Good TMJ Dentist

Common jaw pain, often called Temporomandibular Joint, or TMJ, affects a lot of people. Many people put up with the pain for years, often thinking that there is no remedy for it. A TMJ dentist specializes in treating it, and this may be just the treatment you need to get the relief you want.

Symptoms You May Experience

TMJ is a name given to a broad range of symptoms. In general, they are often caused by a misalignment of the jaw, or by inflammation in it. Misalignment can occur as a result of physical trauma, an eroding of the jawbone, or by grinding your teeth (bruxism).

Symptoms resulting from TMJ are often so wide-ranging that they may seem to be totally unrelated. TMJ is more often experienced by women than men. The symptoms may include:

  • Headaches or migraines
  • Jaw pain
  • Pain in the neck or shoulders
  • Swelling of the face
  • Earaches
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Toothaches
  • Difficulty in opening or closing of the mouth
  • Locking, or stiffness of the jaw

Tests a TMJ Dentist May Use

Because the symptoms are so wide-ranging, people often do not realize that the above types of pain may be caused by problems with the jawbone. The dentist can ask questions and perform some analytical tests to rule out other possible causes. Imaging tests may be included to examine the jaw, head, face, and neck areas.

Common Procedures to Diminish Pain from TMJ

Depending on the exact cause of the pain, there is a solution often used to provide a remedy. Some medications may be used to help reduce the inflammation. In most cases, non-invasive treatment is used, and it is also drug-free. One such remedy is called a dental splint. This device fits in your mouth comfortably.

Other remedies may also be used, but these will vary, depending on the particular dentist you see. Inflammation will also need to be reduced in most cases, requiring some antibiotics. This can cause pain because your joints are swollen and there may be fluid in the joints that will make it difficult, and painful, to close your mouth or chew.

A Dentist Will Provide Some Lifestyle Tips

Besides helping you to find a solution to your TMJ, a dentist that specializes in it will likely also give you some tips on things you can do at home. These tips can help you cope better with the pain, and will help you to find faster relief. They will show you what kind of foods is less likely to aggravate the pain, the use of ice for relief, and may give you instructions for some therapeutic jaw exercises.

If you are currently suffering from TMJ pain, or if you think it might be related, be sure to find a TMJ dentist. You want one that has experience treating TMJ problems, and one who is also using some of the latest technologies and methods of treatment. The sooner you go, the faster you will be able to find the relief you need.

 

TMJ Dentist

420 Lexington Ave, Suite 228.
New York, NY 10170
(212) 682-7200