TMJ

Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) is one of the leading causes of chronic jaw pain. At Pointer Ridge Dental Care in Bowie, Maryland, general dentist Shila Yazdani, DDS, MBA, and the team offer advanced TMJ treatment that combines appliance therapy and neuromuscular techniques. Call Pointer Ridge Dental Care today to schedule TMJ treatment, or book your appointment online. 

My jaw is sore and stiff. Is it TMJ?

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder causes inflammation of one or both temporomandibular joints that connect your lower jaw to your skull. Your TMJ joints act like hinges, letting you bite and chew. They’re incredibly tough but experience daily wear-and-tear.

Habitually clenching your jaw or grinding your teeth irritates your TMJ joints, causing chronic pain and reduced jaw mobility. 

What are the symptoms of TMJ?

TMJ symptoms include: 

• Pain and jaw tenderness
• Pain in one or both temporomandibular joints
• Aching pain in or near your ears
• Facial pain
• Difficulty chewing

As TMJ worsens, you might notice a clicking or popping sound when you open your mouth or chew.

How does a dentist diagnose TMJ?

The Pointer Ridge Dental Care team asks about your symptoms, including when the pain started, what it feels like, and if it extends into your ears or cheeks. They have you open and close your mouth, listen to your jaw, and gently press on your temporomandibular joints to identify sensitive places.

If these tests indicate TMJ, the team orders dental imaging, including X-rays and intraoral scans. These procedures provide detailed photos of your TMJ joints to identify inflammation.

How is TMJ treated?

The Pointer Ridge Dental Care team treats TMJ with appliance therapy and an advanced neuromuscular technique called TENSing.

TENSing

TENSing is a type of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. It uses low-frequency electrical waves to encourage the nerves and muscles in your face to relax.

This treatment helps the Pointer Ridge Dental Care team assess the relationship between your jaw and surrounding muscles. More specifically, it helps them determine optimal lower jaw alignment. The team uses that information to design a custom oral appliance you wear during sleep. 

Appliance therapy

The team takes a series of intraoral scans after finding the balance center of your jaw. Then, they send your results to a dental lab that creates a removable TMJ appliance (orthotic). You wear the orthotic every night while sleeping. It holds your lower jaw in a neutral position, relieving pain and inflammation, while promoting healing.

After wearing your appliance for 3-12 months, you move on to the second phase of treatment. This phase involves wearing another oral appliance that reduces pressure on your teeth and jaw.

Call Pointer Ridge Dental Care today to receive TMJ treatment, or book your appointment online.