

Our specialist will recommend various treatment options when seeking TMJ disorder treatment in Ajax, ON. These are:

Medications

These medications, along with other non-surgical treatments, help relieve the pain caused by TMJ disorders:

• Muscle relaxants. You use these kinds of drugs for a few days or weeks. They help relieve the pain caused by muscle spasms.
• Pain relievers and anti-inflammatories. Your periodontist will prescribe stronger pain relievers when over-the-counter medications are not enough. You’ll use them for a limited period. The medicines are such as ibuprofen.
• Tricyclic antidepressants. These drugs are used for depression, low doses, sleeplessness and clenching control.

Therapies

This is a non-drug way of TMJ treatment in Ajax, ON. It includes:

• Counseling: Going for counseling help you avoid some behaviors and factors that may provoke your pain. You avoid leaning on your chin, biting your fingernails, and grinding your teeth.
• Physical Therapy: You should exercise to strengthen and stretch the jaw muscles. It also includes ice, moist heat, and ultrasound treatments.
• Your dentist advises you to wear a soft device. It’s inserted over the teeth when you’re experiencing jaw pain.

Surgical and Other Procedures

When other treatment methods are not helping, our dentist will suggest procedures such as:

• Injections. Rarely injecting botulinum toxin type A and Botox into the jaw muscles helps relieve the pain caused by TMJ disorders. These corticosteroid injections work for some people.
• Open-joint surgery: If the jaw pain doesn’t fade under other treatments, it might be caused by a structural problem in the joint. Your dentist will recommend an open-joint surgery to replace the joint. However, the surgery consists of many more risks than other procedures. You should consider it very keenly after inquiring about its advantages and disadvantages.