Experience a pain-free lifestyle with TMJ pain treatment
Do you suffer from unexplained headaches or jaw pain? Does the pain sometimes radiate to your face, neck, and back? It could be something to do with your mouth. These symptoms point to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, a common condition affecting the two hinge-like joints on either side of the face.
Biggio Dental Care understands the burden of living with TMJ pain. Dr. Chad Biggio and his team offer TMJ pain treatment in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to ensure you live a healthy, pain-free lifestyle. Schedule an appointment today if you suspect TMJ disorder (TMD).
What are the symptoms of TMJ pain?
TMJs connect the lower jaw to the skull. These complex joints allow the jaws to move in almost every direction, aiding numerous oral functions, including chewing, yawning, and speaking. Healthy TMJs function silently, and their presence often goes unnoticed. However, when your TMJs are tensed, infected, or injured, you’ll know it because every movement becomes a source of pain.
Here are the common symptoms of TMJ pain.
• Constant headaches
• Jaw soreness or pain
• Clicking or popping sounds when using your jaws (crepitus)
• Earaches and neck pain
• Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
• Locked jaws
• Painful chewing or talking
What causes TMJ pain?
Several causes can cause TMJ pain, but a bad bite or malocclusion is the most common one. The way your teeth come together is called occlusion; when there is a problem with your bite, it’s said you have a malocclusion. Evenly balanced teeth should touch optimally when chewing or grinding. However, malocclusions cause a bite imbalance and jaw joints overwork to compensate for the malfunction. Often, this causes undue stress on the jaw joints and muscles, causing jaw soreness and other unpleasant symptoms.
Sometimes, TMJ pain occurs in patients with perfectly aligned teeth. Infections, stress, and certain sleep disorders can cause TMJ pain. Our doctor will work closely with you to establish the root cause of your TMJ pain.
How is TMJ pain diagnosed?
There is no single definitive method for diagnosing TMJ pain. Instead, our doctor uses a combination of approaches to assess your condition. The diagnosis usually starts with reviewing your symptoms, followed by a physical examination of your jaw joint. This examination evaluates your jaw’s range of motion and checks for any unusual sounds when you open and close your mouth. We use dental imaging tools like X-rays and CT scans to check for structural abnormalities.
How is TMJ pain treated?
Treating your TMJ pain rarely involves invasive treatments like surgery. Our office uses a custom-fitted mouthguard as the fine line of treatment for TMJ pain. A TMJ mouthguard is only worn at night. This oral device fits comfortably over your teeth and allows your jaw joints and muscles to relax and heal over time. When worn as directed, a TMJ device significantly improves your symptoms, and soon, you’ll wake up without jaw pain or headaches.
Like diagnosis, there’s never a one-size-fits-all treatment for TMJ pain. Depending on the cause of the pain, the dentist may recommend orthodontics, anti-inflammatory medications, jaw rehabilitation exercises, and Botox to address your condition. We will support you until we find the best treatment for you.
Do you need TMJ pain treatment?
Don’t let TMJ pain take control of your life. Find relief today by dialing (225) 314-6995. Biggio Dental Care offers TMJ pain evaluation and treatment to ensure you enjoy full health and a painless lifestyle.
