You stopped chewing gum weeks ago. It wasn’t really a choice either, because whenever you did, your jaw would pop and crack like you were making something in a skillet. Eventually the pain spread to your whole head and gum would immediately equal headaches. You’ve started to notice the pain even when you aren’t chewing. You find yourself distracted when you talk. You could be experiencing a TMJ disorder. What are your options for TMJ treatment in Summerlin?
Wait, What Does TMJ Stand For?
“TMJ” stands for temporomandibular joint, which is the set of joints that connect your jaw to the head. They are placed in front of either ear, and you can probably feel them moving whenever you are talking and chewing. If you are experiencing TMD, or a temporomandibular joint disorder, you are probably very aware of them. Common signs of TMD are:
- Pain in the jaw
- Swelling around the TMJ
- Difficulty opening or closing the mouth
- Getting the jaw “stuck” or “locked”
- Noticeable grinding, popping, or clicking
The exact cause of TMD isn’t known, but factors such as teeth grinding, stress, or previous physical trauma have been show to precede it. Often, people will grind their teeth unknowingly in their sleep, or clench their jaw and not even realize it.
What Can I Do To Treat My TMJ?
TMJ treatment falls under the umbrella of neuromuscular dentistry, which focuses on how the jaw and muscles of the face interact with each other. Dr. West has been specially trained in this discipline so she can help patients with TMD. This will enable her to try and find the most relaxed, natural position for your jaw in order to relieve the pain. She can do this by having you do a few exercises to see how your jaw actually moves. She will then perform something called a K7 evaluation, which uses a machine especially designed to analyze the muscles in your jaw to see which position is the most relaxed. Once she has figured this out, she make suggest treatment with an oral appliance. This is a customized mouth guard that gently shifts the jaw so it remains in a comfortable position. It would mostly be worn when the patient is asleep so the muscles can heal and naturally acclimate to the new position, as well as prevent you from grinding your teeth. She may also use a TENS machine, which uses gentle low-frequency electrical impulse to stimulate healing in your jaw.
What Can I Do?
If you are experiencing chronic pain in your jaw that is effecting your life, please give us a call today so we can help you. TMJ pain is very treatable, so you no longer have to suffer.