Total Care Dental Madison

Understanding Temporomandibular Joint Pain

TMJ Joint Causes Dental problems The temporomandibular joints (TMJ) are located in front of the ear where the skull and lower jaw meet. It permits the lower jaw (mandible) to move up and down and side to side, allowing you to chew, talk and yawn.

TMJ disorders (TMD) are common and have a variety of symptoms:

Headaches
Earaches
Migraines
Limited ability to open your mouth
Jaw gets stuck open or closed

Tired facial muscles
Teeth not fitting together properly
Dizziness
Swelling
Upper shoulder pain

These uncomfortable symptoms of TMD can disrupt your daily life. Total Care Dental offers our patients the best in local dental health services, including TMJ therapy. Our Madison clinic helps provide life-changing relief from the symptoms TMJ sufferers experience. Schedule a consultation to learn more about your treatment options.

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What Causes TMJ?

Determining the cause of a TMJ problem is important to providing the most effective treatment. The parts of the bones that interact in the joint are covered with cartilage and separated by a small shock-absorbing disc, which normally keeps the movement smooth. Pain can occur if this disc erodes, or moves out of its proper alignment. This can be caused by arthritis damage to the joint’s cartilage, stress, grinding or clenching your teeth or if the joint is damaged by an accident.

How is TMJ Related to My Dental Health?

TMJ primarily causes pain throughout the mouth and jaw. The condition itself can lead to tooth damage from repeated grinding or clenching. Over time this will wear away at your teeth. Dental crowns or bridges may be necessary to repair a smile affected by TMJ.

Diagnosing TMJ is difficult, as many people experience different symptoms. Our dentists can provide X-rays and 3D imaging of your teeth to help your doctor make an accurate diagnosis. Then treatment options can be explored to protect your teeth and jaw.

If you develop bruxism as a side effect of your TMJ, a custom-fit mouthguard from our dentists will reduce teeth grinding.

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Consult your Dental Specialist about Jaw Pain

To help determine the cause of your pain and to prepare for your TMJ appointment, consider making a list of information your dental specialist may ask for, such as:

When did you first notice your symptoms?
Have you experienced this problem before?
Are you more stressed than usual?
What medications and supplements do you take?
Do your symptoms come and go, or is the pain constant?
Does a particular activity trigger the pain?

Temporary Home Remedies to Alleviate Pain

There is no cure for TMJ, but there are many ways to manage symptoms. Some temporary home remedies for TMJ pain include the following:

Avoid overuse of your jaw muscles by eating soft food and cutting food into smaller pieces
Apply heat or ice to your jaw to ease tension and pain
Carefully stretch and massage your jaw muscles

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Frequently Asked Questions About TMJ Therapy

What causes TMJ disorders?

Contact our Madison Dental Clinic for complete oral health care at 608-274-1911 or Request a Dental Appointment online!

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Total Care Dental offers multi-level payment options for a variety of dental care services at our Madison, WI location. Enjoy routine checkups, cleanings, x-rays, periodontal preventative care and more without the hassle of dealing with insurance companies that don't value your time or health needs.

Benefits include:

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