TMJ Treatment – Westfield, MA
How We Can Help Stop Jaw Pain
Put your finger below your ear and open your jaw. Did you feel something move? That’s the temporomandibular joint, often called the TMJ for short. A fully functional TMJ is important for chewing a variety of foods and speaking with clarity. However, like any other joint, the TMJ can sometimes become injured or strained. And since it’s a particularly complex joint, there are many possible risk factors that can lead to problems. TMJ disorders can be very painful, and it’s best to have them treated as promptly as you can.
Our team at EMA Dental of Westfield is trained to diagnose and treat TMJ disorders, and we can help you figure out the best way to address the issue so that you can eat, speak, and smile without pain again. There are a number of available options for TMJ treatment in Westfield that can potentially lead to the relief that you deserve. Reach out to our Westfield dental office today if you think that your chronic jaw pain might have to do with a TMJ disorder.
Why Choose EMA Dental of Westfield for TMJ Treatment?
- Experts That Can Diagnose TMJ Issues
- Fully Customized Oral Appliances
- Solutions for Nighttime Teeth Grinding
TMJ Diagnosis & Treatment
One of the things that makes TMJ disorder a complex condition to deal with is that there are many possible underlying causes. The symptoms you notice may vary, but in many cases, they’ll include:
- Chronic or recurring pain in your jaw, face, head, neck, and/or shoulders
- A clicking sound whenever you move your jaw joints
- Having difficulty chewing certain foods
- Pain or a ringing sound in your ear
We can evaluate your TMJ and the rest of your jaw to narrow down the underlying cause of the condition. Then we can recommend a treatment option that addresses the problem at its source.
Equilibration/ Occlusal Adjustments
One common cause of TMJ disorder is a misaligned bite. This can put more pressure than normal on specific parts of your smile, thus straining the jaw joints. An occlusal adjustment can be performed to correct the biting surfaces of certain teeth, ensuring that they come together properly. As a result, the forces of your bite will be distributed more evenly, taking much of the pressure off your TMJ and giving it a chance to recover. Sometimes occlusal adjustments are performed in conjunction with occlusal splint therapy.
Occlusal Splints
With an occlusal splint, we can adjust your jaw so that it stays in a more comfortable position when at rest. This small change can reduce the chronic pain caused by a TMJ disorder. Additionally, an occlusal splint can protect your teeth from the grinding and clenching that can contribute to TMJ problems. In many cases, wearing an occlusal splint for a certain amount of time can help you find permanent relief.