TMJ Treatment

TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder) is the painful inflammation of the joints between the lower jaw and the skull. It can be caused by a number of factors, from sore muscles, displaced discs, or misaligned teeth. The symptoms are often painful and stiff, and long-term issues with TMJ can greatly impact your oral health and overall health.

“How Do I Know If I Have TMJ?”

Have you experienced any of the following symptoms?

• Stiffness in the jaw muscles
• Lock-jaw (unable to fully open the jaw)
• Clicking, popping, or grating noises from the jaw joint
• Pain in the face, jaw, and neck
• Teeth misalignment
• Headaches
• Migraines

To determine if you have TMJ, pay a visit to Lehigh Valley Oral Surgery and Implant Center. A quick evaluation by Dr. Chaudhry can tell you if you have TMJ and the severity of your condition.

Treatment Options

By speaking with Dr. Chaudhry, you can also discover which treatment fits your situation. Not all TMJ patients are the same, and we want to ensure that your particular treatment not only works, but also works long-term. Take a look below at some options:

• Stabilizing Guards: These are similar to nightguards, which are plastic retainers that you wear at night, leaving a space between both arches of teeth. These guards can be fashioned to adjust your bite or relieve pressure in certain areas.
• Dental Implants: If you’re missing one or more teeth, these missing teeth could definitely be a cause of your TMJ. As such, it would be smart to invest in dental implants to replace those teeth. These can be custom-made to fit your smile and be adjusted as needed. Rest assured that they also look and function like real teeth.

Surgical Approach: In extreme cases, the jawbone itself could be out of alignment, or other oral deformities are the cause of your TMJ. In these cases, surgical treatment may be the best, in order to adjust the trouble areas and ensure a lifetime of TMJ relief.