Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) are bite disorders that occur when there is stress or damage to the joints that connect the skull and jaw bone. Patients with TMJ disorders often experience pain in the face and jaw. Over time, TMD symptoms lead to tooth wear, teeth grinding, headaches, and difficulty chewing. TMJ treatment in our Sahuarita, AZ, dental office can reduce these symptoms.
Dr. Jordan Morris provides restorative dental care for TMD patients with custom nightguards. He may also recommend additional treatments to reduce everyday discomfort. Discover more about TMJ disorders and how to address painful symptoms like headaches and jaw pain in our office.
Do I Have a TMJ Disorder?
There can be many common signs of TMJ disorders:
- Teeth clenching and grinding (bruxism)
- Pain when eating hard or crunchy foods
- Chronic headaches and migraines
- Orofacial pain
- Earaches
- Tooth pain and wear
- Jaw pain (in the joints and muscles)
Let Dr. Morris know if you experience any of these symptoms. You may have a TMJ disorder. Get TMD treatment before symptoms worsen and make eating and yawning painful. Problems like TMJ disorders affect everyday activities and often lead patients to avoid certain foods because of their eating discomfort.
Professional TMJ Treatment in Sahuarita, AZ
There isn’t just one treatment for TMD. Dentists and therapists offer a variety of TMJ treatments:
TMJ Night Guard
Custom night guards, or night splints, benefit patients who clench or grind their teeth at night. Bruxism can occur unconsciously during sleep. Over time, it causes more pain and wears down the natural tooth enamel.
Similar to mouthguards, night guards cover the teeth. However, night guards cover the upper or lower teeth with a hard plastic. Dr. Morris will take dental impressions to ensure your night guard fits properly.
Wearing a custom-made night guard puts the lower jaw forward. This can help you stop clenching and grinding your teeth unconsciously. Custom nightguards can also combat problems like morning headaches. The pain from clenching and grinding your teeth at night radiates throughout the face, meaning you can wake up with headaches or migraines.
Bite Correction
Also known as bite equilibration, a bite correction helps treat a “bad bite.” A bad bite, or malocclusion, occurs when the top and bottom teeth do not come together.
This problem can contribute to TMJ disorders. We often recommend orthodontic treatments to straighten teeth for a more balanced bite, including Invisalign and traditional metal braces. However, we will not recommend Invisalign if you experience teeth clenching and grinding, as you can damage your aligners.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy can help relieve TMJ pain by using exercise to release face, jaw, shoulders, and back tension. A physical therapist can teach you these exercises so you can do them at home. At your visits, the physical therapist can also use heat and massage to reduce pressure in the facial muscles. We often recommend physical therapy while you begin using your night guard.
Medication
Sometimes, prescribed muscle relaxants can help you feel relaxed before sleep. Relaxing your muscles can help reduce the risk of bruxism and jaw pain. If you have anxiety, medication can help reduce daily and nightly TMJ symptoms. Properly prescribed medication can help reduce stress during the day or during sleep.
Restorative and Cosmetic Care
In the most severe cases, teeth clenching and grinding can wear down your natural teeth. If you notice tooth wear or chips and cracks in your teeth, contact our office. Depending on the extent of your dental injuries, we may recommend bonding or crowns.
Tooth bonding uses resin materials to add structure to teeth. Dental crowns are caps that fully cover and protect teeth. We can color-match these treatments to the shade of your natural teeth.
TMJ Surgery
If lifestyle changes and conservative treatments do not work, we may recommend oral surgery. TMJ surgery can address jaw immobility, inflamed tissue, or problems with your TMJ disc. Surgery can increase your range of movement, reduce pain, and stop inflammation. Our office will refer you to a surgeon to complete this treatment.
Treating TMJ Disorders at Home
In addition to professional care, you can use multiple methods to reduce TMJ symptoms at home. At-home care will ensure that you reinforce positive, lasting habits:
Relax Your Jaw
When you clench your jaw, you can relax your jaw to a neutral position. Place the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth to relax your jaw. Ensure your teeth aren’t touching. Over time, retraining your jaw can help reduce jaw tension and pain during the day.
Yawn Safely
If you have TMD, opening your mouth too wide when eating or yawning can create jaw pain. If you feel a yawn coming, use gentle pressure with your fingers on your chin to help close your mouth.
Use Heating Pads
When you first injure your jaw, you want to use a cold compress to reduce pain. However, if you have reoccurring jaw pain, use a warm compress. Heat will help relax your jaw and facial muscles to relieve tension. Remember to use heating pads for fifteen minutes at a time.
Eat Soft Foods
Dr. Morris may also recommend a soft diet for TMD patients while they receive treatment. Eating soft foods gives the jaw a break, relieving pressure from the joints and muscles. Dr. Morris may recommend a soft diet for several weeks while you begin using your night guard.
Pay Attention to Your Posture
Hunching over when you’re on your laptop or looking at your phone puts pressure on your head, neck, shoulders, and back. Bad posture can affect your bite and jaw position, increasing your risk of TMJ flare-ups. To correct your posture, ensure your device is elevated so you aren’t looking down. Put your shoulders back and remember to sit up straight.
TMJ Treatment FAQs
We welcome you to learn more about TMJ treatment in Sahuarita, AZ, with these common patient questions:
How does a dentist look for TMJ?
First, our dentist will ask about your symptoms, like if you have jaw pain, headaches, or trouble opening and closing your mouth. They will feel and press on different parts of your jaw and face to check for pain, swelling, or any issues with how your jaw moves.
Our dentist might have you open and close your mouth so they can listen for any clicking, popping, or grinding sounds coming from your jaw joints.
They will also examine how your teeth come together when you bite down. This can help them determine if there are any problems with your jaw alignment. Sometimes, our dentist will take X-rays to get a closer look at the bones and joints in your jaw. This helps them see if there are any issues with the joints or surrounding structures.
Are TMJ and TMD the same?
No, while TMJ disorders are also known as TMJ, it isn’t the same as TMJ. The TMJ is the temporomandibular joint, which acts as a sliding hinge to help the jaw open and close. TMJ disorders, or TMD, are problems that arise if the TMJ is under stress or damaged.
What triggers TMD?
A jaw injury, stress, teeth clenching and grinding, arthritis, or poor posture can trigger TMJ disorders. These problems can injure or put pressure on the TMJ and surrounding structures. If you have a TMJ flare-up, treating the cause of your trigger will help reduce your new symptoms.
What should I avoid during a TMJ flare-up?
Here are some things to stay away from during a TMJ flare-up:
- Hard or chewy foods: Foods like nuts, hard candy, or steak can put extra stress on your jaw. Try to eat softer foods like yogurt, applesauce, or mashed potatoes. We often recommend a soft diet while you treat your TMJ symptoms.
- Jaw clenching and grinding: Try not to clench your jaw or grind your teeth, as this can make the pain worse. Relaxing your jaw muscles is key. To relax your jaw, place your tongue on the roof of your mouth. Then, gently open and close your mouth.
- Large bites: Taking big bites of food can strain your jaw. Cut your food into smaller pieces to make eating easier. It will also reduce strain on the jaw muscles.
- Stress: In many cases, stress can make TMJ symptoms worse. Try to relax and find ways to manage stress, like deep breathing or gentle exercise. Prescription medication can also help reduce daily stressors that contribute to TMD.
Do I need heat or ice for my jaw pain?
The right treatment for your jaw pain depends on the cause. Use ice if your jaw pain is due to swelling or if you recently had an injury. Ice helps reduce swelling and numb the area, which can make the pain feel better. Apply an ice pack for 15-20 minutes several times a day.
Use heat if your jaw pain is from muscle soreness or tension. Heat helps relax the muscles and can improve blood flow. You can use a warm compress or a heating pad for 15-20 minutes a few times a day.
Can medicine help treat TMJ?
Yes, patients use multiple medicines to treat TMJ pain and swelling. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) can help reduce pain and inflammation in the jaw.
Your doctor might prescribe muscle relaxants if your jaw muscles are tight or tense. Taking this medication before bed can help reduce the chance of nightly teeth grinding. Anti-inflammatory medicines can also help reduce swelling and pain in the TMJ.
Can a TMJ disorder go away without treatment?
Yes, sometimes TMJ disorder can go away without treatment, especially if the symptoms are mild. Things like avoiding hard foods, reducing stress, or resting your jaw may help it improve on its own. However, if your symptoms worsen, we can recommend treatments to help relieve the pain and discomfort.
Is TMJ permanent?
TMJ disorder is not always permanent. Some people have mild symptoms that can go away on their own, especially with simple changes like eating softer foods or reducing stress. However, for others, TMJ can be a long-term issue that needs treatment.
With the right care, such as using a nightguard or doing jaw exercises, many people find their symptoms improve or go away over time. See our dentist if your TMJ symptoms last or get worse, so you can get the right treatment to feel better.
Treat TMD Today
Do you think you may be developing a TMJ disorder? Get TMJ treatment in Sahuarita, AZ, today. Schedule a dental consultation with Dr. Morris online or call 520-412-9162 for care.
Please let Dr. Morris know if you have any questions about your current symptoms or concerns. He will gladly help you find the best treatment for your needs.