TMJ Treatment Torrington
You Do Not Have to Live with Jaw Pain!
Jaw pain and related symptoms can cause discomfort from day to day and affect your quality of life. The good news is that you do not have to live with such issues! Our Torrington dental practice is proud to offer multiple treatment options for TMJ Disorder. After we evaluate the health of your teeth and jaws, we can advise you on how you can find long-lasting relief from your symptoms. Continue reading below to learn more, or get in touch with us to request a consultation.
Why Choose Torrington Dental Care for TMJ Treatment?
- Conservative & Minimally Invasive Treatment Options
- Caring & Highly Skilled Dental Team
- Multiple Payment Options Accepted
What Is TMJ Disorder?
The “TMJ” part of TMJ disorder stands for temporomandibular joint, which consists of the hinges that control movements of the lower jaw. TMJ disorder (also known as TMJ dysfunction or simply TMD) is the condition that occurs when the TMJ suffers damage or inflammation. This can affect the surrounding tissues, including the facial muscles, neck, and more. Various factors can contribute to the development of TMD, including stress, teeth grinding, past oral injuries, dental misalignment, and more.
Symptoms of TMJ Disorder
TMD can cause a wide range of symptoms. Some of the most common include:
- Pain or tenderness in the jaw
- Difficulty chewing or biting, especially when consuming tough foods
- Clicking or popping sounds in the jaw
- Locking of the jaw joint or limited jaw mobility
- Facial pain or aching
- Earaches or ringing in the ears
- Headaches or migraines
- Swelling on the sides of the face
- Pain in the back, neck, or shoulders
Types of Treatment
There is no “one size fits all” solution to TMD. In order to determine how to help you find relief, we should perform a comprehensive evaluation. We will ask about your symptoms, examine your teeth, and take some X-rays to look for any abnormalities in your jaw joint or the surrounding areas that might be contributing to your symptoms. After our examination, we may recommend one of the following treatment options:
Occlusal Splint
An occlusal splint is a special type of orthotic device that resembles a mouthguard. It can gently reposition the jaw and help the surrounding muscles to relax. It can also serve as a barrier that prevents teeth grinding, thereby helping to reduce pain and lowering your risk of dental damage.
Equilibration/Occlusal Adjustment
Sometimes, small abnormalities in occlusion (bite) contribute to TMJ disorder. If that is true in your case, we may make minor adjustments to your teeth and/or existing restorations. Doing so may allow your upper and lower teeth to work in better harmony, leading to a long-lasting reduction of your symptoms.
TMJ Treatment FAQs
Q: Can TMJ Be Cured Permanently?
A: It is possible to experience long-term relief from TMJ disorder (TMD). Often, this only happens if the underlying cause of the issue is addressed. For example, occlusal splints and equilibration can help to correct issues within the jaw joint and surrounding tissues that are causing symptoms.
Other approaches to treatment may only provide temporary relief. This is often true of home remedies, which may involve things like eating a soft diet, applying heat/ice, or taking over-the-counter pain medications.
Q: Can TMJ Be Fixed with Braces?
A:In some cases, TMD occurs due to dental misalignment. For example, an overbite or underbite can place stress on the jaw joints and lead to TMD symptoms. Imperfections in the way the upper and lower teeth come together can also negatively affect your jaw.
Over time, braces can correct such issues. Many patients who undergo orthodontic treatment find that their TMD symptoms are significantly reduced or even completely eliminated.
Q: Is TMJ Treatment Safe?
A: Most of the methods used for TMJ treatment in Torrington are non-invasive or minimally invasive. They tend to carry very little risk, especially when they are provided by a qualified dental team.
Of course, some treatments have a greater level of risk than others. For example, severe problems might need to be addressed via surgery. Surgery can be complex, and complications, such as infections, sometimes occur.
Q: Can TMJ Be Treated Without Surgery?
A: Yes. In fact, the vast majority of TMD cases can be corrected without surgery. Approaches like braces, occlusal splints, and equilibration are generally quite effective. However, these methods are inadequate for certain situations. If we choose to refer you to a specialist for a surgical consultation, you can be confident that we have already explored more conservative options and have deemed them to be unsuitable for your unique case.
Q: How Long Does TMJ Treatment Take?
A: The timeline for TMJ treatment depends on the specific methods being used. Some measures can provide fast but temporary relief. This is often true of things like dietary changes and the use of pain medications. Some patients experience relatively quick and long-lasting results from equilibration (for others, it takes longer to see results.) Similarly, a portion of our patients notice a difference after using their occlusal splint for just a short time.
If you need orthodontic treatment to address your TMD, you may have to wear braces for up to 18 – 36 months. That might seem like a long time, but the benefits you may experience will be well worth it when all is said and done.