TMJ Treatment
East Wenatchee, WA
 The temporamandibular joint (known as TMJ for short) is the joint where your jawbone connects to your skull. It is crucial for use in chewing, speaking, and other activities that involve the movement of your jaw. In a surprisingly large percentage of the population, the TMJ can be out of alignment or have other issues with the connection in the joint. If you have TMJ issues, the good news is that we at Johnson Family Dental are here to help you!
What are the symptoms of TMJ issues?
If your TMJ is not operating correctly, you will frequently notice a popping or crackling sensation when you open your mouth very far. This symptom is more annoying than anything, but it can indicate TMJ problems before other symptoms begin to arise.
Other symptoms of TMJ problems include mild to severe headaches, uneven wearing of your teeth, pain in the jaw when you chew, and even an increased rate of the occurrence of sinus infections and ear infections. It is important to immediately consult a dental health professional if you notice any of these symptoms, as a TMJ disorder is relatively easy to treat for most individuals.
How do we treat TMJ problems?
As with any dental or medical procedure, the exact treatment will vary depending on the patient, his or her unique situation, and the severity of the TMJ issues. We can start out with the use of a mouth guard and the proceed to other treatments if the TMJ problems don’t respond to that.
We create the mouth guard in a dental laboratory after employing a specialized machine to track and record the way your jaw moves when you bite or chew. The mouth guard makes gentle adjustments to the position of your jawbone while you are sleeping. Over time, this will change the function of your TMJ and bring it in line with the way it should be operating.
While you are undergoing treatment for TMJ disorder, you may need to use some mild pain relievers to help alleviate the discomfort you are feeling due to the condition. You should begin with some over the counter medications, and then consult us if you are not getting enough relief from these medications.
In some cases, TMJ disorder is so severe that it will not respond to the use of a mouth guard or splint. In those situations, surgery may be a necessity in order to allow you to live a pain free life. If we believe that your case will require surgery, we will talk with you about it and help you to understand your options.
We Are Here for You!
At Johnson Family Dental, we are proud of our reputation for being friendly, honest, and effective. We work hard to keep your smile healthy, and if you have an issue with TMJ disorder, we are here to help you out with the latest advancements in technology to help bring you relief.
Give us a call, or drop by our office, and let’s talk. We will be happy to sit down with you and explain your situation after doing a thorough examination of your mouth and TMJ. We can present you with your options and answer any questions you may have. We look forward to working with you!
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