TMJ refers to the temporomandibular joint. It is a hinge that links your jaw to the skull's temporal bones. This joint enables you to move your jaw side to side and up and down so that you can eat, chew and talk comfortably. Any problem with the facial muscles and jaw that controls them can lead to temporomandibular joint disorders. At ZM Dental in Tampa, FL 33618, we offer effective TMJ therapies to resolve your concerns and assist you to lead a healthy and pain-free life.
Causes of TMJ Disorder
The primary cause of a TMJ disorder is problems with the jaw muscles or the joint. Any injury to the jaw joint or the head and neck muscles can lead to a TMJ disorder. Some other reasons for TMJ disorders include:
- Clenching or grinding of teeth that put enormous pressure on the joint
- Movement of the cushion or disc between the ball of the joint and the socket
- Arthritis pain in the joint
- Stress resulting in tightening of the jaw and facial muscles
Symptoms of TMJ Disorder
TMJ disorder can be excruciating and cause a significant amount of discomfort. Some of the regular TMJ symptoms include:
- Tenderness and pain in the jaw joint, face, neck, and earaches
- Difficulty in opening your mouth
- The jawbone that gets stuck or locked in the open or closed-mouth position
- A grating, clicking or popping noise when chewing or opening or closing your mouth
- Severe headaches, toothache, dizziness, ringing in the ear, upper shoulder pain, etc.
TMJ Treatment
It is crucial to avail assistance from a dental professional to treat your TMJ disorder. Here is how Dr. Zineb Mediouni can help you:
Pain Relievers
We will prescribe the appropriate medications to reduce the pain and dental swelling. We also recommend facial exercises to relax the muscles and prevent the clenching or grinding of the teeth.
Night Guard or Splint
If a bite discrepancy is diagnosed, we may recommend an orthopedic nightguard to align and stabilize the mandible lower jaw. This is a diagnostic tool that encourages healing, and you can notice an improvement instantly after starting to use it. You may notice a reduction in headaches and neck pain, resulting in better sleep. It usually takes two to three months of wearing the night guard full time to allow your body to adjust and attain a stable joint position of the TMJs.
Dental Work
We suggest replacing missing teeth or using crowns or bridges to balance the biting surface of the teeth and correct the bite problems. In most cases, it will resolve TMJ problems. Only in severe cases, surgery may be required.
To learn more about our TMJ treatments, visit the ZM Dental office at 14021-B North Dale Mabry HWY Tampa, FL 33618. You can also reach Dentist in Tampa, FL at (813) 513-5045 and schedule an online appointment.
