Live a Healthy, Painless Life with TMJ Pain Treatment

Are you constantly battling persistent headaches? Do you often experience jaw pain or locked jaws? The culprit could be temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD). The TMJs are hinge-like joints that connect the lower jaw to the skull. When inflamed, irritated, or strained, TMJs can cause numerous unpleasant symptoms.

Treehouse Dental offers TMJ pain treatment in Highland, Utah, to ensure you achieve a painless lifestyle. No one deserves to live in pain. If you suffer from TMJ disorder, schedule an appointment today with Dr. William Collins, Dr. Greg Pitts, Dr. Beau Seager, and the team.

What is TMJ dysfunction (TMD)?

The temporomandibular joints (TMJs) help your mouth move in almost every direction when talking, chewing, smiling, yawning, etc. Healthy TMJs function seamlessly, and you rarely notice their presence. However, when the TMJs are “disturbed,” you’ll know it. Malfunctioning TMJs cause numerous undesirable symptoms.

Some include:

  • Jaw pain or soreness
  • Chronic headaches
  • Pain in the ears, face, and neck
  • Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
  • Painful chewing
  • Locked jaws
  • Clicking or popping sounds when using your jaws

The symptoms of TMJ pain vary from person to person. Some cases resolve on their own or with conservative treatments. However, some people experience chronic pain, affecting their quality of life. Luckily, treatments exist to manage TMJ pain.

What causes TMJ pain?

While the exact causes of TMJ disorder are often unknown, medical professionals have identified some contributing factors. Bruxism, or chronic teeth grinding, is a significant cause of TMJ pain. It exerts continuous pressure on your jaw muscles and joints, leading to wear and tear on your TMJs and chronic jaw pain.

The other possible causes for TMJ pain include:

  • Stress
  • Misaligned teeth or bite issues
  • Depression or anxiety
  • Inflammatory and autoimmune diseases
  • Dental trauma
  • Birth defects affecting the TMJs

There is no one-size-fits-all diagnosis for TMJ pain. The doctor relies on your medical history and current symptoms to diagnose you. A physical exam also helps understand how your jaw joints and muscles function. Where necessary, digital x-rays and scans help visualize your joints and bones to determine the extent of damage.

How is TMJ pain treated?

Dr. Collins, Dr. Seager, and Dr. Pitts offer a custom-made mouthguard as the first-line treatment for TMJ pain. A custom-fitted oral appliance fits snugly over your teeth, allowing your jaw joints and muscles to relax and heal. Unlike mouthguards available at your nearest store, our TMJ mouthguards are custom-designed after taking impressions of your bite. This makes our appliances comfortable when put in the mouth, allowing you to sleep and breathe without interruptions.

Customized mouthguards are effective for most cases, but the doctor may complement them with other treatments, such as orthodontic treatment, jaw rehabilitation, and medications. We’ll customize your treatment to help you achieve a painless lifestyle.

Are you ready for TMJ pain treatment?

TMJ pain can make simple things like yawning, eating, and talking become a source of pain. If you have had enough of TMJ pain, it’s time to speak with Treehouse Dental about treatment—call (801) 756-2273 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Collins, Dr. Pitts, Dr. Seager and the team.