TMJ Treatment In Gahanna, OH
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Smile With Style Orthodontics
Walter C. Buchsieb II, DDS
Orthodontics located in Gahanna, OH
A jaw-dropping 5-12% of adults in the United States are dealing with TMJ according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. Orthodontist Dr. Walter C. Buchsieb II offers valuable solutions for TMJ and the uncomfortable symptoms that often come along with it at Smile With Style Orthodontics in Gahanna, and Mansfield, Ohio. You deserve to find relief from your neck and jaw pain, headaches, and other bothersome symptoms of TMJ. Call the friendly office staff or click to book online.
TMJ Pain Q & A
What is TMJ?
Your temporomandibular joints (TMJ) are the hinge joints that connect your skull and jawbones on the sides of your face. This intricate and strong joint allows you to move your jaw, yawn, talk, and chew your food.
A TMJ disorder can cause pain or discomfort in the TMJ joints or the muscles around them. It can impact both sides or just one side of your face.
TMJ can be a constant issue or it can come and go. The symptoms may continue for many years or they can be temporary.
What causes TMJ pain?
The cause of TMJ isn’t clear. Dental experts and researchers suspect the muscle and joint complications may result from:
- Stress that tightens the jaw and facial muscles through jaw clenching and teeth grinding
- Inflammation from various medical conditions, such as arthritis
- Accident, trauma, or injury to your head, jaw, or neck
Excess pressure on this important hinge joint by clenching or grinding your teeth can cause TMJ. This typically occurs at night while you sleep due to anxiety and stress, so you might not even be aware of it.
What are the symptoms of TMJ?
The primary symptoms of TMJ are moderate-to-severe pain and soreness in the jaw hinge joint and nearby areas.
You might also have other TMJ symptoms, such as:
- Clicking, popping, or grating sounds coming from your jaw joint when you move it
- Pain or tenderness in the neck and shoulders
- Toothaches
- Swelling in your face around your jaw area
- Difficulty chewing
- Difficulty when attempting to open your mouth wide
- Locked jaw
- Earaches
- Dizziness
- Headaches
Some people with TMJ experience ringing in their ears (tinnitus) and have difficulty hearing.
How is TMJ treated?
Smile With Style Orthodontics provides successful treatments for TMJ, which vary depending on the cause and severity. Dr. Buchsieb evaluates your TMJ joints for tenderness and listens for clicking, grating, or popping sounds when you move your jaw. He takes time to assess your bite and how your jaw opens and closes.
Dr. Buchsieb might recommend a splint or nightguard to prevent daytime or nighttime teeth grinding and clenching. He may also recommend other treatments, such as healthy lifestyle modifications and medications (typically anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxants).
Dental work could be necessary in some cases, such as braces that can correct your bite, balance your biting surfaces, and improve the look and health of your mouth and smile.
You don’t have to just deal with TMJ when Smile With Style Orthodontics has innovative and personalized treatments. Call the office to make an appointment or click to book online.
