TMJ Therapy – Marysville, OH
Relieve Jaw Discomfort for the Long Term
Have you been struggling with chronic pain in your jaw, headaches, migraines, or lockjaw? These are all common signs that something is wrong with your temporomandibular joints (TMJs) – the joints just below your ears that allow you to open and close your mouth and move your jaw from side to side. When these delicate joints become irritated or inflamed, it can cause severely uncomfortable TMJ disorder or TMD. Luckily, TMJ therapy in Marysville, OH is just a phone call away at Northwest Family Dental of Marysville!
Why Choose Northwest Family Dental of Marysville for TMJ Therapy?
- Friendly Dentists with Decades of Combined Experience
- Custom-Fit Splints Created with State-of-the-Art Technology
- Same-Day Emergency Appointments, Even After Hours
Diagnosis & Treatment
To determine the best way to relieve jaw discomfort for the long term, our dentists must first figure out the root cause of your TMJ disorder. After they’ve visually examined your mouth and jaw, captured digital X-rays, and asked you specific questions about your symptoms, they can identify the reason why you’re experiencing pain. TMD is often the result of bite misalignment, uneven dental restorations, or untreated bruxism. The cause of the condition will affect which treatment we recommend.
Equilibration / Occlusal Adjustments
If ill-fitting restorations (crowns, fillings, etc.) or a poorly balanced bite are the reason for your TMJ disorder, then you may benefit from a treatment called equilibration, sometimes referred to as occlusal adjustment. During this minimally invasive procedure, our dentists will gently reshape a few specific teeth or restorations in the exact areas that are causing trouble. This way, your biting force is evenly distributed throughout your arch, alleviating much of the strain on your TMJs.
Occlusal Splints
Bruxism, or unconscious teeth grinding and jaw clenching, is another common contributing factor to TMD. Fortunately, a mouthguard-like device called an occlusal splint can work wonders. It looks and functions like a night guard to shield your teeth from the harmful effects of grinding, and it also gently shifts your jaws into more relaxed positions that take stress off of your TMJs. After wearing the splint every night, many patients eventually find permanent relief from TMD symptoms, as their jaws start to “remember” their healthier positions.