Healthy, Balanced Smiles With TMJ Treatment
Jaw pain and soreness. Headaches and migraines. Clenching or grinding your teeth. Locked jaw and ear pain. These chronic conditions are textbook signs of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, and we have a treatment for that. Attached to your skull are your TM joints that allow you to open and close your mouth. Without these, eating or speaking is impossible. While there are many factors attributing to your TMJ pain, Dr. Lance Timmerman has dedicated many years to perfecting our TMJ treatment plans so you can find relief from jaw pain and discomfort. Whatever the root cause of your TMJ symptoms, we’re here to help you treat it.
Are You Living With a TMJ Disorder?
- Chronic jaw pain
- Jaw popping, locking, or stiffness
- Headaches or migraines
- Worn-down teeth
- Neck or back pain or stiffness
- Teeth grinding (bruxism)
- Malocclusion (misaligned bite)
- Earaches
What Is TMJ Disorder?
TMJ symptoms occur when there is a strain on the jaw joints, causing a plethora of problems such as locked jaw, pain and discomfort, and reduced movement of your jaw. Since TM joints are connected to the skull, it’s possible to experience pain in different areas of the face including the temples of the skull, ears, upper neck region, and cheek bones. While pain is commonly localized to just one side, it’s possible to affect both sides of the face. Even though TMJ disorder symptoms and causes will vary between patients, those who experience jaw pain tend to have a few things in common – jaw clenching, teeth grinding, or bruxism. These causes can be done while you’re asleep, and if severe enough, may lead to frequent headaches, damaged teeth, and jaw disorders.
Personal Cases, Customized Solutions
TMJ disorder symptoms can be painful and sometimes debilitating. At Seattle’s Reason To Smile, we offer completely customized treatment plans to treat TMJ disorders to ensure your smile is beautiful and healthy. With advancements in dentistry and the benefits of an experienced dentist, we are proud to offer TMJ treatment options to provide the relief you need:
Mouthguard/Splint Therapy
To avoid teeth grinding and clenching we may recommend a custom-made mouthguard or splint. These are often worn at night but can also be made for the daytime to protect your teeth whenever you clench or grind them. Similar to an athletic mouthguard, these oral appliances are made to form a barrier between your top and bottom teeth. Made specifically for you, they will fit snugly over your teeth. Each oral appliance is made to protect your teeth while also helping your jaw move into a more relaxed position.
Orthodontics
If your teeth are misaligned and affecting your bite, you have malocclusion. This can cause stress on your TM joints as your teeth try to find a way to come together properly. Orthodontics can be used to straighten your teeth and as a result your bite! This helps reduce or eliminate bruxism as well as the jaw pain associated with it.
Occlusal Adjustment
A misaligned bite is one of the most common causes of TMJ concern and can easily be corrected with an occlusal adjustment. This is a painless and relatively simple procedure that involves reshaping the teeth to improve the bite. This can be done with a number or personalized treatment plans offered right here in our office.
Put Your Best Smile Forward Without Pain
Without pain and discomfort from TMJ symptoms, you can enjoy the benefits of a healthy, balanced smile. Our treatment plans combine art, experience, and precision to create a treatment plan that directly treats your personal TMJ symptom so you can live a life in a smile that looks, feels, and functions better than ever before. Our personalized treatment plans will help improve your bite so you can chew food comfortably, minimize or even alleviate jaw pain, allow speaking, laughing, and yawning without lockjaw, and improve your overall quality of life!
