Do you often find yourself clenching or grinding your teeth? When you wake up, do you experience headaches? You may have a temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) if this sounds familiar. Dr. Dhara Patel is an experienced restorative dentist in Hoffman Estates. She provides TMJ treatment to her patients in Hoffman Estates, IL.
Before recommending necessary treatment, Dr. Patel will evaluate the condition of your teeth, gums, and jaw joints. The temporomandibular joint connects the jawbone to the skull. Pain can arise in the jaw joint and the muscles that control the jaw when there is damage, malocclusion, or stress within the joint.
TMJ disorders can affect surrounding joints and muscles. The common symptoms of a bite disorder can damage the teeth and make it difficult to bite, chew, and even speak comfortably. But what common symptoms accompany bite disorders, and how can you effectively treat them?
Symptoms and Causes of TMJ Disorders
You need to know the causes and signs of TMD to find the right treatment. There are multiple common causes of TMJ disorders, which can include:
- Teeth grinding or jaw clenching
- Trauma to the jaw
- Crooked teeth
- Malocclusion
- Jaw structural irregularities
Patients with these conditions are more prone to developing TMJ disorders. This is because these factors can imbalance the bite and place pressure on the jaw joints. Muscle tension and joint dysfunction can be painful. Over time, it may result in more complex dental problems.
Common TMJ symptoms to look out for include:
- Jaw pain
- Facial pain
- Difficulty chewing
- Headaches
- Shoulder pain
- Back pain
- Muscle spasms
- Teeth clenching and grinding (bruxism)
- Earaches
If you have noticed any of these symptoms, contact our office. You may have a TMJ disorder or another oral health problem. Our professional team can offer comprehensive treatment to alleviate TMJ pain and other symptoms.
TMJ Treatment in Hoffman Estates, IL
We offer several TMJ treatment options to help alleviate painful symptoms of TMJ disorders. They include:
Lifestyle Changes
When TMJ symptoms are mild, at-home options may help alleviate TMJ pain. Some of these solutions include:
- Jaw exercises
- Relaxing your facial muscles
- Sleeping on your side
- Applying ice or heat
- Eating soft foods to help your jaw rest
When you have jaw and TMJ pain, you may wonder if you should use heat or ice on your muscles. Ice is best if you have a new TMJ injury. Applying an ice pack to painful joints will help reduce swelling in the surrounding muscles. A heating pad is best if you experience continual TMJ pain. Heat will increase circulation to your muscles. Remember to apply ice or heat for 15 to 20 minutes.
Sometimes, at-home care may be enough to resolve mild TMJ symptoms. However, if you experience chronic TMJ problems, it’s time to see a professional.
Oral Appliances
Dr. Patel offers TMJ analysis to patients to determine if the upper and lower teeth come together when biting. She also offers oral appliances to keep teeth from touching and causing issues. Oral appliances act like mouthguards, covering and protecting teeth from further wear and tear.
You can wear nightguards during sleep. Oral appliances take the pressure off the jaw and prevent teeth from clenching and grinding. If teeth have become worn down or damaged due to a TMJ disorder, Dr. Patel will help coordinate restorative and cosmetic treatment. She offers dental crowns, porcelain veneers, and implants to restore tooth and gum function.
Botox® for TMJ
Botox has been proven to offer patients effective relief from TMJ disorder symptoms. When you choose Botox to treat TMJ symptoms, you want a trained and certified esthetician or dentist. Proper site injection is key to your result for both symptom relief and the appearance of your smile. Dr. Patel will work with you to achieve the best possible result using Botox. She has experience in treating TMJ with advanced modalities.
Botox is a neurotoxin, meaning it disrupts nerve signals. Injecting Botox into the facial muscles temporarily freezes them. Using Botox, Dr. Patel can relax the facial and jaw muscles. Injections in the facial muscles allow the joints to move more freely and without tension.
Botox injections can relieve common pain and discomfort in the jaw, neck, and head from constant muscle tension. We may combine Botox with other treatments for a comprehensive approach to your needs and a better outcome.
TMJ FAQs
Learn more about TMJ problems and treatments with answers to these frequently asked questions:
How long can a TMJ flare-up last?
TMJ flare-ups may present themselves anytime and stay anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Flare-ups occur frequently and can seriously affect a person’s life for extended periods. The longevity and frequency of flare-ups vary for every patient individually.
What happens if TMJ is left untreated?
If left untreated, TMJ can lead to chronic jaw pain. It may affect a patient’s day-to-day life by causing daily headaches, pain, and discomfort.
How do you relax your jaw with TMJ?
The most common way to relax your jaw with TMJ is to introduce your jaw and mouth to movement. This means opening and closing your mouth with small movements multiple times daily. When you do this, you can slowly progress to larger movements.
You may also put clean fingers on your bottom teeth and push down or apply pressure for 30 seconds. This warms up jaw muscles and joints to help them move easily and cause less pain.
Why do I have an earache if I have a TMJ disorder?
The ears are close to the TMJ. Pain and pressure on the temporomandibular joints can radiate to other face areas. You can experience tinnitus or earaches because of the proximity to the ear canal. Inflammation and swelling in the TMJ can affect the ears.
Schedule A Dental Exam Today
Treat TMJ disorders to reduce symptoms like headaches, jaw pain, and teeth clenching and grinding. Contact Best Dental Spa for comprehensive diagnosis and TMJ treatment in Hoffman Estates, IL. Call our office at 847.660.6603. You can also schedule a dental appointment with Dr. Patel online.
