Suffering From TMJ, TMD? Get Treated At Salt Lake Dental
Treat Your Chronic Headache By Sugar House Dentist
TMJ is the acronym for the Temporomandibular joint. It is the hinge that connects the jaw to the temporal bones of the skull. The primary function of a Temporomandibular is that it allows the jaw to move up, down, left, and right. In simple words, it allows free movement of the jaw during talking, chewing, and yawning.
Each TMJ comprises a disc between the ball and socket. This disc acts as a cushion and enables the jaw to open, rotate, and glide freely. Any issue with the jaws or the muscles in the face that control the movement of the Temporomandibular joint has been termed as a Temporomandibular disorder. It causes immense pain in the TMJ.
At Salt Lake Dental, we are a team of highly-experienced dentists serving patients in and around Salt Lake City and Sugar House for over a decade. Our services have helped a considerable number of patients in Utah overcome this grave disease.
What Causes TMJ, TMD Disorder?
The exact cause of TMJ, TMD disorder is still not known. So, it is very difficult to say what causes TMJ disorder. Dentists feel that a TMJ, TMD disorder is the result of the problem with the muscles of the jaw and the joint itself. An injury to the jaw, joint, or in the muscles of the jaw can also lead to TMJ. Some other causes of TMJ are as follows –
- Grinding or Clenching – Grinding and clenching the teeth put a lot of pressure on the joint. This results in TMJ, TMD disorder in the long run.
- Dislocation Of The Soft Tissue – An excessive movement of the soft cushion or disc between the ball and socket of the joint often dislocates it. Dentists say it is one of the primary causes of TMJ, TMD.
- Arthritis in the joint – Arthritis is a serious bone disease. The percentage of people suffering from TMJ, TMD due to joint arthritis is increasing day by day.
- Stress, And Strain - Stress and strain often tighten the facial and jaw muscles, thereby causing TMJ, TMJ disorders.
What Are The Symptoms Of TMJ, TMD?
TMJ and TMD cause extrusive pain and discomfort. It can be temporary, as well as, long lasting. It can affect one or both sides of the face. Some common symptoms include -
- Immense pain and tenderness in the face, jaw joint area, neck and shoulders.
- Chewing, speaking, and opening the mouth wide open becomes problematic.
- A "stuck" or "lock" jaw during an open or closed-mouth position.
- Clicking, popping, or grating sounds in the jaw joint while opening or closing the mouth.
- The upper and lower teeth are not fitting together in a proper manner.
- Swelling on the side of your face.
How Is TMJ Treated?
There are no fixed ways of treating a TMJ disorder. At Salt Lake Dental, we decide the course of treatment only after a careful examination. Here are some steps that we follow –
- Pain relievers and Anti-inflammatory – We may recommend strong pain relievers or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen, Advil, and Motrin IB for mitigating the pain.
- Tricyclic Antidepressants – Medicines such as amitriptyline are used for pain relief.
- Oral Splints Or Mouth Guards – We recommend a soft or firm device inserted over their teeth to patients with jaw pain.
- Physical Therapy – In physical therapy, we use moist heat and ice along with exercises to stretch and strengthen jaw muscles.
- Open-Joint surgery – If there is a structural problem with the joint, then there remains no other way other than implementing surgical procedures. Our dentists, in such a condition, perform the open-joint surgery (arthrotomy) in order to repair or replace the joint.
Why Should You Visit Salt Lake Dental For TMJ, TMD Treatment?
TMJ is a very serious dental disorder. At Salt Lake Dental, our dentists are aware of this fact and treat it with utmost dedication. We have years of experience in TMJ treatment and have been serving patients all over Salt Lake City and Sugar House. We treat patients from other parts of Utah as well.
Our staffs are extremely friendly and always try to build a positive ambiance inside the clinic. We always try our best in delivering the best for our patients. Thus, if you are suffering from immense pain and looking for skilled and experienced dentists in Salt Lake City for recovering from TMJ, TMD, then you can definitely contact us. We promise to treat your TMJ disorder with complete dedication.
You can dial our number
(385) 257-9303
or can shoot us a mail at
saltlakedentaloffice@gmail.com
to book an appointment. You can also visit us directly at
2120 S 700 E suite i, Salt Lake City, UT 84106, United States
. We assure you that our TMJ dentists will always provide you the best services.