With the right TMJ treatments, you can live without jaw pain or discomfort. Go into your dental appointment with confidence by learning all about the treatment process for TMJ.
Repetitive stress or acute injuries to the temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, causes muscle and nerve damage, resulting in potentially severe pain and discomfort. The damage and resulting painful flare ups tend to increase with time until you are able to acquire treatment from a skilled dentist. Your dental professionals can diagnose this condition as TMJ syndrome, and then utilize different types of orthodontic devices and treatments to help your jaw joints make a full recovery. Understanding the different phases of TMJ treatment Little Rock will help prepare you for this process.
Night Guards and Splints
Dentists tend to move quickly to minimize TMJ symptoms and help the tissues heal fully with the right level of care. If you grind or clench your teeth at night, for example, your dentist will utilize key types of orthodontic devices to stop that behavior.
Night guards, in particular, remain the best approach to limiting jaw damage from bruxism, or grinding your teeth at night. For daytime relief of pain and discomfort, you may need dental splints that allow you to find relief from pain up to eight hours each day. The splints simply brace your jaw to minimize the painful impact of an improper bite on your TMJ symptoms.
Equilibration
The TMJ splints also help tell a story about how much your particular bite contributes to the development of jaw pain. If you experience excellent relief from splinting your jaw, you may be a great candidate for equilibration. During this procedure, your dentist will reshape the upper surfaces of your teeth to bring your jaw back into alignment and decrease pressure on the joint. Most patients only need one appointment for this procedure, though slight adjustments in the future may help further control your TMJ symptoms.
Restoration
When dental decay and worn enamel contribute to bite issues and TMJ pain, your dentist can perform restoration procedures to reverse the effects of the damage. The restoration process may include dental crowns, bridges, implants and other corrective procedures, which help restore natural jaw and bite alignments. The restoration process is highly personal and planned using your x-rays, impressions and examination results.
Physical Therapy
Throughout every phase of the TMJ treatment process, you may benefit from regular physical therapy sessions. Physical therapy helps reduce pain and discomfort using targeted stretches and exercises. Your physical therapy may also perform ultrasound treatments that warm and soothe the muscles to promote lasting relaxation and pain relief.
When to Acquire TMJ Treatment in Little Rock
If you need a TMJ device Little Rock or simply want to discuss your treatment options, you can call (501) 683-8886 to schedule an appointment with your dedicated dentist at Arkansas Family Dental. Your dentist will evaluate your symptoms to confirm or rule out TMJ as the main cause. Your dentist will help you find the best treatment for your condition to help you make a full recovery.
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