The medical term for a combination of jaw joint disorders with head, neck, and facial pain is Temporomandibular Dysfunction (TMD). Commonly known as "TMJ," this is an area often ignored by physicians, and sadly, one that few dentists know how to treat.
We treat private patients, but most of our pain patients were involved in accidents, so we also treat those covered by:
We use a non-surgical approach to alleviate patients' head, neck, and jaw discomfort caused by TMJ disorders. Neuromuscular treatments relax the muscles of the head and neck by moving the lower jaw into a stable and restful pattern of movement. The treatment often begins with a mouth guard that helps align the jaw to a proper relationship, thereby decreasing pain and improving function.
TMD can be caused by a number of factors, but sudden pain cases are often due to car or work accidents causing direct or indirect trauma and whiplash. Additional risk factors include:
- Clenching
- Grinding
- Unstable bite
- Missing and unrestored teeth
- History of other jaw trauma
TMD signs and symptoms include:
- Face or jaw pain.
- Jaw clicking, popping or grating.
- Limited mouth opening or locking
- Difficulty closing teeth together, swallowing and/or chewing.
- Headaches, dizziness, and/or balance problems.
- Neck and/or shoulder pain.
If any of these apply to you, we have decades of expertise in getting the relevant insurance company to approve all of your needed treatment.
