Simple and Easy Solutions for TMJ and TMD Problems
Face and Jaw Pain? Not With Our TMJ Specialist!
Do you hear a popping or clicking sound when you open or close your mouth?
Do you experience pain when moving your jaw joint?
It is due to a condition called a temporomandibular joint disorder. We understand and agree with you that it is one of the most frustrating conditions to have. Don’t get anxious! We are here to care for you and help you in resolving this problem.TMJ is the anatomical abbreviation for the Temporomandibular joint. TMJ is a joint connecting your lower jawbone to your skull base in front of your ears. TMJ is an essential joint because it is responsible for all your jaw movements like chewing, speaking, yawning, and swallowing. It is also responsible for moving your lower jaw forwards, backward, upwards, or downwards.
Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are long-time (chronic) facial pains associated with diseases of jaw joints, muscles, and nerves of the jaw. There will be inflammation of jaw joints or muscles in this condition
Causes of TMJ Dysfunction
The causes of TMD can be single or multifactorial. Following are the various causes of TMD
- Loss of teeth leads to loss of the balance between the jaw and jaw muscles
- Developmental causes
- Infections of the jaw joint
- Direct or indirect injury (trauma) to the jaw
- Bad sleeping habits or positions
- Bad posture
- Frequent clenching or grinding of teeth
- Snoring (sleep apnea)
- Various types of arthritis
- Prolonged duration of mouth opening – during dental procedures or insertion of breathing tube for surgery
- Stress
- Compromised general health – hormonal imbalances, immune disorders, and other muscular disorders.
- Bad habits like chewing pens, nail biting, lip biting etc.
Signs and symptoms of Temporomandibular Disorder
There are various symptoms to determine whether you are experiencing TMD. They are
- Pain
- Headaches
- Stiffness in jaw muscles
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Clicking (painful or painless), popping, or grinding noises in Jaw
- Reduction in jaw movement or locking of the jaw in a position
- Abnormal deviation of the jaw
- Difficulty while eating due to change in jaw position.
Benefits of getting
TMD treated
Management of TMJ disorder can comprise of either conservative treatment, alternative treatment, or surgical treatment or a combination.
Learn more about TMJ
Here at Advanced Dental Implant and TMJ Center, we thrive on providing world-class care to our patients. We make sure that all our patients are comfortable and satisfied with their treatment. Dr. Adatrow is passionate about providing personalized care. He spends time with the patients, understands his patient’s condition, and recommends the best possible treatment to his patients. He has intensively trained in the University of Tennessee hospital in TMJ management. He is qualified by the American Dental Association to understand and treat TMD patients. He is the only practicing board-certified periodontist and prosthodontist in the southern United States. He has experience of more than 17 years.
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Frequently Asked Questions on TMJ / TMD
Can I choose the type of oral appliance (splint) I would want?
Your dentist best decides the type of oral appliance. Dr. Adatrow will assess your medical history and your TMJ condition and determine the kind of oral device that will give you the best results.
Will my lifestyle change with the use of TMJ splint?
Initially, you will need some time to get used to the device. After your adjustment period, you will notice that your symptoms will improve. Your quality of life will improve if you adhere to all the instructions, take all the measures for TMJ health, and use the appliance as recommended.
Why can't I use over-the-counter splint?
TMJ splints need to be customized to fit your teeth and oral structures. Dr. Adatrow ensures that the TMJ device is in harmony with your oral structures to ensure the device's maximum comfort and effective functioning. However, when you buy an over the counter device, it might not fit well to your oral structures and lead to complications like worsening of jaw problems or tooth movement. Hence, we do not recommend over the counter devices.
How much does the treatment of temporomandibular disorder cost?
TMJ care cost can vary greatly depending on the extent of your disorder, the cause of your symptoms, and the treatment recommended for you. Moreover, the benefits of your insurance plan would determine the price of your procedure. You can always check with your insurance coverage and approach for any questions you might have. Our team is eager to serve you better.
Will my insurance cover my TMJ treatment?
Either your dental or medical or both might cover your TMD treatment. You can call your insurance agency and discuss your insurance benefits; we can help you in doing the same. If you have any other questions, you can always reach out to us.
Is trauma associated with temporomandibular disorder?
Trauma or injury causes fracture of the lower jaw joint or dislocation of the joint. This will immediately result in temporomandibular disorders (acute onset) or lead to the dysfunction later (chronic), even after the fractures or injury heals.
What are the psychological impacts on & of TMJ?
TMD causes physical and psychological effects on an individual. TMD and stress are inter-related. TMD aggravates stress, and stress aggravates TMD. Similarly, insomnia, fatigue, irritability, and frustration, aggravate TMD. Thus, it is essential to balance your physical, mental, and social health to manage and alleviate TMD.
How do my habits cause TMJ disorder?
Any action that you perform with your mouth that is not related to eating, drinking, or speaking is considered a parafunction. Parafunctional can be bad habits like biting your fingernails or something involuntary like clenching your jaw at night. Whether your para functions are conscious or unconscious, it's essential to try and break these bad habits as they can cause damage to your teeth and temporomandibular joint (TMJ).
Bad habits to break are – biting your fingernails, chewing on a pen or pencil, sleeping on your stomach, eating hard or chewy foods, and using your teeth as a tool (like opening packages, plastic, or glass bottles).
Will physical injury cause TMD?
Physical injury, whether direct or indirect, can cause a fracture of the lower jaw (condylar fracture). This causes disturbance in the growth of the jaw, alteration of the face shape, change of teeth alignment (malocclusion), and restricted jaw opening. All these lead to TMD eventually.
Why is TMJ syndrome more prevalent in women?
Studies have proven that hormonal fluctuations influence TMD. Estrogen is found to influence the inflammatory response and pain perception of the body. It reduces inflammation and increases the pain threshold of a human body. Moreover, estrogen is the hormone predominantly seen in women, especially during reproductive years. During the reproductive years, there will be fluctuations of estrogen levels in the body based on the menstrual cycle stages for women. As a result, there will be variation in inflammation and pain in the temporomandibular joint in women.
How is tooth loss related to temporomandibular disorder?
If you lose a tooth, you will need to readjust how you conduct your jaw movements or functions. If there is a gap due to tooth loss, you would want to change how you chew. Additionally, if you are self-conscious about the impact of tooth loss on your appearance, you would change the way you move your mouth when you speak. This alteration in relation is called occlusal discrepancy and can lead to symptoms of TMD.
