TMJ/TMD Therapy – Mt. Pleasant, TX
Relief from Chronic Jaw Pain & Headaches
Are you bothered by a jaw that makes popping or clicking sounds whenever you open your mouth? Have you been getting headaches or jaw pain lately? Do you find that sometimes your mouth gets stuck whenever you try to open or close it? All of these issues may point to a problem with your jaw joint, also known as a TMJ disorder. Dr. Sikes is able to diagnose and treat this type of disorder so that you don’t have to live with the pain anymore. You can learn more about the solutions he offers by reaching out to our office today.
Why Choose Robert C. Sikes DDS for TMJ/TMD Therapy?
- Dentist with Many Years of Experience
- Custom-Made Treatments for Every Patient
- Warm & Friendly Office Atmosphere
What Is TMJ Disorder?
TMJ stands for “temporomandibular joint”, which is the name for the joints on either side of your head that keep the lower jaw connected to the skull. The TMJs are what allow you to chew your food and speak clearly. Unfortunately, because they’re rather complex compared to other joints, they’re prone to becoming injured or strained. This can result in a TMJ disorder, which in turn leads to all kinds of symptoms that can negatively impact your quality of life.
Symptoms of TMJ Disorder
There are many different warning signs that you might have a TMJ disorder including:
- Chronic or Frequent Pain: Jaw pain is one of the most common consequences of a TMJ disorder. You might also experience pain in your head, neck, shoulders, or back.
- Tinnitus: Tinnitus is the term for ringing in the ears. People with TMJ disorder often experience constant tinnitus, possibly due to the pressure on the joints radiating to the ears.
- Limited Jaw Movement: If the TMJs aren’t functioning properly, you may have trouble moving your jaw, and it might occasionally get stuck in place.
- Constant Clicking Sounds: Occasional clicking sounds in the jaw joints aren’t anything to worry about, but if they happen frequently and are accompanied by the other symptoms listed above, chances are they’re linked to a TMJ disorder.
Types of TMJ Treatment
So how can TMJ disorder be treated? There may be a few different answers to that question depending on what exactly caused the problem in the first place. We need to examine your mouth and jaw first before we can suggest what steps to take to address your TMJ pain.
Occlusal Splint
In many cases, we may recommend an occlusal splint to treat a TMJ disorder. This is a customized oral appliance that can perform two important functions:
- It stops the upper and lower rows of teeth from making direct contact with each other, which helps prevent the unconscious grinding and clenching of the teeth that can make a TMJ disorder worse.
- It slightly moves the jaw to help it find a more comfortable resting place that doesn’t put as much pressure on the joints. This helps reduce your pain in the present and may even lead to permanent improvements in the long term.
TMJ Treatment FAQs
Can TMJ Be Cured Permanently?
If the TMJ disorder is relatively mild, discomfort associated with it may eventually fade on its own over time. However, if you notice that your condition is worsening over time, it may be necessary to take some steps toward treatment.
We make use of occlusal splints, which are designed to relieve tension in the jaw and to therefore address the underlying cause of your condition. Once this treatment has taken effect, you should find that the relief is lasting.
Is TMJ Treatment Safe?
Of course, there are mild risks associated with just about any dental procedure that you could possibly get; the key thing is to understand them, and to do what needs to be done to ensure that they don’t affect you. We are experts in the functioning of the teeth and jaw, which means that we know what could go wrong with any given treatment and will be able to help you avoid the potential pitfalls.
All this is to say that you won’t have to worry about the safety of any of your treatments if you get them from us—we wouldn’t perform them if we didn’t believe that they were right for you.
How Long Does Occlusal Equilibration Take for TMJ?
Depending on the nature of the changes that need to be made, you could need several appointments in order to completely address the underlying causes of your issues. That being the case, it’s possible for the length of your treatment to change depending on any number of factors, requiring anywhere from one to three visits to our office. Thankfully the appointments themselves are fairly brief.
However, once the adjustments and splints are in place, you should start to experience relief from some of the worst symptoms of TMJ. Things will only get better from here until your symptoms are entirely mitigated.
Can TMJ Be Treated Without Surgery?
TMJ can absolutely be treated without surgery—in fact, this is the ideal outcome. We know that patients aren’t necessarily excited about the prospect of surgical intervention, and we feel the same way.
Essentially, the best thing for you to do is to get the least invasive treatment capable of giving you the relief that you need. Changing the shape of the jaw or the surrounding anatomy through surgery is typically a last resort. We’ll be able to give you more personalized advice regarding what kind of treatment you need when we meet you in person.