Understanding & Treating TMJ Disorders

Getting to Know TMJ’s Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Are You Experiencing TMJ Symptoms?

TMJ disorders are most notably associated with jaw pain. Whether you are experiencing an aggravating “clicking” or “popping” sound when your jaw opens, or you feel as if your teeth aren’t properly aligning, it is important to know that these are symptoms of TMJ disorders. Dental discomfort, headaches, toothaches, earaches and jaw pain are also all vital signs of TMJ disorders. So what causes TMJ disorder? What can be done to relieve it?

A few things can cause TMJ disorder:

Teeth Grinding (Bruxism)

Arthritis

Trauma To The Head Or Neck

Stress

What Is Teeth Grinding (Bruxism)?

Grinding your teeth (bruxism) can be more damaging than you would imagine. After you wear down the surface of your teeth, it is a common occurrence that the surface of your teeth is uneven. By creating this unevenness, your mouth is unable to close properly, and this can result in jaw pain, headaches, toothaches and more. Initially, we recommend that you stop grinding your teeth as soon as possible to prevent further damage, and to see Dr. Reyes for a consultation if you are concerned about bruxism.

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Treating TMJ Disorders

If you are experiencing TMJ symptoms and are concerned with its associated discomfort, it is best to explore your treatment options—and in this case, we may recommend occlusal adjustment and a bite guard.

An occlusal adjustment is a painless treatment option that requires you to bite down on a piece of thin mylar paper—a color-transfer paper that will accurately show your bite marks, allowing us to see where any interferences are.

After this examination, Dr. Reyes will have a better understanding as to where the interferences are, and can then remove a small amount of your tooth’s surface. This will allow your teeth to align properly once again, and your jaw pain should diminish shortly after.

A bite guard helps protect your smile while you sleep and may be recommended if you grind your teeth at night. Each bite guard is custom made from molds of your mouth and will help prevent the strain on your jaw while you sleep.

If you are experiencing jaw pain, or have any questions regarding TMJ disorders, please feel free to give us a call at 210-791.0719 today!

Paying For Dental Implants

Many patients come to us with concerns about how to pay for their dental implant procedure. We've compiled all our best information about how you can afford dental implants in our Paying For Dental Implants article. Complete the form to get your FREE copy!