TMJ may be a very stressful and unpleasant illness, as you or someone you know can attest. Fortunately, several viable choices can get your life back to normal quickly and easily.
If you have any questions about TMJ, including where to find help and how to deal with the pain, we have the answers you’re looking for. And, should you have additional questions, feel free to reach out to your dentist today.
How is TMJ Identified?
If you suspect you may be suffering from TMJ, a proper diagnosis is the first step to recovery. Digital x-rays and 3-D CBCT scans are TMJ’s most precise and accurate diagnostic tools. Your dentist in Legacy can work with you to develop a course of treatment after confirming the TMJ diagnosis.
How is TMJ Dysfunction Treated?
Patients can visit their doctor or dentist for care after carefully evaluating the seriousness of their condition. Some of the most typical methods of treating TMJ are as follows:
- Getting Therapies: TMJ can be treated in various ways, including acupuncture, facial physical therapy, and stretching.
- Wearing Devices: Splints and mouthguards can treat TMJ patients’ most prevalent symptoms, including misaligned jaws and teeth from grinding.
- Practicing Self-Care: Most cases of TMJ can be traced back to stress. Meditation, massage, yoga, and chiropractic care’s health benefits are well documented.
- Intaking Drugs: Above all, muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory drugs might be most helpful for TMJ treatment in Legacy.
What Can Help With TMJ Pain?
Pain from TMJ can often be managed with over-the-counter NSAIDs and pain medications. Your medical professional or dentist near you may recommend muscle relaxants for you.
What additional options are there besides medicine, medical intervention, and therapy? Hot or cold compresses can be applied to the sore area to relieve pain and swelling. Additionally, making changes in your diet can be effective as well; avoiding sticky or chewy foods like gum is recommended as it can be hard on your jaw.
Healing time can be reduced if the jaw is used as little as possible. Surgical treatment is a possibility for a subset of patients.
Is There a Way to Prevent TMJ? What are the Causes?
It’s never that you can’t get TMJ treatment near you. Your dentist may prescribe surgery for TMJ if non-invasive treatments, including stress management, splints, and guards, fail to alleviate your symptoms.
Surgery is often the best long-term therapy for the most severe cases of TMJ. Additionally, most people experience substantial, long-lasting relief when combined with other forms of treatment.
Where does TMJ come from? The response varies from person to person, but these are some of the most common causes:
- Dental or facial trauma
- Incorrect placement of the jaw or teeth
- Bruxism (clenching/grinding of teeth)
- Anxiety
- Flawed posture
- Arthritis
Many cases of TMJ can be prevented. The risk of having TMJ can be reduced by taking the following measures and maintaining a regular schedule of preventative dental treatments and exams:
- Keep your posture in check
- Put down the gum
- Maintain a regular routine of stress management
- When you go to bed, wear on your customized night guard
Talk to your dentist if you think you could be clenching or grinding your teeth while you sleep. In many cases, discomfort caused by TMJ can be prevented or alleviated with the use of a custom splint or guard.
Talk to Our Professionals to Learn More
Your dentist will examine your TMD and take the necessary actions to identify the best avenue of treatment. You may be prescribed relaxation exercises or referred to a physiotherapist, chiropractor, or behavioral therapist to alleviate muscle pain.
For an accurate diagnosis and subsequent treatment that’s effective at addressing TMJ issues, please visit us at Walden Dental Wellness today! We are here to help!