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Is jaw pain making you miserable? You may have temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ), one of the conditions your South Atlanta, GA, dentist in Camp Creek, Dr. Travon Holt, treats at Dentistry at Camp Creek.
What happens when you have TMJ?
TMJ affects the hinge joints on either side of your jaw. The joints, located just below your ears, make it possible to open and close your mouth and move your jaw back and forth and from side to side.
TMJ pain can occur if any of the bones, discs, muscles, ligaments, and tendons that make up the joint become misaligned, strained, or inflamed. Although it's not always possible to determine why someone has TMJ, you may be more likely to develop the condition if you injured your jaw. Other risk factors include bite problems, arthritis, stress, and even grinding or clenching your teeth while you sleep.
What are the symptoms of TMJ?
If you have TMJ, you may notice one or more of these signs and symptoms:
How is TMJ treated?
Treating underlying conditions, such as improving a bite problem with braces or using a nightguard to reduce grinding or clenching, can ease TMJ symptoms. Ice packs and over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen and naproxen sodium may ease pain and inflammation. Your dentist might also recommend that you wear an oral splint while you sleep. The custom-made device fits over your teeth and repositions your jaw. Wearing the splint can reduce tension in your jaw muscles and ease your pain.
Are you tired of suffering from TMJ symptoms? Call your dentist in South Atlanta, GA, in Camp Creek, Dr. Travon Holt, at (404) 629-9290 to schedule your appointment.
Wonder if your jaw pain and stiffness is due to a TMJ disorder? It’s time to find out!
Whether you’ve just been diagnosed by one of our South Atlanta, GA dentists Dr. Travon Holt and Dr. Tarem Eric Hendricks or your symptoms are pointing to TMJ disorder it’s never too late to seek the treatment you deserve. Find out more about this common condition and how we can help!
Q. What is TMJ disorder?
A. Known as temporomandibular joint and muscle disorder, this condition can cause pain and other issues for the jaw joints and muscles that can also affect how the jaw moves.
Q. What are the symptoms?
A. Some of the more common symptoms people with TMJ disorder experience include:
Q. Is it treatable?
A. Yes, there are a lot of things you can do to ease your symptoms and manage your condition. We’ll start with the conservative treatment options first. This includes things like eating softer foods, icing the joint to reduce pain and swelling, avoiding chewing gum or other habits that require extreme jaw movements and learning ways to manage stress to reduce teeth grinding, which puts a lot of unnecessary pressure on the jaw.
Over-the-counter pain medications and oral appliances like a bite guard may also be recommended to help provide some pain relief. Surgery is rarely required when it comes to handling your TMJ symptoms, as most conservative treatments will offer the symptom management you need.
Dentistry at Camp Creek is here for all of your dental needs. Our general dentists in Atlanta, GA are here to make sure that you have a healthy smile that lasts.