TMJ Therapy – Syracuse, NY
Providing the Relief You Need from TMJ Pain
Your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is one of the most complex joint systems in the body. It is responsible for allowing various movements of your jaw so you can comfortably talk, laugh, eat, chew, and yawn. There is no other joint or hinge in your body that lets you move forward and backward, up and down, and side to side.
What Is TMJ Disorder?
When your jaw joint isn’t functioning correctly, the condition is called temporomandibular disorder, or TMD. TMD sometimes causes a lot of discomfort and can greatly affect your quality of life. It may also be difficult to diagnose it on your own without the help of your dentist.
What Causes TMD?
The causes of TMD vary greatly with each patient, and it’s important to determine the root cause of the problem in order to choose the most effective treatment for the disorder. Some of the causes of TMD might be:
- A misaligned bite
- Bruxism – or clenching and grinding your teeth
- Stress or anxiety
- Trauma or an accident
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of TMD?
TMD results in different symptoms for every patient, and sometimes they can be very debilitating. Some of the indicators of TMD may be:
- Pain or tenderness when biting or chewing
- Popping or clicking of the jaw joint
- Frequent headaches or migraines
- The jaw locking in the open or closed position
- Pain in your shoulder, neck, or ear
What Are the Long-Term Effects of TMD?
TMD can become quite unbearable for some patients and if it’s not treated effectively it could lead to more long-term concerns such as:
- Hearing damage or loss – This can occur when inflammation around the jaw joint is not eliminated
- Neck, shoulder, and back pain – Caused due to overcompensation by other muscle groups in the body
- Depression – This may be a result of dealing with chronic pain
How Do We Treat TMD?
Your team at Creative Dental Concepts offers TMJ therapy in Syracuse, which can help to alleviate the signs and symptoms of TMD. Dr. Craybas will provide an evaluation to determine what the root cause of your TMD is, which will help decide the best course of action for treatment.
In many cases, TMD can be alleviated with a mouth guard worn at night, which stops bruxism. Some patients may look to orthodontics as a solution if bite misalignment is causing their TMD. Our dentist may also recommend a specialist for patients suffering from severe cases of TMD that is affecting their daily life.
You don’t have to live with TMD pain or discomfort any longer! Contact Creative Dental Concepts today to schedule an evaluation with our dentist.