07
Nov
TMJ Solutions for Long-term Pain Relief
Your TMJs (temporomandibular joints) control the movement of your jaw. These joint malfunctions can lead to jaw pain, headaches, restricted jaw mobility, and other painful TMJ symptoms. At Orcutt Family Dentistry in Fair Oaks, California, we offer TMJ disorder treatments to help restore pain-free jaw mobility and normalcy to your life. In this post, Dr. Brian Orcutt answers questions we’re often asked about this condition.
What’s the difference between TMJ and TMD?
The acronym TMJ stands for your temporomandibular joint. However, it’s often used to describe the symptoms of TMD, which is TMJ disorder. TMJ disorder is a condition causing problems with your jaw muscles, joints, ligaments, and facial nerves.Â
What causes TMJ disorders?
Various factors can contribute to TMJ disorders (TMDs). These include jaw injuries, poor jaw alignment, arthritis, bad bite, stress, bruxism, or a combination of these. Dr. Orcutt will thoroughly evaluate your condition to help determine the cause so we can recommend your best treatment option.Â
What are the symptoms of TMD?
TMD symptoms range from jaw pain and discomfort to:
- Clicking or popping noises emanating from your jaw
- Frequent headaches
- Earaches
- Migraines
- Restricted jaw movements
- Difficulty chewing
- Facial, neck, or shoulder painÂ
- Uneven wear on your teeth due to teeth grinding
Who’s at risk of developing TMD?
Although anyone can develop TMJ disorder, you’re at greater risk if you’re a woman, if you’re between the ages of 18 and 44, and if you’re already suffering chronic pain from another health issue such as rheumatoid arthritis or sciatica. People who are predisposed to inflammation or stress are also at greater risk of TMD.
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How long can TMD symptoms last?
Sometimes, TMD symptoms are temporary, lasting a few days or weeks, and then they go away independently. Other times, people with TMD suffer chronic symptoms that grow worse with time. If your condition has persisted for some time, getting an accurate diagnosis from Dr. Orcutt to pinpoint the cause of TMD is the first step to obtaining long-term pain relief. Â
What are my options for TMD treatment?
Dr. Orcutt and our team offer the following options for TMD treatment:
- Disclusion Time Reduction (aka DTR). DTR measures how your teeth touch each other allowing Dr. Orcutt to smooth your teeth so that they touch like they are supposed to. This reduces the stress on your facial muscles and joint, allowing for healing to occur for your TMJ symptoms. This is the most conservative, accurate, and long-lasting TMJ treatment. Â
- Custom-fitted mouth guards to improve your jaw alignment, ease jaw tension, and minimize problems with teeth-grinding
- Medications to relieve pain and swelling, muscle relaxants to relieve tension in your jaw, but this is only a temporary solution
- Physical therapy exercises for your jaw to strengthen your jaw muscles, ease pain, and improve jaw flexibility and mobilityÂ
- Corticosteroid injections to minimize jaw inflammation and pain
- Orthodontics to correct problems with jaw alignment, bad bites, and bruxism permanently
- Jaw surgery for severe TMD cases to provide permanent pain relief
Where can I go for safe and effective TMJ therapy near me?
If you live in or near Fair Oaks, California, you can come to Orcutt Family Dentistry for TMJ disorder treatment. Contact Dr. Brian Orcutt at (916) 963-9986 to schedule a consultation for TMJ pain relief.Â
