If you live in Little Rock, AR, you won’t have to go far to find advanced dental care for your TMJ at the full service dental practice of Dr. Kyle Dalton, DDS at Central Dental.
TMJ is medical shorthand for the temporomandibular joint, the place in front of your ear where your lower jawbone fits into your skull. Many people mistakenly refer to pain and dysfunction of that joint as TMJ, however, the more accurate medical name for this is TMD, or TemporoMandibular Disorder.
Simply put, TMD is any condition that arises from a lack of balance in the joint area. This can be a result of a physical abnormality or caused by stress induced behaviors such as grinding your teeth (bruxism) and are exacerbated by stressing the area further with such activities as chewing gum. The lower jawbone is attached to the skull by a group of muscles that are often, unfortunately, where lots of people tend to manifest the emotional stresses in their day to day life. Do you find yourself clenching your jaw when you feel stressed out? If so, you may be causing damage to the TMJ area.
The effects of TMD can range from mild discomfort to actual loss of mobility of the jaw, resulting in an inability to chew or perform other important jaw motions. There are many possible causes of TMD, each patient should be evaluated for treatment by a qualified dentist such as Dr. Dalton, DDS, of Central Dental in Little Rock, AR, as treatment options vary from patient to patient, depending on causes and severity of the condition.
Some common symptoms of TMD include, but are not limited to:
- Limited range of motion of the jaw (difficulty opening or closing mouth)
- Pain in face, neck, or head (including temporal “side” headaches and migraines)
- Clicking or popping of your jaw
- Sinusitis
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Unexplained tooth sensitivity or pain
Central Dental in Little Rock, Conway, or Jacksonville, AR will evaluate your condition, determine if you do, indeed, have TMD and create an individualized treatment plan for the effective relief of your symptoms. There are simple self-applied remedies such as using NSAIDS for the pain, massage, stress relief practices or use of warm compresses to relieve tightness. The treatment options most commonly prescribed include using a custom made night guard or splint, low level laser therapy, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS, a procedure which stimulates the jaw muscles in such a way as to relax them). Sometimes procedures which align and balance the bite are most helpful, and in some extreme cases, surgery is warranted to correct the problem. Most patients are advised to avoid activities which further stress the jaw area, such as resting the chin on the hands, clenching the jaw and chewing gum. Don’t put off investing in your future health; get your TMJ concerns addressed by the Central Dental team. Call us today to set up an appointment.
