TMJ Treatment
SRD on Helton Drive in Florence, AL
 You have two joints connecting your skull to your lower jaw, called the temporomandibular joints - or "TMJ" for short. They are the joints between the mandible and the temporal bone that rotate and slide in front of your ears. The TMJ is one of the most complicated joints.
Mandible movements are governed by these joints and muscles, which allow movement from side to side, up, backward, and forward. In a healthy mandible and aligned joints, muscle actions that operate smoothly, such as yawning, swallowing, chewing, and talking are possible.
Several problems may arise if the muscles, disk, ligaments, temporal bone, and jawbone aren't aligned, or synchronized in movement. Our dentists and team of professionals at Singing River Dentistry are well trained and experienced in treating TMJ and TMD issues.
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What is TMD?
Disorders of the jaw muscles, temporomandibular joints, and nerves are called temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Temporomandibular disorder results from any problem preventing the muscles, bones, and joints from working together smoothly.
TMD includes myofascial pain, joint derangement, and degenerative joint disease. The most familiar form of TMD is myofascial pain. The fascia is affected, causing pain or discomfort in the jaw, shoulders, or neck.
Displacement of the disk or jaw dislocation, or condyle injury, the rounded part of the jaw that communicates with the temporal skull bone, results in internal derangement of the joint. In the joint of the jaw, degenerative joint disease can occur due to rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis.
Causes of TMD
There is no clear trigger for the generalized disorders of the temporomandibular joint. The following are some examples of things that might contribute to the development of TMD:
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Excessive jaw joint strain and the muscles controlling chewing, speech, and swallowing can sometimes be the main cause.
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In some cases, bruxism may be to blame. Grinding or clenching of the teeth is habitual, involuntary, and uncontrollable.
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However, jaw, head, or neck trauma may be responsible for TMD.
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The disks in the jaw joint can also be displaced by TMD or arthritis.
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Other painful conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome and fibromyalgia may exacerbate the pain of TMD. |
Symptoms and Signs
Some of the most general symptoms and signs of TMD are jaw soreness and discomfort, headaches, ears that are ringing, earaches, jaw popping or clicking, teeth grinding and clenching, dizziness, finger tingling and numbness, and a change in bite.
TMD symptoms may appear to be the same as those of other medical conditions. If you are unsure of your condition, request an appointment to come in for a consultation at our new Florence location on Helton Drive.
Treatments for TMD
Based on factors such as age, your general health, your medical history, your personal preference, and the severity of your condition, we can recommend the best treatment for you.
As part of the treatment, the patient may be instructed to rest their jaw, take pain relievers, practice stress management and relaxation techniques, perform physical therapy, perform posture training, adjust their diet, and use heat and ice packs. The more severe the case, the more likely it is that surgery will be recommended or required.
Your Florence AL Dentist on Helton Drive Treats TMD! Call Today!
For more information about TMD and the available treatments, please call us Singing River Dentistry. We would like to invite you to schedule an appointment today by contacting us at (256) 904-4220.
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