How Do Jaw Specialists Help With TMJ/TMD Disorders?

When a patient has a disorder of their jaw muscles and/or jaw joint (their TMJ), this is called a TMJ disorder (a TMD). Anyone can be affected by a TMD, but age and environment are factors in TMD severity, and women tend to be affected more often than men. A TMD requires professional treatment which we provide here at Beyond Dental and Implant Center.

There are many possible signs and symptoms of a TMD, and their presence varies from patient to patient. Some of the most common signs and symptoms tend to be:

• Headaches, facial pain, pressure/pain behind the eyes, or pain or stiffness in the jaw
• Bruxism, which is teeth clenching or grinding at night
• Clicking or popping from the jaw
• Limited jaw mobility or lockjaw
• Ear ringing
• Difficulty swallowing, chewing, or eating
• Throat soreness
• Arm and hand numbness or tingling
• Cracked, chipped, or worn teeth
• Malocclusions, which are changes to your bite
• Vertigo or loss of balance
• Teeth sensitivity
• Posture problems
• Excessive snoring or sleep apnea

If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms, a combination of symptoms, or related symptoms, then you might have a TMJ disorder that requires professional attention. Also, emotional imbalances like stress or anxiety can cause bruxism, poor oral habits (like biting your nails), and other bad habits that can contribute to a TMD. Even a biochemical imbalance can contribute to a TMD.

It’s important to treat TMD as soon as you start noticing symptoms, as TMD can progress and symptoms can worsen. It can be hard for patients to recognize their initial symptoms, but we can do this especially well here at Beyond Dental and Implant Center.

We have a neuromuscular approach to treatment that addresses the disharmony with your jaw joint, bite, muscles, and bone structure. When you come in for a consultation, our dentist, Dr. Cory Nguyen, DDS will perform a thorough exam to determine whether you’re suffering from a TMD. If you are, then he will customize a comprehensive treatment plan for you that will give you both the immediate and long-term relief you need.

The treatment plan Dr. Nguyen, DDS creates for you can include:

• SPG blocks – Injections of a numbing agent for TMD pain relief
• TENS therapy – This can help your muscles relax and contract, which can help put your TMJ in its proper anatomical position
• Trigger point injections – Which provide temporary numbness and therapeutic pain relief
• Muscle massage
• Pain medications
• Muscle relaxants
• Stress management
• Physical therapy
• And Other treatment methods

For complex cases of TMD, the doctor might recommend TMJ orthotic and neuromuscular orthodontics. This approach could involve permanent orthotics or full or single-arch reconstruction using crowns or onlays. For many patients, this treatment method works especially well and provides long-term relief. For other patients and more extreme cases of TMD, orthognathic jaw surgery might be the best option.

If you’d like to learn more about our treatments for jaw muscle and joint conditions, then reach out to us here at Beyond Dental and Implant Center. Our Dallas location is at 13655 Preston Rd Suite 100 Dallas, TX 75240, and you can call us to learn more about Dr. Nguyen and the treatments he offers. We serve patients from Dallas TX, Plano TX, Addison TX, Garland TX, Richardson TX, Carrollton TX, and BEYOND!