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How a Hollywood FL Dentist Can Help Treat TMJ
When pain caused by TMJ has debilitating effects on your mouth and head, explore how a Hollywood FL dentist can offer several treatment options.
Did you know that over 10 million people in the U.S. experience TMJ pain at any given time? If you’ve noticed a popping sound or your jaws hurt when opening your mouth, you may have TMJ pain.
Luckily, a Hollywood, FL dentist can help you manage the pain brought by this disorder.
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a sliding hinge joint connecting the jawbone to the skull. It helps you chew, speak, make facial expressions and breathe properly. A TMJ disorder can cause inconvenience and pain when left untreated.
Your dentist will ask you about the TMJ symptoms and how long you had them. Often, the treatment of this disorder combines medication, therapies, and surgery.
Here's everything to expect from a dentist when seeking treatment for TMJ disorder:
Complete Oral Diagnosis
TMJ usually presents symptoms that are similar to many other conditions. Your dentist will inquire about your medical history and carry out a physical exam to diagnose this disorder.
Expect them to examine your jaw joints for tenderness and pain. They'll also listen for grating sounds, pops, and clicks when you're moving your jaw joints. The TMJ specialist dentist will look for any abnormalities in your facial muscles and test your bite in the exam.
A full-face X-ray may help the dentist view your teeth and jaw joints as part of the diagnosis. Other tests like computer tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MRI) may be needed too. A CT scan will show the bones attached to the joint, while an MRI will reveal the state of your TMJ disc.
Prescribe Medications
For temporary relief, your dentist may prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen. If the muscle and jaw discomfort persists, they'll prescribe more potent pain killers, antidepressants, muscle relaxants, and anti-inflammatory drugs.
Most FDA-approved medications for conditions like seizures and depression can also treat the nerves causing the discomfort.
People react differently to TMJ medications due to their underlying medical conditions and genetics. Never expect the same results when taking medication that works for other people. Even more, there's little evidence showing how different subgroups of people respond to TMJ treatment.
You should thus stick to your physician's advice to improve your chances of recovering from TMJ. Your physician will monitor the side effects of the drugs and advise you on the dosage.
Recommend Dental Work
The dentist can use braces, bridges, and crowns to correct biting issues or balance the biting surfaces. They'll also use these fixtures to replace missing teeth and allow you to chew normally.
A dental crown can reduce TMJ pain if an improper bite causes the disorder. The TMJ dentist will place tooth crowns over the teeth to restore them to their normal size and shape. It will be easier for your jaws and teeth to come together when talking or eating.
Braces will adjust your teeth's position to fix the improper bite. Once your teeth meet correctly, your jaw joint won't be under any pressure, and the pain will subside. A
dental bridge will create a healthy balance on your jaw by filling the gap left by a missing tooth.
Suggest Home Treatments
Besides medical interventions, there are home remedies that can relieve TMJ symptoms. Your dentist can advise you to apply cold packs or moist heat on the temple area to ease the pain.
They may also suggest soft foods like fish, scrambled eggs, and mashed potatoes to reduce pressure on the jaw. Other remedies like keeping chewing and yawning to a minimum can help too.
Avoid holding the phone between your ears/shoulders or resting your chin on the hand. You should practice good posture to ease facial and neck pain as instructed by the physician.
Supervise Advanced Treatments
Advanced therapies like transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and trigger-point injections may help treat TMJ. With TENS therapy, a dentist in Hollywood FL will use low-level electrical currents to relax your facial muscles and jaw joints.
They may also inject anesthesia or pain medication to your facial muscles to ease the pain as part of the trigger point injections.
Low-level laser therapy may also treat the TMJ disorder. This procedure lowers inflammation and pan on your jaws and allows you to move your neck freely. Your dentist may also recommend radio wave therapy to boost blood flow to the jaw and ease the pain.
Book You for Surgery
If other TMJ treatments fail to work, the dentist Hollywood, FL will recommend surgery. Get a second opinion on surgery since the procedure is irreversible.
The two types of TMJ surgery include arthrocentesis and arthroscopy. The dentist will insert needles into the affected joint during arthrocentesis to remove damaged tissue or dislodge the joint. On the other hand, Arthroscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that helps realign the joint or remove inflamed tissues.
Your dentist may recommend open-joint surgery if you have a scarred joint or tumors in the joint. This surgical procedure may also be ideal if your jaw joint is worn out. The procedure helps repair, remove, replace or reposition parts in a jaw joint.
Set Up Follow-Up Arrangements
The dentist specializing in TMJ will ask whether you've been taking the prescribed medication during the follow-ups. They'll also advise you on other home remedies to ease the TMJ pain.
The dentist may instruct you to follow up with a pain-specialist physician or an oral and maxillofacial surgeon. These follow-ups will depend on the kind of treatment sought for TMJ.
Each dental follow-up is painless and safe and poses zero risks to you. It can protect you from the complications and risks linked to unsuccessful dental procedures. Stick to the checkup to reduce your risk of developing severe oral health problems.
TMJ Dentist Near Me: Schedule an Appointment with a Hollywood, FL Dentist
As discussed in this guide, a Hollywood, FL dentist can recommend TMJ treatment to ease pain and discomfort. Without the treatment, you risk developing a more severe case of the disorder or tinnitus. Though TMJ isn't life-threatening, it can negatively affect your overall and dental health.
Count on Smile on Us for the most advanced TMJ treatment options. We rely on insights provided by our advanced dental equipment and our experience to give you an accurate treatment plan. Schedule a dental appointment with us to learn more about our services.
