TMJ Treatment in Boca Raton, FL
If you suffer from chronic jaw pain or muscle tension due to temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), you know how debilitating and painful the condition can be. Dental Care of Boca Raton offers effective treatments for TMJ disorder to help relieve your pain and restore your quality of life.
What Is Tmj Disorder?
TMJ Disorder, also known as temporomandibular joint disorder, is an umbrella term for a group of medical conditions that can cause muscle spasms, facial pain, frequent headaches, sore jaw muscles, and impaired jaw movement. Patients with TMJ disorder may also experience a misaligned bite and a clicking noise when opening their mouth.
It is caused when the basic anatomy of the joint connecting the jaw with the skull is not functioning properly. Symptoms can include:
- Chronic headaches
- Neck pain
- Ear pain
- Trouble opening or closing your mouth all the way
- Damaged teeth
- Chronic tooth sensitivity
- Bite misalignment (crooked bite)
- Head muscle tightness
TMJ can be caused by a number of different things:
- Jaw injury from an accident or facial trauma
- Arthritis in the jaw joint
- Connective tissue disorder
- Bruxism- clenching or grinding teeth
- Chronic stress
If you are experiencing any of these painful symptoms, especially joint pain or tension at night, contact us for a proper diagnosis and our dentist can work with you to create a treatment plan to relieve pain and restore your jaw mobility.
Treatment for TMJ Disorders
When you come in for a consultation, our dentist will perform a thorough examination of your mouth and jaw to determine the cause of your symptoms. We may take digital x-rays to get a better look at the jaw bones.
TMJ At-Home Treatment
There are a few things you can do at home to help relieve some of the pain associated with TMJ disorder.
- Since stress can trigger TMJ pain, try some stress management techniques at home, like meditation or yoga.
- You can take over-the-counter pain relievers or anti-inflammatory medications to help alleviate the pain. Apply a warm compress to the jaw area to help relax the muscles.
- Avoid hard or chewy foods that require a lot of chewing.
Dental Treatment for TMJ Pain
If self-care treatments are not providing enough relief, our dentist can provide more advanced treatments for TMJ disorder.
- We may recommend a custom-made oral appliance, such as a night guard or an orthotic stabilization appliance, to help reduce the pain and protect your teeth from grinding or clenching.
- We may also suggest physical therapy and jaw exercises to help strengthen the jaw muscles and facial muscles and improve the range of motion.
- In certain cases, Botox injections can help relax the stiff muscles and relieve pain.
Surgical Treatment for TMJ Pain
In severe cases, surgery may be necessary to correct any structural problems in the jaw joint. Surgical options should only be used as a last resort, such as in cases of severe degeneration or when a positioning appliance can’t move your teeth and jaws into the proper position.
- Arthroscopy: Arthroscopy is a type of minimally invasive surgical procedure used to treat conditions affecting the joint structures in the body. During an arthroscopic procedure, a thin, lighted tube called an arthroscope is inserted into the joint through a small incision. Once inserted, a high-definition camera attached to the arthroscope allows the surgeon to visualize and analyze any issues within the joint. Then, the doctor can trim away excess tissue or remove loose pieces of bone or cartilage that may be causing pain.
- Open Joint Surgery: Open joint surgery is a surgical procedure where the surgeon opens the joint in order to access and repair the damage. The procedure involves making an incision in the skin in order to expose the tissue and structures underneath. The surgeon then repairs or replaces any damaged or worn parts. Open joint surgery can restore mobility and decrease pain caused by TMJ.
Recovery After Tmj Surgery
If you need TMJ surgery, you’ll need to take a few days of rest after your procedure in order to fully heal. You may experience some discomfort or facial swelling, but you can take pain medication and use an ice pack to relieve discomfort.
Contact Us for Tmj Treatment in Boca Raton, FL
You don’t have to live with constant pain due to jaw disorders. At Dental Care of Boca Raton, we will create an individualized treatment plan to relieve your chronic pain from TMJ disorder. Contact our office today to find out about your treatment options for TMJ disorder.