Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMD)

TMD care is for patients experiencing persistent jaw pain, frequent headaches, or a clicking and locking jaw. We provide non-surgical management by evaluating the relationship between your teeth, jaw joints, and facial muscles, then offering options such as bite adjustments and custom oral appliances. Your specific treatment plan will depend on what’s causing your symptoms and will be reviewed during your evaluation.

Art of Smiles provides comprehensive, non-surgical management of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders (TMD) tailored for individuals experiencing persistent jaw pain, frequent headaches, or a clicking and locking jaw. By carefully evaluating the relationship between your teeth, jaw joints, and facial muscles, our dental experts offer customized relief options—such as bite adjustments and custom-fitted oral appliances—designed to correct bite misalignment, protect against teeth grinding, and restore your daily comfort.

Temporomandibular joint (jaw joint) disorders is a common problem that people often ignore simply because the symptoms can sometimes be masked from the Joint itself as in frequent headaches or neck muscle pain. There’s a very close relationship between the muscles that control the movement of the jaw , the head and neck muscles and the jaw joint.

The most common cause of jaw joint disorder (TMD) is bad occlusion (occlusion disease) in which there is misalignment of the teeth or interferences in the bite that prevents the jaw joint from being in a comfortable position. The misalignment of teeth can be caused by Bruxing or teeth grinding causing unusual teeth wear and shifting of the jaw joint. Popping, clicking and locking of the jaw is a very common symptom of TMD. Careful examination of the head and neck muscles and the jaw joint as well as the teeth and existing restorations can determine the cause of jaw joint disorder and the dentist can effectively treat the condition in most cases through adjusting the bite (bite equilibration) with or without fabricating a plastic bite appliance that can help support the jaw joint and alleviate muscle soreness.

FAQs

What is TMD?

TMD stands for Temporomandibular Joint Disorder. It refers to a variety of conditions that affect the jaw joints and the surrounding muscles and nerves that control jaw movement.

What are the common signs of a jaw joint disorder?

While symptoms vary between individuals, common indicators include persistent jaw pain, "clicking" or "popping" sounds when opening the mouth, difficulty chewing, or a jaw that occasionally feels "stuck" or locked.

What can cause jaw joint issues?

Jaw discomfort can be caused by several factors, including physical injury to the jaw, various types of arthritis, or dental issues such as long-term teeth grinding (bruxism) and misalignment of the bite.

Can a dentist help with jaw pain?

Yes. Dentists are trained to examine the relationship between the teeth, jaw joints, and muscles. A professional evaluation can help determine if the source of the pain is dental-related and what standard management options are available.

Are there non-surgical ways to manage TMD?

In many cases, TMD symptoms are managed using conservative, non-invasive methods. These may include the use of custom-fitted oral appliances (bite guards), dental adjustments to improve bite alignment, or recommended lifestyle changes and jaw exercises.