TMJ/TMD Treatment in Fairchance

The initials TMJ stand for temporomandibular joint. Humans have two of these—one on each side of the jaw. These joints are small and extremely flexible. It’s due to them that we can articulate our mouths in so many different ways.

However, this softness and flexibility—as well as their positioning directly on the side of the face—leaves them particularly susceptible to stress and injury. When this happens, the joint is diagnosed with a temporomandibular disorder, or TMD.

Temporomandibular Disorder

TMDs can come in many forms and have any number of causes. Because of their vulnerable location on the edge of the jaw, TMJs can easily become injured in a car accident or a sporting event. A hit to the face might dislocate the jaw, and by extension the TMJ.

Bruxism is also a very common issue. A stressful job, school semester, or family emergency often causes severe clenching and grinding of the teeth. It can happen while awake or asleep. Not only does this put enormous tension on the joint, but it damages the teeth as well.

The symptoms of a TMD may include:

• Pain in the face, ear, jaw, or mouth
• Difficulty chewing
• Toothache
• Crackling, popping, or tenderness in the joint
• Headaches
• Joint locking
• Muscle spasms

Treatment

Fairchance Dental Arts offers you the chance to relieve some of these symptoms with our TMD treatments. Our well-trained professionals will create a splint therapy plan that will have you eating, sleeping, and living better in no time.

Splints are a type of mouthguard. Their general purpose is to relieve stress in the jaw, so that it can rest and recover. The way in which is does this, however, is quite varied. Because there are so many different types of stressors to the TMJ, treatment for each case will be unique.

If you have TMJ problems or suffer from any of the above symptoms, give our experts a call, if you’re in Fairchance or surrounding areas from Uniontown to Morgantown. We’ll diagnose your specific condition, and build a plan that’s individual to you.