TMJ Therapy

TMD – Temporomandibular Disorders

Do you have frequent headaches, earaches, tender jaw muscles or a dull, aching facial pain? Does your jaw lock or stray to one side when you open your mouth? These aches and pains may be related to the jaw joint, called the temporomandibular  joint or “TMJ,” and the muscles that work to move the joint. When the source of these problems is this joint or its muscles, they are often referred to as “TMD” for temporomandibular disorders.

*TMJ Joint -where blue arrow is

Signs and symptoms

A temporomandibular disorder is a condition, not a specific disease. TMDs can have many different signs and symptoms, from mild to severe. Some patients may have symptoms but are still able to fully function in their everyday lives. TMDs appear to be more common in women. Specific signs and symptoms include:

• pain in or around the ear

• tender jaw muscles

• clicking or popping noises in the jaw

• difficulty opening or closing the mouth

• pain when yawning or chewing

• jaw joints that feel as if they are “locked,” “stuck” or they “go out”

• headaches

What causes TMD?

Several conditions may be linked with TMD. This often makes it difficult to pinpoint the cause of a particular case of TMD. These conditions include:

• jaw or head injuries

• diseases that affect the muscles or joints, such as arthritis

• tooth grinding

• anxiety and/or stress

To determine how best to treat your TMD, a complete evaluation is recommended. Our dentists will check the joints and muscles for tenderness, clicking, popping or difficulty moving. Your complete medical history will be reviewed, so it is important to keep your dental office record up-to-date about your health even though you may not think it has anything to do with your teeth. Our dentists will take X-rays of your teeth, jaw or TMJ, and may make a model of your teeth to see how your bite fits together.

 

How the jaw joints and muscles work

The joints and muscles on each side of your jaw work to open and close the mouth. These joints move in many different directions to give you the range of motion needed to chew, talk and swallow.

The two temporomandibular joints are among the most complex joints in the body. They work together in a delicate balance with muscles, ligaments, cartilage and your jaw bones. Pain can result when these parts don’t work together properly.

Treatment Options

For some patients, the disorders may disappear by themselves; for others, they may come and go, or may worsen over time. TMD disorders are often managed, rather than cured.

There are a number of ways in which TMD may be managed. Success likely will require you and your dentist working together to find what the approach that relieve your symptoms.

Treatment may involve a series of steps. The step-by-step plan will allow you to try simple treatment before moving on to something that is more involved. Experts generally recommend a “less is often best” approach to treating TMJ disorders. This means that the simplest treatment that provides you with pain relief may be the best for you.

 

The following self-care practices may be recommended:

• eating softer foods or avoiding foods that cause symptoms

• minimize extreme jaw movements, such as yawning, yelling or singing

• avoid chewing gum

• using heat or ice packs to relieve the pain

• practicing relaxation techniques to control jaw tension, such as meditation

 

If necessary, our dentists will recommend the following to relieve your symptoms:

• exercises to strengthen jaw muscles

• medicines to reduce pain or inflammation, or to help you relax

• a night guard or bite plate to decrease clenching or grinding of teeth

 

In some cases, our dentists may recommend fixing an uneven bite by adjusting or reshaping some teeth. Orthodontic treatment may also be recommended.

 

 

Click here for more information on TMJ/TMD disorders

©2019 American Dental Association

Keeping Ahead of COVID-19

Providing a safe environment for treatment and control for infectious disease is always a priority at Paul Stanovick DDS. Our expansive reception area and large outdoor deck provides space to easily support regulations surrounding social distancing. The treatment rooms provide an extra layer of protection as they are sanitized between each patient and provide clean air through air purifiers located in each room. You will see some changes during your next appointment as we have added precautions to protect patients and staff. You will be asked to enter the building with use of facial protection and asked to wear it until you are in the treatment room. Hand sanitizer is also available throughout the whole building for your use. You may notice that our magazine and children’s books have been removed from the reception area as they are harder to disinfect. We have installed plexiglass around our front reception area for added distancing between front staff and patients waiting for appointments. Air purifiers have been placed in every operatory with two larger purifiers in the front and back of the office. We have provided face shields, lab jackets and barrier gowns for all clinical staff. Our hours of operation will still remain Monday -Friday 8am-5pm. We are looking forward to seeing you again and are happy to answer any questions you may have about treatment and the safety precautions we are taking here at the practice. If you would like to make an appointment you can give us a call or text 804.781.1919. Thank you for your patience during these changing times and for your trust in us with taking care of your dental needs. Sincerely, Dr. Paul Stanovick, Dr. Brant Stanovick, and Staff.