When your jaw hurts, and subsequently your face in general, relief from our Brighton TMJ dentists can’t come soon enough. We can take a closer look at what’s causing the discomfort and depending on the severity, determine what might work best for you in terms of treating TMJ disorder pain.
Here are 3 TMJ treatment options that we can move forward with to alleviate your condition.
Not all jaw issues are immediately . Of course, oral pain is still something that should be taken seriously which is why we’ll utilize several diagnostic methods and possibly even consult with your primary care doctor to be sure what you’re experiencing is indeed a TMJ disorder.
Anything abnormal found will be further examined using dental X-rays. Looking beneath the surface will allow our dentists to confirm any suspicions they may have and gather additional information that can influence your TMJ treatment. If our dentists believe that other scans, i.e., CT or MRI, are needed, we will let you know.
Unlike products you might find at the store, our custom bite splints are created to fit your mouth and your mouth only. Because they’re custom made using an impression of your teeth, these dental appliances are more comfortable when worn and are capable of keeping your jaw in a better position.
There’s no metal used in the construction of the bite splint or night guard as our local TMJ dentists favor hard acrylic resin instead. Depending on the design, the splint may cover a few or all of your upper or lower teeth, similar to how a mouth guard fits, but less bulky.
Treatment for TMJ disorders often involves reducing excessive (bruxism), which bite splints come in handy for. You may be instructed to wear the device during the day if necessary but oftentimes, it is only worn at night or while you’re home.
When you’re tense before or after a workout, stretching can help you loosen up. In a similar vein, running through a list of every day can relieve pain you’re feeling in your jaw and face as a whole. Keep in mind, however, that these exercises are not recommended for instances of severe pain and should only be done once any heightened discomfort has subsided a bit.
Our dentists can give you pointers on how to start a TMJ exercise regimen and even demonstrate how the moves are performed if you’d like to see for yourself. In general, these variations on opening and closing the mouth can:
Comforting heat and a refreshing ice pack are always a great combination when it comes to aches and pains. Following a proper TMJ disorder diagnosis, our dentists may recommend placing warm, moist heat on the side of your face that is bothering you most. You can also put the ice pack in the same spot as well but only leave it in place for 15 minutes at a time, covered in a thin towel.
When you’re taking a break from the heat and ice, try gently massaging your jaw muscles for a few minutes. Pace yourself and try to not be too rough with your movements.
Our TMJ dentists in Brighton, MI, are only a call away. If you’re ready to move past jaw pain and regain control of your daily life, we encourage you to call Schaefer Dental Group today at (810) 229-2126 to request an appointment. From there, we can create a personalized treatment plan for you.