Did you know that in the United States, around 5-12% of adults suffer from temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder? At Golden State Smiles with two locations in San Leandro and Concord, California, the skillful and compassionate dentists provide effective personalized treatments for TMJ. Dharaben Munjpara, DDS, Douglas Mo, DDS, and the team know that TMJ isn’t just jaw pain, and you might also be dealing with headaches, neck pain, and more. Golden State Smiles has solutions that offer relief from jaw pain and excessive teeth clenching and grinding. Call the office nearest you or request an appointment online today.
TMJ is a medical condition involving problems with your temporomandibular joint — a hinge joint connecting your jaw to your skull. This joint allows you to move your jaw, talk, yawn, and chew your food.
TMJ might be associated with muscle or jawbone complications due to several factors, such as:
Many people subconsciously grind their teeth at night or during the day because of anxiety and stress.
TMJ can pose more serious complications, such as scar tissue, bone damage and bone death, and tumors in the jaw area.
The hallmark symptom of TMJ is moderate to severe pain, soreness, and discomfort in the area around your jaw.
Other symptoms of TMJ include:
You might also hear grating, popping, and clicking sounds coming from your jaw joint when you move it.
Golden State Smiles provides effective treatments for TMJ, depending on the severity and cause. In some cases, your provider might offer medications, such as muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatories. Other treatment options include manual jaw exercises and jaw manipulation.
Your provider might suggest a splint or nightguard to prevent nighttime or daytime teeth clenching and grinding.
Your provider might also recommend certain dental procedures. This typically involves replacing missing teeth and using dental prostheses like crowns or bridges. It might also involve getting braces that can correct your bite, protect your oral health, balance your biting surfaces, and improve your smile.
In some cases, your provider might suggest an oral surgery, if your jaws aren’t aligned correctly or if your teeth don’t seem to fit your jaws. At Golden State Smiles, the gifted team can reposition misaligned jaws, perform corrective jaw surgery, and much more. Your provider might also educate you on healthy lifestyle changes that can help you find relief from TMJ.
Don’t just suffer from the pain and bothersome symptoms related to TMJ. Use the online booking tool or call the office nearest you today.
