If you’re experiencing any of these painful symptoms of TMJ, you may be looking for a quick fix to end your suffering:
- Jaw pain
- Jaw tightness
- Clicking/popping noises in the jaw area
- Headache
- Neck pain
- Ear pain
- Ear congestion
- Tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
- Facial pain
- Facial numbness
- Bruxism (grinding/clenching your teeth and jaw at night)
You will see advertisements for mouthguards for grinding teeth, mouthguards for clenching teeth, and nighttime mouthguards at your local pharmacy or grocery store. What is important to realize about these “over-the-counter” mouthguards for jaw pain and similar symptoms is that the guards are not custom designed for your mouth, jaw, and specific problem.
To alleviate the numerous painful symptoms of TMJ, you must see an Aberdeen, North Carolina, TMJ dentist with the experience and advanced dental technology to diagnose and treat the myriad of symptoms that often accompany Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ/TMD).
A Little Bit About TMJ
The painful symptoms of TMJ will develop when your jaw is not properly aligned. Everyone’s jaw has an optimal position, and those with TMJ discover that their jaw is misaligned. The result? Symptoms including headaches, jaw pain, clicking noises, ear pain, and even neck and back pain will begin. Some people can function well with the symptoms of TMJ, while others find the symptoms debilitating. As with most medical conditions, there are mild, moderate, and severe cases. Regardless of your TMJ spectrum, you can find relief at your Aberdeen, North Carolina, TMJ dentist’s office.
Mouthguard Vs. Oral Appliance
When your neuromuscular dentist uses advanced dental technology to assess the position of your jaw and determine in what position it should be to relieve your symptoms, an oral appliance may be custom-made for you. Not all TMJ sufferers benefit from the same type of treatment. Buying a mouthguard at a pharmacy that is not custom designed for your mouth may relieve the clenching and grinding at night, but the relief will likely be short-lived. When your TMJ dentist in Aberdeen designs an oral appliance based on the findings of innovative TMJ technology, the results are much better, and the problem will be treated, not just the symptoms.
More Than Just a Mouthguard…
You will likely need more than a mouthguard if you have TMJ symptoms. The K7 Evaluation System utilizes three components for comprehensive testing of jaw joint movement. Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation (TENS) therapy will be used first to relax your jaw muscles. With TENS, small electrodes will be placed on the afflicted areas, and you will feel small pulses of electricity that will relax your muscles and joints.
Then, the K7 comprehensive diagnostic tool will evaluate your bite and jaw functioning while you open and close your mouth. The K7 system records jaw sounds and movements and measures the tension in the jaw muscles. When your muscles are relaxed and your bite is properly aligned, your Aberdeen, NC, TMJ dentist will take an impression of your teeth, and a lab will fabricate an orthotic appliance—much more advanced than a mouthguard and custom designed for you
If you have been using a mouthguard for grinding, a mouthguard for clenching teeth, or a nighttime mouthguard to relieve the painful symptoms of TMJ, you’ll be amazed at what other treatment options are available in your area. These conservative TMJ treatments are affordable, effective, and life-changing. Neuromuscular orthodontics is giving people, just like you, their lives back by ending the suffering associated with TMJ.
Learn More About TMJ Treatment in Aberdeen, North Carolina
If you’re tired of suffering from the painful symptoms of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ/TMD), please know numerous effective TMJ treatment options are available. You need not rely on a store-bought mouthguard to relieve your teeth grinding and clenching. The TMJ dentist at Kuhn Dental Associates, Dr. Mandy Grimshaw, has the experience, education, and knowledge necessary to diagnose and treat TMJ. Please call Kuhn Dental Associates at (910) 692-4450, or fill out our online contact form to ask a question or schedule a new patient evaluation.
