TMD Treatment
Experiencing pain and discomfort in the complex temporomandibular joint (TMJ) region of your face is a common symptom of a TMJ disorder, or TMD. If left undiagnosed and untreated, this will develop into chronic pain in this essential joint throughout life.
The team at Dentistry at Millennium Park is expertly trained in working with the teeth, mouth, bite and jaw, so we are highly qualified for dealing with TMD. Our treatment options will both relieve pain and restore the health of your jaw joint and range of jaw movement.
What are the Symptoms of a TMD?
The standard causes of a TMJ disorder usually include one or more of the following:
- Misalignment of teeth
- Arthritis
- Grinding your teeth, usually at night
- Trauma to the face
- Facial injury
It’s essential to care for dental problems like a misaligned bite or injury as they happen. Otherwise, they can lead to a TMD and more extensive and expensive treatment needs down the line.
While everyone has a different dental experience, TMD symptoms usually include one or more of the following:
- Pain, popping and clicking sounds in the TMJ
- Tenderness in the jaw region
- Limitations in motion in the region
- Headaches and migraines
- Earaches
- Shoulder and neck pain and tension
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and suspect you may have a TMD, call our office at (312) 750-9000 to discuss potential options for treatment and pain management.
What Are My Options for Treating TMD?
Like all treatments performed at Dentistry at Millennium Park, we include you in all dental health decisions and provide the necessary information and education so you can make informed decisions and heal.
We start your treatment process with a close examination of the TMJ region. We look for physical symptoms like difficulty opening your mouth or any clicking or popping noises, and ask you about symptoms you notice throughout the day. Make sure to let us know about the tenderness or sensitivity you feel, too, and the intensity of these feelings.
From here, we pinpoint the cause of your pain. If the cause is something outside our range of usual expertise, we tap into our wide professional network and refer you to a specialist, like an oral surgeon.
Using a Mouth Guard to Treat TMD
A typical issue we see when treating patients for TMD is a history of night grinding, or clenching your teeth at night. If you previously had issues like worn, cracked or chipped teeth from grinding, you are at a higher risk of developing TMD.
If it is something like grinding your teeth at night, the solution may be a custom-made mouth guard to prevent your teeth from gnashing together while you’re asleep. Our practice offers nightguard services and can help you get the proper dental appliance for treatment.
Using Botox to Treat TMD
For more severe cases of TMD, we may recommend a solution like Botox injections to the region of pain. Certified dentists can administer Botox for both aesthetic and medical purposes. Certain medications can help, too. We can provide information about this during your appointment.
Lifestyle Changes for Temporomandibular Joint Disorders
Oftentimes, lifestyle changes can relieve TMD. This includes special exercises to relax the jaw, eating softer foods and devoting more time to stress management. This will help you reduce jaw clenching throughout the day and at night, if that is something you do.
Looking for TMD Treatment in Chicago?
At Dentistry at Millennium Park, our expert team specializes in preventative dentistry solutions that preserve the health of your mouth, jaw, teeth and gums. Call our office at (312) 750-9000 to discuss TMD and your options for diagnosis and treatment.
