TMJ Therapy
Sore jaw? Neck pain? You might be grinding your teeth and clenching your jaw too hard at night. TMJ or temporomandibular joint is an important structure in the movement of your jaw. When you have pain in this area it can cause difficulty with talking, eating and just general discomfort in your everyday life. Here at IKON Dental Group, we can provide you with solutions to help relieve your TMJ pain.
What is TMJ?
TMJ Stands for temporomandibular joint but any issues or pain you may be having with this joint is actually referred to as TMD or temporomandibular disorder. With TMD, the joint may have gotten out of alignment or may not be moving as it should, causing you pain and discomfort. This is a relatively common problem among adults and is no cause to worry; however, you should see Dr. Khan as soon as you can to discuss treatment options.
What are the Symptoms?
Patients with TMD may be experiencing:
- Pain in the joint of your jaw
- Difficulty In chewing and talking
- A feeling of stiffness in your mouth and jaw
- A change in the alignment of your top and bottom row of teeth
What Causes TMD?
There is not one clear cause for TMJ pain or discomfort. Often times, the piece of cartilage in the joint is out of place or other factors such as injury or teeth grinding can contribute to TMJ pain. If you have any of these symptoms or have recently had a jaw injury that has left you with some of these side effects, Dr. Khan will observe your jaw area for inflammation, alignment issues, clicking or grinding noises as well as checking your range of mobility.
How Treatment Can Help
If Dr. Khan finds that you may have some sort of TMJ issues, he may recommend that you have an oral appliance custom made for you to help with the long-term management of your TMJ pain. After Dr. Khan evaluates your mouth and jaw, an impression of your teeth will be made and sent off to the lab. This impression will be used to create your custom appliance.
when your appliance is ready, you will return for another appointment to have it fitted. Also at this appointment, Dr. Khan will review with you proper care, maintenance and wear for your new mouthpiece. He will most likely recommend that you wear it at night and discuss with you the benefits of following your indicated treatment plan. Before you have an oral appliance fitted, Dr. Khan may recommend the following home remedies to ease pain:
- OTC pain medication such as Ibuprofen
- Warm or cold compress to ease pain and soreness
- Avoid difficult to chew foods as well as chewing gum
- Limit the range of motion for your jaw and simply take it easy until your treatment begins
If you are experiencing pain in your jaw or have been living with the discomfort of jaw issues, contact IKON Dental Group today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Khan. TMJ therapy is very helpful in managing and relieving the discomfort associated with TMD.
Dr. Izaz Khan
Dentist at Ikon Dental Group
Dr. Khan holds a Bachelor's in Physiology and Neurobiology from the University of Connecticut, a Master's in Biomolecular Sciences from Central Connecticut State University, and a dental degree from the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine. He completed his residency in comprehensive dental care at the Samuel Stratton VA Medical Center in Albany, NY.